Jesus: A Novel
List Price: $15.05
Price: $15.05
This audio book is wonderful. Walter Wangerin really leads you into the story by presenting the scenes in graphic detail. I can really imagine myself in the story! I have heard Wangerin in person and now have a work of his for my library that I will treasure.
Be prepared for an intense experience of the life of Jesus. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, you'll learn much about the human person of Jesus whom many consider to be Lord and Savior. For those who see him as a great teacher and leader, you'll grow in your appreciation of him.
Love It!!
I love this book. It is written as a story about the life of Jesus and those around Him. A must read for those who want to understand more about Jesus. I would recomend this to everyone and especially young people and new christians
WONDROUS AND BREATHTAKING......
OK.....I've never met Walter Wangerin, Jr....but he's managed to embarrass me in public several times!!! I've been a huge fan for well over 10 years and probably should've expected some kind of emotional reaction in reading another one of his great novels...but to have an employee of Subway come up to me at lunch this week and ask if I was crying was a little much...ha. I explained to her that I was reading a wonderful book and she replied..."that's so sweet!".
And it is with great sweetness, amazing tenderness and super-abundant passion for his subject matter that Wangerin tells the tale of the greatest story ever told.
The manner in which he colors so carefully within the lines of the Gospel narratives in telling the stories of, not only Jesus Himself, but most especially Mary, Simon Peter, John, Mary Magdalene and even Judas Iscariot is truly spellbinding. From his amazing interpretation of the reason behind Judas' betrayal (trying to force Jesus' hand in overcoming the Roman and Jewish authorities and establish his "earthly" kingdom)...to the astonishing description of how John came to be known as "The Beloved Disciple"....to his humorous, heartbreaking and absolutely priceless portrayal of Simon Peter, we are treated to some of the most mesmerizing words ever written about the intensely human folk who walked with Jesus.
Perhaps the most vivid words, however, are written about Jesus' incredible mother. Wangerin takes great pains in interpreting the stories of her awestruck and intensely human conflict in watching the drama of Jesus' heavenly mission as He prepares to die for the sins of lost humanity. The beauty of her story lies most profoundly in the myriad ways that Wangerin describes her as a woman swept away by motherly devotion and pain for her precious "Yeshi" as she watches His suffering firsthand. Her bold and seemingly irreverent tirades against God on behalf of Jesus seem totally in synch with a woman who clearly understands that the Almighty -is- the father of "their" son. And some of the most beautiful writing about Mary is from the "pen" of John (Wangerin writes the book -as- the beloved disciple)...as he cares for Mary in the latter years of her life...as he witnesses to the Gentiles...only to have Mary interrupt him with humorous corrections about the life of HER son....to the pet name she gives him to address her...to the earthy humanity of this most amazing of women and lastly in his telling of her final hours...Mary's story is a thing of beauty as told by this amazing writer.
Some of the most famous Gospel passages describing Jesus' life literally jump from the pages...from the Sermon on the Mount to the raising of Lazarus, the Nativity story, the Crucifixion (told, not as graphically as I'd have expected, but with a reverent beauty and elegance that left me stunned) to the Ascension. One of the final stories...Jesus' post-resurrection appearance on the beach as the disciples are fishing (with Mary along as the instigator of the boat trip!)...leading up to Jesus' restoration of Simon Peter....is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever read.
Wangerin's multi-hued and overwhelmingly passionate rendering of the character of Jesus' Himself is so masterful that one is left in awe of his ability to make it perfectly clear that Jesus was man and divine at the same time. The Crucifixion scene followed by the first appearance to the disciples in the upper room concludes with John writing these words to his Lord...."And when one week later, you grant Thomas as the last of all to see your wounds and to receive his peace, he falls to the floor and utters the confession I have never since ceased to sing unto you: My Lord, my Lord and my God!"
So much Scripture is interwoven into the novel from start to finish that Wangerin's words are given a much deeper import and resonance than would otherwise have been possible. These stories are so much a part of the lives of believers that Wangerin's intensely personal renderings of the life of Jesus resonated deeply within my spirit...and made me understand that these stories are truly OUR stories and part of who we are as Christians. After the powerful telling of Jesus' death and resurrection in the novel, it became clear to me, in a way I'd never grasped, exactly WHY the early disciples who lived through all of these things truly abandoned their old fear of death.
