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Різдвяна містерія
Відомий норвезький письменник Юстейн Ґордер у своїй книжці майстерно передає неповторну атмосферу очікування великого дива Різдва Христового. Розповідь у формі передріздвяного календаря дає змогу читачам разом із хлопчиком Йоакимом прожити і пережити знову біблійну історію за допомогою магічної мандрівки крізь час і простір у Вифлеєм, коли там сталася радісна новина – народилося Дитятко Ісус.
Для сімейного читання і спільного проживання дивовижної містерії Різдва.
Паломники минають двір і зупиняються перед печерою. Із запаху відчутно, що там стайня.
Раптом тишу порушує плач немовляти.
Ось і відбулося – у вифлеємській яскині.
Над стайнею сяє зоря. Всередині Марія сповиває новонароджене дитя і кладе його в ясла.
У цей момент небеса зустрічаються із землею. Бо дитина у яслах – то та іскра від великого вогнища серед тьмяних ліхтарів на небі.
Таке сталося чудо. Таке чудо стається щодня, коли на землю приходить новонароджене немовля. Так піднебесний світ щоразу немов створюється заново.
Для сімейного читання і спільного проживання дивовижної містерії Різдва.
Паломники минають двір і зупиняються перед печерою. Із запаху відчутно, що там стайня.
Раптом тишу порушує плач немовляти.
Ось і відбулося – у вифлеємській яскині.
Над стайнею сяє зоря. Всередині Марія сповиває новонароджене дитя і кладе його в ясла.
У цей момент небеса зустрічаються із землею. Бо дитина у яслах – то та іскра від великого вогнища серед тьмяних ліхтарів на небі.
Таке сталося чудо. Таке чудо стається щодня, коли на землю приходить новонароджене немовля. Так піднебесний світ щоразу немов створюється заново.
252 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
438 people are currently reading
3163 people want to read
About the author
Jostein Gaarder
63 books7,581 followersJostein Gaarder is a Norwegian intellectual and author of several novels, short stories, and children's books. Gaarder often writes from the perspective of children, exploring their sense of wonder about the world. He often uses meta-fiction in his works, writing stories within stories.
Gaarder was born into a pedagogical family. His best known work is the novel Sophie's World, subtitled "A Novel about the History of Philosophy." This popular work has been translated into fifty-three languages; there are over thirty million copies in print, with three million copies sold in Germany alone.
In 1997, he established the Sophie Prize together with his wife Siri Dannevig. This prize is an international environment and development prize (USD 100,000 = 77,000 €), awarded annually. It is named after the novel.
Gaarder was born into a pedagogical family. His best known work is the novel Sophie's World, subtitled "A Novel about the History of Philosophy." This popular work has been translated into fifty-three languages; there are over thirty million copies in print, with three million copies sold in Germany alone.
In 1997, he established the Sophie Prize together with his wife Siri Dannevig. This prize is an international environment and development prize (USD 100,000 = 77,000 €), awarded annually. It is named after the novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 653 reviews
December 20, 2016
So, this is for my children, and for Jean-Paul, who gently guides me through the maze to almost-forgotten-yet-unforgettable reading experiences!
Many years ago, my children and I started reading this book as a calendar on 1st December, and read one chapter each night until Christmas. It became a ritual, and we had to rearrange our reading time quite a lot to fit in the lengthy chapters in spite of the usual end-of-term activities and pre-Christmas craziness in a busy family of five.
It didn't take long before we had to bring both history books and atlases in order to follow the journey towards the mystery of Christmas. For the simple story gets more and more complex, and contains several layers of symbolical, historical, and geographical meaning. It travels through time and space, from present time (almost) in Scandinavia, through the Middle Ages in Europe, and back to the year of the birth of Jesus in Nazareth in the Mediterranean.
It is a mystery, a lost and found story,a voyage and return tale, a quest, and it certainly is a story about searching a way out of the labyrinth, or about finding a way of navigating it properly!
And it is a way to remember reading bliss past! It was the first time my children encountered a more complex literary structure than the straight forward plot. As always, when reading with children of different age groups (even though my three are quite close), there were discussions on various levels, from questions like "Where is Denmark?" on the map to complex reflections regarding the origin of our Christmas celebrations, given a special twist as we are an atheist household...
Oh I wish I had that clock in the story, so I could travel back in time and space. I wouldn't have to go that far, only to Germany, a couple of years ago, and cuddle my small children again, before they turned taller, and wittier, and more knowledgeable than myself...
“... perhaps the clock hands had become so tired of going in the same direction year after year that they had suddenly begun to go the opposite way instead...”
Merry Christmas, down memory lane...
Many years ago, my children and I started reading this book as a calendar on 1st December, and read one chapter each night until Christmas. It became a ritual, and we had to rearrange our reading time quite a lot to fit in the lengthy chapters in spite of the usual end-of-term activities and pre-Christmas craziness in a busy family of five.
It didn't take long before we had to bring both history books and atlases in order to follow the journey towards the mystery of Christmas. For the simple story gets more and more complex, and contains several layers of symbolical, historical, and geographical meaning. It travels through time and space, from present time (almost) in Scandinavia, through the Middle Ages in Europe, and back to the year of the birth of Jesus in Nazareth in the Mediterranean.
It is a mystery, a lost and found story,a voyage and return tale, a quest, and it certainly is a story about searching a way out of the labyrinth, or about finding a way of navigating it properly!
And it is a way to remember reading bliss past! It was the first time my children encountered a more complex literary structure than the straight forward plot. As always, when reading with children of different age groups (even though my three are quite close), there were discussions on various levels, from questions like "Where is Denmark?" on the map to complex reflections regarding the origin of our Christmas celebrations, given a special twist as we are an atheist household...
Oh I wish I had that clock in the story, so I could travel back in time and space. I wouldn't have to go that far, only to Germany, a couple of years ago, and cuddle my small children again, before they turned taller, and wittier, and more knowledgeable than myself...
“... perhaps the clock hands had become so tired of going in the same direction year after year that they had suddenly begun to go the opposite way instead...”
Merry Christmas, down memory lane...
December 28, 2022
Enchanting story within a story of a young girl, travelling across land and through time, from Norway to Bethlehem, to the birth of Christ. Chapters dated 1st to 24th December, so read one a day throughout advent this year. (First read 1996.)
