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The Priest's Madonna
Oleh penduduk desa ia dijuluki the priest's Madonna atau Maria sang pastor karena keintimannya dengan Pastor Berenger. Obsesi Maria adalah percintaan yang suci dengan Berenger, perkawinan tanpa seks; hukum hanya melarang perbuatan zina, dan Maria yakin mereka dapat menghindarinya. Ternyata kisah keduanya tidak sederhana lagi setelah penemuan katakombe atau lorong makam bawah tanah tepat di bawah gereja. Pekuburan rahasia ini menyimpan harta karun, baik yang bernilai pasti maupun yang tidak: buku kisah penampakan-penampakan yang dialami keturunan Maria Magdalena, yang dikatakan mengandung anak Yesus.
Maria dan Berenger menjadi terpisah, fisik maupun keyakinan, sang pastor tidak bisa menerima kehadiran buku seperti itu. Sedangkan Maria terus menerus memuaskan keingintahuannya akan segala hal, terutama melalui diskusi dengan Madame Laporte, perempuan yang seakan hidup di dunia yang berbeda dari seluruh penduduk desa.
Didasarkan pada kisah nyata tentang Berenger Sauniere (1885-1917) dan kehidupannya di Rennes-le-Chateau, The Priest?s Madonna menawarkan banyak permenungan bagi pembacanya tentang pertentangan tubuh-jiwa, Perang Salib, sejarah Rennes-le-Chateau yang luar biasa, filosofi orang Cathar yang menggugah, dan bagaimana kita mengkritisi peristiwa-peristiwa sejarah dan segala tulisan tentang mereka.
Maria dan Berenger menjadi terpisah, fisik maupun keyakinan, sang pastor tidak bisa menerima kehadiran buku seperti itu. Sedangkan Maria terus menerus memuaskan keingintahuannya akan segala hal, terutama melalui diskusi dengan Madame Laporte, perempuan yang seakan hidup di dunia yang berbeda dari seluruh penduduk desa.
Didasarkan pada kisah nyata tentang Berenger Sauniere (1885-1917) dan kehidupannya di Rennes-le-Chateau, The Priest?s Madonna menawarkan banyak permenungan bagi pembacanya tentang pertentangan tubuh-jiwa, Perang Salib, sejarah Rennes-le-Chateau yang luar biasa, filosofi orang Cathar yang menggugah, dan bagaimana kita mengkritisi peristiwa-peristiwa sejarah dan segala tulisan tentang mereka.
510 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Amy Hassinger
5 books47 followersAmy Hassinger grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Barnard College and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she received her MFA in fiction writing. She is the author of three novels: NINA: ADOLESCENCE, THE PRIEST'S MADONNA, and AFTER THE DAM, forthcoming in September 2016. Her writing has been translated into five languages and has won awards from Creative Nonfiction, Publisher’s Weekly, and the Illinois Arts Council. Her work has appeared in numerous venues, including The New York Times, Creative Nonfiction, The Writers’ Chronicle, and The Los Angeles Review of Books. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and teaches in the University of Nebraska’s MFA in Writing Program.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 14, 2008
Penulis: Amy Hassinger
Penerjemah: John de Santo
Penyunting: E. Wendratama
Desain sampul : Andreas Kusumahadi
Pemeriksa aksara : Zoura
Diterbitkan oleh Bentang (PT Bentang Pustaka)
vi+ 510 ; 17,5 cm.
Cetakan Pertama, Agustus 2006.
Apakah mencintai itu perbuatan yang berdosa ? Haruskah cinta diingkari ketika berlabuh pada orang yang seharusnya tak boleh dicintai. Mungkin seperti itulah perasaan yang terjadi pada tokoh utama wanita dari novel karya Amy Hassinger ini.
Novel yang mengambil latar belakang Perancis bagian selatan pada abad ke-19 ini, bercerita tentang kehidupan seorang wanita muda bernama Maria Dernanaud dan cinta sucinya kepada Pastor Berenger Sauniere. Pertemuan pertama Maria dengan Berenger terjadi saat Maria berusia 9 tahun. Kala itu, Berenger yang merupakan sahabat ibunya, menggendong Maria keatas pundaknya agar ia dapat melihat gua yang didatangi para peziarah dari seluruh negeri. Ketika itulah Maria merasa kagum dengan kepercayaan dan ketampanan Berenger.
Pada usia 16 tahun, Maria bersama keluarga terpaksa pindah ke Rennes-Le-Chateau, karena rumah mereka habis dilalap api. Di desa yang indah tersebut, keluarga Maria memulai kehidupan barunya. Tak lama kemudian, seorang pastor ditempatkan untuk menjadi iman di gereja desa. Pastor tersebut adalah Berenger Sauniere. Karena belum mempunyai tempat tinggal, Sauniere pun tinggal sementara dirumah Maria. Dirumah itulah, persahabatan antara Maria dan Berenger, terjalin.
Bersamaan dengan itu, Maria tertarik dengan Madame Laporte, istri kepala desa, yang eksentrik dan sukar dimengerti orang lain. Dari Madame Laporte, Maria meminjam berbagai buku koleksinya, yang membuat pikiran Maria terbuka akan adanya dunia baru dan perbedaan pendapat atas doktrin tertentu yang diajarkan oleh gerejanya.
Pergolakan bathin Maria dimulai ketika perasaannya terhadap Berenger berkembang menjadi cinta. Cinta terlarang antara Berenger dan Maria, menjadi daya tarik kuat dari buku ini. Lebih menarik lagi, buku ini juga dijalin dengan narasi dari Maria Magdalena, sahabat wanita Yesus. Nampaknya Amy Hassinger ingin memberikan benang merah terhadap cerita Maria dan Berenger. Hubungan mereka bukan suatu hal yang mudah. Penuh dengan kebingungan, ketertarikan dan rasa bersalah. Namun cinta yang berkembang diantara mereka, bukan sesuatu hal yang bisa disangkal.
Cinta suci yang diharapkan Maria tidak tak mudah untuk melakukannya. Apalagi ketika mereka melakukan renovasi gereja, yang disinyalir sebagai tempat dimakamkannya keturunan langsung dari Yesus dan Maria Magdalena. Berdua, mereka menggali kuburan itu dan menemukan katakomba (kompleks kuburan bawah tanah yang berbentuk memanjang, yang didindingnya terdapat ceruk-ceruk untuk menyimpan jenasah, yang dibangun bangsa Romawi kuno). Kedekatan fisik membuat mereka tak mampu bertahan dalam nilai-nilai luhur kepercayaannya.
Kedekatan Maria dengan Pastor Berenger, membuat Maria mendapat julukan The Priest's Madonna atau Maria Sang Pastor. Penduduk desa beranggapan, Berenger memuja Maria melebihi Perawan Maria. Berenger memanjakan Maria dengan kemewahan yang seharusnya diberikan kepada Perawan Maria.
Berenger Sauniere adalah seorang pastor paroki di desa kecil Rennes-la-Chateau, tempat ia hidup dari tahun 1885 hingga kematiannya di tahun 1917. Selama masa renovasi gereja desa itu, secara misterius Berenger menjadi kaya raya. Sebuah vila, menara, tempat rekreasi, taman dan lahan dibangun pastor tersebut. Ia memiliki seorang pembantu sekaligus sahabat wanitanya yang digosipkan sebagai kekasihnya, yaitu Maria Denarnaud.
Penerjemah: John de Santo
Penyunting: E. Wendratama
Desain sampul : Andreas Kusumahadi
Pemeriksa aksara : Zoura
Diterbitkan oleh Bentang (PT Bentang Pustaka)
vi+ 510 ; 17,5 cm.
Cetakan Pertama, Agustus 2006.
