Rating: 
Summary: Far more than a thriller
Review: A friend recommended this book, and I was a little unsure if it would be something for me. As a practicing Christian, I was concerned about the subject matter, but found Mr. Rabb's treatment of faith to be surprisingly non-dogmatic, yet serious enough so that it didn't get lost in the rather wonderful story he tells. This is a thriller, but far more. I discovered things about the early Christian church I had never known, and about the development of the liturgy, canon, etc. When a book can teach you that much while sprinting along at such a fantastic pace (I read it in three days), it deserves a lot of praise. Wonderful read, and I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Far more than a thriller
Review: A friend recommended this book, and I was a little unsure if it would be something for me. As a practicing Christian, I was concerned about the subject matter, but found Mr. Rabb's treatment of faith to be surprisingly non-dogmatic, yet serious enough so that it didn't get lost in the rather wonderful story he tells. This is a thriller, but far more. I discovered things about the early Christian church I had never known, and about the development of the liturgy, canon, etc. When a book can teach you that much while sprinting along at such a fantastic pace (I read it in three days), it deserves a lot of praise. Wonderful read, and I recommend it highly.
Rating: 
Summary: here we go again
Review: Another rehash of the "priest-who-finds-document-which-will-change-the world" theme. Some of it was interesting, but the ending when an unearthed document has Christ speaking the most politically correct utterances ever...well, it was too much! Can someone write something original about "unearthed documents"?
Rating:
Summary: here we go again
Review: Another rehash of the "priest-who-finds-document-which-will-change-the world" theme. Some of it was interesting, but the ending when an unearthed document has Christ speaking the most politically correct utterances ever...well, it was too much! Can someone write something original about "unearthed documents"?
Rating:
Summary: Great Story Teller
Review: I couldn't help but think of Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose when I read this. Rabb has the same ability to take esoteric information and make it jump off the page. The cryptograms were amazing, and the description of the monastery in Greece and the "Vault" were fantastic (a little Indiana Jones there). I also like it when a writer knows a city as well as I do (Rabb has clearly spent a lot of time in Rome). That just makes it more authentic for me.I agree with the other reviewer who said this isn't really about Christianity. Religion just happens to be the setting for a story that explores other issues like mass manipulation, self-doubt, and the power of language. That it all takes place in a totally gripping novel makes it even better.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tale of Two Books
Review: I have to give this book 1 star for the first 170 pages and 5 for the next 200 and average them together to get 3. This really is the tale of two books. The first part moves along at a very slow and plodding pace with a prose that makes you ask yourself whether it is worth it to keep on reading. Somewhere around page 170 the pace really picks up and your sticking around for the ending really pays off. Basically the book is about an american priest in the Vatican who comes across a conspiracy to destroy the Papal Office and change the whole landscape of Christianity in the process. The way the organization plans to change Christianity is through mass bombings of churches (with the blame being put on Muslim terrorists) and the search for the Book of Q, which is the autobiographical account of Jesus' life. The priest rushes from the Vatican to Greece to Bosnia and back to the Vatican in search of the legendary book and a way to save the Catholic Church.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I managed to get hold of a pre-pub. version of this book a while back, and i thought it was a very good book. I havent read his other book, the Overseer, but i thought that this one was interesting-despite the amazon editorial review which said it was re-hashed. But anyways, I thought that it was well written, and has so many twists and turns that keep you either on the edge of your seat, or sitting back in amazement at the new plot development. It deals with a priest named Ian Pearse who has this scroll that was supposedly lost many many years ago. The scroll is the most important relic of an ancient religous sect, and is rumored to have information on their plans to institute a one world church, in place of all others. A whole bunch of different people are searching for this scroll for different reasons, and it all gets really crazy. Read the book, its a good one.
Rating:
Summary: Great second novel
Review: If you like really smart thrillers, then this writer is for you. He is not writing the same old stuff. He really makes you think. I recommend The Overseer as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Two Books
Review: Jonathan Rabb's The Book of Q is a thoughtful, provocative, and entertaining book. Thoughtful in it's description of early Christianity, the Maniccheans, Gnosticism, and a raging Serbian war. Provocative in it's attempt make the reader question the spoon fed history of the church, and entertaining in it's ability to do the above under the guise of one long chase scene that incorporates murder(s), terrorism, sex, and religion. The book was well researched and made this writer research further the Maniccheans, Gnosticism, and the gospel according to Timothy.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful, Provocative, and Entertaining
Review: Jonathan Rabb's The Book of Q is a thoughtful, provocative, and entertaining book. Thoughtful in it's description of early Christianity, the Maniccheans, Gnosticism, and a raging Serbian war. Provocative in it's attempt make the reader question the spoon fed history of the church, and entertaining in it's ability to do the above under the guise of one long chase scene that incorporates murder(s), terrorism, sex, and religion. The book was well researched and made this writer research further the Maniccheans, Gnosticism, and the gospel according to Timothy.
|