November 23, 2022
There are many layers to this Christmas book from a Norwegian author. The birth of Christ is at the center of our celebration. What a mystery it is to think of the Son being born a baby! He was God with us and worthy of the band of pilgrims which arrives at the manger in this Advent tale. Joachim's dusty Advent Calendar tells a story of a girl named Elisabet who chases a lamb out of a 1948 department store and finds herself travelling through time and on land back to the Incarnation. Their little band of pilgrims grows as they draw ever nearer to Bethlehem. Along the way, landmarks from Norway and points North all the way down to the birthplace of the Savior are noted -- including the real Saint Nicholas and his practice of throwing gifts into the windows of those he was blessing. Loved the many glimpses of church history, the work of the apostles, and the life of Jesus that we see along the way. This is a book to be savored as a family during the month of December, just as Joachim did with his parents. A big thank you to Goodreads friend Chrissy for bringing this book to my attention!
July 27, 2011
The basic idea of this book is a great idea and the 24 chapter, advent calendar style is great. However far too many unanswered question for me that would confuse and concern a child. Why would an angel abandon a 20th century girl in the year 0 in a different continent? Why does a children's book include modern day references to child abduction and the poor mother who spend 50 years wondering what became of her daughter? What exactly was Elisabet's role in the birth of Jesus? Why was Elisabet's disappeared linked to political motives which are frankly unbelievable to an adult and would be incomprehensible to a child? I was desperately hoping that it would all be explained at the end but is simply wasn't. Very strange book. Not sure who it was aimed at and who would enjoy it to be honest.
December 12, 2021
Una de estas historia dentro de otra historia, como ya hizo el autor con 'El misterio del solitario', pero aquel libro me gustó muchísimo más que este.
Aún así resulta una lectura curiosa sobre un niño que descubre un calendario de adviento que guarda una historia para cada día del mes de diciembre en su interior, además del misterio de una niña desaparecida por descubrir.
Lo más interesante es el recorrido Histórico y mitológico que hace por las tradiciones relacionadas con el origen del nacimiento del niño Jesús, pero al mismo tiempo me resultó demasiado superficial...
Si buscáis una lectura infantil sencillita para acompañar estos días, breve y curiosa, puede ser para vosotros.
Aún así resulta una lectura curiosa sobre un niño que descubre un calendario de adviento que guarda una historia para cada día del mes de diciembre en su interior, además del misterio de una niña desaparecida por descubrir.
Lo más interesante es el recorrido Histórico y mitológico que hace por las tradiciones relacionadas con el origen del nacimiento del niño Jesús, pero al mismo tiempo me resultó demasiado superficial...
Si buscáis una lectura infantil sencillita para acompañar estos días, breve y curiosa, puede ser para vosotros.
December 1, 2017
This book was published not too long after the Norwegian author's better known novel, Sophie's World, made a big international splash. Probably way too many copies of The Christmas Mystery were printed, and I seem to remember it being remaindered almost right away. Certainly, I bought it as a remainder, and it sat unread on my shelves for about 15 years. Early this past December, I pulled it out thinking of creating some badly needed shelf space. I read the first chapter (finally) and was hooked by the premise: Joachim, a boy in a small town in Norway finds a mysterious hand-made Advent calendar in a used bookshop; each day when he opens a door a folded slip of paper with writing falls out, each day's installment telling the story of a girl named Elisabet who makes a strange, mystical journey to Bethlehem, running from the town in Norway across Europe and back in time, in a growing company of sheep, angels, shepherds, wise men (and others who play bit parts in the nativity story). There's a chapter for each door that Joachim opens, making the book itself something of an Advent calendar. I immediately thought to spend December reading it aloud to my eight-year-old boy at bedtime.
Now that we're finished, I don't regret it, but there were times during the reading when I wasn't sure if we were going to have the stamina to stick with it. After a very strong opening (my son, too, was immediately hooked by the premise, and taken with the idea of reading each chapter on its corresponding date) the story became a little sluggish and repetitive. The first two angels who join Elisabet on her journey have strong personalities, but the ones that follow (each day another character joins the holy procession) are just names, which is also the case with the shepherds. The wise men make long tedious philosophical speeches which six-year-old Elisabet is always "hiding in her heart." As they travel across Europe and back in time, they are constantly entering towns, with an angel telling Elisabet the name of the town, the current year they are in, and the year the town's principal cathedral was built -- not really engrossing. A shepherd often interrupts whatever informational or philosophical conversation is taking place by banging his crook and shouting "To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem!" This happened so frequently, that I started making a joke of it by reading "...he banged his crook and said..." then pausing to allow my son to yell "To Bethlehem!" himself. The framing story of Joachim and his attempt to learn about the maker of the Advent calendar (a flower-seller from the market named John), and its connection with a real-life Elisabet who disappeared from their town in the 1940s, is also a little repetitive. I guess there are only so many ways to describe a boy waking up all agog to open a door in his Advent calendar. The ending, and the explanation of the real-life Elisabet's story was both long-winded and incoherent.
All this being said, I can't deny that I got some pleasure out of making an Advent ritual of this book, and it certainly kept us focused on the religious aspects of Christmas (non-Christians might prefer to give this one a miss). The particular edition we read, a handsome, almost picture-book sized hard-cover, with appealing illustrations by Rosemary Wells is lovely as a physical object. I've moved it to my son's shelf now -- who knows if he'll ever reread it (I'm fairly sure I won't), but maybe seeing it there will bring back some good Christmas memories for him in the years to come.
Now that we're finished, I don't regret it, but there were times during the reading when I wasn't sure if we were going to have the stamina to stick with it. After a very strong opening (my son, too, was immediately hooked by the premise, and taken with the idea of reading each chapter on its corresponding date) the story became a little sluggish and repetitive. The first two angels who join Elisabet on her journey have strong personalities, but the ones that follow (each day another character joins the holy procession) are just names, which is also the case with the shepherds. The wise men make long tedious philosophical speeches which six-year-old Elisabet is always "hiding in her heart." As they travel across Europe and back in time, they are constantly entering towns, with an angel telling Elisabet the name of the town, the current year they are in, and the year the town's principal cathedral was built -- not really engrossing. A shepherd often interrupts whatever informational or philosophical conversation is taking place by banging his crook and shouting "To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem!" This happened so frequently, that I started making a joke of it by reading "...he banged his crook and said..." then pausing to allow my son to yell "To Bethlehem!" himself. The framing story of Joachim and his attempt to learn about the maker of the Advent calendar (a flower-seller from the market named John), and its connection with a real-life Elisabet who disappeared from their town in the 1940s, is also a little repetitive. I guess there are only so many ways to describe a boy waking up all agog to open a door in his Advent calendar. The ending, and the explanation of the real-life Elisabet's story was both long-winded and incoherent.
All this being said, I can't deny that I got some pleasure out of making an Advent ritual of this book, and it certainly kept us focused on the religious aspects of Christmas (non-Christians might prefer to give this one a miss). The particular edition we read, a handsome, almost picture-book sized hard-cover, with appealing illustrations by Rosemary Wells is lovely as a physical object. I've moved it to my son's shelf now -- who knows if he'll ever reread it (I'm fairly sure I won't), but maybe seeing it there will bring back some good Christmas memories for him in the years to come.
