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<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Is the Bible really gospel truth?</i> This is the question the honourable, academic Robert Babcock aims to find out on his quest to find the earliest copies of the gospels in order to prove the reliability of the story of Jesus as recounted in the King James Bible. However, this is not the key focus of Stephen Taylor’s fictional novel, <i>Gospels</i>. The main character is the perfidious John Campbell-John, a rogue, imposter and swindler who flees 19th-century England in an attempt to escape from his debts.
John meets the magnanimous Robert in Venice and, despite being polar opposites, become firm friends. After being honest for the first time in his life, admitting to owing thousands of pounds in gambling debts, Robert offers John the opportunity to accompany him on his quest through the deserts of Egypt. John accepts and the pair finds themselves on an adventure of discovery and personal redemption.
John and Robert make an unlikely but excellent team. Robert’s knowledge of the Bible and ancient history is vital, however, John’s propensity for falsehoods and cunningness gets them out of a few scrapes and tricky situations. Nonetheless, it is difficult for John to give up his old ways and his insular behaviour threatens to get them in more trouble.
Fortunately, Robert’s humility begins to influence the young scoundrel, as does his penchant for historical artefacts. As the story progresses, John begins to leave his past behind and becomes interested in Robert’s work, learning new things about Egyptian culture and the origins of the Bible. However, when a new gospel comes to light that threatens the whole of Christianity, Robert does not know what to do; and only John can give him counsel.
John Campbell-John is a character that the author introduced in a previous book. However, the timelines are not sequential, therefore <i>Gospels</i> is a stand-alone novel. The time frame for this book needed to be set in 1835 to correspond with historical truths. Although Robert’s discovery of a Gospel of Thaddeus Jude is an invention of the author, the quest itself is based on the journeys of three 19th-century Bible hunters. Stephen Taylor has conducted an enormous amount of research, including the biographies of Robert Curzon, Constantin von Tischendorf and Émile Amélineau who, on separate occasions, sought the same knowledge as the fictional Robert Babcock.
Despite being titled <i>Gospels</i>, the novel, for the most part, focuses on John Campbell-John and his wicked ways. Through a first-person narrative, John explains his past, his betrayal of a friend, and his addiction to gambling. Initially, he has no qualms about his behaviour and acts only for himself and his selfish greed. Whilst Robert goes in search of knowledge, John goes on a journey of redemption, coming to terms with his previous wrongdoings. However, acknowledging these faults is not enough, he needs to turn away from these roguish ways.
It is disappointing that the narrative does not focus more on the gospels, both real and imagined. There was enormous scope for an in-depth look at the life of Jesus and the inconsistencies in the Bible. The fictitious Gospel of Thaddeus Jude evokes a similar reaction in Robert as the Non-Canonical Gospel of Thomas found in the 19th-century had on many devout Christians. There was so much potential with this direction of thought, however, the author passes over it in preference to the life of John Campbell-John.
Slow to begin but increasingly interesting as it progresses, <i>Gospels</i> is a book of many themes. History, both 19th-century and ancient; religion, although not a Christian story; and achievement and absolution combine together to produce a unique tale that takes the reader from the back alleys of London to the River Nile and the deserts of Sinai. A subtle clue in the prologue keeps readers alert as they await the conclusion of the adventure – an ending that ambiguously reveals whether John moves on from the follies of his past.
Is the Bible really gospel truth?</i> This is the question the honourable, academic Robert Babcock aims to find out on his quest to find the earliest copies of the gospels in order to prove the reliability of the story of Jesus as recounted in the King James Bible. However, this is not the key focus of Stephen Taylor’s fictional novel, <i>Gospels</i>. The main character is the perfidious John Campbell-John, a rogue, imposter and swindler who flees 19th-century England in an attempt to escape from his debts.
John meets the magnanimous Robert in Venice and, despite being polar opposites, become firm friends. After being honest for the first time in his life, admitting to owing thousands of pounds in gambling debts, Robert offers John the opportunity to accompany him on his quest through the deserts of Egypt. John accepts and the pair finds themselves on an adventure of discovery and personal redemption.
John and Robert make an unlikely but excellent team. Robert’s knowledge of the Bible and ancient history is vital, however, John’s propensity for falsehoods and cunningness gets them out of a few scrapes and tricky situations. Nonetheless, it is difficult for John to give up his old ways and his insular behaviour threatens to get them in more trouble.
Fortunately, Robert’s humility begins to influence the young scoundrel, as does his penchant for historical artefacts. As the story progresses, John begins to leave his past behind and becomes interested in Robert’s work, learning new things about Egyptian culture and the origins of the Bible. However, when a new gospel comes to light that threatens the whole of Christianity, Robert does not know what to do; and only John can give him counsel.
