The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin
7/10
I didn't really want to read a depressing book leading up to Christmas, but my other half had this out of the library, and it is only 100 pages, so I snuck it in.
A short novella, written in the voice of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the period leading up to his crucifixion. I'm not a religious person, and so am probably not as familiar with the stories of the miracles and the trial and crucifixion of Jesus as many people are, so this was an interesting book - especially since it gave a different perspective. But Mary's voice sounded, to me, cold - almost frozen - and maybe that is what it would be like, having gone through what she went through. It gives the impression of someone who would have much, much rather have had a normal son, than a son who seemed to be leading a group of misfits and rebels, and who came to such an awful end. She is faced with a miserable life hounded by those who want to chronicle the life and death of Jesus. She understands that they will only write down the version that they prefer, to create the story and the myth that will found Christianity.
I read it quickly. It didn't make me cry. I couldn't empathise with Mary because of her woodenness.
Toibin's book 'Brooklyn' moved me much more. This gets a high score because it is a significant task to attempt, and he writes so well.
I looked at the reviews of this on Amazon and they are amazingly polarised into those who hated it and those who thought it was magnificent. It's worth reading the reviews just because of this. religion gets people heated, in one way or another.
7/10
I didn't really want to read a depressing book leading up to Christmas, but my other half had this out of the library, and it is only 100 pages, so I snuck it in.
A short novella, written in the voice of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the period leading up to his crucifixion. I'm not a religious person, and so am probably not as familiar with the stories of the miracles and the trial and crucifixion of Jesus as many people are, so this was an interesting book - especially since it gave a different perspective. But Mary's voice sounded, to me, cold - almost frozen - and maybe that is what it would be like, having gone through what she went through. It gives the impression of someone who would have much, much rather have had a normal son, than a son who seemed to be leading a group of misfits and rebels, and who came to such an awful end. She is faced with a miserable life hounded by those who want to chronicle the life and death of Jesus. She understands that they will only write down the version that they prefer, to create the story and the myth that will found Christianity.
I read it quickly. It didn't make me cry. I couldn't empathise with Mary because of her woodenness.
Toibin's book 'Brooklyn' moved me much more. This gets a high score because it is a significant task to attempt, and he writes so well.
I looked at the reviews of this on Amazon and they are amazingly polarised into those who hated it and those who thought it was magnificent. It's worth reading the reviews just because of this. religion gets people heated, in one way or another.
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