January 7, 2021
Un libro muy recomendable. Se ha ganado las 5 estrellas porque me encanta la Historia, no por el cuento que cuenta. Es cierto que el final me ha parecido un poco raro, sobre todo porque lo he terminado y no me he enterado cual era el papel de Elisabet. En fin, creo que es un buen libro tanto para adultos como para niños, aunque pienso que un niño podría disfrutarlo más. Creo que lo aconsejable para los críos sería leer un capítulo por día, coincidiendo con el Calendario de Adviento. Así sería mucho más emocionante para ellos.
En definitiva, me ha gustado el mensaje que transmite sobre la Navidad, y eso es lo importante. :)
En definitiva, me ha gustado el mensaje que transmite sobre la Navidad, y eso es lo importante. :)
December 4, 2023
Estes últimos dias do ano estão a revelar-se bastante proveitosos em termos de leituras. Hoje terminei mais um livrinho natalício, que me chegou via BookCrossing. É do mesmo autor d'O Mundo de Sofia, e fez-me lembrar bastante esse livro, que li há já muitos anos. Tem também um mistério, neste caso relacionado com o Natal, que se vai revelando dia após dia, em pequenas doses que vão aumentando o suspense. Gostei bastante, mas no final, como diria a minha avó, o autor borrou a escrita. Seja qual for a causa em questão, o rapto de um criança não é crime que se possa branquear.
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December 20, 2017We were so excited about reading this book. The idea of a magic advent calendar and a part of the story to read each day was really appealing to us but despite having greatly enjoyed Sophie's World by the same author we struggled to enjoy this one. Will perhaps try again another year.
January 23, 2014
And the award for biggest pile of crud I’ve ever read in my life goes to: The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder.
I knew that this was a children’s book. In fact, when it was announced at book club I was a little bit enamoured with the fact that we would be reading a book for kids. So much so that I actually went out and bought the pretty picture-book version with all the little angels and Baby-Jesuses in the margins. What a bloody waste of money that was!
The story is about a magic advent calendar and it starts off really well... A little boy (whose name escapes me as he was just so dull) procures this calendar from a strange old man. When he opens the first window, a little bit of paper falls out with the introduction to a story on it. Events continue this very same way through every date in December, with little whatshisface getting up at the crack of dawn to eagerly drink in some more of this tale. A little girl went missing 50 years ago whilst in a department store with her mother. One of the toy sheep got up and scampered away and she followed it all the way to Bethlehem, meeting angels, shepherds and wise men along the way. All the while, time is spinning forever backwards and the procession end up waaaaay back in time at the birth of Jesus Christ. Seems legit.
To be perfectly honest, the magical elements of the story were the best bit. This could actually have been alright if it were better written. I know that children thrive on repetition but this was just exhausting. The book is set out like a diary, with the dates counting up through December until Christmas. Every single day we have the same thing: Little boy gets up. Little boy is disturbingly excited about opening his calendar. Paper falls out. Boy reads story. Boy hears mum & dad coming. Boy hides paper.
Every day there is a digression from this mundaneness, in which we find out what is going on with the little girl from the past. But even that doesn’t come as such a relief - for each character she meets along the way has a headache of a catchphrase which they utter in each chapter. “Fear not!”, “To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem!” … oh just fuck off!
I reckon the little boy in this has some real psychological problems. I had to read it as a comedy if only to stop it from ruining Christmas. He keeps on raving to his parents about a little girl and some sheep, and kings of the orient – they must think he’s ready for a sectioning. As an in-depth study of a little boy’s spiral into declining mental health, this book excels, but as a fairytale for kids at Christmas, it’s a bit shit.
I knew that this was a children’s book. In fact, when it was announced at book club I was a little bit enamoured with the fact that we would be reading a book for kids. So much so that I actually went out and bought the pretty picture-book version with all the little angels and Baby-Jesuses in the margins. What a bloody waste of money that was!
The story is about a magic advent calendar and it starts off really well... A little boy (whose name escapes me as he was just so dull) procures this calendar from a strange old man. When he opens the first window, a little bit of paper falls out with the introduction to a story on it. Events continue this very same way through every date in December, with little whatshisface getting up at the crack of dawn to eagerly drink in some more of this tale. A little girl went missing 50 years ago whilst in a department store with her mother. One of the toy sheep got up and scampered away and she followed it all the way to Bethlehem, meeting angels, shepherds and wise men along the way. All the while, time is spinning forever backwards and the procession end up waaaaay back in time at the birth of Jesus Christ. Seems legit.
To be perfectly honest, the magical elements of the story were the best bit. This could actually have been alright if it were better written. I know that children thrive on repetition but this was just exhausting. The book is set out like a diary, with the dates counting up through December until Christmas. Every single day we have the same thing: Little boy gets up. Little boy is disturbingly excited about opening his calendar. Paper falls out. Boy reads story. Boy hears mum & dad coming. Boy hides paper.
Every day there is a digression from this mundaneness, in which we find out what is going on with the little girl from the past. But even that doesn’t come as such a relief - for each character she meets along the way has a headache of a catchphrase which they utter in each chapter. “Fear not!”, “To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem!” … oh just fuck off!
I reckon the little boy in this has some real psychological problems. I had to read it as a comedy if only to stop it from ruining Christmas. He keeps on raving to his parents about a little girl and some sheep, and kings of the orient – they must think he’s ready for a sectioning. As an in-depth study of a little boy’s spiral into declining mental health, this book excels, but as a fairytale for kids at Christmas, it’s a bit shit.
December 10, 2013
On 1st December, a young boy named Joachim is given an unusual advent calendar, and behind each door contains a chapter of a story. As the story unfolds, Joachim (and his parents) learn about a young girl named Elisabet who disappeared from Norway years earlier, and a pilgrimage of angels, shepherds and wise men who travel across land and time, to be present when Jesus was born.
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this book. Although I am not religious, I can enjoy reading books about religion, but I felt that this particular story was preachy and sanctimonious. Also, while it might be considered a magical tale of a pilgrimage, it could equally be seen as the story of a young girl who was tempted away from her mother by a cute animal, and led away with an angel who promised to look after her, but instead took her away from her home, and left her mother wondering for years about what had happened to her daughter. (Which to me anyway, sounds a bit sinister.)
I do think the idea was quite a good one, because it could be a useful tool for learning about the history of certain places, but I just couldn’t connect with it at all. There was no characterisation – I didn’t know Joachim or his parents any better by the last page than I did on the first page, and I felt the same way about Elisabet. The writing just seemed too simplistic, and the story was also somewhat repetitive, and the ending was – possibly deliberately – a bit unclear.
