I started reading this book with a good deal of skepticism. A notorious atheist interpreting the parables of Jesus? Good Lord! Er, you know what I mean. Interestingly, this novel is one of a group of books called The Myths series, which "brings together some of the world's finest writers, each of whom has retold a myth in a contemporary and memorable way." Margaret Atwood, AS Byatt, Michel Faber and Alexander McCall Smith are some other authors on the project, launched in 2005. I'm not against religious criticism (in fact, I'm for it) but it's at least courageous and at the most pure genius to choose this guy to retell the Bible. Truthfully, it's not really that offensive. The premise is that Jesus Christ was not born one man but rather, twins: one Jesus and the other, Christ. Jesus went about his business pretty much as the Bible states, although exhibiting more average human traits like frustration, anger and sometimes mean-spiritedness. His twin brother, Christ, acts as PR man and chief chronologist, and sometimes Spin Doctor when required. A mysterious "stranger" appears to Christ regularly and goads him into certain actions (often involving manipulation of his brother) for the good of humanity. Christ believes it's an Angel but possibly a Satan figure...or perhaps some of both. Parts of the book were boring, parts were surprising and some were laugh-out-loud funny. I enjoyed the story at the Pool of Bethesda where the smelly, crippled beggar asks Christ to hug and kiss him to prove humanity is essentially good. Christ has to vomit several times but finally manages the task whereupon the man proceeds to relieve Christ of his wallet. Also the line (same scene) where a blind man calmly states, "I don't see any good." Metaphor Alert!! Ha ha... Is this Monty Python? Pullman's disgust for organized religion is obvious as Christ's spin on his brother's good deeds and ultimate betrayal of him (that's right, Christ not Judas) is rationalized by the conviction that after Jesus is gone, his myth (uh oh) and martyrdom (look out) will inspire goodness of humanity through an organized entity, a.k.a. the Church, something not possible if Jesus were to remain alive. The well orchestrated con - removal of Jesus's body from the cave in order to make people think he had "risen" and Christ's appearance as his twin brother to Mary Magdalene - is kind of gutsy even for Pullman but I suppose required of such a premise and not really shocking if you've read anything else by Pullman. Slow start but good ending and gives the reader pause, IF they're able to open their minds and allow the possibility of another way of thinking. Stick-in-the-mud zealots will pooh-pooh this offering and ignore it. That's okay. Go back to reading your safe, non-controversial Janet Evanovich novel. This book will take you a couple hours to read but you'll think about it a lot longer.
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