Helpful Score: 2
Grant Mathews, grad student, is on a mission to discover a link of ancient texts uncovering the early life of Jesus believed to be hidden in a monastary in the Himalayas. Upon discovering them, Grant finds himself on his own self aware journey. He falls in love with the journalist Kristen and races for his life from a crazed assasin while trying to save his career.
With so many faiths brushed upon in this novel I was amazed at how well things tied up. I loved the theroy behind the philosophies intertwined with the suspenseful fiction. Great read.
With so many faiths brushed upon in this novel I was amazed at how well things tied up. I loved the theroy behind the philosophies intertwined with the suspenseful fiction. Great read.
Helpful Score: 1
The back cover reads: A murder at the Taj Mahal. A kidnapping in a sacred city. A desperate chase through a cliffside monastery. All in the pursuit of a legend that could link the world's great religious faiths. In 1887, A Russian journalist made an explosive discovery in a remote Himalayan monastery only to be condemned and silenced for the heresy he proposed. His discovery vanished shortly thereafter. Now, Grant Matthews journeys to the Himalayas in search of this ancient mystery. But Matthews couldn't have anticipated the conspiracy of zealots who would go to any lengths to prevent him from bringing this secret public. Soon he is in a race to expose a truth that will change the world's understanding of religion. A truth that his university colleagues believe is mere myth. A truth that could change his life forever--if he survives.
I love a good murder mystery. Here's one with a unique setting, in the East and in a collision of religious heritages. Grant is a likeable enough character, and I liked the main female protagonist even more. This book, even if fictional, reminds me of the best and the worst of people. Some of the behavior and though processes are a bit stereotypical. A large part of the book deals with spiritual and religious issues. What if Jesus had traveled to India and other parts East before his public ministry? Those who have rigid views about the major religions of the world may object to the searching/questioning detailed here, as well as some negative views of Christian fundamentalists. Neither of these bothered me, so I enjoyed the characters, settings, and plot. I look forward to the next novel from this author.
I love a good murder mystery. Here's one with a unique setting, in the East and in a collision of religious heritages. Grant is a likeable enough character, and I liked the main female protagonist even more. This book, even if fictional, reminds me of the best and the worst of people. Some of the behavior and though processes are a bit stereotypical. A large part of the book deals with spiritual and religious issues. What if Jesus had traveled to India and other parts East before his public ministry? Those who have rigid views about the major religions of the world may object to the searching/questioning detailed here, as well as some negative views of Christian fundamentalists. Neither of these bothered me, so I enjoyed the characters, settings, and plot. I look forward to the next novel from this author.
After meeting with the author, I understand better the intentions and the ideas in this book. If only for the concept of forgiveness/surrender/abandonment, read this book. It's the ideas that make it worth it. I will definitely read his next one.
*****
I'll start by saying that I did like this book but not for the sake of the book, itself; I liked it because it piqued my curiosity in a big way and inspired a much larger search. I've been interested in religions since I can remember (by-product of being born into a cult?) and some of the things mentioned in the book made me want to re-examine some, Zen Buddhism in particular. It also moved my meditation status from "rare" to "occasional," which is a big step for me.
I appreciate and admire the author's ecumenical approach to the subject and the main character's transformation from a duality of thinking to a more eclectic one. I think there is much to be learned from this book for those falling in the category of "extreme" religious views. Unfortunately, they're the ones who will summarily reject it.
As a novel, I found most of the characters flat, notably the preacher. It seemed there was a glimmer of humanity near the end but it seemed too little, too late. I felt as if Grant and Kristin were merely representatives or stand-ins for a large analogy. Tim was just plain evil and I found it hard to believe someone was simply that malicious without any kindness; I wanted him to have some sort of animal friend so that I wouldn't think he was completely horrible. Also, I never got a feeling for what Tim, Jennings, or Bryan felt about the Issa textsdid they truly think they were fabricated or did they believe them but wanted to destroy them anyway? I wish that had been addressed. I understood *why* they wanted them destroyed but not what they thought about them.
I appreciate the detail the author included, such as the Muslim student's shaking Grant's hand and merely nodding to Kristin because she was a woman and therefore not to be touched. When the author had mentioned something about children taught in Islamic schools, I wish he'd included information about the female children not being able to attend after a certain point (lest they learn or something equally as threatening). It seemed as if Islam was a little glossed over and buffed up to look good. A diseased person in a tuxedo is still a diseased person.
In all, a decent book that may or may not cause you to think and re-examine some of your beliefs. It also provides the most probable answer to what the heck Jesus was doing when he was younger.
*****
I'll start by saying that I did like this book but not for the sake of the book, itself; I liked it because it piqued my curiosity in a big way and inspired a much larger search. I've been interested in religions since I can remember (by-product of being born into a cult?) and some of the things mentioned in the book made me want to re-examine some, Zen Buddhism in particular. It also moved my meditation status from "rare" to "occasional," which is a big step for me.
I appreciate and admire the author's ecumenical approach to the subject and the main character's transformation from a duality of thinking to a more eclectic one. I think there is much to be learned from this book for those falling in the category of "extreme" religious views. Unfortunately, they're the ones who will summarily reject it.
As a novel, I found most of the characters flat, notably the preacher. It seemed there was a glimmer of humanity near the end but it seemed too little, too late. I felt as if Grant and Kristin were merely representatives or stand-ins for a large analogy. Tim was just plain evil and I found it hard to believe someone was simply that malicious without any kindness; I wanted him to have some sort of animal friend so that I wouldn't think he was completely horrible. Also, I never got a feeling for what Tim, Jennings, or Bryan felt about the Issa textsdid they truly think they were fabricated or did they believe them but wanted to destroy them anyway? I wish that had been addressed. I understood *why* they wanted them destroyed but not what they thought about them.
I appreciate the detail the author included, such as the Muslim student's shaking Grant's hand and merely nodding to Kristin because she was a woman and therefore not to be touched. When the author had mentioned something about children taught in Islamic schools, I wish he'd included information about the female children not being able to attend after a certain point (lest they learn or something equally as threatening). It seemed as if Islam was a little glossed over and buffed up to look good. A diseased person in a tuxedo is still a diseased person.
In all, a decent book that may or may not cause you to think and re-examine some of your beliefs. It also provides the most probable answer to what the heck Jesus was doing when he was younger.
