According to Mary Magdalene

Rating:
Summary: An okay read...but
Review: A dear friend loaned this book to me, asking that I read it and see what I thought. It was an okay read, but at times I found myself confused in the plot, wondering if Mary was having flashbacks or what. Of course, we all know Mary Magdalene was a special woman in the life of Jesus. This is a work of fiction and I feel the writer just decided to write a fiction story based on perhaps her own personal beliefs, or should I say perhaps the way she wanted to believe it may have happened. This is the first book I've read by this particular author and because I had a hard time staying with the plot, I doubt I read anything else she's written. I feek that fiction writers should stick to fiction and not waver into areas where perhaps they shouldn't go.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting plot, but not very well-researched
Review: Having an interest in Mary Magdalene and seeing this book here on Amazon.com, I decided to pick up a copy. I found it to be a very interesting plot. I had heard about the myth of a relationship between Jesus and Mary, but had pretty much cast that idea aside. Although I doubt Jesus had a wife or children or anything like that, it does make for an interesting story. I think that, despite the historical inacurracy, "According to Mary Magdalene" is a wonderful read.

Also, I would like to stress the fact that many orthodox Christians may be rather offended by this book. The idea of Jesus in a sexual relationship is a bit appauling to some, I must say. But what's even more unorthodox is how Mary states that much of what Simon Peter and the other disciples is untrue. She says the mere idea of a virgin birth is ludicrous and that Jesus didn't die on the cross to save our sins. This is taking a courageous step on Marianne Fredriksson's part and I think it was very brave of the author to bring up such a theory.

Whatever your beliefs are, "According to Mary Magdalene" is an incredible tale that I think everyone should read.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting plot, but not very well-researched
Review: Having an interest in Mary Magdalene and seeing this book here on Amazon.com, I decided to pick up a copy. I found it to be a very interesting plot. I had heard about the myth of a relationship between Jesus and Mary, but had pretty much cast that idea aside. Although I doubt Jesus had a wife or children or anything like that, it does make for an interesting story. I think that, despite the historical inacurracy, "According to Mary Magdalene" is a wonderful read.

Also, I would like to stress the fact that many orthodox Christians may be rather offended by this book. The idea of Jesus in a sexual relationship is a bit appauling to some, I must say. But what's even more unorthodox is how Mary states that much of what Simon Peter and the other disciples is untrue. She says the mere idea of a virgin birth is ludicrous and that Jesus didn't die on the cross to save our sins. This is taking a courageous step on Marianne Fredriksson's part and I think it was very brave of the author to bring up such a theory.

Whatever your beliefs are, "According to Mary Magdalene" is an incredible tale that I think everyone should read.

Rating:
Summary: Rubbish
Review: I highly recommend According to Mary Magdalene, especially if you're in the mood to question traditional Christian thought, but you aren't yet ready to digest something like Why Christianity Must Change or Die by Bishop Spong.

AtMM has a simple message that I think most present-day Christians seem to forget altogether: we are here to love and accept one another, not to make rules and laws and judge one another.

I liked reading about Mary Magdalene so much so that I'm anxious to read non-fiction works about her (as non-fiction as Christian mythology can be, that is). I also remembered that one of my favorite books, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, features her in statue form.

Rating:
Summary: Christianity according to a woman
Review: I read this book a few months ago; my mother sent it to me from Sweden, as she always does with Marianne Fredriksson's new books. This book gives a new perspective to Christianity; told by a heroine who loves and trusts no matter what. It also uncovers the dangers of relaying on words, rather than feellings. In reading Mary Magdalene it is easy to beleive that men of the church have hid the greater meaning in Jesus' teachings from us. In the book Jesus' words all make sence and yet fit badly with what we are tought from the bible. Marianne Fredriksson's books have a mystical and magical sence of revealing an alternative truth; she will never thrust it upon you, but will give you another (or several) new ways of viewing life and love. This is not her best book, but that does not say a lot!!! Try Simon's family and Hanna's daughters as well. If you read in Swedish you must read 'Den som vandrar om natten....'which is also set in biblical time and absolutely wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Too Much Artistic License
Review: Not only do I not like books that portray Mary as Jesus' lover or wife, but ones that portray her as a prostitute also demean her. Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute nor does it imply that she was anywhere in the Bible. She was possessed of 7 demons which Christ cast out.

People should get their facts straight even when writing fiction. Artistic license is all well and good but this carries things too far

Rating:
Summary: Old stories through new eyes
Review: reading books is a great way of spending the train rides to and from work. With this book the rides were to short however. The story of Mary of Magdala, remembering her encounter and life with Jesus is refreshing and inspiring. The birth of Christianity and the life of Jesus is portrayed in a new way, through the eyes of a troubled woman and intermingled with her problems in society and her life. My view of Jesus was very much refreshed, and his teachings retaught in the view of a woman apostle. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Good for Opening the Mind
Review: The book is an excellent example of historical fiction, challenging us to view an age old story in a new way. None of us were present back then, so all interpretations are somehow flawed. To find the truth, one has to think about the historical context and how the message fits with the other messages given in the New Testament. The book does not pretend to be an autobiography, but rather a challenge to the traditional interpretation of Mary's life with Christ. Well written and worth a read.