Official Review: The Logos of Soul
Posted: 03 Aug 2013, 03:52
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Logos of Soul, A Novel on the Light and Sound" by Kathryn Gabriel Loving.]
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This story is about one woman's quest to learn the truth about a two thousand year old manuscript; a search for a path of enlightenment; and the evolution of a spiritual conflict which reveals how the teachings of Jesus Christ were altered to suit those who were preaching at that time. It is a book in two parts that works on several different levels.
The first part is set in modern day Denver and centres around Alyson Sego, emotionally fragile following divorce and the disappearance of her daughter, and looking for answers. She tries several ways of dulling the pain and just as she reaches the point of wondering what to try next, she is left a riddle in the form of a package when her archaeologist aunt dies; solving that gives her an interest and something to live for.
Alyson's quest to unravel the truth about her aunt's legacy mirrors her inner, spiritual search, and the two are inextricably linked. The friends who help her, like Evan the apartment manager, are instrumental on both levels.
Part two takes the reader to the city of Ephesus in Turkey, some twenty years after the death of Christ, where the sisters, Miryam and Martha, and their brother, Lazarus, found refuge and settled after that event. The author paints an authentic picture of everyday life at that time: how they would have lived, their housing, what they wore, the food they ate, how they travelled and what life was like in a city ruled by the Romans. She describes the simple existence of the sisters, who spend much of their time studying and teaching, and continuing to practice the secret teachings of their Master. The story brings to life characters whose names are familiar to many people, describing the meeting of Miryam and the enigmatic Paulos, and the very different experiences that brought them to that place. It explores the tension between them arising from their conflicting views and Miryam's search for the points where their beliefs converge.
Although two thousand years separate Miryam and Alyson, they are both sympathetic characters that I can relate to. The questions they ask and the goals that they seek are timeless and are shared by many. The author also packs a great deal of interesting information into the book: how papyrus was made; techniques of carbon dating; the history of the writing of the Gospels; how they were transcribed from the original Aramaic through Greek and Latin into English; and how, at each translation, they were edited to promote whatever was wanted at the time.
The book is informative, written in a style that is easy to read with some lively touches of humour and there is a useful glossary at the end explaining the many Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Sanskrit terms employed. I found a few proofreading errors in the edition I read which was a bit disappointing, although they did not spoil the actual story for me, and that is the main reason I have rated it three stars. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it an intriguing and thought provoking read. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
***
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The first part is set in modern day Denver and centres around Alyson Sego, emotionally fragile following divorce and the disappearance of her daughter, and looking for answers. She tries several ways of dulling the pain and just as she reaches the point of wondering what to try next, she is left a riddle in the form of a package when her archaeologist aunt dies; solving that gives her an interest and something to live for.
Alyson's quest to unravel the truth about her aunt's legacy mirrors her inner, spiritual search, and the two are inextricably linked. The friends who help her, like Evan the apartment manager, are instrumental on both levels.
Part two takes the reader to the city of Ephesus in Turkey, some twenty years after the death of Christ, where the sisters, Miryam and Martha, and their brother, Lazarus, found refuge and settled after that event. The author paints an authentic picture of everyday life at that time: how they would have lived, their housing, what they wore, the food they ate, how they travelled and what life was like in a city ruled by the Romans. She describes the simple existence of the sisters, who spend much of their time studying and teaching, and continuing to practice the secret teachings of their Master. The story brings to life characters whose names are familiar to many people, describing the meeting of Miryam and the enigmatic Paulos, and the very different experiences that brought them to that place. It explores the tension between them arising from their conflicting views and Miryam's search for the points where their beliefs converge.
Although two thousand years separate Miryam and Alyson, they are both sympathetic characters that I can relate to. The questions they ask and the goals that they seek are timeless and are shared by many. The author also packs a great deal of interesting information into the book: how papyrus was made; techniques of carbon dating; the history of the writing of the Gospels; how they were transcribed from the original Aramaic through Greek and Latin into English; and how, at each translation, they were edited to promote whatever was wanted at the time.
The book is informative, written in a style that is easy to read with some lively touches of humour and there is a useful glossary at the end explaining the many Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Sanskrit terms employed. I found a few proofreading errors in the edition I read which was a bit disappointing, although they did not spoil the actual story for me, and that is the main reason I have rated it three stars. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it an intriguing and thought provoking read. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
***
Buy "The Logos of Soul, A Novel on the Light and Sound" on Amazon
Buy "The Logos of Soul, A Novel on the Light and Sound" on Barnes and Noble