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this book. Although I am not religious, I can enjoy reading books about religion, but I felt that this particular story was preachy and sanctimonious. Also, while it might be considered a magical tale of a pilgrimage, it could equally be seen as the story of a young girl who was tempted away from her mother by a cute animal, and led away with an angel who promised to look after her, but instead took her away from her home, and left her mother wondering for years about what had happened to her daughter. (Which to me anyway, sounds a bit sinister.)
I do think the idea was quite a good one, because it could be a useful tool for learning about the history of certain places, but I just couldn’t connect with it at all. There was no characterisation – I didn’t know Joachim or his parents any better by the last page than I did on the first page, and I felt the same way about Elisabet. The writing just seemed too simplistic, and the story was also somewhat repetitive, and the ending was – possibly deliberately – a bit unclear.
May 28, 2015
این کتاب رو یک بار اون هم اوایل نوجونی خوندم که جرقه ای شد برای علاقه ام به فلسفه. تا یازده سالگیم بهترین کتابی بود که خوندم و عاشقش شدم. اینقدر دوسش داشتم که نمیخوام دوباره بخونم، شاید تصورات بی نقصم نقش بر آب بشه!
صرفا به خاطر قدردانی از نقش پررنگش بهش پنج ستاره طلایی میدم!
صرفا به خاطر قدردانی از نقش پررنگش بهش پنج ستاره طلایی میدم!
December 2, 2025
Forever a five star read, for me! The most magical Christmas story ⭐️💫⭐️
December 26, 2021
Knyga, kuri, tikiuosi, bus naujos tradicijos per Adventą skaityti Kalėdinę knygą, pradžia. Labiausiai patiko knygos idėja keliauti laiku atgal iki Kristaus gimimo. Dėl kai kurių knygps vietų pasiginčyčiau ir pasikabinėčiau, bet kadangi Kalėdos, tai tiek jau to.
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/12/25/k...
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/12/25/k...
January 25, 2014
I would have rated this book with 5 stars until I got to the last 4 or 5 pages. I felt like Ralphie in the movie "A Christmas Story", that it was "a crummy commercial".
This book is beautifully written, beautifully illustrated (the one I got was illustrated by Rosemary Wells whom I have loved for years), and beautifully set up. It is an advent book, with each day of the advent calendar following a double story. The story of Joachim who is given a Magical Advent Calendar and opens it each day and reads the message inside each door, and then the story of Elisabet the young Norwegian girl who in 1948 is whisked away by angels to take a trip thru time to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Both stories are lovely, and the addition of sheep, kings of the east, and emperors along Elisabet's trip makes the Christmas story come alive in a lovely way.
However. The ending is very poor. It seems there are two possible solutions to the mystery of "what happened to Elisabet?". Elisabet is a real girl who was kidnapped and taken to Bethlehem to be raised in 1948 in the war-torn area that was Palestine as the new nation of Israel was being formed. She has been missing for 45 years, and her mother still grieves the loss of her daughter. Whether Elisabet was kidnapped by an angel, which is what the Magic Advent calendar supposes, she was taken away from her family..... and for what? It seems she works on behalf of refugee families in Palestine?
I read this story not knowing that the author was against the formation of the nation of Israel, nor that he was in support of Palestine. Somehow along the way I didn't think that should have mattered. But the author makes his political "commercial" the ending of the story, and for me it ruins it completely. All I could think of at the end was "her poor mother... she was alive all those years and never found her way back to let her family know she was alive? Child kidnapping, what a horrible ending to the advent story!". These thoughts overshadowed the rest of the story, which is that Elisabet was present when Baby Jesus was born. You don't even know what happened once Elisabet got to the manger in Bethlehem. It was almost as though the ending of the story was hijacked by the political commercial. And I for one am sadly disappointed. To quote Mr. Knightley to Emma... "Badly done, Mr. Gaarder. Badly done."
Questions that I still have..... who kidnapped Elisabet? If it was the angels, couldn't the angels have brought her back in time and return her to her family? (like in "A Christmas Carol" where the Spirits could do it all in one night?) Was she kidnapped by a Palestinian family? If so, doesn't that say something unflattering about their purposes in kidnapping a child? And why didn't they try to return her to her home? What purpose really is the fact that she lived all this time as a Palestinian refugee have to do with her being at the birth of Christ?
Any one want to join me and write a different ending for the book?
This book is beautifully written, beautifully illustrated (the one I got was illustrated by Rosemary Wells whom I have loved for years), and beautifully set up. It is an advent book, with each day of the advent calendar following a double story. The story of Joachim who is given a Magical Advent Calendar and opens it each day and reads the message inside each door, and then the story of Elisabet the young Norwegian girl who in 1948 is whisked away by angels to take a trip thru time to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Both stories are lovely, and the addition of sheep, kings of the east, and emperors along Elisabet's trip makes the Christmas story come alive in a lovely way.
However. The ending is very poor. It seems there are two possible solutions to the mystery of "what happened to Elisabet?". Elisabet is a real girl who was kidnapped and taken to Bethlehem to be raised in 1948 in the war-torn area that was Palestine as the new nation of Israel was being formed. She has been missing for 45 years, and her mother still grieves the loss of her daughter. Whether Elisabet was kidnapped by an angel, which is what the Magic Advent calendar supposes, she was taken away from her family..... and for what? It seems she works on behalf of refugee families in Palestine?
I read this story not knowing that the author was against the formation of the nation of Israel, nor that he was in support of Palestine. Somehow along the way I didn't think that should have mattered. But the author makes his political "commercial" the ending of the story, and for me it ruins it completely. All I could think of at the end was "her poor mother... she was alive all those years and never found her way back to let her family know she was alive? Child kidnapping, what a horrible ending to the advent story!". These thoughts overshadowed the rest of the story, which is that Elisabet was present when Baby Jesus was born. You don't even know what happened once Elisabet got to the manger in Bethlehem. It was almost as though the ending of the story was hijacked by the political commercial. And I for one am sadly disappointed. To quote Mr. Knightley to Emma... "Badly done, Mr. Gaarder. Badly done."
Questions that I still have..... who kidnapped Elisabet? If it was the angels, couldn't the angels have brought her back in time and return her to her family? (like in "A Christmas Carol" where the Spirits could do it all in one night?) Was she kidnapped by a Palestinian family? If so, doesn't that say something unflattering about their purposes in kidnapping a child? And why didn't they try to return her to her home? What purpose really is the fact that she lived all this time as a Palestinian refugee have to do with her being at the birth of Christ?
Any one want to join me and write a different ending for the book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2020
Різдвяна історія, від якої ні святкової магії, ні читацького задоволення.