Apakah mencintai itu perbuatan yang berdosa ? Haruskah cinta diingkari ketika berlabuh pada orang yang seharusnya tak boleh dicintai. Mungkin seperti itulah perasaan yang terjadi pada tokoh utama wanita dari novel karya Amy Hassinger ini.
Novel yang mengambil latar belakang Perancis bagian selatan pada abad ke-19 ini, bercerita tentang kehidupan seorang wanita muda bernama Maria Dernanaud dan cinta sucinya kepada Pastor Berenger Sauniere. Pertemuan pertama Maria dengan Berenger terjadi saat Maria berusia 9 tahun. Kala itu, Berenger yang merupakan sahabat ibunya, menggendong Maria keatas pundaknya agar ia dapat melihat gua yang didatangi para peziarah dari seluruh negeri. Ketika itulah Maria merasa kagum dengan kepercayaan dan ketampanan Berenger.
Pada usia 16 tahun, Maria bersama keluarga terpaksa pindah ke Rennes-Le-Chateau, karena rumah mereka habis dilalap api. Di desa yang indah tersebut, keluarga Maria memulai kehidupan barunya. Tak lama kemudian, seorang pastor ditempatkan untuk menjadi iman di gereja desa. Pastor tersebut adalah Berenger Sauniere. Karena belum mempunyai tempat tinggal, Sauniere pun tinggal sementara dirumah Maria. Dirumah itulah, persahabatan antara Maria dan Berenger, terjalin.
Bersamaan dengan itu, Maria tertarik dengan Madame Laporte, istri kepala desa, yang eksentrik dan sukar dimengerti orang lain. Dari Madame Laporte, Maria meminjam berbagai buku koleksinya, yang membuat pikiran Maria terbuka akan adanya dunia baru dan perbedaan pendapat atas doktrin tertentu yang diajarkan oleh gerejanya.
Pergolakan bathin Maria dimulai ketika perasaannya terhadap Berenger berkembang menjadi cinta. Cinta terlarang antara Berenger dan Maria, menjadi daya tarik kuat dari buku ini. Lebih menarik lagi, buku ini juga dijalin dengan narasi dari Maria Magdalena, sahabat wanita Yesus. Nampaknya Amy Hassinger ingin memberikan benang merah terhadap cerita Maria dan Berenger. Hubungan mereka bukan suatu hal yang mudah. Penuh dengan kebingungan, ketertarikan dan rasa bersalah. Namun cinta yang berkembang diantara mereka, bukan sesuatu hal yang bisa disangkal.
Cinta suci yang diharapkan Maria tidak tak mudah untuk melakukannya. Apalagi ketika mereka melakukan renovasi gereja, yang disinyalir sebagai tempat dimakamkannya keturunan langsung dari Yesus dan Maria Magdalena. Berdua, mereka menggali kuburan itu dan menemukan katakomba (kompleks kuburan bawah tanah yang berbentuk memanjang, yang didindingnya terdapat ceruk-ceruk untuk menyimpan jenasah, yang dibangun bangsa Romawi kuno). Kedekatan fisik membuat mereka tak mampu bertahan dalam nilai-nilai luhur kepercayaannya.
Kedekatan Maria dengan Pastor Berenger, membuat Maria mendapat julukan The Priest's Madonna atau Maria Sang Pastor. Penduduk desa beranggapan, Berenger memuja Maria melebihi Perawan Maria. Berenger memanjakan Maria dengan kemewahan yang seharusnya diberikan kepada Perawan Maria.
Berenger Sauniere adalah seorang pastor paroki di desa kecil Rennes-la-Chateau, tempat ia hidup dari tahun 1885 hingga kematiannya di tahun 1917. Selama masa renovasi gereja desa itu, secara misterius Berenger menjadi kaya raya. Sebuah vila, menara, tempat rekreasi, taman dan lahan dibangun pastor tersebut. Ia memiliki seorang pembantu sekaligus sahabat wanitanya yang digosipkan sebagai kekasihnya, yaitu Maria Denarnaud.
