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showell's review
3.0
I approached this book as a novel, not as a work of truth. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it for the fact that it got me thinking about the root of faith and what really matters to me about the historical Jesus and the divine mysteries, and for the fact that it sent me racing to my library of gnostic gospels to read some of those source texts referenced in the book for myself. I really love it when books get me to read other books.
mindyb33's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book which made me think. I enjoyed the footnotes which showed how well it was researched. I know how much the "church" has control and am always reminded that men control and I realize how they shape doctrine. They can make Jesus message so complicated.
asteroidbuckle's review
2.0
I love historical fiction and I also love anything that has to do with bringing a touch of reality to the Bible and the life of Jesus. So when I saw this book at my local library, I snatched it up.
The premise: Rome has decided that Jesus' birth was indeed virgin and his resurrection was fleshly. That means that any book stating otherwise must be destroyed.
Enter Barnabas. He's a monk in charge of the books at his monastery and who has knowledge of the content and whereabouts of certain now-heretical texts which he vows to protect.
He and his monastic brothers, Cyrus (a former Roman soldier who has given his life over to God) and Zarathan (a young monk who is as annoying as he is useless, at least in the beginning), by chance end up being the only three survivors when Emperor Constantine's henchman come to enforce the new rules regarding heretical texts.
Oh, and there's a feisty redhead named Kalay thrown in for good measure. She was the washerwoman for the monastery and ends up tagging along with the group as a foil to their faith (she's a pagan goddess worshipper and a temptation to both Cyrus and Zarathan).
I had high hopes for this book, but overall, I was disappointed with it. There were some stellar parts: the backstory regarding the trial, crucifixion, burial, and 'resurrection' of Jesus was riveting. It was the rest that was a little too convoluted for my taste.
Bad guys, torture, rape, a desperate chase, and a love story to boot, which made my eyes roll back so far in my head, I think I saw my brain. There's also a bit of the supernatural (or the divine, if you're so inclined) thrown in as well. And it's not as if I am opposed to any of these things, but when the footnotes are more interesting than the story, you know there's something wrong.
I expected more. Perhaps I expected too much.
The premise: Rome has decided that Jesus' birth was indeed virgin and his resurrection was fleshly. That means that any book stating otherwise must be destroyed.
Enter Barnabas. He's a monk in charge of the books at his monastery and who has knowledge of the content and whereabouts of certain now-heretical texts which he vows to protect.
He and his monastic brothers, Cyrus (a former Roman soldier who has given his life over to God) and Zarathan (a young monk who is as annoying as he is useless, at least in the beginning), by chance end up being the only three survivors when Emperor Constantine's henchman come to enforce the new rules regarding heretical texts.
Oh, and there's a feisty redhead named Kalay thrown in for good measure. She was the washerwoman for the monastery and ends up tagging along with the group as a foil to their faith (she's a pagan goddess worshipper and a temptation to both Cyrus and Zarathan).
I had high hopes for this book, but overall, I was disappointed with it. There were some stellar parts: the backstory regarding the trial, crucifixion, burial, and 'resurrection' of Jesus was riveting. It was the rest that was a little too convoluted for my taste.
Bad guys, torture, rape, a desperate chase, and a love story to boot, which made my eyes roll back so far in my head, I think I saw my brain. There's also a bit of the supernatural (or the divine, if you're so inclined) thrown in as well. And it's not as if I am opposed to any of these things, but when the footnotes are more interesting than the story, you know there's something wrong.
I expected more. Perhaps I expected too much.
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
De două zile cădea o ploaie deasă ca perdeaua, iar vârful întunecat al muntelui era rece şi învăluit în mireasma dulce a pinilor uzi şi a pământului reavăn.
Maryam îşi trase peste cap himationul, o mantie largă din pânză albă, ca să-i ţină de cald, şi îşi coborî privirea către oraşul sfânt, Yerushalaim. De acolo, de sus, de pe Muntele Măslinilor, priveliştea era uluitoare. Lumina stelelor poleia zidurile vechi de piatră şi străzile largi. Totul era tăcut şi nemişcat. Nici măcar fuioarele de fum care se ridicau din hornurile caselor nu se unduiau, de parcă ar fi fost nişte filigrane negre şi moarte, împrăştiate în văzduhul nebiciuit de vânt.
Maryam îşi trase peste cap himationul, o mantie largă din pânză albă, ca să-i ţină de cald, şi îşi coborî privirea către oraşul sfânt, Yerushalaim. De acolo, de sus, de pe Muntele Măslinilor, priveliştea era uluitoare. Lumina stelelor poleia zidurile vechi de piatră şi străzile largi. Totul era tăcut şi nemişcat. Nici măcar fuioarele de fum care se ridicau din hornurile caselor nu se unduiau, de parcă ar fi fost nişte filigrane negre şi moarte, împrăştiate în văzduhul nebiciuit de vânt.
srwelch00's review
4.0
An entertaining, captivating story framed within a most thought-provoking re-visioning of what we have received as "history." Four stars for the research alone, which is cited in extensive notes (themselves a fascinating read).