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«Різдвяна містерія» Юстейна Гордера – це по одному розділу на кожен грудневий день до Різдва. Починалася книжка цікаво: хлопчик купує собі магічний адвент-календар, у кожному віконечку якого є папірець з історією. Спершу я сподівалась, що історії будуть різні, такі собі маленькі оповідання на кожен день, але історія зв’язана, аби кожен день хотілося швидше відкривати віконце і дізнаватися продовження.
Книжку, до речі, я читала вголос, бо Денису теж було цікаво. Доволі швидко історія нам почала здаватися надто наївною, надто релігійною і надто дивною (не у приємному значенні), але ми все одно кожен вечір перед сном читали, бо це вже була як маленька традиція.
Бісило, що протягом історії повторювалися якісь одні і ті ж фрази, бісили батьки хлопчика, які то були ледь не обурено-здивовані його знаннями про історію релігії, то потім вичікували у його кімнаті зранку, поки син прокинеться. Ідея книжки загалом цікава: розказати історію християнства. Але історії кожного дня в адвенті були короткими, тож автор встигав хіба перерахувати країни чи міста, через які герої йдуть, то буквально на кілька абзаців сконцентруватися на якійсь конкретній події, та й ті були подані якимось біблійським чи повчальним тоном.
Можливо, якби у книжки був інший тон і трохи вигадливіша оповідь, а не суха пробіжка по часу і простору, то було б цікавіше. Я ще думала, що може мене дратує релігійність книжки, бо якось останні роки я трохи зла на багато речей, які робить церква, але зараз розумію, що по-іншому подана історія з тими ж янголами мені б таки сподобалася. Та й в багатьох інших книжках не маю проблем з релігійністю.
До речі, Гордер підтримує палестинських біженців і відповідно дуже обурюється діями Ізраїлю в їхньому конфлікті з Палестиною. Але, як на мене, у книжці він показав палестинців навпаки не в дуже гарному світлі і діти з цієї історії навряд винесуть якийсь урок на цю тему, тому було незрозуміло, для чого взагалі було їх вставляти.
⠀
«Різдвяна містерія» Юстейна Гордера – це по одному розділу на кожен грудневий день до Різдва. Починалася книжка цікаво: хлопчик купує собі магічний адвент-календар, у кожному віконечку якого є папірець з історією. Спершу я сподівалась, що історії будуть різні, такі собі маленькі оповідання на кожен день, але історія зв’язана, аби кожен день хотілося швидше відкривати віконце і дізнаватися продовження.
Книжку, до речі, я читала вголос, бо Денису теж було цікаво. Доволі швидко історія нам почала здаватися надто наївною, надто релігійною і надто дивною (не у приємному значенні), але ми все одно кожен вечір перед сном читали, бо це вже була як маленька традиція.
Бісило, що протягом історії повторювалися якісь одні і ті ж фрази, бісили батьки хлопчика, які то були ледь не обурено-здивовані його знаннями про історію релігії, то потім вичікували у його кімнаті зранку, поки син прокинеться. Ідея книжки загалом цікава: розказати історію християнства. Але історії кожного дня в адвенті були короткими, тож автор встигав хіба перерахувати країни чи міста, через які герої йдуть, то буквально на кілька абзаців сконцентруватися на якійсь конкретній події, та й ті були подані якимось біблійським чи повчальним тоном.
Можливо, якби у книжки був інший тон і трохи вигадливіша оповідь, а не суха пробіжка по часу і простору, то було б цікавіше. Я ще думала, що може мене дратує релігійність книжки, бо якось останні роки я трохи зла на багато речей, які робить церква, але зараз розумію, що по-іншому подана історія з тими ж янголами мені б таки сподобалася. Та й в багатьох інших книжках не маю проблем з релігійністю.
До речі, Гордер підтримує палестинських біженців і відповідно дуже обурюється діями Ізраїлю в їхньому конфлікті з Палестиною. Але, як на мене, у книжці він показав палестинців навпаки не в дуже гарному світлі і діти з цієї історії навряд винесуть якийсь урок на цю тему, тому було незрозуміло, для чого взагалі було їх вставляти.
July 4, 2017
Nettes Adventsbuch mit einer wirklich geheimnisvollen Geschichte und schönen Kalendertürchenbilder. Der ständig gleiche Aufbau (Türchen öffnen, Zettel lesen, Gedanken machen) fand ich mit der Zeit ein bisschen eintönig. Ganz nett, aber werde ich sicher nicht nochmals lesen.
December 9, 2021
Ser at jeg var lunken forrige gang jeg leste denne (2018?) nå er jeg helt ombord igjen. Perfekt blanding av bibelhistorie, magi og detektivarbeid. Gleder meg til å lese den sammen med Amalie om noen år.
PS: syns neste det funker bedre å lese den i tre jafser enn 24 biter
PS: syns neste det funker bedre å lese den i tre jafser enn 24 biter
October 12, 2022
3,5/5
Po dielach uja Gaardnera pokukujem už dlhšiu dobu, počula som som o nich veľa a hoci som myslela, že začnem Sofiinym svetom, neodolala som ani tejto.
Počas listovania knižkou som sa však vydesila, že pôsobí silno nábožensky a ja ako zarytá ateistka som sa musela snažiť, aby som sa do knihy pustila s otvorenou mysľou.
Môžem povedať, že autor vytvoril skutočne neobvyklý príbeh, je krásne vymyslený. Funguje na princípe adventného kalendára, čiže je rozdelený do 24 kapitol. A každá obsahuje príbeh zo zázračného adventného kalendára, ktorý otvára hlavná postava o putovaní dievčatka a jej spoločníkov z Nórska do Betlehema naprieč takmer 2000 rokmi, aby bola svedkom Ježišovho narodenia. Veľmi sa mi páčila tá história, ako autor učí, čo sa v jednotlivých miestach stalo, akú majú historickú či náboženskú dôležitosť. Milým rozprávkovým spôsobom je to náučná knižka. I keď je tam aj dosť historických a hlavne vedeckých nepresností.
Bavilo ma aj pátranie po Elisabete a postupné odhaľovanie tajomstiev.
Navyše je fakt veľmi dobre napísaná. Autor má pekný poetický štýl písania a rozhodne ma nadchol dostatočne, aby som si st��le chcela prečítať niečo ďalšie od neho.
Ale! Moja vedecká duša trpela. Darwinov Pôvod druhov vyšiel viac než 130 rokov pred touto knihou a predsa je založená na kreacionizme, teda vedecky nesprávnej teórii, že Boh stvoril svet. Veľmi silno je tu pretláčaná náboženská ideológia.
