Customer Reviews

A Love Divine

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

 

 

The first 500 pages of this novel deserve five stars. It tells the story of Joseph of Arimathea, beginning when he runs away from home at the age of 12. His father is a bitter man who wants to keep his son safe on the farm in Arimathea. (His own father had been murdered by the Romans by order of Herod). The adventures of young Joseph as he learns to be a sailor are marvelous as is the background. The Mediterranean world ruled by Rome comes to life and you are absolutely there. Not content with that, we also travel on a secret mission to Great Britain for tin, but the author obviously loves the politics of Rome. I've seen the famous "I, Claudius" and got confused. This novel covers much the same period of time but makes a lot more sense. The rulers of Rome seem like real people, as does Joseph as he rises to power. Joseph wants to beat the Romans at their own game so to speak, following the old cliche that "the best revenge is living well". He works his way up to wealth and power to the point where it seems perfectly logical that that the Emperor Augustus should turn to him and ask how his old friend Herod is! All that is interesting and most novels would end here, once Joseph has made it to the top. However, he is also a religious Jew, or would like to be. Something that gives the novel power is his endless struggle to figure out what compromises he can make and still be Jewish. That's a modern struggle. He never finds an answer. He reaches middle age and feels a little empty and dissatisfied. Then personal tragedy strikes and he becomes desperate to find meaning in a life suddenly meaningless. One of the many strengths of A Love Divine is the way it gives feel of Roman politics and how inevitably they were leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. Unfortunately, by this time, we are at page 516 and suddenly the story speeds up. Joseph becomes a Christian, decides to be an apostle, tries to preach, starts traveling and we rush along not having time to get to know all the new people and new situations that are being introduced. From here to the end the novel is a little disappointing in comparison to the first 500 pages. The story being told is so vast and sweeping that it cries out to be two novels or even a trilogy. Too much is crammed into the final 200 pages so the result is a novel that is merely good instead of superlative. It is still one of the best historical novels I have read and highly to be recommended just on the basis of the vivid picture of the times. It can be read with enjoyment just for the history, although you'll be left remembering Joseph and several dozen of his friends.

This book is a must for people who enjoy historical fiction. Ripley takes all of the facts and legends about Joseph, blends them with the historical context of Israel, and comes up with a beautiful, story that just could be true! I couldn't put it down!

An endearing story of a little known man and his life as considered by the author. I've enjoyed a few of Ripley's books, and this is not the least of them, it is a truly enjoyable story. But if you're searching for an accurate historical story of the Jews during the time of Jesus, this isn't really it. It's written by a person heavily influenced by Christianity and probably took cues regarding the lives of the Jews at the time from Christian sources as they are terribly inaccurate historically - and written with a certain agenda in mind.

Joseph is an endearing character with real religious struggling and reading the book encouraged me to learn a great deal more about Judaism - especially during the time of Jesus. If it inspires anyone else to do the same, it is a worthy read. Otherwise, it's a novel (much as the DiVinci Code) and should be read as such - not as historical fact. A more fact based historical novel about these times would be "As a Driven Leaf" by Milton Steinberg. It lacks romance but definitely encapsulates the Jews during this time and the struggle with religion.

Alexandra Ripley does an excellent job telling this epic story from the male perspective of Joseph of Arimathea. Her character development is excellent, as is her depiction of "real life" in the ancient Middle East. A great read for anyone who likes a novel with a strong historical bent to it!

This story was a unique match of fact and fiction. After reading the story you can look at it and say, "well yes it could have happened that way." This book has made me want to delve more into history. I will be searching out places that I would have never been interested in seeing before just to get an insight into what may have happened. Read this book, it can make you laugh, cry, angry, you can run the whole kambit of emotions before you finish this book

Actually I'd give this book 2 1/2 stars. The settings and everyday details of life in Joseph of Arimathea's world are so descriptive I felt like I was really there. But the author uses coincidence too much as a plot device. She also introduces details that seem unbelievable. Example: Ella tells others that at age 8 (or so) she "didn't know about God"--what? A child raised in a Jewish household two millenia ago didn't know about God? Also, NONE of the Phoenicians Joseph sailed with for years as a young man EVER find out that he has befriended the Celts, for which the (implied) punishment would have been Joseph's death. I also tired of reading about Joseph's sexual (mis)adventures--a lot of that seemed added in for titillation. Read this book for its fascinating historical backdrop, not the storyline.

This is one of my all time favorite reads. Take the time... enjoy it ... savor it. Love it.

The panorama of "the world of " Joseph of Arimathea was spread before the reader's eyes. Ripley carries you to parts of the world that are not normally thought of by readers who are thinking of the life of Jesus as it would connect to the life of Joseph of Arimathea.. Life on the open sea, life in Alexandria , life in Rome, life in Briton, all give the reader a new understanding of the world during the life of Jesus. The "Love Divine" between Joseph and his wife was laced throughout the book. IT is well worth the time spent in the pages for the reader to come away with a new respect for Joseph of Arimathea and for Alexandra Ripley