Only really covers the 2 ends, what happened in the middle Mary?
354097
As always, very interesting. But I wanted to find out more about the bits between the stomach and the colon. What about the appendix, the gall bladder, the pancreas, the duodenum, the jejunum etc? What are they all for?
156882
The first half was more compelling that the second. The second was about his misery in recovery, which could be very inspiring for those who are recovering from a major accident or illness. It is also about his ministry, showing that his life on earth continued to have purpose, even though his ministry changed drastically. The first part, about his time in heaven, was riveting and very convincing. As his movement was diminished his faith was enhanced.
2566479
An unfinished story.  There are too many questions unanswered.  Only tells part of the story.
2715967
This book is supposed to be an update of Mother Mary's "Save your Planet" which at the time was a book of Mother Mary's words and I wondered why the rewrite, as to what Mother Mary said in the first book that differed from this one and why the first one is no longer available on his website. he took it off five years ago! But it is still here on Amazon, but he doesn't sell the book himself anymore. That is odd. I still have the book "Save Your Planet", it was one of the first books written by the author.

These two books supposedly contributed by Mother Mary (Save Your Planet and Healing Mother Earth) are a world apart in vibration, love and true healing. I was amazed. I could go into a lot of detail but this isn't the place. Suffice it to say that the intellectual meanderings in the rewrite are a far cry from the first Mother Mary and I would question if these two Mother Mary's are the same beings. He also includes other "spiritual" beings that are questionable to who is really speaking.

If you bought this first book and you liked it and felt it was mostly true, you will not like the new one as the vibration is defensive, wordy, with an overuse of "mental boxes" and negative spirals with negative statements about people and especially religion and Catholicism. Since this is supposed to be the representative of Mother (Mother of Jesus) who is nurturing and holding the immaculate concept, you will know a different mother that is a far cry from the Mary you have known through the Ascended Masters teachings and the visionaries who bring Mary's message today. Mary's message in Save Your Planet was "Choose life", choose the consciousness of life that leads you to accept your oneness with your God. Choosing this new book will not lead you to God, unfortunately.
1744795
I would love to finish reading the story ... I closed the computer and cant find the rest of the story?? Suggestions??
2022479
The story was really good but started to drag in the middle. The ending left a lot to be desired since it never provided a proper conclusion. We never found out what happened to Hutch and his henchmen, the buried water hole with the treasure and the ending with the crypt and the real "treasure" was disappointing.
640862
This is a novella which will maybe take you an hour to read.  It's written by Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Near the end of her life, she's living in Ephesus with two disciples who are writing the Gospels.  Despite the passing of time, she is still raw, grieving and confused by the events of her son's life and death.  Her impression is that he was used by those around him, caught up in events that he couldn't control and that now his followers are trying to create a legacy of his life which isn't consistent with the way that she remembers things.  She is frustrated that he couldn't just stay an ordinary man, living with her.

One big question in my mind reading the book was - did she not believe that he was the son of God?  It would seem not.  She gets confused and angry when his followers talk about his father without meaning Joseph.  She worships at the temple of Artemis.  She talks about the miracles that Jesus worked in his life, but from another perspective.  Lazarus was never the same after rising from the dead and who knows for sure that there was water in the jugs before they "turned into" wine.  Accounts of Jesus walking on water she attributes to mass hysteria.  While this is an interesting perspective, it completely negates the story of the Holy Conception - according to the Bible, Mary knew from the outset whose baby she was carrying.  I presume that the Mary in this book would point to that as another aspect of her life that is being twisted by the disciples as they write the story that they want Christians to believe.

A lot of thought has gone into this book, the language is almost poetic and its an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, but somehow Mary comes across as a completely dislikable woman: bitter, self-centered and distrustful.  I didn't feel that Toibin got under her skin.

