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kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Fairy tale? Myth? Legend? Religion? What do thses terms means?
Well, I'm not answering the question. You figure it out. But Faber does deal with the question in this book.
Part modern morality tale, Faber's Canongate volume attacks the play of religion in the media? What play I hear you ask? You mean 24 and its Muslim terrorists?
No, though one of the best sections of the book have a Muslim and Christian working together. I mean the whole Shroud of Turin, Da Vini Code, tomb of Jesus' brother, gospel of Judas thing. Each time something like that comes out it gets news time and magazine covers, yet it doesn't really seem to affect anyone who believes in a certain way, if you know what I mean. It doesn't distrub, I guess is what I'm trying to say.
The title of this book comes from an alternate title to the discovered "Fifth Gospel" which Theo finds, and publishes, more concerned about translation then religion. Reactions vary, and the novel is far more a critque of the media then of religion. If you are reading this and thinking it is anti-Christian or religious, I would still reccomend the book. There is something about the last page of the book. Something that can be taken many different ways. Faber is closer to the Terry Pratchett way exploring religion than the Phillip Pullman.
Actually this book seems to be really about fame and the truth behind the ideas of truth. Which is what the Canongate series seems to be really about.
Think about it. We live in a meida flooded society, at least most of us. Yet, few people can grasp the allusions that flood us everyday. I'm not talking just about Disney version of stories. I'm talking about an Ice Age Christmas (Christ wasn't born then, so how is there Christmas?), a song about irony with examples that are not ironic, comparing any mainstream politican to Hitler, and Lady Gaga's "Judas" song. People don't understand terms like Samson Scenrio, or see a connection to 13 and Christ and his Apostles (forget about Balder). How about the "let's boycott Snapple because there are slaves on the label"? (Ever hear of the Boston tea party?) Here in America, people root for sports teams and do not see or know about the references of the names - Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Sixers (okay, Utah I'll give you. But the Utah Jazz was the New Orleans Jazz). They don't know why the Trojan man is the Trojan man.
Or that Puss in Boots predates Shrek.
The media convinces us that we know more, when in fact we know less. Here in America, for instance, we have Thanksgiving for Black Friday (which I heard a newscaster on the BBC say was named for the traffic. Huh?).
This is what Faber is writing about.
Well, I'm not answering the question. You figure it out. But Faber does deal with the question in this book.
Part modern morality tale, Faber's Canongate volume attacks the play of religion in the media? What play I hear you ask? You mean 24 and its Muslim terrorists?
No, though one of the best sections of the book have a Muslim and Christian working together. I mean the whole Shroud of Turin, Da Vini Code, tomb of Jesus' brother, gospel of Judas thing. Each time something like that comes out it gets news time and magazine covers, yet it doesn't really seem to affect anyone who believes in a certain way, if you know what I mean. It doesn't distrub, I guess is what I'm trying to say.
The title of this book comes from an alternate title to the discovered "Fifth Gospel" which Theo finds, and publishes, more concerned about translation then religion. Reactions vary, and the novel is far more a critque of the media then of religion. If you are reading this and thinking it is anti-Christian or religious, I would still reccomend the book. There is something about the last page of the book. Something that can be taken many different ways. Faber is closer to the Terry Pratchett way exploring religion than the Phillip Pullman.
Actually this book seems to be really about fame and the truth behind the ideas of truth. Which is what the Canongate series seems to be really about.
Think about it. We live in a meida flooded society, at least most of us. Yet, few people can grasp the allusions that flood us everyday. I'm not talking just about Disney version of stories. I'm talking about an Ice Age Christmas (Christ wasn't born then, so how is there Christmas?), a song about irony with examples that are not ironic, comparing any mainstream politican to Hitler, and Lady Gaga's "Judas" song. People don't understand terms like Samson Scenrio, or see a connection to 13 and Christ and his Apostles (forget about Balder). How about the "let's boycott Snapple because there are slaves on the label"? (Ever hear of the Boston tea party?) Here in America, people root for sports teams and do not see or know about the references of the names - Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Sixers (okay, Utah I'll give you. But the Utah Jazz was the New Orleans Jazz). They don't know why the Trojan man is the Trojan man.
Or that Puss in Boots predates Shrek.
The media convinces us that we know more, when in fact we know less. Here in America, for instance, we have Thanksgiving for Black Friday (which I heard a newscaster on the BBC say was named for the traffic. Huh?).
This is what Faber is writing about.
curtain33's review against another edition
2.0
The basic plot of The Fire Gospel is that the lead character Theo finds some scrolls by questionable means and translates them, to find that they are a lost account of the times of Christ. He publishes and people react to it in varying ways.
Given how much I like Michel Faber it pains me to score this so low, but for me this book was a miss. There is a great kernel of an idea here, that could have spiraled out in many strange and different directions, but instead was much less interesting. This feels like a short story that is padded out to novella length, which may be why it doesn't sit well with me. I think, perhaps if it had gone in more extreme directions it may have worked better for me, but as it stands it feels a little lukewarm.
If you haven't read Michel Faber then I'd suggest starting with The Book of Strange New Things, The Crimson Petal and the White, or (for fans of poetry) the phenomenal and heartbreaking Undying.
Given how much I like Michel Faber it pains me to score this so low, but for me this book was a miss. There is a great kernel of an idea here, that could have spiraled out in many strange and different directions, but instead was much less interesting. This feels like a short story that is padded out to novella length, which may be why it doesn't sit well with me. I think, perhaps if it had gone in more extreme directions it may have worked better for me, but as it stands it feels a little lukewarm.
