The Galilean Secret by Evan Drake Howard
May 2010 by Guideposts Books
Hardcover, 448 pages
Review Copy
Book Synopsis
A crumbling scroll long lost in a forgotten cave offers a provocative and illuminating new interpretation of the man known as Jesus. An expertly plotted story based on the author's actual research in Israel, the novel entwines two stories: one set amidst the modern-day conflicts in the Middle East, the other set in ancient Palestine, yet both offer a perspective on the universal struggle for true freedom and love.
The relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene has long fascinated scholars and intrigued nearly all believers. What was the nature of their relationship and how has it influenced Christianity since the first millennium? With compelling storytelling in the style of Dan Brown coupled with years of exhaustive study, Evan Drake Howard has created a magisterial novel that asks, and attempts to illuminate, enduring questions on the nature of love.........(Taken From Goodreads)
Review
Controversial, offensive and brilliant are what some people may call Evan Drake Howard's The Galilean Secret, for me it was far-fetched and contrived. Picture the Bible and think upon the message it reveals and take those pages and chop them up into a million little pieces. Now place them in a blender and mix on high. I must say it takes a brave soul to take Jesus out of the Bible and place Him in a fictional novel, giving Him features, characteristics and conversations outside of scripture. While some of the storyline did in fact come off quite crafty, most of Howard’s writing flies in the face of everything Jesus taught.
The plot anchors itself around forbidden love layered upon multiple characters and spanning between past Roman times of Jesus' ministry and future day 2063. Karim, a young Muslim discovers an ancient letter within the caves of The Dead Sea, later to be discovered as a letter Jesus wrote to Mary Magdalene. Boggled by the tremendous message that Jesus shares and knowing that he could never go against Allah to be the founder of a Christian document he relies on his friend and transcriber to keep the letter save. Soon after he meets Rachel and his life is furthermore turned upside down. On the run from his powerful father and denying that he is falling in love with the young Israeli woman, Karim struggles with the aftereffects and fear of what the future holds. While love festers in a war torn Israel 2063, love crumbles in a ravaged town of Jerusalem 33 AD. Jesus and Mary are deeply in love but Mary wanting marriage and children is devastated by Jesus’ refusal to marry her. Jesus confesses his love for her but also tells her he cannot throw his calling from God away to be her husband. In the meantime Judas (evil Judas) has fallen for Mary as well and he is so angry and bitter over Mary’s rejection of him and for her love of Jesus, he vows to make them both pay, thus setting the tragic events of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.
After reading this book not only does the message of the Bible go through the blender but my brain goes in right along with it, I’m amazed at some of the content in this book, I truly felt it diminished who Jesus was and some of the ideas were very... weird. For example, the novel claims that Adam the first man created in Genesis was actually a man and woman combined and then later put to sleep while the female side was taken out and created into Eve….I’m having one of those WT….moments…..After this disconnection of the original hermaphrodite it created an everlasting confusion in men dealing with sexual attraction due to the fact they do not know how to embrace their feminine side. All us poor saps of humanity then fall all over each other confused and obsessed not knowing how to deal with lust, love and heartache. Interesting concept if your writing to a pack of hyena's, but I think I can go on loving and understanding sexual relationships without embracing this ludicrous and obnoxious idea.
Bottom line: A world where Muslims, Christians, Jews and all other forms of religions unite and have complete peace is a dream called fiction, which is exactly what this book is. That dream in reality- will never happen. Call me crazy but even the Bible, Torah and Koran acknowledge this truth.
Rating
The Galilean Secret deals with many adult content issues including sex, murder, betrayals, graphic violence, family drama, illegal activities, and major religious elements. Although mild with sensuality and minus language I would recommend this to readers of a mature age. Many Christian readers will be offended by Howard's writing and many will love the Unitarian message he delivers.
2/5- Religious Fiction
Review copy provided by DeChant-Hughes & Assoc Inc Public Relations and a huge thanks to Kelly Hughes for donating the giveaway copy's.
Yikes! It doesn't sound good at all. Kudos for reading it though and thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteWT.. Is exactly what I was thinking. I don't know about this one. Great review. I enjoyed that you could actually explain it.
ReplyDeleteI think I will skip it! Great review and thanks for being honest :)
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