ANOTHER DNF, DARN IT! That makes the - what? Third? Fourth in a row?
I give up. Biblical fiction clearly isn't for me. I just couldn't with this book.ANOTHER DNF, DARN IT! That makes the - what? Third? Fourth in a row?
I give up. Biblical fiction clearly isn't for me. I just couldn't with this book. Couldn't get into it, couldn't like the characters, couldn't stay awake.
It's not "bad", it's just clearly not my thing. Which saddens me because the premise sounded really interesting and I loved the setting. Oh, well!
Mary Magdalene, a rather enigmatic and fascinating Bible character whom we don't know much about, comes alive in this rather interesting tak2.5 stars
Mary Magdalene, a rather enigmatic and fascinating Bible character whom we don't know much about, comes alive in this rather interesting take on her story. We know Mary as a woman of ill-repute, a sinner and a prostitute, and we also know that she was possessed by demons. She was marginalized, people didn't want anything to do with her, but after an encounter with Jesus, she becomes a changed woman and decides to follow and serve Him.
In this novel, Diana Wallis Taylor has imagined the cause of Mary's madness, as well as what her family life and social circumstances might have been. Kidnapped at the age of 11, her misadventure leaves a fatal traumatism on her soul, and she will never be the same again. First, the nightmares that wake her up screaming during the night. Then the blinding headaches, seizures, fits of rage, until it becomes evident that poor Mary is possessed by demons. The book spans many years, and we see Mary's evolution from the time she's a young girl to a middle-aged woman, yet the pace of the novel is rather slow. The first half is repetitive; Mary's parents despair of finding a husband who'd want a sick wife, and when they do find one, life is hard and it takes a lot of patience and hard work to control Mary and take care of her.
When she finally meets Jesus, the book takes a new perspective as we no longer read about the villagers of Magdala and the daily struggles with Mary, but instead we follow the Lord briefly through the last two years of His ministry, and we get to see all the events through the Holy Women's perspective which was very interesting. They were mostly in charge of preparing the meals and serving the men, but they kept pace with them and followed Christ wherever He went.
In terms of spiritual content, this novel doesn't teach you anything. It's not eye-opening on any level, there is no great amount of constructive teaching, and even if you don't read the Bible much, you've probably already heard all the parables and main events of Jesus' life that were recounted in this book. I was disappointed that there wasn't more substance in a novel that had such great potential. The writing did not come get me at all. I never felt sad, happy, elated, or joyful for any of the characters. I wanted to "feel" Mary's miraculous healing, her selfless abandon in following the Lord, her love for Him, His love for the people, etc. I wanted to feel strongly while the Passion was being seen through Mary's eyes, but I didn't feel much of anything. The writing was too empty, too simple, and didn't come get all the emotions we should have felt. There was a lot going on in this book in terms of hardships and sadness, and I never once felt sad. The writing only touched the surface of things, and wasn't deep at all.
It was still a good book despite that, and for the most part I enjoyed reading it anyways, but near the end I was obliged to take down a few points because two things bothered me. First, there was absolutely no mention of the 40 days Jesus spends in the desert before entering Jerusalem, and that's a pretty important part because it is His preparation time before His passion. It's Lent, and you don't just skip Lent! And second, the one that bothered me even more, Jesus is said to have brothers and sisters. In the Catholic faith we believe that Jesus was Mary and Joseph's only son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and not the natural way, and that they didn't have any other children together. It was the first time I'd read about Jesus having siblings so it really felt weird for me and that's what bothered me, but that is purely personal and I understand that not everyone will mind. Catholics, be warned though ;)
There is still another book by this author that I've had on my TBR for a long while, Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate, and I still want t give it a try despite the few setbacks I had with Mary Magdalene, but at least I will know to lower my expectations a bit, and read it just for the story and her take on yet another glanced-over character in the Bible. ...more
Alright, so enough is enough. My limit has been overreached. Michal, I gave you a fair chance, but at 70% in I'm forced to abandon if I want to retainAlright, so enough is enough. My limit has been overreached. Michal, I gave you a fair chance, but at 70% in I'm forced to abandon if I want to retain what I have left of sanity.
If I painstakingly reach another chapter only to read the words "Five Million Years Later" as the heading, I WILL EXPLODE. ASJKGJKAJKDJ, I. WILL. EXPLOOOOOOOODE!!!
Why the heck do authors think it's cool to skip years ahead in a story?! WHY?! It's incredibly annoying, and I feel cheated beyond belief every time it happens. Especially when the previous chapter ends on a cliffhanger or a dramatic note. Oh, by all means, do skip ahead 8 years, no one minds at all!