If you haven't read Michel Faber then I'd suggest starting with The Book of Strange New Things, The Crimson Petal and the White, or (for fans of poetry) the phenomenal and heartbreaking Undying.
hennershenners's review against another edition
4.0
really simple tale; engaging and funny. Poor Jesus. A Michel Faber is different every time.
adithihebbar's review against another edition
3.0
'twas okay.
I caught myself growing bored at times, especially once I realised where it was going (as a Prometheus myth retelling).
The white and the Palestinian kidnappers were interesting and did get me thinking. Nuri's concern about what the fifth (fire) gospel would do to world politics, especially was a nice touch. The white guy was a legit troll and hilarious to read about (and dangerous to think about since they do exist in large numbers *shudders*).
I caught myself growing bored at times, especially once I realised where it was going (as a Prometheus myth retelling).
The white and the Palestinian kidnappers were interesting and did get me thinking. Nuri's concern about what the fifth (fire) gospel would do to world politics, especially was a nice touch. The white guy was a legit troll and hilarious to read about (and dangerous to think about since they do exist in large numbers *shudders*).
mollylazer's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a little ambivalent about this one. The choice to tell the myth of Prometheus with only two direct references to the Promethean myth and to turn the retelling into one dealing more with Christian mythology is one that actually works. It's as though Pullman's The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, also from the Canongate series, were allegedly true. The results seem, if not realistic, then at least believable. I know this is supposed to be satire, though I didn't find it funny. Was it supposed to be funny? It was an interesting read, at least.
moon110581's review against another edition
3.0
In the list of the Canongate Myths (this is #12), The Fire Gospel is listed as a story of Prometheus. In a very weird modern way I guess it is, but it also delves into Christianity and Judaism, the crucifixion, the intensity of people's faiths and beliefs, amazon reviews, and the publishing industry.
I like Michael Faber as a writer and am very fond of his Victorian epic the Crimson Petal and the White. I found this story very engaging. The protagonist, however, was the worst. It was a very masculine story, centered around a self - involved, mansplaining, jazz - listening, misogynist who stole ancient scrolls from a destroyed Iraqi museum and translated them into a book, The Fifth Gospel. The book challenged people's beliefs, their views on the crucifixion, and stirred up fanatics and extremists who inevitably kidnap him and tie him to a chair.
The knowledge in this new gospel that's presented to the world would be the fire Prometheus gave to humanity, and the chair the protagonist is tied to is the rock Prometheus is chained to. The rest is a bit of a hard sell, and there's something about the story that doesn't work as well as it should. Maybe I just hated the hyper - toxic-masculinity of the protagonist that influenced the feel of the whole story.
I like Michael Faber as a writer and am very fond of his Victorian epic the Crimson Petal and the White. I found this story very engaging. The protagonist, however, was the worst. It was a very masculine story, centered around a self - involved, mansplaining, jazz - listening, misogynist who stole ancient scrolls from a destroyed Iraqi museum and translated them into a book, The Fifth Gospel. The book challenged people's beliefs, their views on the crucifixion, and stirred up fanatics and extremists who inevitably kidnap him and tie him to a chair.
The knowledge in this new gospel that's presented to the world would be the fire Prometheus gave to humanity, and the chair the protagonist is tied to is the rock Prometheus is chained to. The rest is a bit of a hard sell, and there's something about the story that doesn't work as well as it should. Maybe I just hated the hyper - toxic-masculinity of the protagonist that influenced the feel of the whole story.
billnienaber's review against another edition
3.0
I was first attracted to this book by the title, then by the idea of a "gospel" being discovered that was written 2000 years ago, by someone who actually knew Jesus and was written to tell the truth about his life (more specifically his death), unlike the gospels we know which were probably written a couple hundred years after his death and written with a clear personal agenda. I was also drawn by the fact that it's a small book, unlike the enormous non-fiction tome I am also currently reading and needed a break from. The shortness of the book is attested to by the fact that I read the entire thing in one day. This also bears witness to the fact that I actually found the story quite interesting and satisfying.
As I said, the story is about a man who discovers 9 scrolls hidden inside an ancient statue in a museum in Iraq. Theo Grieppenkerl is an Aramaic scholar on a mission to try to obtain permission from the Iraqi museum to display those artifacts remaining after the looting which followed our invasion. While he's touring the place, there is a knock at the front door, which the curator goes to answer. Shortly, there is a huge explosion outside. This is when Theo, trying to hurry to some place where he can safely hide, discovers the broken ancient statue, whose pregnant stomach has burst open to reveal the carefully wrapped scrolls. The rest of the story includes excerpts from the ancient writings, including a very different view of the crucifixion than we are used to, and the results of Theo's bid for fame by getting a book published based upon his translation. There is much satire of the publishing industry, a wonderful chapter where Theo reads customer reviews of his book on Amazon.com, and a rather surprising development at a bookstore appearance in New York.
This is by no means a great book, but I personally found it to be quite amusing and thought provoking at the same time.
As I said, the story is about a man who discovers 9 scrolls hidden inside an ancient statue in a museum in Iraq. Theo Grieppenkerl is an Aramaic scholar on a mission to try to obtain permission from the Iraqi museum to display those artifacts remaining after the looting which followed our invasion. While he's touring the place, there is a knock at the front door, which the curator goes to answer. Shortly, there is a huge explosion outside. This is when Theo, trying to hurry to some place where he can safely hide, discovers the broken ancient statue, whose pregnant stomach has burst open to reveal the carefully wrapped scrolls. The rest of the story includes excerpts from the ancient writings, including a very different view of the crucifixion than we are used to, and the results of Theo's bid for fame by getting a book published based upon his translation. There is much satire of the publishing industry, a wonderful chapter where Theo reads customer reviews of his book on Amazon.com, and a rather surprising development at a bookstore appearance in New York.
This is by no means a great book, but I personally found it to be quite amusing and thought provoking at the same time.