This is a very well-written, well-researched and impartially presented book which tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. It completely ignores the furore caused by the Da Vinci Code and other "conspiracy theorists", but tells the Biblical story of Jesus that we all know to some extent in a way which - to me at least - is both moving and thought-provoking.

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This book is now out on a ring; please PM me to get involved.

Already signed up (current reader in bold):

• bookmaniac70 (sofia, bulgaria)
• Elestr (kimberley, nottinghamshire, united kingdom)
• Molyneux (didcot, oxfordshire, united kingdom)
• fluffywelshshee (tullibody, scotland, united kingdom)
• coolboxuk (chertsey, surrey, united kingdom)
• Lutrus (canterbury, kent, united kingdom)

Note: if you're not happy with your position in this list, please PM me sooner rather than later!

Got it today from the post. OMG, it is huge!:-))
September is the month of thick paperbacks.10 days ago I read "The Way The Crow Flies" which was 845 pages. Well,although at the beginning I was taken a back a bit,I finished it in a few days. I hope I will be able to read this one fast enough.
Thanks so much for sending!

Started reading. It looks interesting.

I finished the book yesterday and I have to admit,that I was quite impressed by it. The novel follows very close the original Biblical story but manages to breath a fresh air and meaning into it.I liked that the story about the mission of Jesus was told through the eyes of a woman,Mary of Magdala- a controversial personage and a target of many speculations herself. Some small details made the story sounds even more true,like the love which Mary feels for Jesus,or the rivalry and jealousy among the disciples,as those are natural things for such a kind of community. The narration moved me deeply and made me pounder again over one of the greatest stories of humanity.It managed to bring close the mystical atmosphere of those ancient days.It is one of the best books I`ve read this year. Thank you so much for sharing and starting this bookring!

I PMed Elestr yesterday and am waiting for reply to pass the book on.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Elestr.

Received as a ring.
I really thought I'd journalled this when I received it. My brain is definitely going. Ho hum - anyway it's journalled now. Will try to hurry my poor brain on to get this read asap to pass on to Molyneux. Sorry again folks.

Iris/Elestr:)

Lovely Book. Really enjoyed this. Ready to send on to Molyneux as soon as I have her address.

Have got the book a couple of days ago, have started readding it will let you know asap i read it.

still have the book and am still reading it

Felt that i have had this book to long so i am passing it on to the next person. Hope to get it again another time.
On to the next person in the queue

Arrived today - unfortunately on top of a number of other ring books. I hope you don't mind me keeping it for a bit, at least I'm 2nd-from-last anyway...

When I first got the book, I thought it was quite daunting by its sheer size, but once I got going found it very easy to read and so enjoyed it!!! I think the geographical and cultural backgrounds are very well researched, and the story follows the Bible, where it is appropriate, without conflicts. Obviously, Mary's personality, family, feelings, as well as childhood etc are added by the author but it is done so thoughtfully and believable. The book has really brought to live for me that part of the world at the time of Jesus, and in fact has brought to life the entire gospel story and beyond. I now know a lot more about the problems Jesus and his followers would have encountered, and a lot more about the Jews themselves. It was most enlightening and yet not boring at all! I think I'll want to read more of Margaret George's books.

Thanks to coolboxuk this was waiting for me on my return from a week away visiting my mum. Will read as soon as possible although it may take me a while to get through this huge book.

Had a go at this but with my pregnancy and post baby brain I haven't got very far. On its way back to LaFontaine.