Lent

By: Jo Walton

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

From Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning Jo Walton comes a magical re-imagining of the man who remade 15th-century Florence—in all its astonishing strangeness.

Young Girolamo's life is a series of miracles.

It's a miracle that he can see demons, plain as day, and that he can cast them out with the force of his will. It's a miracle that he's friends with Pico della Mirandola, the Count of Concordia. It's a miracle that when Girolamo visits the deathbed of Lorenzo "the Magnificent", the dying Medici is wreathed in celestial light, a surprise to everyone, Lorenzo included. It's a miracle that when Charles VIII of France invades northern Italy, Girolamo meets him in the field, and convinces him to not only spare Florence but also protect it. It's a miracle than whenever Girolamo preaches, crowds swoon. It's a miracle that, despite the Pope's determination to bring young Girolamo to heel, he's still on the loose...and, now, running Florence in all but name.

That's only the beginning. Because Girolamo Savanarola is not who—or what—he thinks he is. He will discover the truth about himself at the most startling possible time. And this will be only the beginning of his many lives.

©2019 Jo Walton (P)2020 Tantor

I hoped for more

I have read her book Among Others and enjoyed it quite a lot, and was willing to gamble on this one. I wish I hadn’t. I kept waiting to turn the corner. I made it through the expository first section, barely, and then the action started for real. But it’s as other reviewers have said, it’s Groundhog Day. There’s no resolution. Hours and hours of no resolution. It was an interesting concept but it didn’t deliver.

Terrible ending

The assumptions by the author on his afterlife was so counterintuitive to Savonarola’s portrayal as an honest and devoted religious.

Catholic groundhog day

Jo Walton’s Lent takes Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day and recasts him as a Catholic friar who is dedicated and good-hearted, can truly cast out demons and see the future, but eventually runs afoul of corrupt officials and is hanged. He reincarnates back to the initial beginning timeframe and seemingly repeats the exercise, but this time with full knowledge of what will transpire. As a result, he is convinced he is a demon himself. Each time, he tries something different attempting to free all the souls in hell. Each reincarnation offers new opportunities, including one time when he becomes pope or when he him-self is regarded as possessed by a demon.

Walton offers a unique glimpse into a time when demons were real and the pope’s verdict considered final. The friar is unflinching in his attempts to perform God’s will even while acknowledging his un-worthiness to ever dwell in his everlasting presence.

The narration is well done with excellent character distinction and steady pacing.

A Monumental Waste Of Time

The narrator was awesome but never have I spent so many hours going nowhere. Perhaps I'm a demon as well. And shame for continuing the slander against Richard III.

A man saved by abandoning his pride.

Yes, it is medieval ground hog day. I enjoyed it thoroughly. As in ground hog day a man tries to end the repeating life. He learns in each life and when he realizes that he must abandon his pride, he is saved.

Beautiful

This book may not appeal to everyone. The historical details and the inner workings of the Catholic Church may be tedious at first. However, I thought it was quite engaging. The narrator was wonderful and brought out both the joy and turmoil of the main character. It is very much a Jo Walton book, of whom I am a fan, so I could be biased. This was definitely a 5 out of 5.

the road to hell

what a beautiful story there were so many details that just brought this to life.

what?

I skipped so many chapters and it still was too long. not sure what the point of the story was.