| Title | : | I, Saul |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1617950068 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781617950063 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2013 |
I, Saul Reviews
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It is well after 1am and I am completely enthralled in “I, Saul”.
How do I possibly begin to put into words the pure epic-ness of this story?
I have traveled from modern day Texas… back in time to the Holy Land.
I have climb Petra and glimpsed a spectacularly breathtaking view.
I have been imprisoned with Paul, down in the dark dungeon of despair.
It has been quite a journey!!!
I Saul, is unlike anything I have read before.
Adventure, danger, intrigue, mystery are just a few descriptive words that I pray will somehow explain to you what to expect when you read this book. It’s more than a book… You must experience it for yourself!!!
BEST READS OF 2013!!! -
I, Saul - historical novel from the co-author of Left Behind series.
The apostle Paul has been imprisoned in Rome, awaiting execution. Nero has burned down much of the city in order to be able to rebuild it to his liking, and has blamed the growing sect of Christians now living in Rome and worshiping secretly in small "church" groups so as to avoid persecution. Not allowed even the smallest bit of sunlight, living on scant servings of daily gruel, Paul struggles to stay alive long enough to be able to deliver a message of hope, the Gospel, seconds before his planned decapitation.
Paul is visited by Luke, the doctor and Paul's trusted fellow apostle, who has traveled across the Mediterranean to be with his old friend in his time of need. Luke learns that Paul has written another of his devotees, Timothy, asking him to bring Paul his lifetime memoirs (which he calls his "parchments") in order to be able to record his final days on earth. Luke will help Paul with this last great task.
Fast forward to today's world, Augie, an American biblical expert is contacted by an old Greek friend who pleads with Augie to drop everything and fly to Rome, say nothing to anyone, and bring a firearm. No explanation - just come quick. What unfolds is a race to recover the lost memoirs of Paul, which have been recently found in ruins of the prison.
I didn't have particularly high exceptions for this book, but was pleasantly surprised. For me anyway, adding "color" to the life of Paul was just what I craved. The book's tie-in with the modern day world was also nicely done. It's interesting that I found the multi-volume Left Behind series, co-authored by Jenkins, to be a bit slow. But, not so with this book. I really enjoyed it. -
I originally thought this was a biography of Saul/Paul when I first requested the book. I was somewhat disappointed to find out it was a mix of modern day and a fictionalized time that we know little about, but decided to keep an open mind. It started out fairly well, and I was enjoying it. I was taken aback that Scriptures set in Paul's time weren't from the King James Version. The modern language did NOT fit with the time and their way of speaking. Unfortunately, it got a lot worse after that. The modern day times were okay, but I definitely enjoyed the sections from Paul's time less and less. Originally, even though it was a fictionalized account, I felt that the character shown could very well fit with what we know of Saul/Paul. I had a definite issue with the whole issue of Naomi and Paul years and years later ending a day of preaching and service for God with tears over a lost love given what the Scriptures teach us, especially having Paul call them his "adulterous yearning". That frankly made me sick and--honestly--somewhat angry with the author. When they started changing the Bible I was ready to pitch the whole book and only finished it as I was so near the end.
This book has Paul being with (though not an actual member)of the Sanhedrin during Christ's time and the sole person to bring about the death of Stephen. The Bible says "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord..." but the book has only Saul crying out and giving all the instructions on how to kill him instead of just laying their clothes at his feet However, the Bible clearly calls Saul a "young man" at the time of Stephen's death. According to the book he would be well over 30, and at 30 he would be considered a "man" and lose the distinction of "young man". There is no way the Sanhedrin would follow a young man in such weighty matters.
I can deal with a poorly written book, a book that just isn't my cup of tea, or even a character or characters I don't care for. Call me a fanatic, purist, Bible-believer (I'll thank you for the compliment!), but DON'T mess with God's Word!! I try to be generous in my reviews even with books I don't care for or actively dislike, but I will not be gentle with someone twisting or changing the Bible. That alone dropped this from a probably 3 star to a 1 star (I can't give it no stars) review.
I received a copy of this book from Worthy Publishing for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. -
I received this book for free as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give it two stars because there were parts of it that were marginally interesting and readable.
