Reviews

Damascus by Christos Tsiolkas

thatonewhoreads's review

1.0

I absolutely hated this book. Slow boring and nothing could keep me interested in turning the page. But I really loved reading his previous work and really looked forward to reading something new, maybe my expectations were too high for this work.

spirallingshape4385's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lindyanne's review

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

softandcrunchy's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

I really wanted to finish this, but I got about two thirds of the way through and just lost interest. I love that it's grounded in good historical research and Tsiolkas really brings that period alive. After 12 years of Catholic school, I finally got why the figure of Jesus Christ was so radical. I also like the way he approaches different periods of Saul/Paul's life through different characters. But for all of this, it just wasn't enough to keep me going to the end. 

schgro's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

Hectic. Christianity is so sanitised, and I appreciated that Tsiolkas was willing to go to these depths to probe the conflicts and prejudices at the origins of Christianity. I wanted everyone I know to read it and have a serious think about religion. But it was also brutal to read and the violence makes you gag. The class hierarchies (including inferior status of women) were gutting but displayed in such a way that I couldn't look away. I felt like people are really capable of anything--and some are increasingly proud of their cruelty. Loved the tension with Jesus's twin! Played out on two levels! 

pollincowbell's review

challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

stanro's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is quite some book! And probably not what I expect to read about- the mind-space of the great proselytiser. As usual, Tsiolkas writes well about internally conflicted people, and the setting in the early decades following the crucifixion is historically fascinating as the adherents of various religions clash - verbally and physically and internally.

maddysbookcase's review

1.0

I can't tell if it is my atheism or if this book is just really really bad.
A character driven novel, yet I dont feel like I got to know Paul. The book lacked details, except where torture, homoeroticism and body fluids were involved.
I love Tsiolkas, but I feel that any praise this book is receiving is because of his name, and timing.

frankie_s's review

2.0

DNF
The worst kind of Tsiolkas book

jocelyn_sp's review

3.0

melodramatic, stirring emotions and thoughts, I am still mentally chewing on it days later. A novel using a fictionalised Paul / Saul was always going to be difficult in spots, and disliked the claim that Thomas was Jesus' twin being 'fact' in the world of the novel, but although parts felt overdone I enjoyed this book. The character of 'Saul' was moving and satisfying. The emotional contrasts between the equality, love and hope of the followers of Jesus and the Greco-Roman cults were well done. The traumatic arc from 'maybe Jesus will return today' to 'this is the 4th generation'. I thought the divisions and personality clashes over-played, but in keeping with the tone and telling of the fiction