The Silence Of John

From Booklist
Lliteras is best known for a series of realistic novels set in the immediate aftermath of the Crucifixion. His latest follows the last of these, Jerusalem's Rain (2003), by a few hours. Peter, vanquished by his own frailty, recovers somewhat with news of the Resurrection, and John, who sinks to a miserable silence before the cross, also finds reason to hope. So, too, do women, who find several of their gender from whom to draw strength: Esther, an archfeminist ripped from the late twentieth century; Mary, the mother of Jesus, always compassionate; and a number of others. In the brief time of Jesus' ministry, they enjoyed an equality before heaven, if not before men, and Lliteras sees in them the best humankind has to offer. And yet The Silence of John is the weakest novel in the series for the most mundane of reasons: no plot. Lliteras' fine style and snappy dialogue are once more in evidence, but they never become a story even in minimalist terms. John Mort
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Library Journal - Starred Review, Feb 1st, 2005
His ability to turn historical figures into living human beings and a fast-paced plot make this depiction highly recommended.


Booklist, Jan 1st & 15th, 2005
Lliteras sees in them [women] the best humankind has to offer.


Publishers Weekly, Jan 24th, 2005
Lliteras depicts the pain and anguish of Jesus on the cross and the helplessness of his disciple John.


Publisher's Weekly, March 28, 2005
These novels have earned wide acceptance, if not critical accolades... Lliteras explores the loyalty of Jesus' female disciples...


Book Description
The Silence of John follows on the heels of the critical acclaim Lliteras received for Jerusalem’s Rain (Hampton Roads, ISBN 1-57174-340-5, 2003) which included selection as a Top Ten Christian Novel in both Booklist and Library Journal. Lliteras is the author of seven previous books including The Thieves of Golgotha (Hampton Roads, ISBN 1-57174-085-6, 1998) which featured the men who were crucified with Jesus before their executions, as well as Judas the Gentile (Hampton Roads, ISBN 1-57174-144-5, 1999) and Jerusalem’s Rain which followed Jesus’ disciples after the crucifixion. Much in the manner of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, The Silence of John unflinchingly shows us the pain and anguish of Jesus as he lay on the cross and the feelings both of helplessness and community the disciple John and women such as Mary Magdalene experience as they stay with him until the end. Lliteras uses this dramatic setting to powerfully illustrate the cultural and historical exclusion of women in the church and society.


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The Silence of John follows on the heels of the critical acclaim Lliteras received for Jerusalem's Rain which included selection as a Top Ten Christian Novel in both Booklist and Library Journal. Much in the manner of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, The Silence of John unflinchingly shows us the pain and anguish of Jesus as he lay on the cross and the feelings both of helplessness and community the disciple John and women such as Mary Magdalene experience as they stay with him until the end. Lliteras uses this dramatic setting to powerfully illustrate the cultural and historical exclusion of women in the church and society.


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