John

By: Niall Williams

Narrated by: Nicholas Bell

In the years following the death of Jesus Christ, John the Apostle, now a frail, blind old man, lives in forced exile on the desolate island of Patmos with a small group of his disciples. Together, the group has endured their banishment, but after years awaiting Christ's return, fissures form within their faith, and, inevitably, one of John's followers disavows Christ's divinity and breaks away from the community, threatening to change the course of Christianity. When the Roman emperor lifts the banishment of Christians, John and his followers are permitted to return to Ephesus, a chaotic world of competing religious sects where Christianity is in danger of vanishing. It is against this turbulent background – and inspired by Jesus's radical message of love and forgiveness – that John comes to dictate his Gospel. Immensely impressive – and based on actual historical events – John is at once an ambitious and provocative reimagining of the last surviving apostle and a powerful look at faith and how it lives and dies in the hearts of men.©2008 Niall Williams. (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'Powerful and moving ... an absorbing and intelligent novel.' (The Times Literary Supplement)

'Irish novelist Williams takes spiritual issues seriously – and continues to write compellingly about them.' (Kirkus Reviews)

'The writing is unfailingly resourceful and strong, able to range from the physical realities of poverty and deprivation to the exaltation of religious faith and the poignancies of memory. And the novel as a whole constitutes an eloquent and moving statement of the power of love and the belief that it will triumph in the end.' (The Guardian)

'Gripping and believable ... In an age where reason and science have shown themselves inadequate to fulfil the human dream of perfection, it is important that serious writers such as Williams face the perennial questions of faith and love.' (The Irish Times)

Deeply Spiritual Story

This is my 4th listen to the books of Niall Williams. LOVE his other books!!! John, a serious departure from his other novels. A fictional reenactment of the final years of John the apostle, in banishment on the Isle of Padmos along with other disciples of Jesus many years after his crucifixion. The style and beauty of writing unique and compelling. Brilliant profound writing, narration, and storytelling!

A fascinating study of the power of faith, but...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. NW is a fabulous writer and I never wanted to put it down.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most: Portrayal of a fragile community of faith.
Least: How sectarianism starts/is inevitable (I would've liked more on this)

What three words best describe Nicholas Bell’s performance?

Solemn but salivary (too many swallowing sounds)

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes definitely

Any additional comments?

Niall Williams asks the question "How hard was it, in the first days, to cling to a faith in the extraordinary story of Christ.  NW's answer is, soul-destroying hard! The message that Jesus' disciples believed he had brought from heaven must have seemed incredible even to them and their tiny numbers of followers.  NW's book is a gripping portrait of the fragility of an early Christian community as it waited in vain for Jesus' return. They were doing so during a time and in a place that, it seems, was unusually full of powerful persuasive cults including competing ones that also Jesus in their narratives. The story is fantastically powerful because we know, of course, how gloriously it unfolded for Christianity in the centuries that followed. 

But, "John" is ultimately unsatisfying. NW' resolution of the complex components of doubt that multiply in the book felt to me like a cop out.  No spoiler here but I really wanted to know how, without magic, NW felt his characters managed to keep the magical story alive. My sense is NW thinks it must have involved magic but does he really believe that?

Also NW only narrowly avoids Python. At one point someone does say "He's not the messiah!"

Still I recommend the book.

the authors descriptions of places and people

I've read this book twice now and will read it again. I can feel the harness of the island and the living bond between the deciples

A good book if you are in the mood for reflection.

this book puts you in the mind of the characters and their motivation, fear and uncertainty of God's design for them

The intense love of John for his followers

I liked the joyful nature of John’s understanding the teachings of the Christ.
The internecine jealousy and battling of “Matias’ and his followers felt heavily fictionalized.