This would be a good book for book clubs because a) it's very quick to read and b) there are so many layers that would be fascinating to discuss.
2788718
It just went long in the description of things and then it was cut short at the end. You knew exactly what was going to happen by the third chapter, if not before.
3220543
Simply put, I do not understand how this book has an Imprimatur and a Nihil Obstat!  I see minimal understanding in this book of Saint Pope John Paul II's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Theology-Of-The-Body/dp/0819874213/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Theology Of The Body</a>&nbsp;or of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/the-basic-understanding-of-biology-and-fertility-which-should-be-absolutely-required-of-anyone-presenting-Catholic-marriage-preparation/dp/0825306264/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">the basic understanding of biology and fertility, which should be absolutely required of anyone presenting Catholic marriage preparation</a>.  In my opinion, Ave Maria should be embarrassed to be publishing it.
308939
This is a good analysis of the 2012 election from both sides.  It ended quite abruptly, however, and I felt it needed a stronger ending.  Thus only 4 stars.
3113974
This book presents an accurate, well-researched and well-written history of the Kabbalah, but the history portion is nearly 2/3 of the whole book.  I bought it to learn about the Tree of Life and was very disappointed.
4069959
Bable, bible for first half of book.  Interesting second half till an ending obviously pointed towards selling a sequel. Not to me!!
4420904
The only part I enjoyed was Almah Mary's emotional and spiritual,physical union with Sharon which led to the birth of Jesus. That encounter was sadly short-lived,but it showed true depth and love between the two,better than unions of other charactes in the novel. The rest of the characters were shallow and not very loving. They were too busy proving how'flawed and human'gods and godesses could be. The characters were composites of different biblical and legendary characters,so it was hard to determine who was who after awhile. What I objected to most was Judas'/Seth's portrayal of Jesus'twin,based on another convoluted legend and the love scenes of Mary Magdalene with first SETH/JUDAS,than JESUS.Great. Woopee! Sexual freedom among gods and godesses and their earthly incarnations was alive and well in Jesus'time,but that doesn't mean I'd ever want or need to read about it. Mary Magdalene never had to choose between one brother who represented fleshly desires and the other who reprsented the spirit. She loved them both equally and had their children. BIG DEAL.She doubted her faith,(which we all do at times,so,I can't fault her for that),but her loyalties swung from one brother to the next like a pendulum. That aspect of Mary Magdalene's character was maddening and absolutely uninspiring. This disappointing,disjointed story turned aspects of Christianity upside down and was more about sex than love. I afraid to read 'Christo-Pagan Fiction'now. If this book is an example of it,I'll forget about 'enlightenent'and stick to mass marketed romance novels,that don't pretend to be anything but the fluff they are.
4546061
I was ok with the liberties the author was taking right up to the point where Mary escapes and goes off to Rome. I love historical fiction. I also an am avid reader of true history, and have read several biograpies of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I. Like I said in my title, I understand this is a novel. But to take such a liberty! It was hard enough to suspend what I know of the true history to even entertain the thought that Bothwell visited Mary in England. It's become standard to write in a meeting between Mary and Elizabeth. Those things I can accept because they don't change the central facts and keep the storyline where it should be.

I can't even finish this novel. I don't want to know what Mary does in Rome, or how she ends up back in England waiting to get her head chopped off. This novelist must make Mary out to make worse decisions than she did in life.

Pass this one up. If you're looking for decent historidal fiction about Mary, Queen of Scots, read Margaret George's book.
1092446
This book is in two parts.  The first part includes Merton's journal (at the end of his life) when he traveled to Bangkok ultimately.  He has interesting notes but I found the detail on the spiritual practices of the East to be more than what I cared for.  The second part of the book has complimentary material on the religion of the East.  Again this was stuff I wasn't interested in.  I know from other readings/journals of Merton that he continued his orthodox Christian faith to the end of his life and the contemplation via the Eastern techniques was a supplemental vehicle for him.
3337321
I enjoyed the historical descriptions of Judea. Considering the daily lives of Jesus' followers in the days between His crucifixion and Pentecost was an interesting aspect of the book. But I had some nagging feeling that something was missing.

I had difficulty accepting Leah's attitude to an arranged marriage as that was the normal procedure at that time; it was difficult to reconcile the wavering Alban as the centurion whom Christ commended for the depth of his faith. As others have noted, it's a pity the more plausible wine-based beverages were replaced with inaccurate tea.

But, for me the greatest missing aspect was that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She got merely a passing mention and was brushed off with a "but you won't see her".

I was left feeling I had gotten less than expected (and I'd already bought the next two books in the trilogy).
714513
I almost gave up on this book about half way thru. I didn't and pushed on.

I shouldn't have.  Thinking that the final chapter (at last!) was truly The End, There were two further short epilogue-like chapters that left me very confused.

Basically a story of confused identities it just left me confused and sorry I'd pushed through.