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"The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead is a magnificent novel chronicling a young slave's adventures as she makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. See more
Christopher Merrill's writing was a pleasure to read. The flow of the text and the descriptions were obviously those of a talented writer and poet. However, I felt like he presented and weaved together multiple ideas and subjects in a way that did not work for me.
I believe he wanted to show how he experienced spiritual growth through his experience on Mt. Athos. However, so many of his descriptions felt very negative to me and I couldn't see how or why he was growing.
I believe he wanted to condemn the Serbs and to a lesser extent, the Russians for the events that happened in the former Yugoslavia. He already tried to accomplish that in a previous book, and I'm not really sure that it fit very well with the subject of this book. Additionally, most actions by Serbian or Russian monks were portrayed negatively and judged harshly by Mr. Merrill. He makes some pretty severe accusations and jumps to conclusions about their behavior without actually having spoken to many of the monks. I felt as though Mr. Merrill went there with some preconceived notions about what these monks would think of him based upon his previous work, and any action he could regard as a snub he was quick to believe.
I also felt that Mr. Merrill came across as somewhat self-righteous. I don't remember him once having admitted to learning anything from the monks in the process of his travels. Most of his transformation seems to take place through the hardships he overcomes all by himself. The ideas and beliefs of the other monks and of the Orthodox faith are quickly dismissed when they conflict with Mr. Merrill's. I wouldn't expect him to change his views, but to at least recognize that the other side might have something to offer.Read more ›
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When I first picked up this book, I have to admit I was turned off by its apparent self-indulgence and what seemed to me like self-righteousness. However, since I am a true Mt. Athos fan, I picked it up angain, and found it to be a wonderful description of the Holy Mount with all its warts and a surprisingly honest spiritual autobiography of a man struggling to find God and himself (and his family). If one reads this as a tourist or traveler's guide, I think one will be disappointed, and may well be confused. However, as an exploration of God and the people who pursue him relentlessly. This is a fascinating read. The photo on the cover is extremely well chosen as an emblem for what the book is about. The book provides a window onto the mountain and into the author's soul and life. And as with any view from a window, you only get a very partial picture of the actual reality.
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Previous reviews seem to focus solely on Merrill's condemnation of Serb atrocities in Bosnia,and that is a shame, for this is one of the wisest and most learned books I have encountered in many years. Painfully honest and forthright about his dissatisfaction with marriage, vocation, and faith, Merrill is as much pilgrim as poet. He is also a remarkable researcher: the book is filled with the sort of history that takes a narrative sweep, building toward Athos in the late 20th C. There is something in the coalescence of gorgeous prose and spiritual hunger that elevates this book to that of a classic.
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Gives a good flavor of the possible parameters of a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain. Sometimes I wished for a bit more user-friendly organization, and the text could have used some carefully chosen photographs. However, nothing can take away from the obvious merits of this well-written and heartfelt memoir of a journey into faith and prayer.
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