The Liars' Gospel is a fictional account of the life of Jesus, told from the perspectives of four people who were close to him: his mother, Mary; his friend Judas; the High Priest Caiaphas; and a rebel named Barabbas. The novel is set in first-century Judea during the time of Roman occupation.
Alderman's novel is a provocative and fascinating retelling of one of the foundational narratives of Western culture. She deftly weaves historical facts and fiction to create a vivid and suspenseful story. The characters are complex and believable, and the plot has twists and turns.

One of the strengths of The Liars' Gospel is its use of multiple perspectives. By telling the story from different characters' perspectives, Alderman can offer a more nuanced and complex picture of Jesus and his life. She also explores the different ways in which people can interpret the same events and the power of stories to shape our understanding of the world.

However, the book is not without its flaws. Some may find the pacing slow at times, and the ending may need to be more satisfying. Additionally, Alderman's use of historical fiction can sometimes be jarring.

Overall, The Liars' Gospel is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that offers a new perspective on perhaps the most famous stories in history. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in religion, history, or historical fiction.

A gripping novel based on an incredibly true story.
Many thanks to Little Brown and Company and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not have a chance to read this book, but it is effecting my feedback rating. I am giving books 5 stars that I haven't read to improve my feedback rating. I am not recommending the book for my classroom or students since I have not read the book. There needs to be a better system of leaving feedback for books not read.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. The gospel story from non-traditional points of view. The names are different, which makes it a little harder to follow, but the same basic familiar outline is there. If there are more versions of every story, these are the other stories, and great for making you think and making a bigger picture of the time period. Would make a good book for a discussion group.

I know just the generic things about Jesus and found that I was having trouble following some of it.

The intriguing story is told from four viewpoints. Marym (Mary, Yehoshuah's mother), Ieudah of Queriot (Judas the Betrayer,Yehoshuah's friend and disciple), Caiaphas (the Roman High Priest of Jerusalem), and Bar-Avo (the rebel Barrabas, who fights the Romans). Two tell us more about Yehoshuah, the other two give the reader and accurate of the political unrest and the causes for it in Jerusalem. The historical background is important in understanding why Yehoshuah's actions were deemed so outstanding by his followers.
I found the story of Marym the most interesting, as it gives the reader a very different tale that the one we think we know. The human side of Mary and Yehoshuah is told with a modern analogy. The tale of Judas was the same-the author takes what you think you know and turns it on its side to give you a different perspective and to make you think about how a Yehoshuah's actions could have seemed to those who actually walked with him. often when we look at all sides of a story, we can then understand HOW events unfolded the way they did. This is the beauty of this book- it takes these 4 people and their tales and via their perspectives, shows how the fall of the temple and Jerusalem was a domino effect, that politics helped bring about and how Christianity was the result. Thee author's exhaustive research REALLY shows in how well laid out this book is.
If you are looking for a different perspective- give this book a read. You may be surprised at how it enhances your knowledge and understanding of the Bible and your faith!

Somewhat disappointing. Wavers between truth and fiction so ends up being neither.

Although I was provided an advance reader's copy of this book, I actually did not read it and therefore cannot provide feedback. Thank you.