I mean, let me- let me sum up how the majority of this book was written:
- Michal whines because David is in hiding somewhere from the mad King Saul who is trying to kill him. Usually hides in odd places like his backyard or bushes behind the royal palace. *snickers* - Just kidding, Saul doesn't want him dead anymore, David goes back to his house. Michal is immensely relieved and they go back to doing whatever. -Wait, though. Saul actually STILL wants David dead. -David goes back into hiding. Michal sulks. - Oh, David. *insert heart constrictions and painful, unendurable waves of chagrin here*
Next Chapter: 1 year later
- Oh, the sky is so blue today! What a lovely day! I'm still doing whatever in my house! (Reader: Mmmm'kay, but what about David?! Isn't he being persecuted by the King? Where is he? Is he safe?) - David is actually in the palace playing his lyre for King Saul. (Whaaaaaa??? I thought the King wanted him dead? Am I still reading the same book?!) -King Saul throws his spear at David. RUN MAN, RUN. He runs to his house. - "Oh dear, Michal, your father has tried to kill me again, see you later!" - He goes into hiding. - Michal is devastated. Oh, David. When will I see you again?! *more disgustingly emotional whimpers here.*
Next Chapter: 2 years later
(Reader: What, again? 'This a joke?????) - King Saul: Okay for sure this time, I HAVE TO KILL DAVID. (Reader: Well what the hell has been going on for the past 2 years?! David been hiding in them bushes behind yo' palace all this time?!!?!) - David goes into hiding again. This time, he actually leaves the city. Smart thinking there, David. -Oh wait no, he's back. It's apparently safe now, and he's back. (Reader: Sweet. We'll be spared Michal's wailing!) - Michal: Oooh, David. OH, DAVID. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I live in constant fear that you will die. OOOOOHHH, I CANNNNN'T!!! (Reader: Well, darn. APARENTLY NOT! *throws book in frustration*)
Next Chapter: 1 year later (Reader: Lord Almighty have mercy on us all, HERE WE GO AGAIN.) - King Saul: NO JOKE, I'M REALLY KILLING DAVID NOW. NOOOWWWWW!!! - David runs back into hiding. This time it's pretty serious and he has to leave the city and cannot come back. King Saul wants him dead. He can't ever come back! (Reader: What's so special about this time?!?!?! They've been playing cat and mouse for YEARS. Why is it suddenly more serious?!?) - Michal: Oh, what will I do without David?!?! Why didn't I go with him!?! I cannot live without David! I cannot live without my husband! I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT MY LOVE! (Reader: Hellooo Wuthering Heights! We meet again!)
Next Chapter: 3 years later
(Reader: *takes painstakingly slow, calming breath, caaaaaalmiiing breeaaaathhhh. Ahhhh-fuuuu, Ahhhhh- fuuuuu, AAAAAHHHHHHH WHAT THE HELL AM I READING?!?!) -David is still in hiding from the King, and Michal is still sulking in her house. (Reader: Well, at least he didn't try to go back home this time. BUT THREE YEARS?! Where is he hiding, the North Pole?!?) - King Saul will not stop hunting David until he is DEAD. (Reader: Yes, WE KNOW. Just get on with it already!)
Next Chapter: 5 years later
(Reader: HAHAHAHAHA!! Okay, at this point I'm so exhausted, let me just laugh at it instead. FIVE YEARS LATER. FIVE. LOL.) - David, surprise, surprise, is still in hiding. (Reader: You don't say!! He's still hiding?! No! What a twist! Dang, stop the suspense, it's killing me!) - King Saul is unfortunately still around, still relentlessly plotting David's death. - War has broken over Israel between Saul's supporters and David's. - Michal, meanwhile, has gotten married again, is helping to raise her sister's children, laments over the fact that she doesn't have children of her own, and is just generally miserable. (Reader: Really, this book is just so full of surprises. I can't handle it. *drowns in sarcasm*)
Next Chapter: 8 years later (Reader: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!!?! Is this a timeline or a novel?!??! WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THOSE EIGHT YEARS!?!) - David is still in hiding. - Michal is still whimpering. Oh, David. My heart aches for you. David. (Reader: Seriously, WHAT ON EARTH AM I AM READING?? WHat am I doing with my life?! Who am I as a person?! JUST WHAT!!)
Next Chapter: 2 years later (Reader: *groans agonizingly and violently throws book across the room* WE. ARE. DOOOOOOOOONE.)
Everyone knows David eventually becomes King anyways, so SCREW THIS.
I generally consider myself a rather patient and optimistic person in regards to most things, but this tested my self-control beyond limits. I mean, seriously, I have never read a novel as jumpy and disjointed as this one. Nothing was held together, nothing ran smoothly, nothing was connected. Each chapter was a pure repetition of its predecessor (set a few years later, naturally, GRWARG!), with nothing new and nothing exciting.
The first few chapters had actually been pretty good, I got into it and was enjoying the pace and the atmosphere, but it soon dwindled down into nothingness and we were left with bland, boring characters. There was no development whatsoever, be it in the plot or in the characters. There was no depth to the writing, I didn't connect to anything or anyone, and the only emotion that came out as genuine was Michal's whimpering.
Seriously, what a ninny. In the fifty million years this book spans, she doesn't change one bit from beginning to end.
And for the love of all that is holy, authors, PLEASE, refrain from endlessly italicizing characters' names to add emphasis to the emotional instability of mind of whoever is thinking about them!!
David. Oh, David.
Sure, once or twice adds a bit of poignancy for good measure, but do it every single time one character is thinking about the other, and suddenly it sounds like this:
"DAVIIIIIIIIID. OH, DAVID!! I NEED YOU! I LOVE YOU! I MISS YOU! I CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT YOU! AAAAAHHHHHH, AHHHHHH!!! WHAT SHALL I DO?!?! WHERE ARE YOU?!?! OOOHHH, DAVID!!!"
SERIOUSLY CAN YOU GET ANY MORE LANGUISHINGLY DRAMATIC????? (No, no, Anne. You can't. You're dramatic enough as it is, thank you.)
Oohhh. This boooook. I just couldn't, friends. What a horrible mess....more