Despite the blurb, the pacing is very, very slow. The only urgency I felt was to finish the book so I could start something else. The characters are weak and underdeveloped, the book contains inaccuracies that shouldn't be present in a project this big, and the plot is incredibly predictable.
Every character speaks in the same voice, from Augie to Paul himself. It was as if the authors didn't quite have the hang of each of their characters yet.
This book reads like a first draft. There are some interesting ideas that need to be developed by the red pen of a keen editor. The mystery and intrigue component to me was much ado about nothing.
I wanted to love this book. I really wanted to. The idea of a Christian DaVinci code was quite appealing. It did not deliver. -
There are two stories in one.
In the first story the Apostle Paul is writing his memoirs while in prison in Rome.
The second story years later was when Dr. Augustine Knox was called to Rome by a close friend to help find the memoirs that Paul had written while in Prison.
In a typical mystery that are key clues to find an object. This was no exception.
The story was full of intrigue, mystery.romance and historical detail. -
Are you ready for your time-machine to transport you back in time to first century Rome, visit its dank dungeons, walk its street, see its culture and people? Are you ready to follow the life of Saul from childhood up until his final moments as Paul, the apostle? And yet, this is not just about Rome, Romans, dark dungeons or boisterous amphitheaters; it is also about present day United States and Italy with a seminary professor who races against time to save a friend and a priceless ancient manuscripts. Name it, you have it: friendship, mystery, danger, action, intrigue, history, culture with a good dose of romance thrown in!
Every once in a while, I come across a book that will not only grip and stir the heart but also has the power to alter how I view a person and history, and helps to see things in a new perspective. A book with a plot that is compelling enough to keep me glued to the very end!
Jerry B. Jenkins is no stranger to Christian fiction. Having read several of his books, I'm always in awe of his imaginative skills and his ability to translate those images into words. But I never expect such a magnum opus from this particular choice of subject. What was there to explore about Saul? How wrong I was! I, SAUL far exceeded my expectations as I finished reading it non-stop which took me just about 9 hours. It's a roller-coaster ride back and forth across time to first century Rome and present day United States and Italy.
I, SAUL is the story of Dr. Augustine Aquinas Knox, a young struggling seminary professor, who receives a text message from a friend in Italy for help. He travels the globe and, by a quirk turn of fate, is drawn into the search for a manuscript believed to be the personal, handwritten secret memoirs of the Apostle Paul. In the process, Augie not only jeopardizes his career and his own life but the life of his dear ones as well.
Interwoven into I, SAUL is the life story of Saul of Tarsus, and his astounding conversion to Christianity, along with his remarkable transformation from being the chief persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ into one of the most faithful apostles of the first century: the Apostle Paul. The transformation of Saul into Paul is a story that affirms God can turn anyone's life around, and that He can level even with the hardest of men.
More than 2000 years ago as Paul awaits his final moments, he hides his life in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Did he manage to hide something else? What will become of Augie and his friends? Will their quest for the priceless antiquities succeed? And who are the other people after it?
I, SAUL is one story with two plots or two stories with a single plot. You can take your pick!
I, SAUL is one of the most riveting religious-historical fiction I have ever read! It is a compelling story of loyalty, friendship and love that knows no geographical boundaries. It is a story that will linger in your heart long after you turn the final page. It is an utterly enjoyable work from the master story-teller.
Reading I, SAUL, for me, is a life-changing experience! -
While reading the book I really got transformed in to the sun blazing Texas, visited the Holy Sites of Israel and got to visit Rome and see the fires burning , the tall rock walls, the dark and wet and inescapable underground prison, with dungeons that showed no mercy to the imprisoned. What made these places all over the world come to life was the point of view of main two characters in the book, who are Augie and Luke.
First I met , Dr. Augie Knox, by all accounts he appears to be a very fictional modern day professor at Arlington Theological Seminary who could be a very real man that we could meet or already possibly know in real life!. A second character in the book that we meet in the book and from who’s point of view we get to see Rome and get to know Paul (Saul) is Luke the Doctor, the Physician.
