Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Twitter Gospels

Rate this book
Jesuit high school teacher and Seminarian Paolo Venticinque is abruptly dispatched by the Vatican to Jerusalem. His mission: to interview hospital patients who believe themselves to be Jesus Christ and to discover the voice behind a progressive Twitter account that warns the world of the Vatican's "false teachers". Unbeknownst to Paolo, the viral account is seen as a growing threat by conservatives within the Vatican, who are determined to silence it while conspiring against a beloved and inclusive pope. Follow Paolo through a crisis of faith as he strives to view a confusing world through compassionate eyes.

364 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2024

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

David H. Parish

1 book3 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
5 (50%)
4 stars
3 (30%)
3 stars
2 (20%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Vera Gysemans.
74 reviews
July 12, 2024
Like a practiced writer, the author turns this intriguing story to his will, unfolding it according to his own cadence and rhythm.
The novel includes narrative power, suspense, cultural insights and culinary sidesteps. The smooth writing style alongside culinary tips and the hidden spots in Rome & Jerusalem, among others, make the book very readable. And you might learn something about Christianity, canon law, the Jerusalem syndrome, too.
I do feel that the balance between the structure of the storyline and the detailed level of knowledge-sharing is not always in the narrative's favor.

Four stars. That's more than Dan Brown gets from me.
In short: high-quality, intriguing, exciting, captivating, interesting.
20 reviews
July 7, 2024
A truly compelling story by Mr. Parish. In addition to turning every page with delight, my mouth watered with every description and ingredient of Italian cuisine. A true tour de force for his first novel.
Profile Image for Barbara Bekkedahl.
204 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2024
The Twitter Gospels is a compelling story that touches upon multiple dimensions of the Catholic Church and faith. The plot drives the reader forward, centered on a fast-evolving Twitter account that threatens the Vatican’s supreme voice among its flock. The various workings of the church, different doctrines of religions, the history of Jerusalem and Rome and many thoughtful perspectives on faith is all propelled by this mystery storyline. I loved learning about the Jerusalem syndrome and how the main character delves into alternative religious thinking as a result of listening to disturbed individuals. And last, the story resolves in a way that satisfies the reader.
Profile Image for Michael Mangold.
107 reviews5 followers
June 24, 2024
The Catholic Church has an image problem, and, no, it’s not that, again. This time, the universal church’s troubles stem from an odd confluence of mental illness, social media, and a colossus of a whodunnit entangling seven million Twitter followers of…the second coming of Christ.

Paolo Venticinque, a Jesuit seminarian, is dispatched by the Vatican to investigate this alarmingly trending Twitter account and identify the influencer who is claiming to be Christ reborn. Paolo’s travels take him between Rome and Jerusalem, with Parish’s descriptive prose carrying us along the way. The sights, smells, flavors, and even bus routes of both cities support the story and enhance the reader’s immersion in this modern tale set against ancient backgrounds.

A highly-recommended book for those looking for a summertime read, an escape to international intrigue, and even a touch of old-world charm. Grab it before everyone else does.
1 review
July 11, 2024
Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed not only the story but the colorful descriptive writing. Such a contemporary premise. Intersecting church doctrine and social media. Fascinating characters and vivid descriptions of art, architecture in and around the Vatican and in Jerusalem. Interesting plot surprises. It is not hard to believe that this can happen. In fact, we know that this is happening in our messed up political environment right now.

Thank you for a wonderful reading experience.
Profile Image for Vera Gysemans.
74 reviews
July 16, 2024
Like a practiced writer, the author turns this intriguing story to his will, unfolding it according to his own cadence and rhythm.
The novel includes narrative power, suspense, cultural insights and culinary sidesteps. The smooth writing style alongside culinary tips and the hidden spots in Rome & Jerusalem, among others, make the book very readable. And you might learn something about Christianity, canon law, the Jerusalem syndrome, too.
I do feel that the balance between the structure of the storyline and the detailed level of knowledge-sharing is not always in the narrative's favor.

Four stars. That's more than Dan Brown gets from me.
In short: high-quality, intriguing, exciting, captivating, interesting.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews