Christ--A Crisis in the Life of God

Miles presents in this work, which is essentially a sequel to his earlier GOD: A BIOGRAPHY, an account of the character of Jesus as found in the New Testament narratives. This is not an examination of the text in the manner done by biblical scholars (an examination of the origins and construction of the biblical texts). Miles presents Jesus as something like a mystical figure. In doing so, Miles encourages listeners to ponder the meaning of New Testament passages. Grover Gardner's baritone voice has a serious aura to it, and his pace is appropriately deliberate, permitting the listener to reconsider the Jesus story. Gardner certainly understands and communicates the intentions and nuances of the text in his reading. M.L.C. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

October 15, 2001
In God: A Biography, Miles observed that God undergoes remarkable changes in the biblical narrative, moving from action to silence. In this astonishing new book, Miles applies the same method to Jesus, God Incarnate, with even more remarkable results, arguing that "the changing of the mind of God is the great subject, the epic argument, of the Christian Bible." Engaging in close readings of the Gospels (particularly John's), as well as sweeping impressions of the entire Bible, Miles intriguingly shows that God's incarnation in humanity was a way of talking once again to God's people. After Israel experienced defeat at the hands of the Babylonians, God promised to defeat this enemy, restoring Israel. But, forgetting this promise, God allowed Israel to continue to suffer, even as God struggled to address the situation in a different, less violent way. Miles argues that when God became human in Jesus of Nazareth, God suffered with Israel, and offered some revolutionary new teachings that indicate a change of mind. As God Incarnate, Jesus taught humanity that he must die in order to bring about a restored paradise. Weaving philosophy and literature into his reflections on the Bible, Miles offers literary perspectives on the life of Christ that are at once provocative and revelatory. After reading this book, one can never look at God, Jesus or the Bible in quite the same way. (Nov. 5)Forecast:Miles's
God: A Biography nabbed a Pulitzer Prize and enjoyed exceptional sales; Knopf hopes that this follow-up, which is a selection of the BOMC, History Book Club and QPB, will achieve similar heights. The title will launch with a 60,000-copy print run.

July 15, 2002
In Christ, Miles, who won the Pulitzer Prize for God: A Biography, considers the relationship between God and Christ. As the story opens, God has not kept his promise to end the 500-year oppression of the Children of Israel nor has he returned them to their greatness. Under the Romans' despotic control, the Jews face annihilation, what will be called many centuries later a Holocaust. This leaves God with a crisis, so he decides to resolve his spiritual dilemma by becoming a Jew known as Christ. He inflicts upon himself the agony his people will suffer. By dying and arising as Christ, God not only accepts historical and metaphorical defeat, but he also offers humanity the promise of a spiritual victory, "wiping away all tears." Miles has taken on two of the significant figures in the Old and New Testament, with his imagination and literary ability once again culminating in fierce storytelling. Read by Grover Gardner, this is recommended for large collections. - Pam Kingsbury, Florence, AL

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