The book touches on a lot of subjects that Augie and Luke live through and talk about as their friends and family surround them. We get to see Augie more then just a professor, he is a devoted son with a unique relationship that he has with his mom and a somewhat complicated relationship with his dad, Augie is a man of God who tries to walk the right path in word and in action, he is a well traveled man who seem to always run in to adventures both suspenseful and life changing. He truly lives by faith, and gives away money to help someone in need while not knowing how he will get that money to provide for his own needs. What I really liked is the example that faith in the end is all that we have going for us, trust in God, to know that he will provide when all the facts show that no help is in sight. He is a loving and caring man that respects and loves his fiancé in every sense of the word!
We meet Luke who is very real person that lived and walked on our very earth and is the author of the Gospel of Luke in the Bible. Luke in the I, Saul book, is shown to us from a human point of view, as being a caring person, very selfless, willing to do anything and go to any lengths for his friend Paul (Saul) who is imprisoned and shackled for his faith in to Jesus Christ and is awaiting his end, but is still very high in Spirit and with Luke’s skills in writing, Luke writes down everything that Paul asks him to. Luke and Paul enjoyed a time of laughter, humor, priceless friendship and good, simple, gourmet food of apples, cheese and nuts, and parchment paper and writing tools were the most desired possessions. For most accurate account of Paul’s life and death I recommend you read the Bible.
With that I would like to say It has been an immerse pleasure and honor to be chosen to receive a free copy of the book I, Saul from Worthy Publishing for me to review. This is a first time for me posting a book review, I am both exited and nervous. I am a mom to a one year old, so finding the time to read anything is always a challenge, but it’s a challenge that worth every minute, for it’s that little nugget of that special time that I can have to my-self through out the day beside everything else that comes my way. -
I Saul, is a wonderful blend of the "Here and Now" with the "Then and There". History and Mystery, brought together by master storyteller Jerry Jenkins.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I was there, oh my goodness, there is so much about this book to love. You'll see special relationships and some great character development, and I flat out guarantee that by the end of the book, you will be wanting more. -
I know that good Christian fiction can be written - I've had the pleasure of reading some. However, this is not that. Wooden characters, stilted dialogue, thin plot, odd proto-Protestant theology in Apostolic times.
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For at least the past two years, I have been in a serious funk when it comes to books. I have picked books from every genre and books that have received high praise and won many accolades. But, despite that, I just haven’t been able to find anything that truly resonates with me. More times than not, I’ll close the book after a hundred pages simply because I don’t care one bit about the characters or what might happen to them. I’ve lost count of the number of books I haven’t finished in the last two years. To be honest, it’s been frustrating. But that changed with ‘I, Saul.’ Not only did I finish the book, but I did so in one afternoon.
So, what kept the book from getting a 5-star rating? Well, I wasn’t really captivated by the modern-day timeline or the characters within it. There were a couple of plot-contrivances that I didn’t find believable at all. I also thought that the pacing dragged in a couple of places, and I, therefore, found myself quickly skimming through a few sections. Nor did the characters truly ‘grab’ me. However, I didn’t hate those chapters and those characters. I thought that they were simply serviceable.
What kept me reading were the chapters set in first-century Rome. I very much liked the overall concept of the book – that the apostle Paul may have written a memoir of his life and that it had been hidden away for the last two thousand years. I found the scenes describing Paul and Luke’s lives in Rome – and how they interacted with the various citizens – quite interesting. But what I enjoyed most was reading the excerpts from Paul’s memoir - the fictionalized account of his formative years. I, obviously, don’t know how accurate the account was, but I thought that Mr. Jenkins’ version was, at least, plausible. It was fascinating to imagine what Paul was like as a boy, as a teenager, and then as a young man. To imagine what people and events shaped him to become the Saul that we’re first introduced to in Acts chapter 8. With Paul – and Luke, Timothy, and the others – I finally found a book in which I actually cared about the ‘characters.’
