Customer Reviews

Accidental Christ -- The Story of Jesus (As Told by His Uncle)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, let me explain that I am habitually stingy with stars, and award four stars where a normal person would award five. This is because I only award five stars to books that profoundly change the universe I live in. I would award five stars to the genuine "Abhorred Necronomicon of the Mad Arab Abdul Alhazred" if it really turned up, and even then only if it really did allow me to open an interdimensional rift allowing eldritch abominations from beyond the stars into the world of humanity. I think I did award five stars to Crowley's "Book IV." The "doorstop" edition.

This book gets the highest possible score of any mundane tract. This book is a fictional account of the life and career of the Unknown Nazarene comparable to "The Last Temptation of Christ", and perhaps more deserving of controversy. Duquette manages to put forth some genuine insight into the myth-making process, and the realities of history and human nature, while writing a thrilling narrative--at turns hysterically funny, gruesomely realistic (if my past-life memories of the Unholy Land serve), and touchingly tragic. He closely follows the story and dialogue given in the traditional Gospels (including one very hot passage with dialogue taken verbatim from the Gospel According to John, surely destined to become a classic--and a bone of contention!) and with an account of the Crucifixion that blows Mel Gibson out of the water he fouls. Keep an eye out for a wonderful bit of poetry, a litany with the recurring theme of "that which remains." And what a stinger of an ending!

This book is also very timely, coming as it does concurrently with the revelations concerning the Talpiot Tomb, and fortuitously dovetailing with the "Ossuary of Jesus" interpretation. Not that Duquette rushed this one out to cash in on current events; I have personally waited years to read this, as it hovered on the fringes of accessibility, just out of reach.

This book will also be denounced as blasphemous and even obscene by conservative religionists, which can't hurt sales. It deserves no less.

Only several times in my life have I not been able to "put a book down" once starting it. Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout do that. So did "My Life with the Spirits, ironically also by Lon Milo DuQuette. Accidental Christ did that too.

The ingenious way that Mr. DuQuette interweaves biblical quotes and anecdotes with historical fact as well as fiction, not only keeps the reader interested until the end, it also presents a rather plausible case for how distorted the Jesus myth may have become. Mr. DuQuette nicely avoids the DaVinci Code theories by presenting another possible theory behind the biblical story of Jesus and another version of what may have happened to explain the "resurrection" of Christ as told (interpreted) in the bible. Best of all, rather than hit the reader over the head with it, Mr. DuQuette just ends the story leaving it to the reader to fill in the blanks left. I can see why one reviewer indicated that he was left wanting more!

Finally, the "greatest story of all time" has been made even greater!

Being one of the first "Historical Fiction" books that put the Jesus figure into an entertaining story, "Accidental Christ" is truly a breakthrough since the Da Vinci Code. This has to be one of the most entertaining books that deal with this subject as of yet! Truly an entertaining story.
For some time now, I have dabbled in books that deal with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essenes, which shed more light on who the Jesus figure in christianity was. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that Jesus was affiliated in some way, shape, or form with one of the mysterious groups called the "Therapeute" or the "Essenes" (a third grader can do this in under 5 min. on google). They were Secret Societys that would initiate those (who lifted their heads out of the sand and were seeking Truth) into the mysteries of existence.
Combining his deep understanding and knowledge in Occult subjects, and his fun and entertaining writing style, you get a fun parable story about some unconfirmed things that may or may not have happened ;-) around the time of Jesus.
If you dont get and read this book, then go ahead and consider yourself as, "NOT WORTHY"

This is a few stories of Christ from a very interesting and unique point of view, specifically that Jesus was a mystery school adept. Lon Milo DuQuette's familiarity with the occult lends credence and believablility to the story, and combined with his humor, leaves the reader craving more. The only fault is that it is too short.

Based on the strength of this novella, I would encourange a large publisher to take a look at this and offer enough to get Lon to expand this into a full novel... It falls somewhere in between "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" with controversy about what really happened in Christ's life compared to tales found in the Bible, told in an oft-times humorous manner.

What can I say, I LOVE THIS BOOK. I do have one complaint though, it was far too short. It has a killer ending but left me wanting more. If you like Lon's work, get this book, you will not be disappointed.

I was upset that for some reason I could not get any of my local book-sellers to order this for me. After ordering through Amazon and reading it, I understand why.
This is by far the most heretical -- no -- Blasphemous, version of the story of the Christ yet. Mr. Duquette didn't pull any punches on this one.
If you consider yourself a devout mainstream Christian, you will be very offended by this book.
If you are an open-minded individual you will love it. It was very well written. Duquette included his sense of humour in this one. I was disappointed with "The Key to Solomon's Key", but this one more than made up for it.

"Love, and do what thou Wilt." -- St. Augustine