Hmmm. In some ways I really enjoyed this - as an exploration of relationships between people thrown together in a remote location. In other ways I felt that the characterisation was so lightly drawn that the 'reading betwen the lines' was lacking in many ways. Perhaps that was the point.

I think I still prefer The Last Temptation of Christ, even though it is much heavier going. (Do read it - I am not particularly religious but it had a profound affect on my view of Jesus and the basic philosophy of Christianity. How much more sense the sacrifice and Resuurection idea makes now!)

Picked up from CCC - always *too* tempting to browse the shelf while waiting for a coffee! I must leave a couple of books next time I'm passing.

This looks interesting, a novel based on Jesus and his 40 day fast in the wilderness; I guess a similar device used in The Red Tent? ('Rape of Dinah')

omigosh i've had this book for 3 years! A lot has happened since I worked in Cambridge...

Anyhoo, the book is very interesting, accomplished and wonderfully atmospheric, but strangely incomplete and unsatisfying. I had hoped for a clearer resolution for the quarantiners Jesus, Shim, Aphas and the Badu (Beduoin), as well as the odious fat Musa. Only the 'pregnant' friends Miri and Marta seemed to gain from the experience, an epithany of sorts and a significant shift in lifestyle. I had high hopes after the healing 'So, here, be well again.'and introductions to the main characters and Jesus's early days fasting and battling with his conscience and demons. In the event most of the events are less spiritual and uplifting than practical and expected of flawed humans, the good don't always prosper and the bad don't always suffer - on earth's mortal coil at least. As Marta says, 'If anything could happen, then it would'.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

...and so the journey continues, another east anglia town, another OBCZ bookshelf! I hope you enjoy this, and hopefully pass it on...

Picked this up during the meet-up at Cafe Nero in Ipswich. Thanks for bringing it along BookGroupMan, I look forward to reading it when I have read a few others on my 'to be read' shelf.

An interesting and atmospheric read. The suspense builds as you are lead to believe at one moment a miracle may occur and at the next realism kicks in with a vengeance and in the end...... well you decide.

Reserved for release during a trip to Wales.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On the summit cairn.