I'll conclude with Wangerin's dazzling description near the end...of John the Beloved trying his best to summarize his telling of the life of Jesus.... "Well, then: I cannot lay my pen aside until I've given expression to the mystery inexpressible, the timelessness and the placelessness of the Lord. What I write here, what I indite as last of all, might be sung, could someone give it music. Me? I confess, there is no music in me-except insofar as I love it. I can't sing. I growl below the soaring voices of the blessed. I don't make melodies. And all the singers I have ever known have left me to my poor, inglorious means: a way with words, a memory weighty and comprehensive and dagger-sharp with detail, a knowledge of Greek and the Scriptures, and the spirit that drives me to write things down."
These last words seems almost to describe Wangerin himself. I don't know if Wangerin can sing a note in tune, but I know that his God-given talent with words have the power to bring me to tears. And to make my spirit sing.......
Splendid
More than once this work brought tears to my eyes. The author blended different aspects of the four gospels into this compelling novel. One thing I was confused about was the Beloved is supposed to be John. In this book, that is not all too clear since an account of John is told in the third person.
Aangrijpend boek
Walter Wangerin, vertelt het levensverhaal van Jezus Christus in romanvorm afwisselend door de ogen van Johannes, de leerling die Hij liefhad, en Maria, de moeder van Jezus. Bekende personages en verhalen uit het Johannes evangelie (hoewel natuurlijk ook uit de andere evangelieën en Handelingen is geput) worden mensen van vlees en bloed. Hoewel het gevaar van romantiseren, dramatiseren en meer inleggen dan op basis van de Bijbel ons is meegegeven, houdt Wangerin zich behoorlijk aan de ongeschreven en voor vele lezers gevoelige spelregels. De gemiddelde gelovige is immers grootgebracht met een bepaalde bijbelvertaling en zienswijze op hun Heiland, ook in het al dan niet uitbeelden, verhalend vormgeven van Zijn leven. Het boek grijpt, zoals goed lezen van de Bijbel ook doet. Boeiend om gesprekken met een groep over te hebben die zowel de Bijbel als de roman gelezen hebben. Op Boekencentrum.nl vind je voorbeelden.
List Price:
Price: $15.05
Description
Walter Wangerin's much-acclaimed retelling of the Bible as a novel, "The Book of God", has sold over 1.5 million copies in 20 languages worldwide. The award-winning author now turns his attention to the controversial and charismatic person of Jesus. The story is told by two of Jesus' closest confidantes - his mother Mary and his beloved disciple. Together, they provide a compelling account of Jesus' revolutionary ministry, as his loyal following and the opposition against him increases daily. At the height of his popularity, through the blind ambition and tragic misunderstanding of one of his closest friends, he is handed over to his enemies. Yet this act of cowardice will enable Jesus to fulfil his ultimate mission...Faithful to the gospel accounts and expertly retold, this is an engrossing read for all intrigued by the person of Jesus - Christians and non-Christians alike.Customer Reviews
Wonderful Story TellerThis audio book is wonderful. Walter Wangerin really leads you into the story by presenting the scenes in graphic detail. I can really imagine myself in the story! I have heard Wangerin in person and now have a work of his for my library that I will treasure.
Be prepared for an intense experience of the life of Jesus. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, you'll learn much about the human person of Jesus whom many consider to be Lord and Savior. For those who see him as a great teacher and leader, you'll grow in your appreciation of him.
Love It!!
I love this book. It is written as a story about the life of Jesus and those around Him. A must read for those who want to understand more about Jesus. I would recomend this to everyone and especially young people and new christians
WONDROUS AND BREATHTAKING......
OK.....I've never met Walter Wangerin, Jr....but he's managed to embarrass me in public several times!!! I've been a huge fan for well over 10 years and probably should've expected some kind of emotional reaction in reading another one of his great novels...but to have an employee of Subway come up to me at lunch this week and ask if I was crying was a little much...ha. I explained to her that I was reading a wonderful book and she replied..."that's so sweet!".
And it is with great sweetness, amazing tenderness and super-abundant passion for his subject matter that Wangerin tells the tale of the greatest story ever told.
The manner in which he colors so carefully within the lines of the Gospel narratives in telling the stories of, not only Jesus Himself, but most especially Mary, Simon Peter, John, Mary Magdalene and even Judas Iscariot is truly spellbinding. From his amazing interpretation of the reason behind Judas' betrayal (trying to force Jesus' hand in overcoming the Roman and Jewish authorities and establish his "earthly" kingdom)...to the astonishing description of how John came to be known as "The Beloved Disciple"....to his humorous, heartbreaking and absolutely priceless portrayal of Simon Peter, we are treated to some of the most mesmerizing words ever written about the intensely human folk who walked with Jesus.
