Michael Arditti

This book took me the longest time to get through of any book I have given 5 stars to.
It is classified as a mystery but it is really a questioning of theology and in particular the teaching of the Catholic Church, and what role they play in regards to government policy. Particularly when the government is behaving opposite to catholic teachings. How complicit is the church with what the government is doing, and what role should the church play.
The story is about Julian Tremayne a British priest in the Philippines, who began grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church yet witnessed and experienced the worst of the Marco's regime. The priest is said to have had saintly qualities and even been able to perform miracles. The priest ends up being killed and his family is tired of waiting for the Catholic Church to recommend sainthood, so they hire a family friend to travel to the Philippines to learn everything he can about the priest.
Great books develop slowly, and great British books tend to develop really slowly. Not because they are boring but because of the layers of complexity woven through the story.
This book has two parts to each chapter, the first part is told in letters sent by Julian back to his wealthy well connected family back in Britain the second part of each chapter is narrated by the family friend sent to the Philippines to seek the truth.
This was an excellent book, not because of the mystery but because of the questions it raises.… (mehr)

I read this as a third book in a (completely unplanned) trilogy which covered pretty much the history of gay men in London in the ate 20th century. Started with henshawe's "Emperor Waltz", which has as one thread the opening of the Big Gay Bookshop ... one of the characters reads The Swimming Pool Library and because I've never read it but it's a book I believe everyone should read, I did. And I learnt a lot about love and sex and vanity and race ... and then by chance I saw this when I returned Swimming Pool Library I saw this and it looked interesting. It's a fascinating book, sometimes too intense and thoughtful, but very thought provoking, presenting so many of the arguments, positions and stories of gay men in the church, HIV, as well as Jack the Ripper and Eyam. A reviewor a blurb cannot make sense because the tale is complex, but engaging.… (mehr)