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1 人中、1人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
This Novel Depicts The Historical Virgin Mary
2009/12/14
形式:ペーパーバック
How could the Nativity Story be read as a thick novel when the book of Luke and Matthew as the only authoritative sources of the story I know of is short in details? In The First Christmas: What Could Have actually Happened, it is done with a smooth flow.
I thought this man, the author must have imagined a lot of it - that's what fiction writers do; they have very creative minds to make up even things that could be real only in dreams.I was surprised to find out that it is really a retelling of the Bible story but with realistic description of the environment where the story took place some 2000 years ago, with the added drama we may only rationally suspect of, but chastise ourselves from it ever occurring to our faithful minds; but to the logical mind, the possibility is at least tickling, and at most, ranging from agreeable to awesome.
The setting is complete with the religious, political, and socio-economic back ground, faithful to the Biblical plot but with a surprisingly fundamental difference in its view of Jesus birth. It faithfully takes Mary's conception of Jesus as a miracle, but goes to the length of describing "how" such a miracle took place, harmonizing faith and practical reality.
It's exactly the Bible story mixed with, or rather, supplanted with references to historical events; even King Herod comes to life and I could understand why his name is tailed with the title "The Great", almost a surname; and the star of Bethlehem is logically explained almost scientifically but with an excuse for falling short of being scientific, as it is viewed from astrology. So, what actually happened according to this Nativity narrative?
You know it: The already betrothed Mary was called by God through an angel to be the mother of the Son of the Most High, Jesus. From there, all is glorious for God who will have His Only Begotten Son born on earth - but not for Mary, whose pregnancy is not seen by her neighbors as a miracle, the occurrence of which, they knew nothing about. Instead they suspected that she broke their strictest moral standard on sexual purity.
What happens after that is depicted as socially explosive, but extricates the protagonists from the immediate threat and catastrophe, and at the end, leaves the mind to draw it`s own conclusion - almost interactive, I liked it a lot and would recommend it highly.
I thought this man, the author must have imagined a lot of it - that's what fiction writers do; they have very creative minds to make up even things that could be real only in dreams.I was surprised to find out that it is really a retelling of the Bible story but with realistic description of the environment where the story took place some 2000 years ago, with the added drama we may only rationally suspect of, but chastise ourselves from it ever occurring to our faithful minds; but to the logical mind, the possibility is at least tickling, and at most, ranging from agreeable to awesome.
The setting is complete with the religious, political, and socio-economic back ground, faithful to the Biblical plot but with a surprisingly fundamental difference in its view of Jesus birth. It faithfully takes Mary's conception of Jesus as a miracle, but goes to the length of describing "how" such a miracle took place, harmonizing faith and practical reality.
It's exactly the Bible story mixed with, or rather, supplanted with references to historical events; even King Herod comes to life and I could understand why his name is tailed with the title "The Great", almost a surname; and the star of Bethlehem is logically explained almost scientifically but with an excuse for falling short of being scientific, as it is viewed from astrology. So, what actually happened according to this Nativity narrative?
You know it: The already betrothed Mary was called by God through an angel to be the mother of the Son of the Most High, Jesus. From there, all is glorious for God who will have His Only Begotten Son born on earth - but not for Mary, whose pregnancy is not seen by her neighbors as a miracle, the occurrence of which, they knew nothing about. Instead they suspected that she broke their strictest moral standard on sexual purity.
What happens after that is depicted as socially explosive, but extricates the protagonists from the immediate threat and catastrophe, and at the end, leaves the mind to draw it`s own conclusion - almost interactive, I liked it a lot and would recommend it highly.
1 人中、1人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
A Wonderful Nativity Story
2009/12/14
形式:ペーパーバック
This is a work of fiction, and I think the author is faithful to what fiction should be - based on truth and closest to it. As today's readers are intelligent and can quickly smell something is phoney when it is, this book can easily pass under their scrutiny.
Of course, a problem may come up when we are not sure of the "truth" we believe in; then, in that case, we won't be sure whether something is closer to it or not. So, what do I think of this novel, The First Christmas: What Could Have Actually Happened ?
The plot: It's been there for as long as 2000 years. I think, he didn't have a hard time constructing a plot. He simply used what is there. Source? Mainly The New Testament Bible, particularly the Books of Luke and Matthew. But, whereas none of the 4 Gospels names Mary's father and mother, Joachim and Anne as named in this novel is clearly taken from the Catholic tradition - Saints Joachim and Anne revered and celebrated with their own particular Feast Days.
Stoning of Mary as a close probability to have almost happened: found in Koran and other non-canonical writings but not in the Gospels.
