The Liars' Gospel: A Novel by Naomi Alderman.

The Liars' Gospel: A Novel by Naomi Alderman.

Blurb

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

 My Review

This book written from the point of view of four very controversial characters in Biblical times drew me from the start.

The experiences of Mary, Judas and Barabbas really kept me turning the pages and made me see the times in which Christ walked this earth.

The bloody and cruel reality of Roman tyranny was never glossed over and made the grit of the book all the more real for me.

I loved the change in points of view but felt that the latter half of the book became somewhat to politically driven.

This said this is a brilliant book.  One I think that if you like Christian Fiction, then this is a must read.

Do not however think of rainbows and kittens.  This is far too real a novel to have an idealized idea.

Truly a book I would recommend.

WaAr

Star recommendation -- ****