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Liked It “Anthony Burgess is my favorite writer and this is my favorite book of his. I know A Clockwork Orange is by far the most widely read, but Earthly Powers was his masterpiece.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Anthony Burgess is my favorite writer and this is my favorite book of his. I know A Clockwork Orange is by far the most widely read, but Earthly Powers was his masterpiece.”
moik wrote this review Saturday, December 20 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My favorite Burgess book, this one is a faux mega-blockbuster. It allows Burgess to tell the story of the 20th Century from the point of view of a very naughty man who is caught in most of the major crosshairs of our time. Supposedly (and very loosely) based on the life of W. Somerset Maugham, this book deals with the relationship between love and lust, homosexuality/gay rights, censorship, and euthanasia [among other themes].”
muque and shylock tomes wrote this review Tuesday, September 23 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the book that should be synonymous with the name 'Anthony Burgess'. Unfortunately, this little (well at 700+ pages "big" would be more appropriate) gem has slipped under the radar. This is a story that encompasses the most important events of the 20th century from the perspective of an alienated Catholic writer who is searching for acceptance from a faith that sees him as an abomination for his sexual orientation.
Mike A wrote this review Tuesday, August 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
As an aged novelist, Kenneth Toomey has lived long enough to become a well respected celebrity who is asked to confirm a miracle allegedly performed by his relative by marriage, the late Pope Gregory. As Toomey recalls his life and the various highs and lows he finds that his own life has been inexplicably linked to that of Cardinal (later Pope) Campanati.
This is a brilliant novel which discusses secular life and religious issues against the backdrop of chance and the way that seemingly innocent events might have grave consequences.”
“Not to paraphrase myself but, while this book may be a little over the top with regard to literary masturbation, it is nonetheless a work of staggering erudition, as well as masturbation. ”
Andrew T wrote this review Thursday, January 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is Burgess' masterpiece. It's the story of an author modeled on Somerset Maugham and a man who will become the pope. It spans the 20th century and is stunning in every detail. Funny, gripping, shocking, wise, insightful, vastly entertaining. It is impossible to read and not to marvel: Bravo, bravo, bravo.”
Heidel wrote this review Saturday, January 12 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I started reading Earthly Powers two years ago and it didn't grab me. I started again earlier this year and couldn't put it down. This sounds hyperbolic, but I think it is the best book I have ever read. Best in terms of erudtion, use of language, humour and social observation. I won't be everyone's cup of tea, but prepare to be delighted.
Lucy R wrote this review Thursday, December 13 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“The only knowledge I'd had of Burgess was through his novel "A Clockwork Orange," which I loved, so when I saw "Earthly Powers" at the bookstore over twenty years ago, I bought it, hoping that it would have the same flavor. Wrong! I couldn't get into it at that time, a story of an aged homosexual and his relationship with a priest who becomes the pope, it seemed boring to me so I set it aside until 2007. I'm glad I did, because now I feel mature enough to absorb and understand a lot of what Mr. Burgess had to say in this novel and thoroughly enjoyed it.
bookdreamer wrote this review Saturday, September 8 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is an epic of a novel, chronicling the dual lives of the protagonist, the writer Kenneth Toomey, and his brother-in-law's brother, Carlo Campanati, an Italian priest who eventually becomes pope. The book spans several decades and touches on deep philosophical issues of religion, homosexuality, fascism, and more. I thought the characters were richly drawn, and the way Burgess weaves the character's family together over the decades is masterful. I love the way Burgess uses a repetition of symbols or themes throughout the book: greedy eating, being victimized, the loutishness of youth, etc. It created an extra element of depth that kept me enthralled throughout the whole novel. It's very readable and Burgess's portrayal of homosexuality seemed very accurate to me.
I was a little bit put off by a lot of the philosophizing over religion, but I think it all tied together at the remarkable ending. To me, this book was about non-belief and how living without a "belief system" can be me more moral and loving than tying oneself to a dogmatic faith that can ultimately lead to corruption.”
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