phyllish
Written on Aug 24, 2020
The List is such an amazing story! I have always enjoyed Biblical fiction and yet read it so carefully to make sure there are no flagrant errors in doctrine. And there are some of the more well-known Biblical figures that worry me a little to read about, in case they are not represented well. You know what I mean?
First of all, I want to mention that I love the fact that every word spoken by Jesus in this story comes straight from the Bible. So there is no room for false doctrine to be slipped in. I felt that he was characterized so beautifully and respectfully. Reading this story had me falling in love with him a little more!
While certainly the central theme, Jesus is not the central character. In fact, I enjoyed the clever way the authors had the disciples speaking for Jesus when he would have said something outside of scripture.
The details of the story made the Bible come to life in a whole new way. As I read of Joseph entering the Temple area to the sound of the instruments and the voices of the Levitical singers, I experienced it in a manner I hadn’t before. Somehow, in my musings, I had neglected to include these sounds.
Filled with witty banter, icy confrontations, confusion over who Jesus really is, The List presented details clearly without at all feeling unnatural. As Joseph and Nicodemus searched the scriptures to see if Jesus could possibly be the Messiah, their discussions showed the evidences from the Old Testament clearly and cleverly.
I feel like I could go on and on, gushing about this fantastic story. But I won’t. I will mention the one little thing that caused me to dock a star – but considering that I would have given it six, it still leaves it with a great rating. There is a point when Joseph’s father-in-law confronts Joseph’s wife and tells her why he has always resented her. Essentially, it is because she is not a son but he described it as her lacking a particular anatomical part.
I have a few people in mind that I will suggest read The List to enhance their understanding of Jesus and the culture and events surrounding his ministry. If you enjoy well-written fiction, want to have the Bible come more to life, and desire to see more how much Jesus loves you, I recommend you read it, too.
Read my full review at Among the Reads