Die Päpstin
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Die Päpstin von Donna Woolfolk Cross Aufbau Tb 2008 Taschenbuch 566 Seiten ISBN: 3746614007   Kommentare und Bewertungen: Diskussion zu diesem Buch eröffnen 
unforgettable book about an unknown woman
 This book has been in constant circulation among my friends ever since I finished it. Absolutely fascinating and a very plausible story. I would have never imagined that such a person could have existed, now it's almost impossible not to believe A must read for lovers of historical fiction and medival life. (Autor/in)
Entertaining and educating; it's worth purchasing!
I enjoyed Cross' Pope Joan very much. Some well informed someone, maybe Mark Twain, once said that a good book should educate and entertain. Pope Joan did both for me. I became quite immersed in Joan's world, reading her story, and was incited to check out some of the practices and locales mentioned therein. The early dark ages are not as dark as some might expect. One of my sources was Microsoft Encarta which had a short, but informative, article on Joan which provided a contrasting biography to the fictional character. I was entertained by the book to the extent that I regretted when I had to put it aside. The action moved forward well; and, it is a well told story. I felt transported to another time and place. Joan's character was fleshed out well, and the scenes were set up well. I nearly froze to death with the midwife, Hrotrud, in the prologue and her "trial" moved me to anger and judgment of her accusers. As a male, I gained a greater appreciation of what it meant and still means to be a female in our society which has suppressed, persecuted, and denied females their God-given rights and place in our world. The treatment that Cross gives religion and the catholic church added more pieces to that often puzzling, horrendous institution IMHO. I feel that things have and continue to improve for women in the church, however; equality has not and probably will not be achieved for quite a time yet! Joan's familial and social situation are not too farfetched that similar circumstances could not occur today. There are literally millions of people marrying people of foreign origin or race; we still have religious bigots and zealots; and women and men still impersonate the other sex regularly for various reasons. John, Joan's brother, lived and died with the same type of dreams as many of today's youngsters. This book is a fictional biography of a likeable, loveable character. She has her faults, i.e., she is a liar and a fraud; but, there are mitigating circumstances. I see her early on as a ! caged creature trying to survive in a hostile environment. It is difficult for me to condemn Joan for her actions! I like and admire her! She is vain, as we all are; but, not many of us have the strength, goodness, and mind that Joan's character has. There is intertwined with the biography a love story of no little interest. This book compares very favorably with other fictional historical pieces that I have read, e.g., Ellis Peters' Cadfael mystery series. My favorite part of the book is the time spent in Dorstadt where Joan finally begins to realise, actualize her dreams; and, falls in love. I am a great romantic at heart! I would buy this book again, and, maybe I will read it again. I'll definitely be referring to it as I am still investigating some of the things mentioned in it. Pope Joan is not just a woman's book. I recommend it to both young and older readers.
Terrific read--kept me up at night.
I have rarely run across a book which was so readable and yet so informative. I am fascinated by the history of religion and had heard rumors of a female pope. This book satisfied my curiosity but has also whetted my appetite for more about religious leaders.
Excellent portrayal of historical time, place, character
Pope Joan is an excellent book-- a real page turner. Character of Joan truly comes alive. I choose to believe the historical person did exist, and I hope she was even a little bit like the person Donna W. Cross portrayed in her novel. The time period of the Dark Ages-- the lifestyle, mores, and culture are illuminated. An excellent contribution to the genre of historical fiction. I am glad to know it will be made into a movie-- one I will definitely rush out to see!
