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celinemoos's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
knjiskirovac's review against another edition
5.0
Another brilliant biographical story from Maalouf. As in Samarkand, Maalouf has managed to present us even more distant past and life of Many, his upbringing, preaching years and finally death. When reading this book, you are almost thrown back through the time and watching the world through Mani s eyes. He is one very tragic character, born too early to teach universal language of love, faith and universal God, without any boundaries, divisions, races, casts, only pure love for One and Only. Truly great masterpiece which I greatly recommend.
peixinhodeprata's review against another edition
3.0
Este foi o primeiro livro que li deste autor, e andava comigo já há uns bons 10 anos. Gostei bastante da sua escrita fluida e com temperos diferentes daqueles que estou habituada, do tema e ambiente diferentes também. A história do profeta Mani que deu origem ao Maniqueísmo, filosofia que tem sido tão deturpada ao longo dos milénios até não ser mais que um insulto nos nossos lábios.
No entanto, e apesar da prosa belíssima, senti que faltava algo na descrição deste profeta, na revelação das suas ideias, na passagem da sua mensagem.
Aconselho pela descrição dum mundo que já não existe, onde o oriente e o ocidente rivalizavam um com o outro em cultura, poder e desenvolvimento intelectual, onde uma Pérsia em expansão se cruzava com uma Roma em declínio.
No entanto, e apesar da prosa belíssima, senti que faltava algo na descrição deste profeta, na revelação das suas ideias, na passagem da sua mensagem.
Aconselho pela descrição dum mundo que já não existe, onde o oriente e o ocidente rivalizavam um com o outro em cultura, poder e desenvolvimento intelectual, onde uma Pérsia em expansão se cruzava com uma Roma em declínio.
wassimakara's review against another edition
4.0
"Les jardins de lumière étaient toutes les choses désirables."
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Ce livre est dédié à Mani. Il a voulu raconter sa vie. Ou ce qu'ont peut en deviner encore après tant de siècles de mensonges et d'oubli. #Amin Maalouf.
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Ce livre est dédié à Mani. Il a voulu raconter sa vie. Ou ce qu'ont peut en deviner encore après tant de siècles de mensonges et d'oubli. #Amin Maalouf.
sara86's review against another edition
3.0
for some reason i didn't like this one. i don't know why. it's not a bad book. i don't know, i can't put my finger on it. i'm surprise i didn't like it because i like Maalouf's work. love his writing. and this one looks like something i should love. but i didn't. i'm disappointed. i'm thinking i should give it another try and read it again later. in a year maybe ;p
oliainchina's review
DNF, just couldn’t get into it. Despite an interesting topic, was pushing myself to read on and eventually gave up.
marianneo's review against another edition
4.0
English review follows.
Beau roman historique racontant la vie peu connue de Mani, prophète et peintre qui vécut dans l'empire Sassanide aux 3eme siècle. Il n'avait pour cause que de transmettre le message du Ciel, celui-ci révélé par son "Jumeau", être spirituel qui le conseillait et le guidait. Ce message était simple; en chacun de nous existe la Lumière et les Ténèbres, et c'est à nous-mêmes de choisir le chemin que nous mèneront. Le roi des Sassanides, Shabuhr (Shapur I) lui permettra de répandre ses sermons librement à travers son empire alors que les prêtres de l’époque (Zoroastriens) le considéraient blasphématoire. Ils finirent par en faire de lui prisonnier et de le faire subir une mort lente et pénible sous le poids des lourdes chaînes qu’ils lui imposèrent en prison.
L'histoire nous a laissé que quelques pauvres indices sur la vie de Mani - quelques un de ses textes, un livre d'images expliquant sa religion, des peintures - et c'est par miracle qu'elle ne réussit pas à l'oublier en permanence. Grâce à Amin Maalouf, par sa magie de prose, sa recherche, son imagination, nous pouvons nous plonger dans une histoire riche et vif de ce qui aurait pu bien être la vie de Mani.
-----English review-----
This is a beautifully written historical novel about the life of Mani, a prophet and painter who lived under Sassanid rule in the 3rd century AD. His calling in life was to spread the message of the Heavens, which was relayed to him by his spiritual advisor "Twin". The message was simple; we all hold within us Light and Darkness and it is up to us to choose which path we will follow. The King of Sassanides, Shapur I, warmed to his message and allowed him to spread his sermons across his lands, despite opposition from the ruling clergy, who saw Mani's ideas as a direct threat to the prevailing religion (Zoroastrianism). In the end, the ruling clergy exercised influence on Shapur’s successor and imprisoned Mani. He died a slow a painful death, essentially crushed to death by the weight of his chains.
History has all but forgotten Mani, and all that is left are a few sparse details - a few texts, a book of illustrations explaining his belief system, some of his paintings. It’s a miracle these have survived. Thanks to Amin Maalouf and his magical gifts for prose, research and imagination, we have a rich and vivid fictionalized account of what Mani’s life may have been like all of those centuries ago.
Beau roman historique racontant la vie peu connue de Mani, prophète et peintre qui vécut dans l'empire Sassanide aux 3eme siècle. Il n'avait pour cause que de transmettre le message du Ciel, celui-ci révélé par son "Jumeau", être spirituel qui le conseillait et le guidait. Ce message était simple; en chacun de nous existe la Lumière et les Ténèbres, et c'est à nous-mêmes de choisir le chemin que nous mèneront. Le roi des Sassanides, Shabuhr (Shapur I) lui permettra de répandre ses sermons librement à travers son empire alors que les prêtres de l’époque (Zoroastriens) le considéraient blasphématoire. Ils finirent par en faire de lui prisonnier et de le faire subir une mort lente et pénible sous le poids des lourdes chaînes qu’ils lui imposèrent en prison.
L'histoire nous a laissé que quelques pauvres indices sur la vie de Mani - quelques un de ses textes, un livre d'images expliquant sa religion, des peintures - et c'est par miracle qu'elle ne réussit pas à l'oublier en permanence. Grâce à Amin Maalouf, par sa magie de prose, sa recherche, son imagination, nous pouvons nous plonger dans une histoire riche et vif de ce qui aurait pu bien être la vie de Mani.
-----English review-----
This is a beautifully written historical novel about the life of Mani, a prophet and painter who lived under Sassanid rule in the 3rd century AD. His calling in life was to spread the message of the Heavens, which was relayed to him by his spiritual advisor "Twin". The message was simple; we all hold within us Light and Darkness and it is up to us to choose which path we will follow. The King of Sassanides, Shapur I, warmed to his message and allowed him to spread his sermons across his lands, despite opposition from the ruling clergy, who saw Mani's ideas as a direct threat to the prevailing religion (Zoroastrianism). In the end, the ruling clergy exercised influence on Shapur’s successor and imprisoned Mani. He died a slow a painful death, essentially crushed to death by the weight of his chains.
History has all but forgotten Mani, and all that is left are a few sparse details - a few texts, a book of illustrations explaining his belief system, some of his paintings. It’s a miracle these have survived. Thanks to Amin Maalouf and his magical gifts for prose, research and imagination, we have a rich and vivid fictionalized account of what Mani’s life may have been like all of those centuries ago.
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