Poviem to takto - keby mám dieťa, tak mu tú knihu určite nečítam. Avšak, ako dospelá osoba som si vedela z knihy vytiahnuť pekné a zaujímavé myšlienky a absolútne čítanie nevnímam ako stratu času, skôr naopak.
Je to však prioritne knižka pre deti a preto tu okrem iného je veľká repetatívnosť. Autor opakuje celé vety a tiež na začiatku niektorých kapitol rekapituje, čo sa stalo v kapitolách predtým. V poriadku, sama s deťmi skúsenosti nemám, možno by si to fakt inak nepamätali, hlavne ak by to čítali v priebehu 24 dní, takže to beriem v pohode. Čo ma ale iritovalo do nepríčetnosti bol šialený pastier, ktorý 39x v 24. príbehoch kričal ,,Do Betlehema, do Betlehema!" pričom 31x z toho trieskal palicou do všetkého od oviec až po mestské hradby. (Hej, počítala som to. A je možné, že som nejaký ten pokrik prehliadla.)
Vo všeobecnosti to hodnotím ako peknú knihu, ktorá rozhodne má čitateľom čo dať, ale nakoľko nepodporujem vtláčanie náboženstva do hláv detí, odporúčam ju sk��r dospelým čitateľom.
Po dielach uja Gaardnera pokukujem už dlhšiu dobu, počula som som o nich veľa a hoci som myslela, že začnem Sofiinym svetom, neodolala som ani tejto.
Počas listovania knižkou som sa však vydesila, že pôsobí silno nábožensky a ja ako zarytá ateistka som sa musela snažiť, aby som sa do knihy pustila s otvorenou mysľou.
Môžem povedať, že autor vytvoril skutočne neobvyklý príbeh, je krásne vymyslený. Funguje na princípe adventného kalendára, čiže je rozdelený do 24 kapitol. A každá obsahuje príbeh zo zázračného adventného kalendára, ktorý otvára hlavná postava o putovaní dievčatka a jej spoločníkov z Nórska do Betlehema naprieč takmer 2000 rokmi, aby bola svedkom Ježišovho narodenia. Veľmi sa mi páčila tá história, ako autor učí, čo sa v jednotlivých miestach stalo, akú majú historickú či náboženskú dôležitosť. Milým rozprávkovým spôsobom je to náučná knižka. I keď je tam aj dosť historických a hlavne vedeckých nepresností.
Bavilo ma aj pátranie po Elisabete a postupné odhaľovanie tajomstiev.
Navyše je fakt veľmi dobre napísaná. Autor má pekný poetický štýl písania a rozhodne ma nadchol dostatočne, aby som si st��le chcela prečítať niečo ďalšie od neho.
Ale! Moja vedecká duša trpela. Darwinov Pôvod druhov vyšiel viac než 130 rokov pred touto knihou a predsa je založená na kreacionizme, teda vedecky nesprávnej teórii, že Boh stvoril svet. Veľmi silno je tu pretláčaná náboženská ideológia.
Poviem to takto - keby mám dieťa, tak mu tú knihu určite nečítam. Avšak, ako dospelá osoba som si vedela z knihy vytiahnuť pekné a zaujímavé myšlienky a absolútne čítanie nevnímam ako stratu času, skôr naopak.
Je to však prioritne knižka pre deti a preto tu okrem iného je veľká repetatívnosť. Autor opakuje celé vety a tiež na začiatku niektorých kapitol rekapituje, čo sa stalo v kapitolách predtým. V poriadku, sama s deťmi skúsenosti nemám, možno by si to fakt inak nepamätali, hlavne ak by to čítali v priebehu 24 dní, takže to beriem v pohode. Čo ma ale iritovalo do nepríčetnosti bol šialený pastier, ktorý 39x v 24. príbehoch kričal ,,Do Betlehema, do Betlehema!" pričom 31x z toho trieskal palicou do všetkého od oviec až po mestské hradby. (Hej, počítala som to. A je možné, že som nejaký ten pokrik prehliadla.)
Vo všeobecnosti to hodnotím ako peknú knihu, ktorá rozhodne má čitateľom čo dať, ale nakoľko nepodporujem vtláčanie náboženstva do hláv detí, odporúčam ju sk��r dospelým čitateľom.
December 24, 2021
This book means Christmas to me. Well, advent. I have always preferred advent to Christmas anyway - and this is a steadfast part of my own traditions. When the first of December comes around, I have to start reading The Christmas Mystery.
It's a beautiful story, successfully intertwining the modern tale of Joachim with Elisabet and Epherial's journey across the world and down the spiral of time. This is better than an advent calendar. As a child, I wished for a magic advent calendar too, but now I don't need to. This is mine.
2014 - Just as good every year I read it.
2017 - Even though I basically know what is behind every door/the story on each day, this is what makes up part of Christmas every year for me.
2021 - This book will never grow old. I though I'd be reading it to my children some time around now but... life hasn't worked out like that. A very nostalgic and emotional read for me.
It's a beautiful story, successfully intertwining the modern tale of Joachim with Elisabet and Epherial's journey across the world and down the spiral of time. This is better than an advent calendar. As a child, I wished for a magic advent calendar too, but now I don't need to. This is mine.
2014 - Just as good every year I read it.
2017 - Even though I basically know what is behind every door/the story on each day, this is what makes up part of Christmas every year for me.
2021 - This book will never grow old. I though I'd be reading it to my children some time around now but... life hasn't worked out like that. A very nostalgic and emotional read for me.
December 31, 2020
Citame to uz treti rok, zatial to chalanov bavi.
December 30, 2018
Bucuria descoperirii unui calendar de Advent, nu doar cu ilustratii pentru fiecare zi pana la Craciun ci si cu biletele pentru fiecare zi cu o poveste, nu este numai a unui copil ci si a parintilor sai. Povestea aparent fantastica, produs al fictiunii, are si un sambure de adevar: o fetita pe nume Elisabeth ajunge sa calatoreasca impreuna cu un inger catre Bethlehem, ocazie pentru a afla despre monumente si de a urmari pe atlas denumirile actuale ale locurilor pe unde a calatorit alaturi de prietenii ei inclusiv inapoi in timp pentru a asista la nasterea Domnului. Povestea, aparent doar un pretext pentru a prezenta povestea nasterii lui Isus intr-un mod atractiv pentru copiii care iubesc calendarul de Advent, se dovedeste a fi un pretext pentru a cunoaste lucruri despre istorie si povesti Biblice dar si pentru a-i atrage si pe parinti intr-o investigatie legata de soarta unei fetite disparute acum o vreme. Misterul continua odata cu vizita fetitei devenita adult. Romanul ne introduce in atmosfera de poveste si de fabulos prin refrene, prin repetitii specific basmelor si povestilor biblice, ca niste incantatii. Despre magia povestilor si a Craciunului, la orice varsta. Trairile descoperirilor povestilor din calendarul de Advent le avem odata cu lectura oricarei carti captivante.
