The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Myths) Book

It is really hard to decide how to rate this book. The initial few short chapters read as a version of the childrens bible, without the benefit of glossy pictures. I wasn't, and am still not sure if this is deliberate or just lazy on Pullmans part. However following the birth of Jesus and his twin Christ, the story starts to diverge from the original version in Luke's gospel that we are all so familiar with and becomes just a little more substantial. That said, it is an incredibly easy story to read and quite difficult to put down. Phillip Pullman's aim is to suggest that what was a simple and rather unremarkable story of Jesus' ministry became embellished by the establishment of the church, although the book only predicts, rather than describes this.

The book sets out to consider the possiblity that a manipulation of the story of Jesus occurred when it was chronicled, in order to create an established church. The concept of Jesus having a twin, Christ, was an interesting way to challenge the literal interpretations that many churches have used in order to control thier congregations. Unfortunately, the story has a conclusion that is utterly predictable from the point where 'the stranger' joins Christ, which is actually less half way through the book. This did not entirely spoil my enjoyment of the book as some of the sections, particularly the chapter on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemene was especially thought provoking, and elequently describes the state of mind that many people of spiritual faith encounter during times of trial and doubt. However, I couldn't help feeling a bit short changed by Pullman. He clearly understands the essential teachings of Christianity, and he makes some valid, but not previously undocumented, observations of its short-comings. I cant help feeling that if you are going to court deliberate controversy at a time when Christians are feeling marginalised, much greater depth is required to do it justice. Maybe the simplicity was deliberate, for wider appeal, or maybe he just wanted to make a fast buck and took the easy route!

In his ingenious and spellbinding retelling of the son of God's life - The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Philip Pullman revisits the most influential story ever told. In an emotional journey, Jesus is shadowed by a twin brother, Christ, who monitors his sibling, provoking extraordinary mystery and intrigue. Tackling religion with a cunning twist, award-winning author Pullman plays the role of supreme storyteller, posing all manner of fascinating and often unanswerable questions.