Review of The Only Witness
Posted: 18 Jul 2023, 08:52
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Only Witness" by Guy Powell.]
The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud Of Turin by Guy R. Powell is a historical-fiction story about the Shroud of Turin, covering the periods of AD 33 through AD 2020. In AD 33, Jonai of Bethlehem asked his young son, Joachim, to purchase the burial cloth for Jesus. After Jesus's resurrection, the burial cloth is found in the tomb with an imprint of Jesus's bruised and bloody body, showing the pain and suffering Jesus endured for us. Over the centuries, the Shroud went through many hands and was almost destroyed many times. Many people believe the Shroud is our most valuable relic, created by God, that proves Jesus died and was resurrected, whereas others believe it is fake and was painted by humans. Read this book and learn both sides of this controversial topic.
My favorite aspect of this book is Guy R. Powell's writing style, which reads like a fictional story with many characters across the ages. Historical facts showing the date and time are given at the beginning of each chapter to let the reader know how the narrative is moving forward. It was easy for me to relate to the characters because of events like a child not being able to eat an orange slice without juice dripping on their clothes. The origin of the words "God bless you" was interesting. The maps and illustrations were clear and easy to read. The mystery of an unidentified man dressed in black added more intrigue and suspense to the story. My favorite thought-provoking question in this book was, "Is it better to give a man a fish or to teach a man to fish?" At the end of the book, Guy R. Powell's point of view is supported by 125 endnotes.
The only flaw I encountered in this fascinating book was the lack of translations for all the Latin words. However, this content was minimal and did not have an adverse effect on my reading enjoyment. Some readers may be offended by romances between priests and nuns, but they were used to demonstrate the changes in the Roman Catholic Church and why different religions broke off from it. The gory content was necessary to show the pain and suffering Jesus suffered for us, among other things.
There are no errors in this exceptionally well-edited book. Due to the fantastic editing, the author's writing skills, the many life lessons, and my reading enjoyment, I have no reason to deduct any stars from my rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This religious book is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.
This religious story focuses on Jesus's death, resurrection, and holy relics like the burial cloth, but it also addresses why non-believers and scientists doubt the Shroud's authenticity. Therefore, this book suits all readers, regardless of their religious beliefs, as long as they are interested in ancient relics from religious or scientific perspectives.
******
The Only Witness
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud Of Turin by Guy R. Powell is a historical-fiction story about the Shroud of Turin, covering the periods of AD 33 through AD 2020. In AD 33, Jonai of Bethlehem asked his young son, Joachim, to purchase the burial cloth for Jesus. After Jesus's resurrection, the burial cloth is found in the tomb with an imprint of Jesus's bruised and bloody body, showing the pain and suffering Jesus endured for us. Over the centuries, the Shroud went through many hands and was almost destroyed many times. Many people believe the Shroud is our most valuable relic, created by God, that proves Jesus died and was resurrected, whereas others believe it is fake and was painted by humans. Read this book and learn both sides of this controversial topic.
My favorite aspect of this book is Guy R. Powell's writing style, which reads like a fictional story with many characters across the ages. Historical facts showing the date and time are given at the beginning of each chapter to let the reader know how the narrative is moving forward. It was easy for me to relate to the characters because of events like a child not being able to eat an orange slice without juice dripping on their clothes. The origin of the words "God bless you" was interesting. The maps and illustrations were clear and easy to read. The mystery of an unidentified man dressed in black added more intrigue and suspense to the story. My favorite thought-provoking question in this book was, "Is it better to give a man a fish or to teach a man to fish?" At the end of the book, Guy R. Powell's point of view is supported by 125 endnotes.
The only flaw I encountered in this fascinating book was the lack of translations for all the Latin words. However, this content was minimal and did not have an adverse effect on my reading enjoyment. Some readers may be offended by romances between priests and nuns, but they were used to demonstrate the changes in the Roman Catholic Church and why different religions broke off from it. The gory content was necessary to show the pain and suffering Jesus suffered for us, among other things.
There are no errors in this exceptionally well-edited book. Due to the fantastic editing, the author's writing skills, the many life lessons, and my reading enjoyment, I have no reason to deduct any stars from my rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This religious book is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.
This religious story focuses on Jesus's death, resurrection, and holy relics like the burial cloth, but it also addresses why non-believers and scientists doubt the Shroud's authenticity. Therefore, this book suits all readers, regardless of their religious beliefs, as long as they are interested in ancient relics from religious or scientific perspectives.
******
The Only Witness
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon