Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly his best work
Review: I have read all of Quinn's fiction titles and the Holy certainly is not on par with the rest of his books. It is a good story and worth the read but not nearly as revolutionary as The Story of B. He makes several subtle points in the Holy that are intriguing, but primarily this book is something to read if you are just looking to enjoy a good story. For many people that is enough, and this book may work for such people. Yes, the book gives you a good deal to think about, but really not much new if you have read the bulk of his other titles. If you are new to Quinn I recommend reading the Story of B first. It is his best title in my opinion, and better done than Ishmael (although Ishmael is damn good). And clearly, you do not have to read Ishmael first to Understand B. The story of B can stand on its own.
Rating: 
Summary: Daniel outdoes himself!
Review: I have read all of Quinn's work and grow with each book - he is a unique thinker and he challenges his readers - in the best way. This was no exception. It is different from Ishmael and some of his better known work - as the other reviews point out - but certainly just as powerful and provocative - and much more "thrilling." I could not put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Well.....
Review: I have read all of Quinns books. If your looking to read Quinn for the first time, then I would say go with Ishmael and Story of B. The Holy is very much Quinn ,but I found it much harder to relate to than his other books. I LOVE Quinns writing ,but I felt this was almost like another My Ishmael. Just the same points rehashed in a slightly different manner. This time a little bit more Sci-Fi (If a talking ape wasn't). Valid Points are still made in this book, but anyone looking to read a book of Quinns I can't stress enough get Ishmael followed quickly by Story of B (His best book by FAR) before you even dream of touching this.
Rating: 
Summary: Shook me up
Review: I marveled at the first section after reading Quinn's description of 4 year old Tim discovering there is more to the world than meets the eye. Tim believed that as he grew older he would be allowed in on the real secrets of life. Quinn's thesis however, is that Tim already was on the path to wisdom; and aging would have the opposite effect of stealing that widsom from him.This book fascinated me and disturbed me. It will stay with me for a long time. I should have given it 5 stars but it shook me up too much.
Rating: 
Summary: An Unexpected Letdown
Review: I was so excited when this book came out that I almost peed my pants. Quite simply, Quinn is my favorite author. After finishing the first half, though, I was completely nonplused. "Don't get discouraged," I kept telling myself. "It will get better. After all, this is Daniel Quinn we're talking about - legendary author of Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael." Thus, out of pure respect for the author, I begrudgingly finished the book which I should have put down. In the end, there was nothing to redeem the money and time spent. My impression of the book in a nutshell: Daniel Quinn on crack a la Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - only Fear in Loathing in Las Vegas was much, much better. This is clearly an example of a literary/philosophical master resting, or in this case coasting, on his laurels. If you haven't read anything by Quinn yet, don't start here. This book will only give you the wrong impression of Daniel Quinn and his profoundly important philosophical perspective. For that, try any of the books I mentioned above.
Rating:
Summary: Falls short of expectations
Review: I've been a big Daniel Quinn fan since reading "Ishmael." But this novel was a disappointment. The first time I attempted to finish it, I stopped about three quarters of the way through because it just got too strange. I started again with an open mind, and finished it, but was not pleased with the book as a whole. Quinn is an excellent writer, but I felt with this book, he was trying too hard to make a simple point. He takes us through an extraordinary journey, which is far from believable, and by the time he gets to his point, I was too perplexed to care. If you practice a religion, such as Wicca, anamism, or Satanism, that Christians would scoff at, perhaps this would be a refreshing read because of its defense of such religions. Otherwise, it's not really worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Falls short of expectations
Review: I've been a big Daniel Quinn fan since reading "Ishmael." But this novel was a disappointment. The first time I attempted to finish it, I stopped about three quarters of the way through because it just got too strange. I started again with an open mind, and finished it, but was not pleased with the book as a whole. Quinn is an excellent writer, but I felt with this book, he was trying too hard to make a simple point. He takes us through an extraordinary journey, which is far from believable, and by the time he gets to his point, I was too perplexed to care. If you practice a religion, such as Wicca, anamism, or Satanism, that Christians would scoff at, perhaps this would be a refreshing read because of its defense of such religions. Otherwise, it's not really worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: I've read all of Daniel Quinn's books several times, and I have to say The Holy is the best. My previous favorite was After Dachau. But then, I'm a reader of novels. I wait avidly for the newest novel by an author whose work captivates me. And The Holy and After Dachau are the only Quinn books that I consider truly novels, rather than teaching novels. Sure, Quinn's thoughts and ideas are there, as they are in all his books. But they aren't spelled out for you. You have to absorb them as you live the book through the characters. I've been waiting for a book from Quinn that I can introduce to friends who are readers of novels but wouldn't touch a book that smacks of "teaching." In The Holy, I've found that book.
Rating:
Summary: DECENT ONE
Review: If you are looking for a Stephen King like book, don't waste your time. But if you are looking for philosophical approaches just buy it. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Thriller Leading to Parts Unknown!
Review: In THE HOLY, a private investigator who is living a dull, eventless life is offered an event. A friend needs a mystery solved: Why did people throughout history turn away from the great eternal, supernatural, omnipotent God that we meet in the major monotheisms and look to the gods of pagans for their deepest needs? Sounds like a job for a PhD in theology, but in this story, it is the task of a reluctant, regular guy. The investigation takes him across the country where he meets individuals that you probably wouldn't seek out for spiritual advice. Yet, as he begins to explore what these people are saying (and showing) to him, he begins to see things differently. I found myself amazed by the alternative perspectives offered by the people this man visits. I thought I may have finished the book, and then I realized THE HOLY was just beginning! Another man from another place, on an impulse, leaves his job, his home, and his family to journey into no-where. Or at least, no-where any of us have ever gone. I cannot begin to describe the places and experiences that this man encounters in his voyage into this shady, unknown world of mystery. It's dark, surreal, and even scary at the same time that it's enchanting and magical. The realizations that this man comes to about himself and about life in general will knock you light-years off your keel. The characters in this book travel intertwining roads in a master-crafted tale of how some ordinary people are presented with opportunities that lead them all over the country, and eventually to those mysterious presenters themselves! This is the shocker that will change the lives of the book's characters, but will also change the way we see religion, our own lives, and the world itself. If you've ever felt too familiar with life or too shelled in by the world as you know it, this book is your answer. The cover says: "The forbidden gods: Reach out to them, and they will reach back." And when they do, nothing will ever be the same.
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