The Book of Mary

... wonderfully entertaining novel ...

Written as diary entries, we see Mary grow from a sexually promiscuous teen into a caring, loving Mother and Healer. As a non-practicing Catholic who is fairly open minded, the basic idea of Mary as a normal woman and Jesus as a baby conceived in love wasn't hard on my psyche, but someone more devote in their religious beliefs may have a hard time with the novel.

I really enjoyed this novel and the writing style that was used. The language was very modern and easy flowing and the characters were very believable and likeable. The idea of Mary as a Healer was also a nice touch. I also like the fact that even though Jesus was a normal human, his life still took pretty much the same path as various religions teach... .

Over all I liked this book a lot and I know that it will be one that is lent out and reread over the years.

... Sobat has created a highly entertaining page-turner, a book I found difficult to put down. She brings her creativity to bear on a revered character ... Sobat succeeds in giving readers an enthralling backstory to a tale we already know... ... This Mary of Nazareth is deeply flawed, profoundly human, beautiful and ultimately unforgettable...

... There's an open, confessional honesty to this book that is both beguiling and disquieting... There were easy outs all along the way and Sobat shows courage in her dedication to Mary's character.

There's no doubt that The Book of Mary is well researched. Having done her research, Sobat then does what all great writers do: she asks "what if?"...

...While Mary is at the heart of the book, the ancillary characters are equally wonderful and, apart from a few bit-players, well rounded... .

... The Book of Mary is the best book I've read in the past year. Sobat succeeds in giving new life to a Biblical character, creating reverence for Mary in her own way. It's a thriller; a brilliant, humanist take on Mary; and a damn fine story. Highly recommended.

The novel has attracted controversy for its unorthodox representation of Mary, and indeed, if you're someone who values biblical or historical faithfulness, then The Book of Mary is not for you. If you're intrigued, however, by the idea of Mary as both a belly-dancing youth and a passionate, courageous woman with a few 'miracles' of her own to work, then Sobat's story is worth a read.

The more I read, the more entranced I became. Sobat is a good story teller, and her Mary becomes a character that is hard not to fall in love with. And the fact that Sobat comes up with her own version of the story told for 2000 years becomes rather fascinating. We all know how this one is going to end. But it is a question of what happens to Mary, not to Jesus, that kept this reader turning the page.

... a wonderful, controversial, thought-provoking novel that takes Christianity and shakes the hell out of it. Literally.

At first, true to the spirit of a rebellious teenager, the writing is snarky and often hilarious. Mary's description of riding across the desert with her new husband, Joseph, who is not terribly bright: 'I have a pain in the ass from riding one and being married to another.' In Bethlehem the three wise men she meets are characterized as the three 'wise guys', straight out of a Martin Scorsese film, complete with Brooklyn accents.

However, as the book progresses and Mary ages, the tone matures with her. One of the lovely aspects of this novel is how it not only grows on you, but that it grows, period. As Mary would say, just like a person already. The hilarity of the opening third of the novel evolves into a more deeply felt narrative as Jesus is born and grows up believing the crazy story mommy spread about him being the Son of God. Meanwhile, it is Mary herself who is the healer. In fact, she opens up a hospital, becomes a midwife and ...

This book has too many enchanting discoveries to give you spoilers.

Gail Sidonie Sobat has written a remarkable novel. It is like its human narrator, growing from adolescence to maturity as it progresses. Yes, you already know how some of the book ends. Her son Jesus' story is well known, the meshegunneh rabble rouser. What you do not know are the funny, insightful, dramatic twists she creates to make the reader think about what religion is all about, what responsibility is all about, what much, by the time she is done, what pretty much everything is all about.

This is what 'underground' literature should be and what mainstream literature all too often avoids. Sidonie Sobat takes on patriarchy, Christianity, medicine, life responsibilities, family relationships, commercialism, social politics, political politics--you name it--and turns them all on their ears stunningly, leaving the reader with a lifetime's experience to think about. But this is no polemic (although, it gets close at times, and, frankly, guys don't turn out to be that wise). It is very entertaining, funny, dramatic, profoundly involving, and certainly worth the scheckels.