by Sue,
Some months ago my local library included this title in a display of newly acquired books. This looked the most interesting. I’ve done some research, and the consensus seems to be that it’s a very well written book, excellently researched, but the content is potentially contentious:
“Reviewing the book, Jewish cultural magazine Jewish Renaissance described it as “an entertaining, engaging read” but found the story it told “uncomfortable and problematic. Your enjoyment of the novel will depend on how you respond to the premise that Jesus was, potentially, an ‘inconsequential preacher’”. Set in and around Jerusalem between Pompey’s Siege of Jerusalem (63 BC) and Titus’ Siege of Jerusalem (70), it is narrated in four main sections from the perspective of four key figures: Mary (mother of Jesus), Judas Iscariot, Caiaphas and Barabbas.”
On her website, the author herself says: I'm calling it at the moment the story of Jesus told from the perspective of the Pharisees. Mostly because as an ex-Orthodox Jew I grew up a Pharisee, and I feel one doesn't hear enough about what an excellent point they had on lots of matters.”
We might want to think about the parallels between the world described in this novel and the modern world. A survey of the novel's reviews and what we know about the repercussions of the Arab Spring suggest we might find an uncomfortable number. And, following Barnes’ novel, another idea worth pursuing is the reliability of memory. Why is Alderman’s book entitled The Liars’ Gospel?
Hello Ladies! Hope you are both well. Nancy, how is retirement going? Finding all sorts of things to do? Sue, how are you doing with Jay still being away? It’s unfortunately still winter here. We were without power for five days. Quite frustrating but otherwise we’re doing well. Anyway on to our story.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Mary’s portion of the story. We think of Mary as a devoted servant of God rather than a heartbroken mother. We assume that Mary accepted the idea of her son being a sacrifice. We believe she believed in his ministry too. It is very interesting to think that maybe she did not believe that he was the son of God or maybe she thought he was crazy. One thing that struck me as odd was the fact that Mary’s perspective was included in this novel. According to the bible, Barabbas, Judas, and Caiaphas are “bad guys”. They were the villains in Jesus’s life. Why is Mary’s tale grouped with these three? Is it because she, according to Alderman, is against Jesus’s ministry? Or is her perspective included just to show us how stories change when they are retold?
I also liked how Alderman took events that we know from the bible and attributed them to Barabbas and the other characters. We know that when missionaries went to different areas trying to preach the ministry of their deity (this applying to both Christian and Pagan religions), the deities took on the characteristics and tales of the local deities to make the transition from one deity to another easier for the indigenous people. In the Liar’s Gospel, Barabbas was the one betrayed by one of his followers. And we get to imagine that this tale was later attributed to Jesus’s life by some missionary or storyteller. Sue, you ask why Alderman titled this book “The Liar’s Gospel”. I believe it has to do with that fact that stories are never told the same way. They change; they evolve; they emphasize different points during each telling. Does this make the narrator a liar? I think in a way it does. Like it said at the end of the book, there is no such thing as an impartial storyteller. The narrator is not trying to mislead, but is only able to tell a tale from their point of view and this could count as a lie.
Very interesting novel choice, Sue! Nancy, I hope to have my intro for Atonement shortly.
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your still cold Katie ! It is our first day of Autumn here and the weather is still very warm. We are close to drought conditions though and many parts of the country have suffered devastating bush fires this year. Sue, I've seen some flooding in the UK, are you near there? We all seem to be experiencing extreme weather hmmm.
I am enjoying not working thanks Katie, however Mum and Dad are quite challenging at the moment, so I have introduced a yoga class and some meditation exercises into my health program [haha] We hope to be able to escape for a road trip to Sydney in a few weeks if the respite care works out, so looking forward to that.
Thank you Sue for such an interesting read. One of the things I love about our book club is the diversity of books and subjects we choose, I am constantly learning and challenged by them. I would never have known or thought to read this novel but found it a fascinating version of a very old and unchallenged [at least by Christians] story.
I found all the chapters held such human reactions and emotions and could easily see this as an alternative portrayal of the key characters.
I found Miryam's story very realistic. Any woman whose son has been killed is devastated and very angry, Alderman's Mary I could empathise with and believe.
My favourite chapter was Judas. I was interested by the story of a man's loss of faith through the tragic loss of his wife, finally finding a belief and a cause he felt worthwhile only to be disillusioned by a leader he had considered had lost his way and was becoming delusional.
All the main characters are called to question their faith at some time, even Caiaphas after he leaves the holy of holies seems to feel something is missing.
The question of memory and accurate retelling is one we have discussed before and is so interesting. I am sure just between the three of us, who have all read the same book, our retelling will be different. I guess we are lucky enough not to be recounting in the climate of the apostles, after the siege of Jerusalem and desperately trying to distance ourselves from anything Jewish.
I agree Katie, Alderman was very clever attributing many stories of Jesus from The New Testament to Barabbas. The last page of the novel seems to sum up her personal beliefs on the subject "There may well indeed have been such a man, or several men whose sayings are united under that one name.Tales accredited to him, and theories grew up around and over him. He became, like Caesar, the son of a God".
The history of this time has me intrigued so I've read the reviews for the two books Alderman mentions in her acknowledgements at the back of my copy. The Misunderstood Jew by Amy Levine and Goodman's Rome and Jerusalem.