Initially, I was going to give this book a 3-star rating, but I gave it an extra star because of how it reached my soul. Mr. Jenkins – through his characters – shared the gospel of Jesus, and that’s something I never tire of hearing. In fact, the ‘good news’ of God’s love for me is something my soul constantly needs to hear. There were even two or three times when I was brought to tears when Paul recounted his interactions with Jesus and spoke of his thoughts about his Savior. It was a great reminder of the beauty of Jesus and of His atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. It was a reminder of the miraculous, life-changing power of being indwelt with the Holy Spirit and having a relationship with Christ. And the last scenes with Paul – when he realized that his race was finally finished and that he was finally going to be with Jesus – were very moving. It was a reminder that, for those of us who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, to die truly is ‘gain.’ For in Heaven, my intimacy with Him will be perfect – for my sin will no longer be present to interfere with it. How wonderful that will be.
I’ve never met Mr. Jenkins or heard him speak about this book, but I’ve got to believe that he intended the underlying theme of the story to be that Jesus is worthy of praise and that a loving, obedient relationship with Him is worth whatever suffering we may face in this present world. I’ve also got to believe that his primary purpose for writing this book was to bring glory to God and to exalt His Son. And, ultimately, despite its flaws, I enjoyed this book because that theme and that purpose resonated with me deeply. I pray that they will be the theme and purpose of my life, as well. -
5+ stars.
This was simply outstanding. The author wove two stories together flawlessly. One contemporary, the other in New Testament times.
I am still reeling from both the story and the effect it's had on me. -
Difficult to get into at the start but hard to put down until the end. I will admit I had to make myself stick with this book for the first 5 or so chapters. The pace was agonizingly slow for me. I expected more from the start because there is a sense of urgency in the first chapter. But it really drags on for quite awhile. I am not a 'read the last page of a book' type, but this one I was tempted. If I'd read the last page though, I would have missed the best of this book.
I give it 3 stars because, after it finally got me into the story, I couldn't put it down until the end. Also the characters are really not well developed but personally by the end, I cared about what happened to them.
In the 'present day' there are a few primary characters: Augustine (referred to as Augie, August, Dr. Knox, Aug- the inconsistent name was a little annoying to me), Roger Michaels (or Rog), Sofia Trikoupis (Augie's fiance) and her parents Malfees (her dad) and Mrs. Trikoupis. Edsel Knox, Augie's father, and his mother ('Mom'; she has a name but it escapes me). There are other characters that personally their names were insignificant to remember, and their roles were not front and center for majority of the book.
In the days of AD 67, the characters are Paul (Saul), Luke, Primus Paternius Panthera (Roman guard at the prison where Paul is kept), and a few tertiary characters. Briefly portayed are Timothy and Mark from the New Testament. There are also references to characters from history and the Bible, such as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Peter, and Stephen.
I really think I enjoyed the "first century" portions of the book more than present day. Since I can't really say what would have happened back then, it was easier to not focus on the details that may have been out of place. The present-day portions weren't as easy to ignore things that possibly could not have happened as written. Knowing it is fiction helps some, but who doesn't want to 'believe' the story they are reading.
It was a fairly good book; could have been better in some places but some were done quite well. -
This book by Jerry Jenkins (of Left Behind fame) alternates between the modern adventures of theology professor Augustine Knox and the Apostle Paul during the first century. Eventually, the two stories collide as Knox gets caught up in the discovery of Paul's memoirs and the illicit activities of those who seek to profit from the find.
I enjoyed this book, however, Jenkins seemed to have a much better handle on the first century timeline than its modern counterpart. The characters of Paul and Luke (along with Timothy and Mark in bit parts) seem very believable and I found myself drawn into their story. However, it took me awhile to warm up to the modern timeline. The characters were less real and harder to like. By the latter stages of the story, however, I found myself fully engaged.
In my opinion, the writing in this book far surpasses that found in the majority of the Left Behind books and it was a fun read. -
This dual-timeline novel was like Biblical fiction meets Bourne.
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The writing was bad. Couldn't even finish the book.