August 11, 2009
The ending of this book was really such a disappointment. Maybe it wasn't the ending such as a lack of a climax, or at the very least a very dull climax. Which is a shame because the story line was well developed as were the characters. I also enjoyed the integration of Miryam of Magdala and Yeshua in thier Hebrew names.
I do like to read a story in which my faith is questioned and this had some wonderful tidbits in it, the author just didn't take it to the next level.
I do like to read a story in which my faith is questioned and this had some wonderful tidbits in it, the author just didn't take it to the next level.
June 28, 2010
Thoroughly compelling, and fabulous. As has happened before with a few great reads, all else had to wait once I reached about the 100 page mark. Amy weaves a gripping web of the Biblical version of Jesus, Mary and Martha while a completely different tale is spun of a young priest and his companion, from her perspective, in a small village in France. I loved the duality, the suspense, and indeed, the outcome!
July 7, 2007
What keeps this novel from being a very enjoyable read is how anti-climatic the realization of the affair ends up. Even the discovery of the treasure and the explanation behind it does not live up to the promise of the plot threads.
March 27, 2021
Well researched historical fiction and an intriguing story.
June 29, 2024
The most interesting part is the smallest part which is nothing more than a backstory for the relationship of the housekeeper and the priest.
December 13, 2025
"𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓰𝓷𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾?"
and what if i cried??
and what if i cried??
Want to Read
August 17, 2008Want to read this book. Been interested in Berenger for a long time.
Book cover description:
In 1884 in southern France, sixteen-year-old Marie Denarnaud's family is forced to move when their house burns to the ground. The find a new home in nearby Rennes-le-Chateau, a beautiful village set among hills steeped in history--from stories of a Visigothic presence in the Dark Ages, to tales of Cathar heretics who may have fled crusaders through rumored underground passages, to rumors of gold buried in the caves that perforate the hillsides.
Marie and her family face a chilly welcome in Rennes until the day a new parish priest is assigned to the village. By coincidence, the charismatic young priest is a friend of Marie's mother, and because his presbytery is in ruins, Berenger Sauniere takes up temporary residence with the Denarnauds. Young Marie is enthralled by the passionate Berenger and she revels in his priestly attention, though heavily conflicted by her own growing attraction to him.
Meanwhile, Berenger has attracted the patronage of a wealthy aristocrat who is willing to fund reconstruction of the church. His only condition is that Berenger keep an eye out for anything unusual he might find. Marie begins to suspect that the request has to do with the local legend of a woman who claimed to be descended from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Berenger grows secretive, even as their affection deepens, and Marie must seek the truth without his help.
Historically lush, full of romance and intrigue, The Priest's Madonna blends fact and fiction. Interweaving scenes of ancient Judea with the spiritual journey of a vibrant and intense heroine, it tells a mesmerizing tale of faith, doubt, forbidden love, and illicit passion.
Book cover description:
In 1884 in southern France, sixteen-year-old Marie Denarnaud's family is forced to move when their house burns to the ground. The find a new home in nearby Rennes-le-Chateau, a beautiful village set among hills steeped in history--from stories of a Visigothic presence in the Dark Ages, to tales of Cathar heretics who may have fled crusaders through rumored underground passages, to rumors of gold buried in the caves that perforate the hillsides.
Marie and her family face a chilly welcome in Rennes until the day a new parish priest is assigned to the village. By coincidence, the charismatic young priest is a friend of Marie's mother, and because his presbytery is in ruins, Berenger Sauniere takes up temporary residence with the Denarnauds. Young Marie is enthralled by the passionate Berenger and she revels in his priestly attention, though heavily conflicted by her own growing attraction to him.
Meanwhile, Berenger has attracted the patronage of a wealthy aristocrat who is willing to fund reconstruction of the church. His only condition is that Berenger keep an eye out for anything unusual he might find. Marie begins to suspect that the request has to do with the local legend of a woman who claimed to be descended from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Berenger grows secretive, even as their affection deepens, and Marie must seek the truth without his help.
