Reviews
With this masterly novella,Tibn has finally tackled the subject of Christianity--and he has done so with a vengeance...Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death...In a single passage--and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature--Tibn shows how the telling and the details are all-important., There is a profound ache throughout this little character study, a steely determination coupled with an unbearable loss. Although it has some insightful things to say about religion and the period-the descriptions of the Crucifixion are visceral-it has a universal message about the nature of loss. 'I can tell you now, when you say he redeemed the world, I will say that it was not worth it. It was not worth it.', With this masterly novella, Tóibín has finally tackled the subject of Christianity--and he has done so with a vengeance...Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death...In a single passage--and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature--Tóibín shows how the telling and the details are all-important., With this masterly novella, Tóibín has finally tackled the subject of Christianity-and he has done so with a vengeance...Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death...In a single passage-and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature-Tóibín shows how the telling and the details are all-important., TóibÃn applies a Joycean ruthlessness…Imagining himself into Mary's interior life is his boldest jump yet., [ The Testament of Mary ] builds to a provocative climax, one that is as spiritually profound as its prose is plainspoken...A work suffused with mystery and wonder., Tibn is at his lyrical best in The Testament of Mary, a beautiful and daring work...it takes its power from the surprises of its language, its almost shocking characterization, its austere refusal of consolation., With this masterly novella, Tibn has finally tackled the subject of Christianity-and he has done so with a vengeance…Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death…In a single passage-and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature-Tibn shows how the telling and the details are all-important., TóibÃn is at his lyrical best in The Testament of Mary, a beautiful and daring work…it takes its power from the surprises of its language, its almost shocking characterization, its austere refusal of consolation., Mary-silent, obedient, observant-has echoed down two millennia, cementing a potent ideal in the Western imagination. Now the masterful Irish writer Colm Tibn puts a jackhammer to the cozy, safe, Christmas-card version in The Testament of Mary ., A slim, grave, exquisitely emotional book... The Testament of Mary is a spellbinding, surprisingly reverent book ., Tibn applies a Joycean ruthlessness…Imagining himself into Mary's interior life is his boldest jump yet., A stunning interpretation that is as beautiful in its presentation as it is provocative in its intention., The Testament of Mary is an important and persuasive book: Tóibín's weary Mary, sceptical and grudging, reads as far more true and real than the saintly perpetual virgin of legend. And Tóibín is a wonderful writer: as ever, his lyrical and moving prose is the real miracle., Tibn's intimate approach make Mary feel more credible and human…The result, The Testament of Mary , feels true., Mary-silent, obedient, observant-has echoed down two millennia, cementing a potent ideal in the Western imagination. Now the masterful Irish writer Colm Tóibín puts a jackhammer to the cozy, safe, Christmas-card version in The Testament of Mary ., There is a profound ache throughout this little character study, a steely determination coupled with an unbearable loss. Although it has some insightful things to say about religion and the period--the descriptions of the Crucifixion are visceral--it has a universal message about the nature of loss. 'I can tell you now, when you say he redeemed the world, I will say that it was not worth it. It was not worth it.', The Testament of Mary is an important and persuasive book: Tibn's weary Mary, sceptical and grudging, reads as far more true and real than the saintly perpetual virgin of legend. And Tibn is a wonderful writer: as ever, his lyrical and moving prose is the real miracle., A slim, grave, exquisitely emotional book… The Testament of Mary is a spellbinding, surprisingly reverent book ., Mary--silent, obedient, observant--has echoed down two millennia, cementing a potent ideal in the Western imagination. Now the masterful Irish writer Colm Tóibín puts a jackhammer to the cozy, safe, Christmas-card version in The Testament of Mary ., [ The Testament of Mary ] builds to a provocative climax, one that is as spiritually profound as its prose is plainspoken…A work suffused with mystery and wonder., [A] monumental achievement…equally powerful and poignant whether it's read by one who espouses or eschews the New Testament…A tender, soul-rending exploration of a mother's mourning; a searing, stunning work., TóibÃn's intimate approach make Mary feel more credible and human…The result, The Testament of Mary , feels true., [A] monumental achievement...equally powerful and poignant whether it's read by one who espouses or eschews the New Testament...A tender, soul-rending exploration of a mother's mourning; a searing, stunning work., With this masterly novella, TóibÃn has finally tackled the subject of Christianity-and he has done so with a vengeance…Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death…In a single passage-and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature-TóibÃn shows how the telling and the details are all-important., Tóibín's intimate approach make Mary feel more credible and human...The result, The Testament of Mary , feels true., Tóibín suffuses the story with a sense of mystery and makes the reader feel (perhaps as never before) the tragedy of the crucifixion., Tibn suffuses the story with a sense of mystery and makes the reader feel (perhaps as never before) the tragedy of the crucifixion., With this masterly novella, Tóibín has finally tackled the subject of Christianity--and he has done so with a vengeance...Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death...In a single passage--and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature--Tóibín shows how the telling and the details are all-important., Tibn applies a Joycean ruthlessness...Imagining himself into Mary's interior life is his boldest jump yet., Lovely, understated and powerfully sad, The Testament of Mary finally gives the mother of Jesus a chance to speak. And, given that chance, she throws aside the blue veil of the Madonna to become wholly, gloriously human., Tibn's intimate approach make Mary feel more credible and human...The result, The Testament of Mary , feels true., Tóibín is at his lyrical best in The Testament of Mary, a beautiful and daring work...it takes its power from the surprises of its language, its almost shocking characterization, its austere refusal of consolation., A deeply, if at times painfully, human portrait of Mary, tearing asunder the robes of red and blue that envelop her in paintings and sculptures., Mary--silent, obedient, observant--has echoed down two millennia, cementing a potent ideal in the Western imagination. Now the masterful Irish writer Colm Tibn puts a jackhammer to the cozy, safe, Christmas-card version in The Testament of Mary ., This novel is the Virgin's version of the life of Christ. After a lifetime listening to everyone else's versions of that life, she is angry and frustrated because they are all questionable., Tibn is at his lyrical best in The Testament of Mary, a beautiful and daring work…it takes its power from the surprises of its language, its almost shocking characterization, its austere refusal of consolation., Tóibín applies a Joycean ruthlessness...Imagining himself into Mary's interior life is his boldest jump yet., With this masterly novella, Tibn has finally tackled the subject of Christianity--and he has done so with a vengeance...Nowhere in this beguiling and deeply intelligent, moving work is Mary's attention to detail more instrumental (and more like a novelist's) than in her account of her son's death...In a single passage--and in a rendition, furthermore, of one of the most famous passages of western literature--Tibn shows how the telling and the details are all-important.