Iscariot by Tosca Lee

I was given an Advanced Reader’s copy of this book due to be published in February 2013 by Simon and Schuster Canada. 

I don’t normally read Biblical fiction.  It just seems so contrived to me and I’m never happy with the way characters are portrayed.  So it was with some hesitation that I accepted this book to review.  However, I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. 

I’ve always considered Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus as an imposter; someone that Jesus allowed among his disciples because of the part he needed to play in the unfolding of Jesus’ own story.  But Tosca Lee portrays him as a devoted follower of Jesus.  The back story that she creates for Judas is completely plausible and it’s fascinating to watch his love for Jesus grow throughout her story.  He is in constant conflict though because he is also a passionate follower of the Law and the belief that the Messiah would come as a conqueror of Rome.  As the story unfolds and he becomes more and more aware of Jesus’ true purpose the conflict in Judas grows.

Lee’s ability to create atmosphere and memorable characters is truly inspired.  I felt like I was there; participating in the various scenes and feeling the emotions of the characters as they try to reconcile who Jesus is with the ideas of messiah that they’ve grown up with.  I felt deeply for Judas and his struggles.  She handles the end of the story with grace and compassion and again I felt that it was an entirely plausible scenario.

Her story is well-researched and very well written and I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in a deeper understanding of Jesus and the man who betrayed Him.  I’d encourage you to pick it up in February when it is published.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

My book club decided to read this as our December book.  As I started it I realized I’d never actually read this before; just seen a lot of movies about it.

I think this was one of Charles Dickens best books.  It’s short, only 90 pages and easy to read.  But the descriptions are amazing and once again the characters he creates from ghosts to Tiny Tim are extremely well written and memorable. 

Here’s Dicken’s first description of Scrooge: “Oh!  But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge!  A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!”    Here is the description of Scrooge at the end of the story; “he became as good a friend, as a good a master, and as a good a man, as the good old city knew.”   You already know what happened to him in between those two descriptions to bring about the change in him. 

I encourage you to read the story again or for the first time. May we all learn to keep Christmas well.   And a Tiny Tim would say, God Bless us, every one!