About book L'ultimo Testamento Della Sacra Bibbia (2011)
Blasphemous it may seem to many but I am simply weirded out. Being a no.1 Frey fan regardless of facts, I can assure you that this does not fail to keep you up all night as well. The story line, being slightly ridiculous towards the ending ironically started off as quite an eye opener. That going on for a while, it became quite pointless after 200 pages. I do however thoroughly enjoy the concept of the Messiah as an ordinary man, using his powers which are nothing but ordinary feelings and emotions and values of communication every man possesses. The idea of love being passed around became a little overwhelming in the second half and maaaaaybe Frey tried a little bit too hard. I do recognize the changes in perspective as something I read out of Altaf Tyrewala's "No God in Sight", enjoyable at first but still failing to create a drastically moving story line which the book initially promised. I am in absolute confusion, I do not wish to recommend this to anyone but I am yet amazed how Frey was able to keep my interest to the very end. Maybe what I feel right now is nothing but grief, the world we live in today is surely one where the Messiah would die unnoticed. It scares me-what if we truly are aimlessly spending our lives in hopes for the hereafter, selecting our paths keeping in mind the rights and wrongs put upon us by our believable authorities when what truly matters is life and not death.Hats off Frey, what unique school of thought you must have to be able to write this. I can't help but wish it was true ! This is a book that will divide people. I'm not a fan of James Frey as a person, and I believe that his narcissistic personality fueled his decision to write this book and that he intended for it to gain notoriety via blasphemy. I'm not personally offended, though. I'm an athiest and it wasn't religion that drew me to read this book. I (frustratingly!!! ) love the way that Frey writes.It draws you in from the very first page. Each character has such a distinctive voice that I could picture them so clearly in my head. Upon finishing the book, I feel like I know these people and I won't forget them as easily as I forget a lot of literary characters. Frey has a wonderful way making the reader see the world through a marginalised character's eyes; making the reader realise how the odds really are stacked against some people in society and how we shouldn't be so quick to judge them. There is more empathy in this book compared to Frey's previous works.I think some of it was unnecessary. Sometimes intimate scenes are essential to a storyline. They further the plot, but it seemed like Frey had the Messiah initiating and engaging in orgies for pure shock value. Ditto with women 'seeing God' when the Messiah had his d**k in them. That was undoubtedly put in there for attention... and I guess it worked since I'm talking about it! I didn't love the portrayal of Christians in the book as being mean spirited, closed minded and violent people. I have known a lot of Christians in my life and every single one of them is peaceful, kind, well intended, open minded, educated and wouldn't even raise their voice at another person. I did really like the book though. it engaged me all the way through, it was a truly original plot which is SO refreshing to see. I can never get enough of Frey's writing and I think this is his best writing yet and his best characterisation yet. I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time.But if you're a Christian, you might not want to read this.
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Notice how the summary for this book on Goodreads tells you more about the author than the book itself. I've read and loved A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard. While The Last Testament is not a bad book, it unfortunately retracts from my enjoyment of his previous works. Why? Because the abrupt and simple writing style he is known for felt like the perfect voice to tell the story in his autobiographical novels. In this novel, however, it becomes apparent that James Frey doesn't have a developed ability to write. He speaks through twenty different characters, all with the same distinct voice, but interchangeable vocabulary. He purports a beautiful philosophy in this book - that's its main purpose. This is a philosophical novel trying to remind people that love and compassion are greater gifts than any religion or faith can impart to humanity - and to remind us that these most simple gifts reside within ourselves, available at any time, and not through the worship of any untenable gods. Where the book suffers is in Frey's inability to truly get across his views and beliefs without perpetual literary repetition and unnecessary imagery. He can churn out a story quite effortless, but I wanted to feel some effort from this one.I know many love and celebrate the way he writes without any pretense, nor a hint of verbosity - but he could have done with it in this book. At times it feels like he undermines the intelligence of his audience by pandering to the lowest common denominator.The message in this book is beautiful but could have been delivered with tonnes more feeling.
—Immano05
I was in a slump, it felt like the last 2 or 3 books I read were disappointing and really nothing special so I was looking for something different. I found it. I didn't like the cover of the book, in fact I hated it and never would have picked it up but I remember James Frey. I mean I remembered "A Million Little Pieces" and what a great book it was, edgy and "honest". So I gave it a try. And it was awesome! Compelling and sad I read it in 2 days, which even for me is saying something.
—kelleemcd