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Spanning the ages, from the present all the way back to when the Biblical Saul was a child, "I, Saul" is a masterfully told tale that held me in its grip from beginning to end. The book is well-written, with vivid scenes, true-to-life descriptions, and characters that you will quickly grow to care about. Although I enjoyed getting to know the present day characters of Augie, Sofia, and Roger, and enjoyed the suspense and mystery surrounding them, I most enjoyed the character of Saul himself. Saul has long fascinated me as a historical figure, with his transformation of one who hunted down Christians to one who arguably became the greatest missionary of all time. His letters to the church continue to be some of my favourite places to turn to in the Bible. Jenkins and MacDonald have succeeded at bringing Saul to life in a new way, giving me a glimpse of what his childhood may have been like and how he became the man that he did, transforming into the man we now know as Paul. As I read the scenes of Paul in prison, for the first time I really contemplated what he must have suffered over the years, and I marveled anew at the strength of his faith and the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain Paul until the end. I love the concept of a lost manuscript that details Paul's childhood experiences, and I found the book ended too soon as I wanted to read even more! I am very pleased to find that another addition to series is on the way.
If readers are looking for an entertaining novel with scenes of suspense, betrayal, and romance, then they will certainly find that in "I, Saul". But they will also be blessed with a book that will challenge their own faith and encourage their own boldness for Jesus even in the face of adversity. I highly recommend this book and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and FIRST Wildcard Blog Tours, for the purposes of this unbiased review. -
Y'all, Indiana Jones was a great movie. Several great movies even. There was a dashing young college professor and mysterious paths to important ancient artifacts. There was swashbuckling! Quipping! One time there was quicksand and there was also that one time with that huge tunnel of horrible bugs. Yow. That one guy's whole face melted right off! Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that if you pick up this book and see a blurb or a review or something (or page 380-ish where they just straight up say it) and you're like, "Dude, it's a Christian Indiana Jones book!" Just put it down and go watch Indiana Jones. This is rotten, despite its dual metanarrative pretenions.
It's half the story of Augie Knox (doesn't quite have the ring, does it) and his Divinity Professor pursuit of the "Gospel of Paul" and half the story of Luke visiting the apostle Paul in prison in Rome in the weeks leading up to his execution. Half of that plus half that other thing wants to be Indiana Jones and comes off, and honestly, I didn't think this was humanly possible, like a lamer, more predictable version of The DaVinci Code.
Imma just let that sit there for a moment. A LAMER, MORE PREDICTABLE DAVINCI CODE.
Probably I should have just written that but, as usual, I want there to be good, Christian worldview fiction out there. I want it so bad. I find enough crumbs to keep my hopes up. I took the book off the shelf and said, "Jenkins." Like somehow this was going to be his really good combo breaker and not another drop in the James-Patterson-of-Christian-Fiction bottomless pit.
One star for the story. One star for Jesus. -
This theological thriller/mystery is a slow burn that jumps from present day to Paul in the first century. The set-up is interesting in the present day tale but it takes an awful long time to reveal what's actual going on. As to Paul's story - you have Luke visiting him in jail, as the epistle-writer awaits his execution. We then get pulled into a third direction with Paul's memoirs. I enjoyed the first century story -- you get Mark, Luke, Timothy and other "cameos." The present-day thriller/mystery does get a bit complicated at times - as the characters figure out who can and can't be trusted, how to find out the mystery related to St. Paul's memoirs, etc. My critique, however, rests mostly on Paul's memoirs. I'm certainly no ancient Judaic expert, but I have several qualms with the picture that is painted -- it does not seem historically accurate (the prevalence of synagogues in the first century seems quite overstated). And the clunky way the book creates an opportunity for sequel, after "wrapping things up" seems contrived. All in all, it's not a terrible book, but if you're looking for a Christian theological mystery, it's not the worst one.
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I so wanted to like this book. I've read other biblical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed it, for example.
Daughter of Jerusalem: a novel was 5 stars and one of the best biblical books I've ever read.
I, Saul was painful to read, had to keep forcing myself along. I kept pushing myself to see if it would improve, see if the teasers came true. None did. All the characters had the same voice and were predictable with their actions, or lack of actions. There was a decided lack of emotion and the characters were not developed well.
