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missyjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
book club 2.0 May 2024 International Booker prize. not sure that I really understand much of this book and maybe what the author is trying to convey. Maybe lost in translation.... The final sentence of the book maybe the point that she was trying to get across.... Speaking of the love that the Gribaldi's had for each other; "They have understood that thanks to the love between two individuals, thanks to their hearts beating in unison, an individual can put up with suffering, disillusionment, and humiliation of all sorts and that only this love can transfigure the world and make peace on earth."
Pascal is born and left in the shed of Eulalie and Jean Pierre by his young unwed mother, Maya/Fatima. somehow he is thought to be divine. there are several components from the New Testament that are thrown in and Pascal is searching for his father. He is visited as a young adult by Espiritu, an unusual man with a strange hump on his back. This is a man that Pascal eventually refers to as his uncle. Espiritu wants Pascal to meet his real father, but he never seem to be able to catch up with him. the book seemed to jump around too much without enough cohesion. the timing of things did not seem to flow either. There would be a discussion about having a party to celebrate Pascal in two weeks, which would be Easter, then there is a four week span of Pascal dealing with trying to see his friend Judas Eluthere. the story line about the party never when anywhere. Maybe I am not understanding some of the references to French leaders and such. There are also references to other countries and Rastafarians and Haile Sallesse. a lot of this is due to the book focusing on immigrants and discrimination. Maybe the discussion with help
Pascal is born and left in the shed of Eulalie and Jean Pierre by his young unwed mother, Maya/Fatima. somehow he is thought to be divine. there are several components from the New Testament that are thrown in and Pascal is searching for his father. He is visited as a young adult by Espiritu, an unusual man with a strange hump on his back. This is a man that Pascal eventually refers to as his uncle. Espiritu wants Pascal to meet his real father, but he never seem to be able to catch up with him. the book seemed to jump around too much without enough cohesion. the timing of things did not seem to flow either. There would be a discussion about having a party to celebrate Pascal in two weeks, which would be Easter, then there is a four week span of Pascal dealing with trying to see his friend Judas Eluthere. the story line about the party never when anywhere. Maybe I am not understanding some of the references to French leaders and such. There are also references to other countries and Rastafarians and Haile Sallesse. a lot of this is due to the book focusing on immigrants and discrimination. Maybe the discussion with help
murakami96's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
shankarhere's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thebobsphere's review
3.0
As a fun thing during prize season, I hold polls on my Instagram stories for my followers to choose the books on the longlist. I always start in alphabetical order and the poll's lose stays on for the next round. The Gospel was my last read because of this system.
I do know that Maryse Condé is a huge name in Caribbean literature and that, although, this one has received mixed reactions, she has many other superlative ones.
As I approach each book with zero expectations, I started to see why there have been so many dividing opinions on The Gospel..
The problem is, in my opinion, is that I'm not sure what exactly the book is satirizing? The main plot is about an abandoned, orphaned boy, Paschal (Easter Child), who is destined to be the new messiah and we see if him recreate various scenes which are famous in the Bible; the visit to the temple, the gathering of followers etc. There are characters named Maria, Martha and Lazarus so the Biblical homage is clear.
Things get a bit muddy Paschal goes off on a journey to find his father and learns some life lessons on the journey, such as other religious leaders like Siddhartha Gautama and Mohammed. Is the book poking fun of religious leaders and their devote followers, is it satirizing agnostics or is it mocking fun at the person who is searching for meaning, or even, as it doesn't feel like a satire and book about a person searching for meaning.
That aside, I wasn't too convinced by The Gospel.... At times I found the pacing of the book uneven, sometimes dragging. Saying that, I do want to try out Maryse Condé's other novels, especially Segu.
I do know that Maryse Condé is a huge name in Caribbean literature and that, although, this one has received mixed reactions, she has many other superlative ones.
As I approach each book with zero expectations, I started to see why there have been so many dividing opinions on The Gospel..
The problem is, in my opinion, is that I'm not sure what exactly the book is satirizing? The main plot is about an abandoned, orphaned boy, Paschal (Easter Child), who is destined to be the new messiah and we see if him recreate various scenes which are famous in the Bible; the visit to the temple, the gathering of followers etc. There are characters named Maria, Martha and Lazarus so the Biblical homage is clear.
Things get a bit muddy Paschal goes off on a journey to find his father and learns some life lessons on the journey, such as other religious leaders like Siddhartha Gautama and Mohammed. Is the book poking fun of religious leaders and their devote followers, is it satirizing agnostics or is it mocking fun at the person who is searching for meaning, or even, as it doesn't feel like a satire and book about a person searching for meaning.
That aside, I wasn't too convinced by The Gospel.... At times I found the pacing of the book uneven, sometimes dragging. Saying that, I do want to try out Maryse Condé's other novels, especially Segu.
hundhemm's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kenzieab's review
3.0
While a little meandering and lacking the punch I had hoped from it, this parody of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is just as captivating and contemplative as the as the source material. Explores the African diaspora in the Caribbean with wit and humor. Considers what it means to be a symbol and also a person. Storytelling is well and alive in the 21st century!
It is also translated from the original French by Condé's husband, which is a wee fact I found so intimate and lovely.
It is also translated from the original French by Condé's husband, which is a wee fact I found so intimate and lovely.
chfugal's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Translated from French
booksnpunks's review against another edition
2.0
It’s not going well for me lately is it. I enjoyed probably the first third of this but I found it got really repetitive and nothing interesting was happening. The main character, Pascal, I felt absolutely no emotion towards and I started to have no interest at all in what he did. I don’t mind books a lot of the time where nothing happens but there was also a lack of urgency, wittiness and atmosphere which usually makes up for that and this book just fell so flat and boring for me. I hope it doesn’t end up on the Booker shortlist as I’ve read a lot better on the longlist than this.
loujbee's review against another edition
3.0
I struggled with this, would have stopped if it didn’t make the shortlist but it did and I persisted. Funny but repetitive in a ‘Less’ kind of way.