Alas, the book's great strength is also an occasional weakness, with the authors sometimes awkwardly inserting their voices into the narrative. All in all, though, I found it enjoyable and was eager to read on and unravel the mystery of the "Pearl." The scenes involving Yeshua's loved ones after the crucifixion were quite touching.
Recommended.
Alas, the book's great strength is also an occasional weakness, with the authors sometimes awkwardly inserting their voices into the narrative. All in all, though, I found it enjoyable and was eager to read on and unravel the mystery of the "Pearl." The scenes involving Yeshua's loved ones after the crucifixion were quite touching.
Recommended.
tachyondecay's review
3.0
The historicity of Jesus Christ is one of the most controversial and interesting subjects of Christian scholarship. I am also particularly interested in the Council of Nicea in 325 C.E. and its curation of what would eventually become the New Testament. The Betrayal offers a fictional perspective on both, drawing on accumulated evidence to present an historical interpretation of the life and death of Jesus and the shaping of Christianity three centuries later. While its presentation of Jesus and the Church in such a stark, scholarly light is thought-provoking, it's to the detriment of the story, a fatal flaw in any work of fiction.
When it comes to historical fiction, it's easy for the author to claim that his or her research makes the book historically accurate. Bolstering those claims with notes, endnotes, and a bibliography exponentially increases the credibility of one's book--and I don't know about other readers, but I don't care enough to look into the research behind my fiction. Still, I do prefer accuracy, and it certainly helps in this case that the authors are archaeologists. Ultimately, it does not matter whether or not the Gears' depiction of the historical Jesus is accurate (after all, we'll never know). Instead, what matters is that their scenario presents a realistic alternative to the contradictory Biblical testimony. At this, I believe they succeed.
Of the two time periods in which The Betrayal takes place, I far prefer the later one. It concerns three monks--Barnabas, Zarathan, and Cyrus--and a washerwoman from their monastery--Kalay--who flee the monastery after the other monks are murdered. They're protecting books that the Council of Nicea has declared heretical, and Barnabas has an ulterior desire to locate a treasure known only as "the Pearl." We get a standard evasion/treasure quest plot with a wise old man (Barnabas), a soldier with a dark past (Cyrus), a whiny youngster (Zarathan), and a hauntingly beautiful yet capable woman (Kalay). I enjoyed these characters immensely, particularly Zarathan and Kalay. I wanted to kill Zarathan, and Kalay was just deliciously capable. Unfortunately, Barnabas and Cyrus were more two-dimensional, as were the villains.
The earlier time period, set around the time of Jesus' crucifixion, interested me less. Maybe it was the way it was narrated, but the events seemed dry, and I never really empathized with any of the characters or their dilemmas. Still, the Gears debunk a lot of the common stories associated with the crucifixion--Judas, Barrabas, etc.--and the resurrection.
In one respect, [a:Dan Brown|630|Dan Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206553442p2/630.jpg] trumps the Gears: he can write. [b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1233010738s/968.jpg|2982101] may have been of questionable historical accuracy, but at least it had a compelling story. While I liked The Betrayal's characterization, its plot left much to be desired, particularly the resolution. There's very little drama, most of it suspense created as we watch the pursuers close on our protagonists. Toward the end, as our protagonists try to locate the ambigiously-identified Pearl, we get treated to an increasingly esoteric conversation as to the meaning of various Hebrew words translated into Latin--oh joy. [b:The Name of the Rose|2519|The Name of the Rose (Everyman's Library)|Umberto Eco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1161054059s/2519.jpg|3138328] this is not.
I praise The Betrayal for portraying a historical, human Jesus while simultaneously preserving his faith. This is not an anti-Christian or anti-Christianity novel. Rather, it expresses a possibility--the aim of any good work of fiction. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Biblical scholarship, with the caveat that it's a little dry and slightly crispy. A little steak sauce will go nicely.
When it comes to historical fiction, it's easy for the author to claim that his or her research makes the book historically accurate. Bolstering those claims with notes, endnotes, and a bibliography exponentially increases the credibility of one's book--and I don't know about other readers, but I don't care enough to look into the research behind my fiction. Still, I do prefer accuracy, and it certainly helps in this case that the authors are archaeologists. Ultimately, it does not matter whether or not the Gears' depiction of the historical Jesus is accurate (after all, we'll never know). Instead, what matters is that their scenario presents a realistic alternative to the contradictory Biblical testimony. At this, I believe they succeed.
Of the two time periods in which The Betrayal takes place, I far prefer the later one. It concerns three monks--Barnabas, Zarathan, and Cyrus--and a washerwoman from their monastery--Kalay--who flee the monastery after the other monks are murdered. They're protecting books that the Council of Nicea has declared heretical, and Barnabas has an ulterior desire to locate a treasure known only as "the Pearl." We get a standard evasion/treasure quest plot with a wise old man (Barnabas), a soldier with a dark past (Cyrus), a whiny youngster (Zarathan), and a hauntingly beautiful yet capable woman (Kalay). I enjoyed these characters immensely, particularly Zarathan and Kalay. I wanted to kill Zarathan, and Kalay was just deliciously capable. Unfortunately, Barnabas and Cyrus were more two-dimensional, as were the villains.