Supplanting the story with the politico-socio-economic back ground: I'd say, he did his research well - and he is either being simply wise not to pinpoint the exact time line, or he doesn't know it exactly. Anyway, historians are still in contention about this matter. The narrative style: simple and understandable. There's a balance between telling and showing.
His physical description of characters may be wanting for a real good fiction, but I found him an excuse. Who in the world can describe how Mary looked like, height, weight, hair color and all? Nobody. That she looked like the typical Jewish woman of her time should be enough of a description. I can take that!
That the author described her through actions and dialogue, may give a hint of the author's faith in Mary as she is revered and held in high esteem in Christianity, particularly in Catholicism, but I think, he is just being true to his craft, writing from the perspective of the POV Character. If he wanted to impress upon his readers that the virgin birth mystery can be viewed from faith and reality by showing how the miracle happened, he has succeeded with me.
5 stars for this book!
Of course, a problem may come up when we are not sure of the "truth" we believe in; then, in that case, we won't be sure whether something is closer to it or not. So, what do I think of this novel, The First Christmas: What Could Have Actually Happened ?
The plot: It's been there for as long as 2000 years. I think, he didn't have a hard time constructing a plot. He simply used what is there. Source? Mainly The New Testament Bible, particularly the Books of Luke and Matthew. But, whereas none of the 4 Gospels names Mary's father and mother, Joachim and Anne as named in this novel is clearly taken from the Catholic tradition - Saints Joachim and Anne revered and celebrated with their own particular Feast Days.
Stoning of Mary as a close probability to have almost happened: found in Koran and other non-canonical writings but not in the Gospels.
Supplanting the story with the politico-socio-economic back ground: I'd say, he did his research well - and he is either being simply wise not to pinpoint the exact time line, or he doesn't know it exactly. Anyway, historians are still in contention about this matter. The narrative style: simple and understandable. There's a balance between telling and showing.
His physical description of characters may be wanting for a real good fiction, but I found him an excuse. Who in the world can describe how Mary looked like, height, weight, hair color and all? Nobody. That she looked like the typical Jewish woman of her time should be enough of a description. I can take that!
That the author described her through actions and dialogue, may give a hint of the author's faith in Mary as she is revered and held in high esteem in Christianity, particularly in Catholicism, but I think, he is just being true to his craft, writing from the perspective of the POV Character. If he wanted to impress upon his readers that the virgin birth mystery can be viewed from faith and reality by showing how the miracle happened, he has succeeded with me.
5 stars for this book!
1 人中、1人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
Actually Tells a Great Story!
2009/12/14
形式:ペーパーバック
A good friend gave me a copy of The First Christmas: What Could Have Actually Happened. It was a big welcome - as I wanted to be reminded of my favorite Christmas story as a child without the need to read the Bible, which I would feel awkward for not having opened one for ages, nor having to browse my children's picture book by myself without them around to read it with!
The opening scene is not the first chapter but more like a prologue long enough to be a chapter in itself. Hmmm...this could be long read, I thought. But I hastened to read because the opening sentence, or rather, a question, which I realized was quoted from the mouth of one of the supporting characters of the story, Joachim, Mary's father, peaked my curiosity, "Mary, Who did you sleep with?" Was this her father's question at her pregnancy with Jesus?
From there, it's the Nativity story lifted from the Bible - annunciation. Visitation. Conception and birth. Told and retold a countless time, from the beginning of Christianity as a movement until today when it has become one of the four main world religions and cultural spheres.
However, although the Bible narrative provided the skeletal frame for the story, the flesh and blood, color, life and emotions are drawn from history and the writer's imagination. I'd say, he did a great job relating the story from a realistic view, down to earth - too down to earth, especially the surprising middle part, to rejuvenate the magic of Christmas inside of the little girl in me. Two thumbs up for this book!
The opening scene is not the first chapter but more like a prologue long enough to be a chapter in itself. Hmmm...this could be long read, I thought. But I hastened to read because the opening sentence, or rather, a question, which I realized was quoted from the mouth of one of the supporting characters of the story, Joachim, Mary's father, peaked my curiosity, "Mary, Who did you sleep with?" Was this her father's question at her pregnancy with Jesus?
From there, it's the Nativity story lifted from the Bible - annunciation. Visitation. Conception and birth. Told and retold a countless time, from the beginning of Christianity as a movement until today when it has become one of the four main world religions and cultural spheres.
However, although the Bible narrative provided the skeletal frame for the story, the flesh and blood, color, life and emotions are drawn from history and the writer's imagination. I'd say, he did a great job relating the story from a realistic view, down to earth - too down to earth, especially the surprising middle part, to rejuvenate the magic of Christmas inside of the little girl in me. Two thumbs up for this book!
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