Das war nichts
Schade, hatte mir von diesem Buch mehr versprochen als eine flotte Sprache, die durch eine Handlung führt, die an unzähligen Stellen reichlich strapaziert wird und vor allem konstruiert wirkt. Möglich, dass die Autorin mit ihrem Handlungsaufbau an Heiligenviten anknüpfen will, gelungen ist es ihr freilich nicht. Zwar bemüht sie sich, den keineswegs leichten Lebensweg der Päpstin Johanna plausibel darzustellen, das scheitert allerdings an mehreren schlicht "zu" zufälligen Wendungen. So liegt der Schwerpunkt auch - entgegen der Erwartung, die der Titel weckt - nicht auf dem Wirken Johannas als Päpstin, sondern auf ihrem Weg zu dieser Position. Das könnte spannend sein, ist es aber nur bedingt (wenig Unerwartetes). Mit dem Erreichen der Position fällt ihr vorher so oft als intelligent beschriebener Charakter plötzlich zu einem naiven hinab und demontiert auf diese Weise die eigene Glaubwürdigkeit. (Autor/in)
Märchen für Erwachsene
Bei die Päpstin handelt es sich um eine größtenteils fiktive Handlung rund um Päpstin Johanna, die sich an reale Ereignisse anlehnt. Bei der Protagonistin handelt es sich um ein Genie, das einen scharfen Verstand und eine außergewöhnliche Sprachbegabung besitzt. Jedoch wurde bei der Genialität der Protagonistin zum Teil stark übertrieben. So stellt sie beispielsweise als Vierjährige die Frage, warum Frauen weniger wert sein sollen als Männer. Mit sieben kann sie schon Latein. Nebenbei ist sie eine geduldige, gütige, kluge, bemerkenswert aufgeklärte Person. Alles was recht ist, man kann es mit der Heroisierung seiner Hauptperson übertreiben. Insgesamt fand ich Johanna deswegen auch nicht sehr interessant. Ihr innerer Konflikt, die Zerrissenheit zwischen Vernunft und Glaube, wurde nie so recht auf die Spitze getrieben. Teilweise ist das Buch recht langatmig. Ich bin allgemein kein Mensch, der lange Beschreibungspassagen mag, also kann es auch daran gelegen haben. Trotzdem war das Buch interessant genug, dass ich es während dem Transatlantikbuch gelesen habe. Und das liegt vor allem an Johannas Gegnern, dem sexistischen Klerus und seinen Vorstellungen. Einige von diesen Ideen fand ich äußerst interessant, beispielsweise die "Logik", dass Fruchtbarkeit und Intelligenz bei einer Frau umgekehrt korreliert sind. Auch die Ausflüge in die Medizin des Mittelalters und die geheimen Liaisonen des Klerus haben mir ein faszinierendes Bild einer für moderne Menschen so anderen Welt vermittelt. Johannas Lover war eine langweilige Figur, die eigentlich nur dem Zweck diente, Johanna in ein noch strahlenderes Licht zu rücken. Es war mehr oder weniger gänzlich entbehrlich, bis auf die Tatsache, dass- aber ich will Ihnen nichts vorwegnehmen. Insgesamt für mich kein empfehlenswertes Buch, was vor allem an dem Erzähltempo und der allzu strahlenden Heldin liegt. (Autor/in)
Die Päpstin
Ein super tolles Buch, kann ich nur Empfehlen wer den Medicus gelesen hat ist mit diesen Buch gut gefahren. Es ist auf jedenfall sehr Empfehlenswert, auch jetzt noch nachdem Film! (Autor/in)
alles ok
kam aufgrund eines Umzugs etwas später, was mir vorab mitgeteilt wurde und m.E. unnötigerweise wurde deshalb ein Teil des Portos erlassen. Ich kann somit zur Ware und zum Versand nur Positives sagen. (Autor/in)
Kartoffeln?
Ich fand das Buch lesenwert, bis zu der Stelle, wo Kartoffeln gekocht wurden. *outsch* Die gab es im europäischen Mittelalter noch nicht. (Autor/in)
Disappointing
Great idea, but a little clumsy in the execution. Cross fills out the sketchy details of Joan's life nicely, making her an interesting and sympathetic character. However, there were a few too many melodramatic made-for-TV moments -- a character dying suddenly just as he's about to betray Joan, a Viking attack disrupting a wedding just at the crucial moment. Also, most of the supporting characters were one-dimensional and predictable; the "bad guys" (and there were quite a few) had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, which made them much less interesting. I did appreciate the author's afterword discussing the historical evidence supporting the existence of Joan; it's nice when historical fiction states just how historically based it really is. However, I was disappointed overall; the subject of the book really piqued my interest, but the writing was a bit too awkward to make it a truly good read.
Uneven Rendering of Fascinating Legend
In "Pope Joan," Cross presents a very probable rendering of the legend of a woman who assumes the papal throne for two years, presenting herself as a man. Cross is very upfront about the historical uncertainty of Joan -- she devotes a rather detailed afterward to the issue of whether there was, in fact, a female Pope in medieval times. She concludes that her existence is uncertain, although there are many resurfacings of the legend. The novel presents a very good sense of everyday life for common peasants, religious sholars, and Church officials of the times. It does tend to get a little "preachy" at times (how many times does the reader need to be reminded that Joan cannot obtain the knowledge she craves because she is a woman?). It is also uneven, moving from a very riveting introduction, to some seemingly contrived plot devices to move the action along, to some tense confrontations, and ultimately, to an ending that leaves the reader a bit let-down. Still, this is a very intriguing tale, worthy of a look by anyone who has ever wondered of the possibility -- or even the impossibility -- of a Pope Joan. And as for that person who is all in a dither over the legend being accepted as "fact," all I can advise is "chill." The respected historian Stephen Ambrose ("Undaunted Courage') once wrote that history, if told honesty, must be "AMBIGUOUS." I think he's right, and even if there never was a Pope Joan, one might justifiably conclude that there were countless would-be Pope Joans, denied existence due to the oppressive social conventions described in this novel. |
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