Rating: 
Summary: Amazing book
Review: A tense and violent story of the relations between an American missionary family and Amazonian Indians in Peru. A classical tale of colonialism, the story is riveting, even though a few of the characters (especially the missionaries seem prescribed. The reader turns and twists throughout the book and is continually surprised, yet the story progression remains clear.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: A tense and violent story of the relations between an American missionary family and Amazonian Indians in Peru. A classical tale of colonialism, the story is riveting, even though a few of the characters (especially the missionaries seem prescribed. The reader turns and twists throughout the book and is continually surprised, yet the story progression remains clear.
Rating:
Summary: ¡Madre de Dios!
Review: I've always been a bit of an escapist, so this book was perfect for me. Peter Mattiessen is actually a travel writer, well qualified to describe the South American rain forest setting. What surprises is how well he conveys the brutal reality of what might befall us, should we find ourselves sitting at a rickety wooden table at La Concepción Taverna at the end of a mud street in the jungle.You will find yourself in the strangest company. It's hard to tell the savages from the decent white folk. The Missionary's wife appears to be losing her mind. The natives are restless. The mercenaries passing through town. You are about to meet Lewis Moon and, for some reason, you will not be able to look away. This is a disturbing book, no-one is spared, not even the reader.
Rating:
Summary: ¡Madre de Dios!
Review: I've always been a bit of an escapist, so this book was perfect for me. Peter Mattiessen is actually a travel writer, well qualified to describe the South American rain forest setting. What surprises is how well he conveys the brutal reality of what might befall us, should we find ourselves sitting at a rickety wooden table at La Concepción Taverna at the end of a mud street in the jungle. You will find yourself in the strangest company. It's hard to tell the savages from the decent white folk. The Missionary's wife appears to be losing her mind. The natives are restless. The mercenaries passing through town. You are about to meet Lewis Moon and, for some reason, you will not be able to look away. This is a disturbing book, no-one is spared, not even the reader.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: In Matthiessen's At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Lewis Moon, the mysterious and elusive mercenary with a good heart, steals every scene in which he appears. The story, in a nutshell, concerns the clash between 4 forces in a remote South American jungle reason: misguided Christian missionaries, corrupt local politicians, the near Stone Age jungle natives, and Lewis Moon. Beautiful progress of a story in which it's hard at any moment to know who to root for, a story in which no one really comes out a winner, and therein lies the moral.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: The author excels on all levels. His description is not only accurate but lyrical; his characters are finely drawn; the plot is intricate and complex. The intent is clear: the missionaries are portrayed as being self-righteous and hypocritical. Only the child can make the true connection with the natives, and he becomes a sacrificial lamb. Moon emerges as an Adam figure, seeking his destiny and finding it at last by losing himself in the universe. What a magnificent book!
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Summary: Not so happy ending...
Review: The novel, At Play in the Fields of the Lord is excellent. It deals with the very important issue of brining missionaries into "uncivilized" countries. The novel shows how destructive it can be to interfere with other cultures, especially when it will ultimately hurt the civilization. In the novel, Evangelical missionaries go to South America to spread their religion to the Indians. This proves to not only be a mistake, but it is destructive to both the missionaries and the Indians. Our culture tends to always want happy endings in both stories and movies, but this story is well done because it does not show a happy ending. The missionaries do not come in and convert the Indians. Everyone does not end up living happily ever after. In fact, the opposite happens. Both the Indians and missionaries end up in despair. This book is well done because it exposes the realities of what can happen when people try to interfere with other cultures. The missionaries end up making a huge mistake which leaves the Indians with nothing. The missionaries also realize that they have made a huge mistake by interfering with the lives of the Indians, but by the time they realize what they are doing it is too late. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I also recommend that people watch the movie, which is also very well done. For anyone interested in reading the book,take your time with it, and really consider exactly what the message is, because I believe it is really up for interpretation.
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Summary: Missionaries Vs. Mercenaries
Review: This book is the comparison of Missionaries Vs. Mercenaries and is charactered by peopled with ethnic groups who also come from the same sort to conflict: Jews and American Indians in the land of the Amazon. Kind of a "If religion doesn't work, shoot the bastards," and "women like being ravaged by animals." This is not a book for the weak stomached, or the self righteous. This is a book for people who want to tear the face off of reality. This is a great, honest and sad book. It is a requiem for indigenous people around the world, maybe for you
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and Chilling . . . a Spellbinding Classic
Review: This is a book that must be read slowly so that all of the impact can be absorbed mentally. The style of writing doesn't allow a person to speed read this wonderful book. It isn't wonderful because of it's happy ending or remarkable heroes. What makes it so good is that it is like a delectable meal---it should be enjoyed slowly and passionately. It is definately not "fast food" fare. One must savor every bite. The author's skill is in his knowledge of the heart and nature of diverse religious beliefs---catholic, native american indian, evangelical Christian, indigenous Amazonia indian and mysticism. The way he is able to describe the mind and feelings of the characters is truly a gift and talent. Then his descriptions of jungle life and habitat fascinate and charm the reader. If I had to pick out a hero in this story it might be Boronai (you'll just have to read and find out who he is) or Andy Huben the wife of the fanatical and narrowminded, misguided and misdirected evangelical missionary. He becomes such a "scalp hunter", trying to win souls for Jesus, so that he can bost to his supporters back home, that he completely loses sight of the Lord's heart, plan, and purpose. As an evangelical Christian myself this attitude grieves me. These native indians were shrouded in darkness and demonism and needed to know the real and true Jesus Christ. Somehow this just wasn't happening. The lines between savage and civilized becam more blurred as the book moved on. Pick this book up and take your time reading it. I cried when I finished it because I just didn't want it to end. Be patient with it as well and let the authors development of the characters sink in. e-mail me back and let me know how you felt about it! Enjoy!
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Summary: complex characters... great story...
Review: This is an amazing story with deep and complex characters. As complex as the characters may be, they are all symbols and representations of greater concepts. For example, the missionaries that want to save the savage Niurana symbolize Western civilization and it's forced influence of many native tribes throughout history. On a deeper level the novel explores the perceptions of good v. evil and how that kind of thinking is limiting when the Catholics and Protestants are bothe seen as evil by the other side. Included into this melting pot is Lewis Moon, a Native American from the US who takes a drug and ends up living with the Niurana.
There is no happy ending in this novel. It shows just how destructive stereotypes and preconceived notions of good and evil can be. But it is an ending that is throught provoking and that makes a statement about contemporary life in a global world.
I would recommend this novel to anyone that would like a new perspective on globalization but it must be taken into account that this novel is not an easy one night read but a thought provoking (although enjoyable) journey to be savored.
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