3.23k reviews for:

Conclave

Robert Harris

4.08 AVERAGE

tillyp's review against another edition

4.0

challenging hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kristinnie's review against another edition

5.0

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4.5 stars ⭐️

This was a great book! I saw the movie first, which I enjoyed but the book was better. I liked the insight into the main character as well as the behind the scenes insight into the conclave. The Pope in the book appears to have been modeled after the current Pope Francis. This made for an intriguing glimpse into what the next Conclave might encounter in terms of progressive vs conservative tensions. Very well written and hard to put down!

kelbel_reads's review

5.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sealife79's review against another edition

4.25

challenging informative mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

anna19991210's review against another edition

4.0

informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

earthtomars's review against another edition

4.0

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This is one of the few cases where I think the movie did some things even better than the book. I think that's because the actors did a phenomenal job portraying and giving life to these characters in a way that the book can't completely do - mostly because we see everything through Lomeli's eyes. I did appreciate the insight we got from Lomeli's perspective though!! I think he was a great protagonist, which is incredible to me because I can't imagine many characters as different from me as this 75 years old cardinal going through a crisis of faith.

Apart from that, I was fascinated by the rituals and scheming of the Conclave. Truly something magical. Having seen the movie I knew what to expect from the end, but still, what a fun plot twist!

alfredogo's review against another edition

5.0

tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

pet_yawn's review against another edition

4.25

reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

excavation_stories's review against another edition

4.0

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I read this preparing for the Conclave in 2025 and it gave great insights into the process and challenges of the modern church.

sentient_dinosaurplush's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i must say i did enjoy the book ending more than the movie but i am surprised how closely the movie stuck to the book otherwise. the movie condensed it a bit but tbh i‘d have watched a full 1-1 movie adaptation cut, though some scenes i find better executed in the movie. very good read, even though the thrill wasn’t quite as…thrilling, knowing the ending