John Campbell-John is a character that the author introduced in a previous book. However, the timelines are not sequential, therefore <i>Gospels</i> is a stand-alone novel. The time frame for this book needed to be set in 1835 to correspond with historical truths. Although Robert’s discovery of a Gospel of Thaddeus Jude is an invention of the author, the quest itself is based on the journeys of three 19th-century Bible hunters. Stephen Taylor has conducted an enormous amount of research, including the biographies of Robert Curzon, Constantin von Tischendorf and Émile Amélineau who, on separate occasions, sought the same knowledge as the fictional Robert Babcock.
Despite being titled <i>Gospels</i>, the novel, for the most part, focuses on John Campbell-John and his wicked ways. Through a first-person narrative, John explains his past, his betrayal of a friend, and his addiction to gambling. Initially, he has no qualms about his behaviour and acts only for himself and his selfish greed. Whilst Robert goes in search of knowledge, John goes on a journey of redemption, coming to terms with his previous wrongdoings. However, acknowledging these faults is not enough, he needs to turn away from these roguish ways.
It is disappointing that the narrative does not focus more on the gospels, both real and imagined. There was enormous scope for an in-depth look at the life of Jesus and the inconsistencies in the Bible. The fictitious Gospel of Thaddeus Jude evokes a similar reaction in Robert as the Non-Canonical Gospel of Thomas found in the 19th-century had on many devout Christians. There was so much potential with this direction of thought, however, the author passes over it in preference to the life of John Campbell-John.
Slow to begin but increasingly interesting as it progresses, <i>Gospels</i> is a book of many themes. History, both 19th-century and ancient; religion, although not a Christian story; and achievement and absolution combine together to produce a unique tale that takes the reader from the back alleys of London to the River Nile and the deserts of Sinai. A subtle clue in the prologue keeps readers alert as they await the conclusion of the adventure – an ending that ambiguously reveals whether John moves on from the follies of his past.
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Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Curse of the Dead-Eyed Doll in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to read this book because the title reminded me of a John Bellairs book and then i found out it was based on the Robert doll!
So thanks, Jolly Fish Press, because it was an absolute delight!
Al for some reason taunts a doll in a museum and starts to see spooky things. Nothing too nefarious, thought, because this is a middle grade book.
The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy as Al wonders if he's really being haunted or losing his mind.
I really liked the illustrations. I feel they added a lot to the atmosphere of the story.
I wanted to read this book because the title reminded me of a John Bellairs book and then i found out it was based on the Robert doll!
So thanks, Jolly Fish Press, because it was an absolute delight!
Al for some reason taunts a doll in a museum and starts to see spooky things. Nothing too nefarious, thought, because this is a middle grade book.
The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy as Al wonders if he's really being haunted or losing his mind.
I really liked the illustrations. I feel they added a lot to the atmosphere of the story.
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Saint Death (John Milton #2) in Books
Sep 5, 2021
This is a cracker of a quick read and although this is the second in the series, you most definitely can read it as a standalone.
Absolutely jam-packed with action from start to finish and with the main protagonist that you quickly begin to care about despite his dodgy history, this is a great book.
John Milton is ex-army, ex-special forces and ex-government agent - well he wants to be ex-agent but it's not that easy and John has "escaped" to South America. Trying to keep off-the-radar, he finds himself working as a cook in a "restaurant" in Juarez, Mexico when the proverbial hits the fan and John can't stand by watching innocent people get murdered. Unfortunately, his intervention puts him in the line of sight of the cartel and his old bosses whilst trying to avoid corrupt police and the local population who are under the thumb of the cartel.
This is a book that I absolutely raced through, full of action and violence with many scenes of peril, which some may find upsetting, but one which I thoroughly got lost in and I will definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Absolutely jam-packed with action from start to finish and with the main protagonist that you quickly begin to care about despite his dodgy history, this is a great book.
John Milton is ex-army, ex-special forces and ex-government agent - well he wants to be ex-agent but it's not that easy and John has "escaped" to South America. Trying to keep off-the-radar, he finds himself working as a cook in a "restaurant" in Juarez, Mexico when the proverbial hits the fan and John can't stand by watching innocent people get murdered. Unfortunately, his intervention puts him in the line of sight of the cartel and his old bosses whilst trying to avoid corrupt police and the local population who are under the thumb of the cartel.
This is a book that I absolutely raced through, full of action and violence with many scenes of peril, which some may find upsetting, but one which I thoroughly got lost in and I will definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Holmes and Watson (2018) in Movies
Mar 18, 2019
Utter codswallop
First I have to be honest - for the first time I'm reviewing something that I've not finished watching/playing/reading. However there is a reason for that...I am a massive will Ferrell fan. I love everything he does and especially love the connection he has with John c Reilly. Step brothers and Talladega nights whilst by no means classics thoroughly entertained me. So when I saw they were reuniting again I was excited. So I've never been so disappointed in a film. I managed maybe 45 mins in before I had to give up. Just truly awful. Literally nothing even came close to making me laugh. Lots of poor knob gags and 'funny' accents. Just utterly dreadful - avoid!!!
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