A review by kamckim
The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber

1.0

This was a huge disappointment. It's part of the Canongate myth series; however, it was not a retelling of an old myth. It was a new story about a fifth book of the Gospels, written by Malchus, a former servant of the high priest Caiaphus. Malchus is traditionally believed to have had his ear cut of by Peter, a disciple of Jesus. The manuscript of Malchus has been discovered by a scholar who goes through difficult times after he convinces a publisher to read his book. I'm disappointed because this novel is a story about Theo the scholar more than it is a retelling of a myth. For sure, the shock of the book via a translation of the discovered account is its portrayal of a very human death, rather than a divine Son of God. But this has been explored and done better than Faber does it. For a better book from the series regarding Jesus, you should instead read Pullman's, THE GOOD MAN JESUS AND THE SCOUNDREL CHRIST.