Citate:
– Să fii în stare să stai aici în miezul iernii, se zgribuli mama. Uite chiar şi un vânzător de flori acolo!
Joakim zâmbi în sinea lui.
– Pentru că florile sunt un strop din splendoarea cerului ce se revarsă pe pământ, zise el.
[…]
– Şi darul poeziei este tot ceva din splendoarea cerului ce s-a revărsat pe pământ. Şi acesta se răspândeşte cu uşurinţă.
Citate:
– Să fii în stare să stai aici în miezul iernii, se zgribuli mama. Uite chiar şi un vânzător de flori acolo!
Joakim zâmbi în sinea lui.
– Pentru că florile sunt un strop din splendoarea cerului ce se revarsă pe pământ, zise el.
[…]
– Şi darul poeziei este tot ceva din splendoarea cerului ce s-a revărsat pe pământ. Şi acesta se răspândeşte cu uşurinţă.
December 26, 2024
I first discovered this wonderful little book about six years ago and it has become a traditional part of my Christmas preparations. Written in twenty-four parts, to be opened from 1st December to Christmas Eve, it is two stories in one. At its heart is a group of pilgrims - shepherds, sheep, angels, Wise Men, and a little girl from Norway - who travel back in time to visit a stable in Bethlehem. But wrapped around it is the story of Joachim and his parents who gradually uncover the meaning of the Magic Advent Calendar they find in an old bookshop.
This is a delightful book for children of all ages; I have just finished reading it and will now put it away until 1st December 2018 when I will start it again. Highly recommended.
Updated: also read in 2018, 2109, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. And the story seems fresh every time.
This is a delightful book for children of all ages; I have just finished reading it and will now put it away until 1st December 2018 when I will start it again. Highly recommended.
Updated: also read in 2018, 2109, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. And the story seems fresh every time.
February 19, 2019
Najkrajší knižný adventný kalendár, zachytáva kúzelný vianočný príbeh s úžasnými ilustráciami. Chlapec Joachim s rodičmi od 1. do 24. decembra otvárajú okienka na ručne zhotovenom adventnom kalendári a postupne sa dozvedia neuveriteľný príbeh nórskeho dievčatka, ktoré sa v predvianočnom ruchu stratí mame v obchodnom dome a putuje späť v čase a v priestore do roku nula aj so svojím sprievodom. Toto vianočné potešenie odporúčam čítať počas adventného času a cestovať s deťmi deň po dni podľa adventného kalendára. Oceňujem veľmi nápadité spracovanie príbehu a asi sa poobzeráme s deťmi aj po ďaľších Gaarderových tituloch. Mama už čítaj!
December 20, 2016
An enjoyable book for the Christmas period. Although in the beginning I was a bit bored by especially the story of the girl going to Bethlehem.
But, I took the book to Rome on a long city break and started enjoying the read in a suitable Christmas environment...
But, I took the book to Rome on a long city break and started enjoying the read in a suitable Christmas environment...
December 29, 2015
Organized in 24 chapters corresponding to the 24 windows of a magical Advent calendar, this book reveals, as a frame story, the journey in space and time of a group of pilgrims from current-day Norway to Bethlehem, when Christ was born, emphasizing the meaning of Christmas along the way.
December 24, 2017
O cărticică potrivită acestei perioade. Ea se confundă cu două cuvinte: mister și magie, adică exact ingredientele care fac deliciul poveștilor!
Recunosc, mai mult mi-a plăcut ”Fata cu portocale”, însă și povestea a fost una diferită..:)
Recunosc, mai mult mi-a plăcut ”Fata cu portocale”, însă și povestea a fost una diferită..:)
January 1, 2021
"Nemalo by zmysel stvoriť svet, keby v ňom nebolo detí, ktoré ho ustavične môžu objavovať. Boh takto tvorí svet stále znovu a znovu. Nikdy s tým nebude celkom hotový, pretože ustavične budú prichádzať nové a nové deti, ktoré ten svet budú pre seba objavovať po prvýkrát."
V tejto knihe snúbi estetika s krásnym príbehom. Je to také umelecké dielko. Fantáziu autora Josteina Gaardera úžasne rozvinul ilustráciami Vlado Kráľ. Vznikla tak knižka, ktorú už v prvej chvíli chytáte do rúk v jemnom očarení.
Vianočné mystérium sa vlastne začína nočnou morou rodiča - pri nákupoch s mamou sa dievčatko Elisabeth zrazu vychytí a z obchodu zmizne. Naháňa jahniatko, ktoré už nebavilo žiť v obchoďáku v predvianočnom konzumnom ruchu a dalo sa na útek. Elisabeth zjavne to, že sa odtrhla od mamy, nejako netrápi, zmeraná na huňatý hebký kožúšok zvieratka sa rúti za ním, až kým zrazu nie je iné ročné obdobie, nestretne anjela a nerozhodne sa, že sa s ním vydá do Betlehema, aby mohla byť pri narodení Ježiška. Začína sa púť naprieč krajinami a časom, počas ktorej naberajú ďalšie ovečky, anjelov, pastierov či troch kráľov... napokon skrátka do Betlehema v čarovnú noc dorazí až dvadsaťtričlenný sprievod.
Toto všetko sa dozvedáme vďaka jednému mimoriadnemu adventnému kalendáru, ktorý sa malým zázrakom dostane k Joachimovi, nórskemu chlapčekovi. V každom otvorenom okienku sa o Elisabetinej púti dozvie niečo nové. A my spolu s ní dostávame lekcie náboženstva, geografie a histórie, ba dokonca aj mierne detektívny príbeh.
Na čo sa treba pri Vianočnom mystériu pripraviť je, že príbeh postupuje pomerne pomaly. Pre niekoho možno nudne, najmä ak sa na začiatku kapitoly vždy zopakuje, čo už vieme. Ak si ale na tempo a štýl zvyknete (mne osobne sa to podarilo pri deviatom decembri), príde potešenie.
Áno, je tam veľa Boha, veľa viery, je tam filozofovanie. Je tam Jozue, ktorý v každej kapitole minimálne raz zvolá "do Betlehema, do Betlehema!" a pri ktorom sa môj syn spýtal, prečo ten ujo stále trieska do niečoho palicou a je taký netrpezlivý. Ale vytrvajte, zvyknite si a nechajte sa potom uniesť múdrosťou, ktorú chcel Jostein Gaarder odovzdať nielen deťom, ale aj nám dospelým.
