Survey

On January 31, 2011 a survey was sent to a group of known readers. Here are the results from respondents:

On a scale of 1 to 5, the overall reader rating was 4.3

The favorite aspect of the novel was the humanization of Biblical characters.

Did readers like the scene depicting the Damascus road experience? 81% yes, 19% no

Did readers like the ending? 96% yes, 4% no.

Did readers believe the novel would work well in a book club or group setting? 97% yes, 3% no.

 

 

Some readers offered comments, and all are reprinted here without censorship or editing (except for spelling or typos).

General comments

It was hard to believe that I was reading fiction. It seemed to be an inspiring work.

St. Paul was never my favorite apostle. This made him seem human. Arrogant still, but human.

I learned alot about Paul that I didn't know. I gained insight into his struggles.

The novel certainly gave me a much greater appreciation for the challenges of Roman occupation and the cultural milieu in which the early factions of the church vied for authenticity.

After I got into the book, I couldn't put it down.

It's interesting to read about the life of someone who lived in Biblical times. Great book.

Whenever I hear one of Paul's letters it presents a whole different picture in my mind, of a real human being that is believable. The times also bring a real time and place to reality.

I was pleasantly surprised. Imaginative use of current scholarship.

This novel reads like an historical novel. I love the careful detail of the life of the people in the first century CE in the Levant. It is fun to be placed there to more closely consider what it might be like. The author's historian training is evident in the full flush of this wonderful and possible storyline. It makes sense to read a repressed voice in the words of Paul. I know I do. I appreciate the thorough piece of writing in this novel. I am 3/4 of the way through.

My Lutheran Pastor, conservative Daddy read it. His first comment was "is this author gay?" My dad is a bit homophobic I think. He said he was a bit confused by the names and had to keep a list of who was who and who there were in reference to actual characters in the bible. I think he actually liked the book but he is very strictly bible based. I said to him, it is not meant to be a true biography....... he said he knows.

I enjoyed the careful research and the intriguing interpretation.

Loved the way Paul was portrayed as such a common man with vices and inner struggles.

I really liked "filling in the blanks," historically with what might have happened in all the in between spaces left in the biblical account of Paul and his ministry. The group I later led also felt the same, especially reading it as people who have been studying Paul's letters for several years.

The history of the early church came alive for me. For the first time I really began to see how the varies scriptures were written with geographic place in mind. Paul also became more real to me.

I haven't read too many historical novels but I found this book to be especially interesting. The relation to the bible was well done.

Paul is essentially where all of the theology is rooted, unless you are converting from Judaism. Your explanation of how the leap to full blown Christ-centered theology occurred so early makes incredible sense. The tale is riveting. Paul is so much more human in the telling, which makes him so much more believable as a seminal leader.

It helped me understand the journeys of Paul better because it was a contiguous story rather than bits and pieces. Also helped me understand the purpose of some of the letters to the early churches.

Insight into possibilities in Paul's growth as a teacher of the new beliefs. Plenty of detail as to the world in which he lived.

It was very hard to agree with the author's contention that Paul's entire live was influenced with homosexual tendencies. The book was great and was a worthy accompaniment to the study of the Book of Acts. I learned much about the life and times of Paul and look forward to your next book.

All very scintillating and made sense of the times, etc.

The theology is quite informed. It provides a lot of food for thought. It is another excellent aspect of this very fine book.

Paul's being a gay man is highly speculative, but I've read several writers who make a case for it (Bishop Spong, e.g.), and I think it would explain a lot .

The most important part of any Christian story is the message of God's Grace through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit - which does shine through this book.

To me there are two parts of a novel: Writing & story. The story was good, the writing was great.

The development of Paul's thinking, coming as it did through his training. The theology surrounding Christ resulted.

Very believable, well written. I will read it again in a year or so.

I found it not compelling, somewhat contrived, but a vehicle for thought about the Biblical accounts of Paul and the events after Jesus death.

I loved the treatment of Paul's thorn in the flesh. It brought it alive for me.

Somehow the book made sense. Paul always seemed so rigid in a New Testament that included the Beatitudes, etc. He seemed stuck in the Old Testament. His torment seemed very plausible.

I loaned to Sr. Anne in our parish and she absolutely loved it. Also plan to offer it to my spiritual sharing group.

What's your next book. All that research musn't go to waste!

Thought provoking in the best sense of the words. Well worth my time!

The novel is quite gripping. I have a much better understanding of Paul, James and Peter - and the dynamics among them - now that I have read it. I also have a much better understanding of Paul's travels.

The book is very well written indeed.

This should open the minds of those who read it. Beside that it is a "good read."

I enjoyed it, but one needs a lot of time to fully appreciate it. A light read it is not, a worthwhile read it is.

First rate, a labor of love.

Everyone and everything was treated with a great deal of respect.

