A thrilling blend of literary drama and theological inquiry.
An unconventional monk rises to power in the 10th and 11th centuries, igniting a political struggle that abides even after his death.
Father Gerbert is a priest, a charismatic teacher whose unorthodox theological leanings, especially regarding the nature of human reason, flirt with heresy. Nevertheless, he is as ambitious as he is brilliant. Over time, he garners a reputation for being the “greatest teacher in Christendom” and becomes the tutor of young Prince Otto, soon to become emperor. Gerbert, though, amasses many enemies, partly as a result of his philosophical impertinence, partly because of his participation in political intrigues, but mostly because of his illicit relationship with Laila, an Islamic woman, a romance that bears children. Nevertheless, Gerbert ascends to the papacy, taking the name Sylvester, after a predecessor. Mustin chronicles Gerbert’s life by way of an ingenious plot—his closest friend, Father Zosimus, is asked to deliver the now deceased Gerbert’s diary to Pope Benedict, though it is in such a scattered state, Zosimus asks for time to prepare it and add his own reflections. However, Gerbert’s archenemy, Archbishop Arnulf, who considered Gerbert a “servant of the Great Opposer,” conspires to steal the diary. The bulk of the novel is the diary, including addenda composed by Theodore, a priestly scribe, who helps protect the manuscript from Gerbert’s enemies. The author’s complex portrait of Gerbert is utterly fascinating—he emerges as a troubled but holy man struggling to navigate the distance, if there really is any, between the temporal and the eternal. Zosimus candidly discusses not only his greatness, but also his “darker colors,” vulnerabilities that make Gerbert a memorably real protagonist. Further, the entire work thoughtfully and provocatively raises important questions about the true meaning of Christ’s teaching.
A thrilling blend of literary drama and theological inquiry.Pub Date: April 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64764-576-2
Page Count: 254
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 6, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
A pleasant if not entirely convincing tribute to the power of art.
A French art historian’s English-language fiction debut combines the story of a loving relationship between a grandfather and granddaughter with an enlightening discussion of art.
One day, when 10-year-old Mona removes the necklace given to her by her now-dead grandmother, she experiences a frightening, hour-long bout of blindness. Her parents take her to the doctor, who gives her a variety of tests and also advises that she see a psychiatrist. Her grandfather Henry tells her parents that he will take care of that assignment, but instead, he takes Mona on weekly visits to either the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, or the Centre Pompidou, where each week they study a single work of art, gazing at it deeply and then discussing its impact and history and the biography of its maker. For the reader’s benefit, Schlesser also describes each of the works in scrupulous detail. As the year goes on, Mona faces the usual challenges of elementary school life and the experiences of being an only child, and slowly begins to understand the causes of her temporary blindness. Primarily an amble through a few dozen of Schlesser’s favorite works of art—some well known and others less so, from Botticelli and da Vinci through Basquiat and Bourgeois—the novel would probably benefit from being read at a leisurely pace. While the dialogue between Henry and the preternaturally patient and precocious Mona sometimes strains credulity, readers who don’t have easy access to the museums of Paris may enjoy this vicarious trip in the company of a guide who focuses equally on that which can be seen and the context that can’t be. Come for the novel, stay for the introductory art history course.
A pleasant if not entirely convincing tribute to the power of art.Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9798889661115
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Europa Editions
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