"Božia fantázia je rovnako nekonečná, ako je nekonečné množstvo hviezd na nebi. Nijakí dvaja anjeli nie sú rovnakí, a vy ľudia takisto ni. Na druhej strane možno poľahky vyrobiť tisíc rovnakých strojov. Lenže ich výroba je taká jednoduchá, že ju zvládnu aj ľudia sami... ...Každý človek je sám o sebe zázrakom stvorenia."
V tejto knihe snúbi estetika s krásnym príbehom. Je to také umelecké dielko. Fantáziu autora Josteina Gaardera úžasne rozvinul ilustráciami Vlado Kráľ. Vznikla tak knižka, ktorú už v prvej chvíli chytáte do rúk v jemnom očarení.
Vianočné mystérium sa vlastne začína nočnou morou rodiča - pri nákupoch s mamou sa dievčatko Elisabeth zrazu vychytí a z obchodu zmizne. Naháňa jahniatko, ktoré už nebavilo žiť v obchoďáku v predvianočnom konzumnom ruchu a dalo sa na útek. Elisabeth zjavne to, že sa odtrhla od mamy, nejako netrápi, zmeraná na huňatý hebký kožúšok zvieratka sa rúti za ním, až kým zrazu nie je iné ročné obdobie, nestretne anjela a nerozhodne sa, že sa s ním vydá do Betlehema, aby mohla byť pri narodení Ježiška. Začína sa púť naprieč krajinami a časom, počas ktorej naberajú ďalšie ovečky, anjelov, pastierov či troch kráľov... napokon skrátka do Betlehema v čarovnú noc dorazí až dvadsaťtričlenný sprievod.
Toto všetko sa dozvedáme vďaka jednému mimoriadnemu adventnému kalendáru, ktorý sa malým zázrakom dostane k Joachimovi, nórskemu chlapčekovi. V každom otvorenom okienku sa o Elisabetinej púti dozvie niečo nové. A my spolu s ní dostávame lekcie náboženstva, geografie a histórie, ba dokonca aj mierne detektívny príbeh.
Na čo sa treba pri Vianočnom mystériu pripraviť je, že príbeh postupuje pomerne pomaly. Pre niekoho možno nudne, najmä ak sa na začiatku kapitoly vždy zopakuje, čo už vieme. Ak si ale na tempo a štýl zvyknete (mne osobne sa to podarilo pri deviatom decembri), príde potešenie.
Áno, je tam veľa Boha, veľa viery, je tam filozofovanie. Je tam Jozue, ktorý v každej kapitole minimálne raz zvolá "do Betlehema, do Betlehema!" a pri ktorom sa môj syn spýtal, prečo ten ujo stále trieska do niečoho palicou a je taký netrpezlivý. Ale vytrvajte, zvyknite si a nechajte sa potom uniesť múdrosťou, ktorú chcel Jostein Gaarder odovzdať nielen deťom, ale aj nám dospelým.
"Božia fantázia je rovnako nekonečná, ako je nekonečné množstvo hviezd na nebi. Nijakí dvaja anjeli nie sú rovnakí, a vy ľudia takisto ni. Na druhej strane možno poľahky vyrobiť tisíc rovnakých strojov. Lenže ich výroba je taká jednoduchá, že ju zvládnu aj ľudia sami... ...Každý človek je sám o sebe zázrakom stvorenia."
December 24, 2020
Die erste Hälfte etwa hat mir sehr gut gefallen, am Ende reicht es dann aber doch nur für 3 Sterne...
March 29, 2017
An interesting and whimsical little story in many ways innocent to the point of naivety but with a certain charm that kept me willing to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something that is only light and hope-filled with no hint of darkness, especially if they are Christian. I suspect someone not from a Christian background may struggle to engage.
The book gave hints of deeper thinking and questioning for example in a repeated exhortation to be kind to refugees. This is especially well-put by Impuriel (nice name incidentally) the angel on p 203 "Jesus wanted people to share the little they had. If only they could learn to share with each other, nobody would be hungry or poor, or very rich either. But it is better that nobody is poor and hungry than that a few people are rich."
Idealistic, but beautifully and practically so.
More problematic to me was the acceptance of preset roles (spelled out by Emperor Augustus on p238) and the role of Elizabet within a story that apart from her is extremely male dominated (and the characters are very traditional in their roles). Significantly (and frighteningly) Elizabet is silent at the end where "her" story is finally being told- she cannot speak her own language so must have John speak for her. On a symbolic level I see her as a Christ-character and it is all completely appropriate but as the main and almost only female character in the book her silence is still troubling, as is the fact that when she does not agree with John's telling of her story her opinion is dismissed and merely one of the opinions. Throughout Joachim's father is more rational (for good and ill) than his mother...this also strikes me as a sterotype.
I felt that Eliabet's mother's experience also is trivialised and I felt impatient with angels and a "God" that sees this as just collateral damage for whatever mystical happening unfolds in the book (but possibly this is meant to shock).
Many, many times I felt there was an underlying complexity to the book but at other times I felt that differences were falsely harmonised because Joachim doesn't like quarrelling and power was all too easily allowed to continue oppressing. I do not in fact see Caesar Augustus as a cute and necessary part of the Jesus story in the way he is portrayed in the book.
I wonder if this as intended as a child's or adult's book. In any case it had charm.
The book gave hints of deeper thinking and questioning for example in a repeated exhortation to be kind to refugees. This is especially well-put by Impuriel (nice name incidentally) the angel on p 203 "Jesus wanted people to share the little they had. If only they could learn to share with each other, nobody would be hungry or poor, or very rich either. But it is better that nobody is poor and hungry than that a few people are rich."
Idealistic, but beautifully and practically so.
More problematic to me was the acceptance of preset roles (spelled out by Emperor Augustus on p238) and the role of Elizabet within a story that apart from her is extremely male dominated (and the characters are very traditional in their roles). Significantly (and frighteningly) Elizabet is silent at the end where "her" story is finally being told- she cannot speak her own language so must have John speak for her. On a symbolic level I see her as a Christ-character and it is all completely appropriate but as the main and almost only female character in the book her silence is still troubling, as is the fact that when she does not agree with John's telling of her story her opinion is dismissed and merely one of the opinions. Throughout Joachim's father is more rational (for good and ill) than his mother...this also strikes me as a sterotype.
I felt that Eliabet's mother's experience also is trivialised and I felt impatient with angels and a "God" that sees this as just collateral damage for whatever mystical happening unfolds in the book (but possibly this is meant to shock).
Many, many times I felt there was an underlying complexity to the book but at other times I felt that differences were falsely harmonised because Joachim doesn't like quarrelling and power was all too easily allowed to continue oppressing. I do not in fact see Caesar Augustus as a cute and necessary part of the Jesus story in the way he is portrayed in the book.
I wonder if this as intended as a child's or adult's book. In any case it had charm.
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