Perhaps the most vivid words, however, are written about Jesus' incredible mother. Wangerin takes great pains in interpreting the stories of her awestruck and intensely human conflict in watching the drama of Jesus' heavenly mission as He prepares to die for the sins of lost humanity. The beauty of her story lies most profoundly in the myriad ways that Wangerin describes her as a woman swept away by motherly devotion and pain for her precious "Yeshi" as she watches His suffering firsthand. Her bold and seemingly irreverent tirades against God on behalf of Jesus seem totally in synch with a woman who clearly understands that the Almighty -is- the father of "their" son. And some of the most beautiful writing about Mary is from the "pen" of John (Wangerin writes the book -as- the beloved disciple)...as he cares for Mary in the latter years of her life...as he witnesses to the Gentiles...only to have Mary interrupt him with humorous corrections about the life of HER son....to the pet name she gives him to address her...to the earthy humanity of this most amazing of women and lastly in his telling of her final hours...Mary's story is a thing of beauty as told by this amazing writer.
Some of the most famous Gospel passages describing Jesus' life literally jump from the pages...from the Sermon on the Mount to the raising of Lazarus, the Nativity story, the Crucifixion (told, not as graphically as I'd have expected, but with a reverent beauty and elegance that left me stunned) to the Ascension. One of the final stories...Jesus' post-resurrection appearance on the beach as the disciples are fishing (with Mary along as the instigator of the boat trip!)...leading up to Jesus' restoration of Simon Peter....is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever read.
Wangerin's multi-hued and overwhelmingly passionate rendering of the character of Jesus' Himself is so masterful that one is left in awe of his ability to make it perfectly clear that Jesus was man and divine at the same time. The Crucifixion scene followed by the first appearance to the disciples in the upper room concludes with John writing these words to his Lord...."And when one week later, you grant Thomas as the last of all to see your wounds and to receive his peace, he falls to the floor and utters the confession I have never since ceased to sing unto you: My Lord, my Lord and my God!"
So much Scripture is interwoven into the novel from start to finish that Wangerin's words are given a much deeper import and resonance than would otherwise have been possible. These stories are so much a part of the lives of believers that Wangerin's intensely personal renderings of the life of Jesus resonated deeply within my spirit...and made me understand that these stories are truly OUR stories and part of who we are as Christians. After the powerful telling of Jesus' death and resurrection in the novel, it became clear to me, in a way I'd never grasped, exactly WHY the early disciples who lived through all of these things truly abandoned their old fear of death.
I'll conclude with Wangerin's dazzling description near the end...of John the Beloved trying his best to summarize his telling of the life of Jesus.... "Well, then: I cannot lay my pen aside until I've given expression to the mystery inexpressible, the timelessness and the placelessness of the Lord. What I write here, what I indite as last of all, might be sung, could someone give it music. Me? I confess, there is no music in me-except insofar as I love it. I can't sing. I growl below the soaring voices of the blessed. I don't make melodies. And all the singers I have ever known have left me to my poor, inglorious means: a way with words, a memory weighty and comprehensive and dagger-sharp with detail, a knowledge of Greek and the Scriptures, and the spirit that drives me to write things down."
These last words seems almost to describe Wangerin himself. I don't know if Wangerin can sing a note in tune, but I know that his God-given talent with words have the power to bring me to tears. And to make my spirit sing.......
Splendid
More than once this work brought tears to my eyes. The author blended different aspects of the four gospels into this compelling novel. One thing I was confused about was the Beloved is supposed to be John. In this book, that is not all too clear since an account of John is told in the third person.
Aangrijpend boek
Walter Wangerin, vertelt het levensverhaal van Jezus Christus in romanvorm afwisselend door de ogen van Johannes, de leerling die Hij liefhad, en Maria, de moeder van Jezus. Bekende personages en verhalen uit het Johannes evangelie (hoewel natuurlijk ook uit de andere evangelieën en Handelingen is geput) worden mensen van vlees en bloed. Hoewel het gevaar van romantiseren, dramatiseren en meer inleggen dan op basis van de Bijbel ons is meegegeven, houdt Wangerin zich behoorlijk aan de ongeschreven en voor vele lezers gevoelige spelregels. De gemiddelde gelovige is immers grootgebracht met een bepaalde bijbelvertaling en zienswijze op hun Heiland, ook in het al dan niet uitbeelden, verhalend vormgeven van Zijn leven. Het boek grijpt, zoals goed lezen van de Bijbel ook doet. Boeiend om gesprekken met een groep over te hebben die zowel de Bijbel als de roman gelezen hebben. Op Boekencentrum.nl vind je voorbeelden.
