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clare__emm's review
4.0
4.5, rounded down because CT includes three pages of the ‘ramble without a full stop to show some kind of fervour’ literary trope that I HATE.
Other than that, this was excellent. It did a great job of exploring and depicting the truly transgressive nature of the early church, and also showing just how horrific being of the lower castes in the Roman era could be (serious violence warning, lots of rape and children dying).
Other than that, this was excellent. It did a great job of exploring and depicting the truly transgressive nature of the early church, and also showing just how horrific being of the lower castes in the Roman era could be (serious violence warning, lots of rape and children dying).
bebopbamf's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
erosarrow's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hessensitive's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Gritty, dark, enjoyable had me cringing from the gore multiple times. Love the concept.
agile76au's review
4.0
I was asked by a friend what made this is a book worth reading.
Tsiolkas brings out the humanity and sincerity of his characters in a novel that is clearly well researched. These characters think like people of their time, rather than acting as modern and progressive people misplaced in the Ancient World. Whether you're a Christian (as I am) or someone who rejects Christianity and what it stands for, you cannot be anything but impressed by the way characters are brought to life in a brutal world in which the murder of female babies, the feeding of Christians to lions, and the brutalisation of slaves is common.
Tsiolkas writes at the end of the novel that he grew up as a Christian, but subsequently rejected his early faith as he found it impossible to move past the Apostle Paul's stance on homosexuality. The theme of male friendship is evident throughout the novel, and the boundaries between friendship and attraction are not always clear between Paul and Timothy in particular.
This novel does have a subtly expressed central thesis. There are no signs, miracles, or other supernatural events in the story. Even Saul/Paul's Damascus Road experience is not described in any detail. Instead, the reader is left with a sense of the respect, and perhaps reverence, that the author has for the teachings of Christ which were so counter-cultural to the first century Ancient World.
Tsiolkas brings out the humanity and sincerity of his characters in a novel that is clearly well researched. These characters think like people of their time, rather than acting as modern and progressive people misplaced in the Ancient World. Whether you're a Christian (as I am) or someone who rejects Christianity and what it stands for, you cannot be anything but impressed by the way characters are brought to life in a brutal world in which the murder of female babies, the feeding of Christians to lions, and the brutalisation of slaves is common.
Tsiolkas writes at the end of the novel that he grew up as a Christian, but subsequently rejected his early faith as he found it impossible to move past the Apostle Paul's stance on homosexuality. The theme of male friendship is evident throughout the novel, and the boundaries between friendship and attraction are not always clear between Paul and Timothy in particular.
This novel does have a subtly expressed central thesis. There are no signs, miracles, or other supernatural events in the story. Even Saul/Paul's Damascus Road experience is not described in any detail. Instead, the reader is left with a sense of the respect, and perhaps reverence, that the author has for the teachings of Christ which were so counter-cultural to the first century Ancient World.
katiealex72's review
5.0
A wonderful, mysterious, well researched and passionate novel by one of my favourite writers; Damascus is quite different to his previous works. I can’t pretend that I understood everything about it on first reading, but this is a complex, layered book, which is going to age very well. The world of the eastern parts of the Roman Empire just after Christ’s death is a fascinatingly horrible place, for just about everybody. How did the vile torture and death of one educated but lowborn Jew come to symbolise a means of escaping the horror of the real world to be born into a promised kingdom of Heaven? How did his simple message...to love your neighbour as yourself... become twisted into so many different interpretations and meanings, eventually becoming almost lost in the very human desires for revenge? I’m an atheist but I found this a truly compelling story. Highly recommended.
rayleejay's review
4.0
Brutal, unique and insightful.
Tsiolkas re-tells the birth of Christianity in gory, brutal realism. Saint Paul (Saul) is the focus of each story, retracing his steps, words and actions gives insight into the roots of Christianity and what it preaches.
Honestly, I think I need so much more time to sit with this novel. It was so raw and gave me so much knowledge about the start of Christianity and Judaism. It was written in a neutral voice, with gentle undertones of questioning and atheism. The only downfall for me was the masculine brutality that had my stomach churning; which I could still understand it's purpose and place (I'm just a bit of a softie)
Truly a work of art, and a recommended read for anyone who is interested in the history of Christianity and how this impacts it's modern stance. I would not, however, recommend this to anyone deeply religious or overly sensitive.
Tsiolkas re-tells the birth of Christianity in gory, brutal realism. Saint Paul (Saul) is the focus of each story, retracing his steps, words and actions gives insight into the roots of Christianity and what it preaches.
Honestly, I think I need so much more time to sit with this novel. It was so raw and gave me so much knowledge about the start of Christianity and Judaism. It was written in a neutral voice, with gentle undertones of questioning and atheism. The only downfall for me was the masculine brutality that had my stomach churning; which I could still understand it's purpose and place (I'm just a bit of a softie)
Truly a work of art, and a recommended read for anyone who is interested in the history of Christianity and how this impacts it's modern stance. I would not, however, recommend this to anyone deeply religious or overly sensitive.
ashhollow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5