Job extremely well done. Bravo!

I enjoyed it in the context of my understanding of Christianity references and background I've had as a clergy.

I have recommended it to others whenever the opportunity arose.

I have passed this one to several others who also valued reading this book.

Totally enjoyable and rewarding!

Damascus Road Scene

It bothered me that it didn't match with my understanding of the Biblical accounts.

In my mind it was more momentous.

Didn't think it was clear as it could have been. Had to go back and reread.

I don't think it was powerful enough. Paul's emotional reaction should have been stronger.

It was so different then the bible version. I hardly knew it happened.

Actually I am lukewarm on this one. Very hard to do, not sure what would have been better.

The scene seemed very minor to have been such a major think in his life -- but I could not think of another way to put it that would have been believable. It was clearly something significant to him, but not necessarily visible to others. But I had always thought of it (with little critical thought given) as some very major event that all around would have experienced. Not as likely as your presentation.

It gave me a fuller sense of what it might have been like.

Don't remember clearly enough to comment.

However, it seemed to take a lesser importance somehow. I did like the encounter with the travelers (cannot remember the woman's name), including the woman he had attacked. That seemed to take on the greater importance, but it did give the Damascus road encounter with Christ some concrete response, and immediately.

Yes. This is something that finally came alive for me

It doesn't stand out except it seemed to be different than the Bible version which troubled me a little.

Sure beats the Biblical miracle for realism. This seems plausible.

The ending

Frankly, at this moment, I can't remember the ending...that seems to tell me it was unremarkable. 

It was so so.

His letting go seemed totally humble and giving up to God.

Didn't especially like the Yakov portion. It was sad. Didn't like them dying. It did paint the real picture.

Paul said to God he was ready to go and God took him home.      

It was realistic -- my dislike was not of your treatment but of reality.

Have not yet gotten there. I need some time to be able to savor the last part of the book.   

The ambiguity leaves much for thought.  

Of course it was sad, but true to the historical possibilities as far as we can surmise. The epilogue was helpful, too. My group especially appreciated it.

The ending seemed abrupt, just like Acts. The author had a chance to fill in much of the end of Paul's life but didn't take the opportunity to do so.     

Suitable for a book club or group?

Only for people with open minds. Right wingers would not appreciate this book.

It does provoke discussion of Paul and his views and of the experiences depicted in the Epistles.

It was interesting to hear our various thoughts on the novel. I have friends not in book club who want to borrow it from me.

We are starting a book club at Church, but I think many would find it very hard to read. I have a PhD and probably know more than average about the time period, and I found it a hard read. I am loaning it to a friend, if she thinks it will be OK we will share it with the book club. But not as the first or second book to be done. It is an RIC church so many would be accepting enough of the idea of Paul as gay to consider that.

It is ripe for discussion.

It would be a load of fun to consider as a group.

It is a good personal reader but I would not use it for a study or book club. I have not kept the book for myself. I have shared it with a few friends who are now reading it.

Very much so.

Absolutely.

There is so much to talk about. Whether it is the history, the geography or the introduction of gay relationship. And it is a very good read.

I think the book would be good for ELCA Lutherans that are troubled by the ordaining of same-sex folks.

Absolutely... Paul and Arsenios could be a red herring, drawing people off into recapping the discussions of the last 8 years. That would distract from the central point of the book. Would require strong leadership of the discussion not to miss the forest because you stand too close to one tree...

The guide is wonderful for home use, but got in the way of our discussion. (Perhaps we are too undisciplined.)

Recommended it to our men's spiritual book group (we also have a history book group with many of the same male attendees).

What didn't you like about the book?

It was a little slow at the start...but I'm glad I stuck with it.

After the first few chapters it seemed to be just a narrative of Paul's travels. Somehow, for me, it lost the realism of emotion and behavior that I found in the first couple of chapters.

The conflict between Paul and Arsenios.

It did drag in a few places but mostly in the background information.

All good.

The heaviness of the discord between the disciples.

While I appreciated the exploration of the relationship between Paul and Arsenios, sometimes it felt a little like modern understandings of gay relationships imposed themselves a bit.

Maybe the guess about Paul's sexuality was a bit overblown. Thankfully no detail, but even so, while the possibility is interesting, a little leeway would open the book to more people and that would be a good thing.

The use of the local names instead of the ones we are used to at times made it hard to figure out who was being described.

The book is excellent on it's theology, it's history, it's geography and it's character development.

It wasn't really the "worst," part, but both myself and my group wondered about Paul's not having lived in Jerusalem in the novel. It took some rearranging of my thoughts to make this change in perspective.

Just getting through it.

I really couldn't say there was a worst part for me.

Now I want to know more...

The contemporary slang - it intends to indicate social/economic class, mostly. But some phrases did nothing for me but intrude on the events.

Entire homosexual line in the novel. Could have done well without it.