Historically lush, full of romance and intrigue, The Priest's Madonna blends fact and fiction. Interweaving scenes of ancient Judea with the spiritual journey of a vibrant and intense heroine, it tells a mesmerizing tale of faith, doubt, forbidden love, and illicit passion.
December 20, 2016
Meskipun banyak yang memberikan feedback positif tentang novel ini, bukan berarti The Priest's Madonna hadir tanpa kontroversi. Beberapa mempertanyakan keakuratan cerita yang terkait dengan kisah sebenarnya di dalam Bible dan tidak sedikit juga yang membandingkan kesamaan-kesamaan dengan cerita di The Da Vinci Code. Ada pula yang tidak menyukai bagian ending yang dianggap antiklimaks. Tetapi, bagi saya itu bukan masalah.
Jika ada yang mempertanyakan keakuratan dengan kisah aslinya di dalam Sejarah atau kitab suci, maka saya memilih untuk tetap fokus bahwa bagaimanapun juga kisah yang ditulis Amy merupakan kisah fiksi. Jika ada yang membandingkannya dengan The Da Vinci Code, maka saya memilih untuk melihat keduanya saling melengkapi tanpa harus dibanding-bandingkan. Sementara untuk ending, bagi saya cukup realistis.
Amy memberikan catatan khusus mengenai kisah The Priest's Madonna, diletakkan setelah Epilog pada buku terjemahan Indonesia. Di dalam catatannya, Amy juga bercerita tentang beberapa kontroversi yang ia terima dan kemudian ia memberikan penjelasan dengan bersumber dari beragam informasi Sejarah yang ia miliki.
Pembaca yang khawatir tidak mengerti beberapa istilah di dalam buku ini tidak perlu khawatir karena diselipkan daftar istilah berikut artinya di bagian belakang buku versi terjemahan Indonesia.
http://www.niafajriyani.com/2013/10/e...
Jika ada yang mempertanyakan keakuratan dengan kisah aslinya di dalam Sejarah atau kitab suci, maka saya memilih untuk tetap fokus bahwa bagaimanapun juga kisah yang ditulis Amy merupakan kisah fiksi. Jika ada yang membandingkannya dengan The Da Vinci Code, maka saya memilih untuk melihat keduanya saling melengkapi tanpa harus dibanding-bandingkan. Sementara untuk ending, bagi saya cukup realistis.
Amy memberikan catatan khusus mengenai kisah The Priest's Madonna, diletakkan setelah Epilog pada buku terjemahan Indonesia. Di dalam catatannya, Amy juga bercerita tentang beberapa kontroversi yang ia terima dan kemudian ia memberikan penjelasan dengan bersumber dari beragam informasi Sejarah yang ia miliki.
Pembaca yang khawatir tidak mengerti beberapa istilah di dalam buku ini tidak perlu khawatir karena diselipkan daftar istilah berikut artinya di bagian belakang buku versi terjemahan Indonesia.
http://www.niafajriyani.com/2013/10/e...
November 19, 2009
Not that I am an authority on french life in this time, but I thought the period elements were marvelously constructed. I had to remind myself that this was written by a modern author casting her mind backward in time. Very believable. I loved the characters as well. The focus on the historical elements did not detract from the characterization at all.
The story is engrossing. I think I like best how there are some plot elements that are not truly answered. I don't think they should not have been, similar to Tartt's "The Little Friend." Without going spoiler here, doing otherwise I think would have made this a sensational book rather than an interesting novel. The way it was handled made the story line gratifying to read without becoming overly predictable or shocking just to provoke reaction.
The story is engrossing. I think I like best how there are some plot elements that are not truly answered. I don't think they should not have been, similar to Tartt's "The Little Friend." Without going spoiler here, doing otherwise I think would have made this a sensational book rather than an interesting novel. The way it was handled made the story line gratifying to read without becoming overly predictable or shocking just to provoke reaction.