In Goodman's book the Jewish historian and negotiator for Titus in the 70AD siege claimed 1 100 000 deaths. The death toll for the Arab Spring currently stands around 175 000, 80% of those are in Syria.The frightening images that I've seen of Aleppo of the government forces laying siege to this city makes me feel perhaps it it just one of many modern day Jerusalem's.
"Ash-sh'b yurid isqat an-nizam' Is one of the slogans of the Arab Spring "The people want to bring down the regime" It appears sadly, not a lot has change in this region.
Here on the East Coast we have so far had a better winter than last year. Indeed, yesterday on what is officially the last day of winter went with a friend to walk through a wood renowned for its snowdrops – just beautiful in marvellous sunshine. So sorry to hear about the power cuts, Katie – keeping Benjamin warm must have been a real worry. Hope the yoga and meditation exercises are helpful, Nancy – and that the respite care works out. My parents have good and bad days. We just keep going. My brothers are very supportive. Jay is having a wonderful time – going to China and then to Australia.
ReplyDeleteSo a bit of escapism into books is always welcome. And I did enjoy The Liars’ Gospel”. I must thank the library ladies when I return it later today and pick up “Atonement”. Wonderful piece of research, Nancy – thank you. I agree with you that on the face of it not a lot has changed in Arabia. If it’s not a colonial power, then it’s a homegrown dictator: though it has to be said that Syria’s was educated in Britain – itself a colonial power.
I really enjoyed the author’s concern with memory and the way history is made – Miryam knew she was fantasising: “She has filled him (Gidon) full of stories. Some have a measure of truth to them . . . And some are things she hoped had happened.” That’s the trouble with primary sources – not always reliable. And not everyone is as self-aware as Miryam is here. Gidon appears later on to tell Bar-Avo that his “cult” will not support him because Yehoshuah will return and then “the temple will run red with blood.” So, were Miryam’s stories to some extent responsible for the death of Ananus and thus the ruin of Jerusalem? A tenuous argument, but still it reminds the reader that events are so intertwined it’s extremely hard to apportion responsibility.
Very relevant this year as Britain’s media is full of the anniversary of the start of WW1. Who was responsible? One’s view depends on so many influences, few of them related to “facts”. All very difficult.
I agree with you totally, Katie: there is no such thing as an impartial storyteller.
Wonderfully developed in “The Liars’ Gospel” is the variety of interests at work in shaping events and their recall: personal relations; political and economic interest (I did feel for Caiaphas, a born politician, trapped by so many forces, whose spiritual needs did not seem to be met by his religion); and the desire for freedom: “To live free is more important than to live” thinks Bar-Avo. As you said, Katie, no one was really evil – everyone had a reason for doing what he or she did. There didn’t seem to be any other choice. You get the feeling that Yehoshuah was trapped, too, either by insanity or fear as he undertook what he believed he had to do.
And this uncertainty, this variety of valid interpretations of things long gone, provides wonderful ammunition for politicians: some of ours using this ammunition very irresponsibly in difficult times.
Another book that really made me think, and very well written, too. I’m so pleased we all seem to have taken something from it. I haven’t really forgiven myself for making us all read “Not Wanted On The Voyage”.
Take care of yourself ladies
I hope the weather gods have peaceful times in store for us.
Sue
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteI am rather dominating book choices at the moment, so we don't have to read the titles below immediately. But I just thought I'd recommend them before I forget the titles entirely
Stoner by John Williams
Regeneration by Pat Barker
I promise to hold my peace for a while.
Love to you both
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteSue, those book choices sound really interesting I am more than happy to add them to our list. Are you OK with this Katie ?
Here is an extract from an interview with Naomi Alderman for the Jewish Book Council.
" I would hate to tell anyone else how to read my novel and I hope that I write in such a way that I don’t force an interpretation on the reader, but to me Caiaphas is the hero of that story, as well as the high priests who follow him. These people who sacrificed basically everything in order to keep the peace. And Barabbas is the villain. "
Do you agree or disagree ? I have to admit I didn't see Caiaphas as the hero, but Alderman says herself she is a Pharisee so perhaps that's why she feels this.
What an interesting theory! I guess if we had to label one of the characters in this novel as "the hero", I would pick Caiaphas. I agree with Alderman that people who sacrifice themselves for the sake of peace are heroic. In addition it is harder to keep peace than to start revolt. I can understand Barabbas's desire to rid his home of the Romans but to kill just to stir up riots is terrible.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sue's book choices, I have no complaints. Honestly I don't really look at any of the novels until the book is physically in my hands. I trust you both :-)
Haven't held my peace for very long, have I?
ReplyDeleteThanks for going with the choices ladies. And thanks for the extract from the interview, Nancy. I thought Caiaphas was the most sympathetic character, too. But I think Alderman wanted her readers to respond to him that way, despite her stated desire not to force an interpretation on us. She portrays him as a man who did all he could to avoid bloodshed. Surrounded by forces controlling him, he manages to remain his own man. A good model for the politicians of today. Ours spend too much time being rude to each other.
Lovely spring weather - we have been so lucky here in the East Riding.
Sue