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A wry, fictional account of the life of Christ by Nobel laureate José Saramago
A brilliant skeptic, José Saramago envisions the life of Jesus Christ and the story of his Passion as things of this earth: A child crying, the caress of a woman half asleep, the bleat of a goat, a prayer uttered in the grayish morning light. His idea of the Holy Family reflects the real complexities of any family, and—as only Saramago can—he imagines them with tinges of vision, dream, and omen. The result is a deft psychological portrait that moves between poetry and irony, spirituality and irreverence of a savior who is at once the Son of God and a young man. In this provocative, tender novel, the subject of wide critical discussion and wonder, Saramago questions the meaning of God, the foundations of the Church, and human existence itself.
Anonymous
Posted August 1, 2005
I am a Christian. Parts of this book should offend me, but do not. Why? Because the fresh perspective Saramago gives to the life of Jesus during the unknown years, and the last years of his ministry, forces me to ask questions I never considered. Would a loving God want an obedient Jew to whisk his child to Egypt to avoid Herod's wrath, yet not tell any other Jewish parent to do the same? At 53, after years of studying the Bible, I never asked this question until I read this book. Yet, I have had to think about it. Little twists here and there are applied to many of the lessons of Scripture, and the result is that I cannot automatically say that certain things were good where before I did. Do I want to follow this work as my belief about Christ' life as a man? No. But, is my faith enriched by having to think about the view that Saramago presents? Absolutely. My eyes were opened to the fact that in some cases I have just accepted a truth that perhaps needs more consideration. And, that consideration only enhances my life and my faith. Approached from this viewpoint, this work is a must read.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 21, 2006
This is a great book and I am a lucky man because, beeing Brazillian, I can read José Saramago in Portuguese. There are excellent question about god and cristianism, that's could let some of jesus and god belovers angry. Too many serious questions too think about the Bible by a genious. P.S.: Sorry about the english, I can't write in this language.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 19, 2005
Except of course all the details about god and demon, the life of christ is described as close to reality as it ever has been by a human being. Considering the rest of the world blindly took the bible given and never questioned anything in it. Some questions asked in this book are fundamental paradoxes of Christian religion and that is why Catholic church was so opposed to this book. Simple questions as 'free will' which really isn't free cause according to allmighty god all our actions are already predetermined. at any rate, i always thought that religion is a very offensive institution to intelectual human beings and i think this book raises a lot of questions that proves it. ppl who blindly believe in christianity shouldl not read this book they will get very mad
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 6, 2013
What an interesting depiction of Jesus from conception to death. It is definately fiction, and keeping that in mind, it attempts to portray Jesus as a regular kid in not so regular situations. I've often pondered over Jesus' childhood and his 'step-father' Joseph. This was one man's vision of how those early years may have been lived. I could not put the book down. Liked it, mostly. The good vs. evil, not so much.
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Posted May 8, 2003
I was duped into reading this book by the caché its having won the Nobel gave it. What a waste of money! If the subject is Jesus Christ, I expect to be offered something more than someone´s imagination by way of edification, and Saramago has done no meaningful research, that I can detect. Mary Magdalene is once again cast as a prostitute, a historical error promulgated by one of the early popes. Mary, Jesus´ mother, is little more than a resigned baby machine. Saramago´s male chauvinism is even more offensive than the Church´s, since secular works have as their mission intellectualism. Some of the questions Saramago raises are sound, but overall, he renders the impression that he is gaining a predictable audience by bashing an easy victim: Christianity in general, and the Roman Catholic Church specifically.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 30, 2000
One of the BIG stories of the past two millenia is compellingly retold, imparting a spiritually dreamlike state on this reader. Great middle of the night reading, although sure to create problems with some segments of society. A Jesus more real than the one in the other book? For some, yes.
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Posted November 11, 2008
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Posted May 8, 2009
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Posted December 23, 2008
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Overview
A wry, fictional account of the life of Christ by Nobel laureate José Saramago
A brilliant skeptic, José Saramago envisions the life of Jesus Christ and the story of his Passion as things of this earth: A child crying, the caress of a woman half asleep, the bleat of a goat, a prayer uttered in the grayish morning light. His idea of the Holy Family reflects the real complexities of any family, and—as only Saramago can—he imagines them with tinges of vision, dream, and omen. The ...