The earlier time period, set around the time of Jesus' crucifixion, interested me less. Maybe it was the way it was narrated, but the events seemed dry, and I never really empathized with any of the characters or their dilemmas. Still, the Gears debunk a lot of the common stories associated with the crucifixion--Judas, Barrabas, etc.--and the resurrection.
In one respect, [a:Dan Brown|630|Dan Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206553442p2/630.jpg] trumps the Gears: he can write. [b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1233010738s/968.jpg|2982101] may have been of questionable historical accuracy, but at least it had a compelling story. While I liked The Betrayal's characterization, its plot left much to be desired, particularly the resolution. There's very little drama, most of it suspense created as we watch the pursuers close on our protagonists. Toward the end, as our protagonists try to locate the ambigiously-identified Pearl, we get treated to an increasingly esoteric conversation as to the meaning of various Hebrew words translated into Latin--oh joy. [b:The Name of the Rose|2519|The Name of the Rose (Everyman's Library)|Umberto Eco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1161054059s/2519.jpg|3138328] this is not.
I praise The Betrayal for portraying a historical, human Jesus while simultaneously preserving his faith. This is not an anti-Christian or anti-Christianity novel. Rather, it expresses a possibility--the aim of any good work of fiction. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Biblical scholarship, with the caveat that it's a little dry and slightly crispy. A little steak sauce will go nicely.
alexctelander's review
3.0
THE BETRAYAL: THE LOST LIFE OF JESUS BY KATHLEEN O’NEAL GEAR AND W. MICHAEL GEAR: Renowned husband and wife authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, of the First North Americans and Anasazi Mysteries series, return with their most controversial book to date. Also archaeologists, the Gears apply over thirty years of research with their backgrounds in biblical archaeology, religious studies, Greek, Latin, to reveal a new and relatively unknown and historically unsupported biography of Jesus Christ, or Yeshua.
The Betrayal is told from two viewpoints; the first is that of Yeshua, as he travels in his time, changing the world in his way, and while one would consider this to be the important character of the book, this plotline serves more as an additional realization to the main viewpoint and character of the book, Brother Barnabas. The monk Barnabas, living in the year 325 after Yeshua, is a student and copier of the ancient holy texts, the texts that tell the true story of Yeshua, some in his very own words. These books portray a Jesus different from the commonly known one: heretical and radical, contrary to the contemporary Church’s teachings. The Ecumenical Council of Bishops has now decided that these holy texts are nothing more than “a hotbed of manifold perversity,” contrary to the Christian faith, and are therefore not to be read or copied by anyone. Emperor Constantine decrees that all copies of the sacred texts are to be destroyed and anyone found with them will be executed as a heretic. But Brother Barnabas knows that the texts tell the true story of Jesus, and he makes it his mission, as ordained by God, to save them for the world and the future, at no matter what cost.
While The Betrayal seems well researched and given the Gears’ background, they clearly know what they are talking about, the reader is left wondering how much of this is really true, and could this really be a giant conspiracy hidden by the Church after all this time. The book is classed as fiction and shelved in that section in bookstores, as well as featuring a favorable quote from Lewis Purdue, author of Da Vinci Legacy. In fact, The Betrayal does bear some resemblances to the likes of Da Vinci Code, Rule of Four, and other books published in the last decade which question the religious dogma, much to the outrage of the Church. It begs the question as to whether the Gears are looking more for the true story of Jesus, or perhaps a bestselling novel in this popular genre, or perhaps both? The reader will have to decide for him- or herself.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
The Betrayal is told from two viewpoints; the first is that of Yeshua, as he travels in his time, changing the world in his way, and while one would consider this to be the important character of the book, this plotline serves more as an additional realization to the main viewpoint and character of the book, Brother Barnabas. The monk Barnabas, living in the year 325 after Yeshua, is a student and copier of the ancient holy texts, the texts that tell the true story of Yeshua, some in his very own words. These books portray a Jesus different from the commonly known one: heretical and radical, contrary to the contemporary Church’s teachings. The Ecumenical Council of Bishops has now decided that these holy texts are nothing more than “a hotbed of manifold perversity,” contrary to the Christian faith, and are therefore not to be read or copied by anyone. Emperor Constantine decrees that all copies of the sacred texts are to be destroyed and anyone found with them will be executed as a heretic. But Brother Barnabas knows that the texts tell the true story of Jesus, and he makes it his mission, as ordained by God, to save them for the world and the future, at no matter what cost.
While The Betrayal seems well researched and given the Gears’ background, they clearly know what they are talking about, the reader is left wondering how much of this is really true, and could this really be a giant conspiracy hidden by the Church after all this time. The book is classed as fiction and shelved in that section in bookstores, as well as featuring a favorable quote from Lewis Purdue, author of Da Vinci Legacy. In fact, The Betrayal does bear some resemblances to the likes of Da Vinci Code, Rule of Four, and other books published in the last decade which question the religious dogma, much to the outrage of the Church. It begs the question as to whether the Gears are looking more for the true story of Jesus, or perhaps a bestselling novel in this popular genre, or perhaps both? The reader will have to decide for him- or herself.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
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