May 5, 2016
I "read" this as an audiobook. As a practicing Catholic, I should probably be offended by the possibility that Jesus fathered a child. But I'm not. And I should be offended by the fact that the priest in this story had a mistress. And while that bothers me a bit, it's not really related to the fact that there was a priest involved. It's more about the fact that Catholic priests are expected to remain celibate. Before I get all preachy preachy, I'll say that this book held my interest, and the side story about Miriam touched me perhaps more than the main story. A thought-provoking story.
October 27, 2010
Well researched and well written this book tells two stories, both based in historical record, simultaneously. Amy Hassinger expands the true story of Marie, a young girl from Rennes France who becomes the life-long housekeeper and consort to a priest into the story of a complex intelligent young woman searching for knowledge and faith in the late 19th century. Nestled inside this story is the legend of Mary Magdelene and her relationship to Jesus.
October 29, 2010
Read this one in Dutch. Expected the story to be different, as the text on the Dutch backside is pure rubbish and has virtually nothing to do with the book. Which was no problem, because I thought it was better the way it turned out to be. Finished it in no time - very readable story. Was very sursprised to find out in the end that it was based on a true story. Interesting - did some googling for more info!
rated 3.5/5.0 Stars. Written on Jun 03, 2009 at 05:56PM
rated 3.5/5.0 Stars. Written on Jun 03, 2009 at 05:56PM
September 11, 2009
I randomly picked up this audio book at the library. I knew nothing about the book. The title caught my eye, the synopsis sounded interesting - and the book was. It was actually a really good listen. The narrator was fab. The book has some similarities with the DaVinci Code. It is not very similar, but if liked DC, you will probably like The Priest's Madonna.
March 22, 2014
A tale of disillusion and reconciliation. The main character doubts her faith the whole book, only to decide God is there. Along the way her love derails a seemingly devout man, or that is what they decide individually. Though one cannot force another to quit believing.
I like that it is based on stories in "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".
I like that it is based on stories in "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".
Read
December 16, 2014Interesting story based somewhat on historical fact and somewhat on legend - I thought it was well-written and absorbing with engrossing characters and some suspense. What I didn't like about this book is that it seemed to fall apart at the end and seemed rushed, not doing justice to the first two-thirds of the book.
July 9, 2015
I liked that it was based on real people. I liked the early time period sections. I didn't like the main story; felt it was too much of a Da Vinci Code knock-off but without the puzzles. The author doesn't know much about Catholicism or history contemporary with Jesus Christ. Disappointing.
October 24, 2011
An interesting historical mystery about Rennes Le Chateau and the priest and his lover -- yet another to be spawned out of the Da Vinci Code success, but more of a literary outing than some of the other titles.
September 23, 2007
This book was a quick read. Apparently it is based upon a true story. I enjoyed it.
February 26, 2008
If you liked the DaVinci code, you might like this.
June 26, 2012
It started out interesting, but I got bored.
December 19, 2012
Beautifully constructed. Very alive, real characters.
April 9, 2013
I loved the beginning, the lead up to Marie living with Bérenger, but I didn't like the parts about Mary Magdelene, and the story sort of lost steam after a while, so it ended anticlimactically.
May 27, 2013
The narration was hard to take so I stopped after the first disk. The story might have been ok, certainly not a complete train wreck but I couldn't get by the reading.
January 9, 2014
This was a great read that kept me captivated. I don't take stock in God or the Bible so I certainly didn't have issues with the religious aspect, as I read it as part fiction/part non-fiction.
June 20, 2016
If you're a seeker, you'll really like this book.
July 17, 2016
Komt moeilijk op gang.
Historisch.
Historisch.
January 16, 2021
An easy read, based a lot on Holy Blood, Holy Grail.(Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln.)
Read
January 29, 20095/7/2007
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews