Synopsis: An award-winning writer re-imagines the life of Jesus, from the points of view of four people closest to him before his death.
This is the story of Yehoshuah, who wandered Roman-occupied Judea giving sermons and healing the sick. Now, a year after his death, four people tell their stories. His mother grieves, his friend Iehuda loses his faith, the High Priest of the Temple tries to keep the peace, and a rebel named Bar-Avo strives to bring that peace tumbling down.
It was a time of political power-play and brutal tyranny. Men and women took to the streets to protest. Dictators put them down with iron force. In the midst of it all, one inconsequential preacher died. And either something miraculous happened, or someone lied.
Viscerally powerful in its depictions of the period - massacres and riots, animal sacrifice and human betrayal - The Liars' Gospel makes the oldest story entirely new.
The author says: "This novel's been nearly 20 years in the thinking, researching and writing: it's involved studies of ancient languages and consultation with academics, as well as a peeling-back of what we think we know about the period and the people to find out, as far as it's possible to find out, what the truth of the time was."
Review: The intriguing story is told from four viewpoints. Marym (Mary, Yehoshuah's mother), Ieudah of Queriot (Judas the Betrayer,Yehoshuah's friend and disciple), Caiaphas (the Roman High Priest of Jerusalem), and Bar-Avo (the rebel Barrabas, who fights the Romans). Two tell us more about Yehoshuah, the other two give the reader and accurate of the political unrest and the causes for it in Jerusalem. The historical background is important in understanding why Yehoshuah's actions were deemed so outstanding by his followers.
I found the story of Marym the most interesting, as it gives the reader a very different tale that the one we think we know. The human side of Mary and Yehoshuah is told with a modern analogy. The tale of Judas was the same-the author takes what you think you know and turns it on its side to give you a different perspective and to make you think about how a Yehoshuah's actions could have seemed to those who actually walked with him. often when we look at all sides of a story, we can then understand HOW events unfolded the way they did. This is the beauty of this book- it takes these 4 people and their tales and via their perspectives, shows how the fall of the temple and Jerusalem was a domino effect, that politics helped bring about and how Christianity was the result. Thee author's exhaustive research REALLY shows in how well laid out this book is.
If you are looking for a different perspective- give this book a read. You may be surprised at how it enhances your knowledge and understanding of the Bible and your faith!
About the Author: Naomi Alderman is the author of Disobedience, which won the Orange Prize for New Writers and has been published in 10 languages. She contributes regularly to the Guardian and lives in London. Check out her website and Twitter, for more.
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