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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
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
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Conclave is so innately interesting to me. It’s such a fascinating old-world feeling tradition that I’m surprised more artists haven’t used it as a setting for political drama.
Harris does an incredibly good job at utilizing the metaphysical weight of such a decision from the perspective of the Cardinals. The book feels oppressive, trudging, and full of spiritual heft. Lomeli is a wonderful main character and following his internal journey was one of the better aspects of this book.
I think Benízia is also an incredible character. Every time he spoke he exuded wisdom and it felt so inevitable that he would come to a position of respect. The twist at the end, while somewhat silly on its face, is made elegant by the correspondence of Lomeli and Benízia - he has clearly come to terms with it himself and shows a level of awareness that proves he was the correct choice.
All of this said, I think the movie takes what the book had and elevates it. I was hyper aware of the movie while reading this book - it can certainly stand on its own, but certain moments felt underwhelming in comparison to their film counterparts. Lomeli (Lawrence) has a speech about doubt; given as a homily in this book, but given in a much more profound manner in the movie. Had I not seen the movie first, I likely would have not gravitated towards the weight of that speech as I did when watching the film. I also think the end of the movie is done significantly better. Lawrence’s smile at the end shows the completion of his arc and the cementing of his spiritual sureness in that moment. The book leaves his counterpart in this incomplete feeling stage. Perhaps this will grow on me though.
I will say, the casting for the movie was unbelievably good. It is absurd how well each actor portrays the feeling you get with each character.
Harris does an incredibly good job at utilizing the metaphysical weight of such a decision from the perspective of the Cardinals. The book feels oppressive, trudging, and full of spiritual heft. Lomeli is a wonderful main character and following his internal journey was one of the better aspects of this book.
I think Benízia is also an incredible character. Every time he spoke he exuded wisdom and it felt so inevitable that he would come to a position of respect. The twist at the end, while somewhat silly on its face, is made elegant by the correspondence of Lomeli and Benízia - he has clearly come to terms with it himself and shows a level of awareness that proves he was the correct choice.
All of this said, I think the movie takes what the book had and elevates it. I was hyper aware of the movie while reading this book - it can certainly stand on its own, but certain moments felt underwhelming in comparison to their film counterparts. Lomeli (Lawrence) has a speech about doubt; given as a homily in this book, but given in a much more profound manner in the movie. Had I not seen the movie first, I likely would have not gravitated towards the weight of that speech as I did when watching the film. I also think the end of the movie is done significantly better. Lawrence’s smile at the end shows the completion of his arc and the cementing of his spiritual sureness in that moment. The book leaves his counterpart in this incomplete feeling stage. Perhaps this will grow on me though.
I will say, the casting for the movie was unbelievably good. It is absurd how well each actor portrays the feeling you get with each character.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5; some bits at the end made me physically squint at the book whilst reading it but I do love me some messy Vatican politics so overall, still enjoyable.
mysterious
tense
medium-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
absolute cinema
really appreciated the extra insight into the other cardinals, especially lomeli!!! i feel like i understand him a little more now. and the passing mentions of certain cardinals’ pasts really helped flesh them out more in my opinion. i’m especially a fan of how tremblay and adeyemi were characterized in the book as extremely charismatic and/or firm leader types, it helped bring out their arcs even more and stage the conclave as straying further away from God and more into the temptations of men (to vote for a politician-esque man instead of God’s chosen candidate).
i do think the movie did some things better, like the turning point subplot towards the end and the final reveal. the final reveal especially i think was handled with a little more grace and softness in the movie, but that’s not to say it wasn’t in the book.
feel so blessed to have gotten to experience this story all over again!!! if conclave has 0 fans i am dead
really appreciated the extra insight into the other cardinals, especially lomeli!!! i feel like i understand him a little more now. and the passing mentions of certain cardinals’ pasts really helped flesh them out more in my opinion. i’m especially a fan of how tremblay and adeyemi were characterized in the book as extremely charismatic and/or firm leader types, it helped bring out their arcs even more and stage the conclave as straying further away from God and more into the temptations of men (to vote for a politician-esque man instead of God’s chosen candidate).
i do think the movie did some things better, like the turning point subplot towards the end and the final reveal. the final reveal especially i think was handled with a little more grace and softness in the movie, but that’s not to say it wasn’t in the book.
feel so blessed to have gotten to experience this story all over again!!! if conclave has 0 fans i am dead
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Islamophobia