Normally I stop reading at 50-100 pages if I'm not captivated by the story, but I pushed myself to continue reading this one. I had high hopes that it would get better and it did not. -
It's great to have a fictional autobiography of Paul, but, I didn't care for the way the book was presented. It goes back and forth between Bible times and the present day, which is annoying, and the story of Saul's early days are told in flashback form. I can't help but think I'm not the only one disappointed by this book.
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Picked this book to read while on vacation...an historical, Biblical novel. It did not disappoint! Loved the interweaving of Saul's early life along with a modern day story. Quite clever by the author! Enjoyed the depiction of the Pharisaical sect that Saul grew up in and its adherence on outward conformity versus knowing God. Looking forward to reading the sequel...maybe on my next vacation!
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I used to love "Left behind" series and have been thinking just recently about it. Jerry B. Jenkins has good imagination and can tell an interesting story for certain.
Even when it has it's faults I enjoyed the book because it's Christian fiction and while it was good pass time it also made me think about some fundamental truths. -
Sorry JJ, I'm bored!
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The book started out well, then slowed down a little, then it picked back up around the middle and got to where I couldn't put it down, which has been my experience with pretty much all of the author's books.
I wanted to give it 5 stars, I really did, but some of the story just made me cringe a little. I think it was interesting telling the story from Paul's point of view while in prison waiting to be executed, and I really liked how each chapter bounced back and forth from Paul's story to the modern day story.
The problem I ran into was with Paul's story in his manuscript. There was an awful lot attributed to Paul in this story that doesn't exactly have biblical support, with the most obvious being the stoning of Stephen. The Bible simply mentions that Saul watched and approved, but this book basically attributes the whole thing to being his idea and almost looks like he manipulated the Sanhedrin into stoning him. It makes for an interesting story, but I think this is not the only time the author has taken liberties with biblical characters in order to make an interesting story. A little disclaimer at either the beginning or the end of the book would have given it the 5th star from me... -
In two parallel accounts 2000 years apart but told in alternate chapters, Jenkins tells the story of the apostle Paul in prison just before his execution and Augustine Knox a seminary professor in a deadly race to find a priceless parchment written in Paul’s own hand.
Paul has asked Timothy to return with a cloak and especially his parchments. Jenkins conjectures that the parchments represent Paul’s lost auto-biography. If found today, they would be priceless. When word of their discovery leaks out a race to secure them begins with Knox and his friend wanting them for posterity and unscrupulous dealers for the millions they are worth. Murder and intrigue along with a dash of romance spices the story. The alternate chapters about Paul and his physician Luke, describe the horrific conditions in Nero’s Rome and in Paul dark prision.
While the story is imaginative, the repeated change from today to AD 67 was very off-putting for me. Conditions in Rome take us back. Character portrayal, however, is a bit thin. -
This was the first book by Jenkins I have ever read. I found it to be entertaining, extremely interesting and altogether believable (I WISH!).
The novel moves back and forth between modern-day USA, modern-day Rome and first-century Rome, and centers around parchments written in Rome during the first century that have been discovered in the present day.
My only criticism is of the author's choice to jump back and forth between time periods. I realize this is an option used by many authors, and in this case, may have been the best way to tell the story (stories). However, it simply is not my personal favorite. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book! -
A very interesting premise and "what-if" that was poorly executed. I really enjoyed the present day portions, but the 1st century chapters were not well-written and weren't believable. I appreciate the parallels between characters in the different time periods, but there was little to distinguish between them. They were flat and too similar. I understand the need to modernize the language some, but the speech was so modern it detracted from the story. I also felt the love story between Saul and Naomi was a bit of a stretch. I didn't believe it.
If all of the dry 1st century chapters were removed, this book would have a much better chance. -
Four stars instead of five...
...because there were so many typesetting errors that it seemed as if it had been rushed into publication. The story is a good one, but I found two things very distracting: one, there are many places where there is no spacing between words, as if the spacebar didn't work; and two, too many times there are two speakers in the same paragraph, and I sometimes had to go back and reread to separate out who said what. I was taught that each speaker would have his own paragraph...sometimes this was the case and sometimes not, as if the return key didn't work either. Aside from these things, the story is well-thought out and moved at a good clip.
