Mary, Called Magdalene

By: Margaret George

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The New York Times best-selling author of Elizabeth I brilliantly reimagines the story of the most mysterious woman in the Bible.

Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared - and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles". Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice as she moves from girlhood to womanhood, becomes part of the circle of disciples, and comes to grips with the divine. Grounded in biblical scholarship and secular research, this fascinating historical novel is also, ultimately, "the diary of a soul".

©2003 Margaret George (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The premise of Ms. George’s novel is intriguing...With rigorous research, [she] paints the landscape and rituals of Judea.” (The New York Times)

“[An] expansive, thoughtful novel.” (San Francisco Chronicler)

Compelling and personal insight into the experience of being a 1st-century disciple of Jesus

This book is a well-written historical/biblical fiction that portrays what the life of a disciple of Jesus and a 1st-century woman living in Palestine might have been like. It is steeped in quality research and is a great learning tool, both about the historical context of the New Testament and about biblical narratives themselves. Because the Bible was a product of its time, two truths affect our modern reception: it does not set out to explain its own time and place that is foreign to us, and it often gives minimal details about people who were less socially significant at the time (i.e. in particular here, women.) This book does a fine job fleshing out those two gaps for modern readers, bringing the biblical narrative to life. As the author explains expertly in the afterword, she has crafted this novel from biblical references, historical research, and creative imagination where needed (primarily, as Margaret George mentions, about the personal details of Mary Magdalene’s life and childhood).
As a Christian seminarian and budding biblical scholar, I am wary of attempts to harmonize the four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) into one story of Jesus’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Each gospel writer had different perspectives, audiences, and focuses in the way they chose to tell the story of Jesus, so I find it confessionally important to maintain their distinctions and even hold in tension some of their contradictions. This novel’s genre allows for some harmonization, but in my nerdy and picky preferences I would’ve liked it to follow one gospel writer’s narrative arc. However, as George writes in the afterword, she is limited by the fact that Mary Magdalene is only referenced 5 times in the New Testament.
I listened to this book on 1.5 (and sometimes 1.75) speed. I’m a fast auditory processor, so that may be why that worked for me.

Rich and Moving

Lovely narration and compelling story, thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring and insightful. I'm so glad I found the book at Goodwill. I was guided to it.

Well Done!

Would you listen to Mary, Called Magdalene again? Why?

Yes- there is so much real- geographical historical data and so many important messages that I know I must hear it again. "He who has ears, let them hear."

What did you like best about this story?

A bit of history, a bit of speculation but all in all- a wonderful journey!

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading – was your favorite?

Mary and then, unfortunately....Judas...!

Who was the most memorable character of Mary, Called Magdalene and why?

Jesus and Blessed Mother. I also loved meeting Jo-Anna and Susanna.

Any additional comments?

Mary Magdelene has been my Patron Saint for a very long time. This book helps bring to life part of her amazing, yet still somewhat mysterious life on earth and relationship as a true disciple of Christ.

Well worth the 30 hours!

My best friend had always included this book in her "my favorite books" list, but I shied away from the print version because of its length. I decided to finally give it a chance with the audio version, and I'm so glad I did. Fabulous story and narration too! I highly recommend it!

Heartfelt

Never before have I been so sad to come to the end of a book. After 30 hours of listening, I wanted more, listen more, learn more. This book opened my eyes to the women of the Bible. How their lives might have been. Kate Reading put you in the right mood for every event in this Audible book. Thank you. Mary,
Called Magdalene is outstanding. The research and stories from the Bible were so true. Mary came to life. But what I will remember the most, will be the fact that this book just tells how Jesus made no difference between man or woman. He saw them equal and loves them dearly. It has again inspired me to realise that even I can be perfect in His eyes. We have now formed a Women Bible-study group to research the women of the Bible. Thank you Margaret for giving us this gift.

I wanted so much to like this book

Margaret George wrote two of my all time favorite books: The Autobiography of King Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles so I was very excited when Mary, Called Magdalene popped up on my suggested reading list. The book starts off as very promising and very interesting. What I had trouble getting past was the terrible narration which I stuck out for more than half the book. At that point, I had begun to lose interest and finally gave up.

what I have come to expect from MGeorge

Would you listen to Mary, Called Magdalene again? Why?

Yes. It is what I have come to expect from MGeorges wonderful stories.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mary, Called Magdalene?

Her time in the desert was quite moving.

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was a good reader and I would listen to her AGIAN.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It moved me to hear the story presented in this way.

Any additional comments?

none

Great

I really believe the way the author constructed the story with such little accurate or well-known that is really hard. She did it really well. We're not sure any of the facts that we know on Mary Magdalene. But, I feel as if in her story she presumes the lot. Kate perform the story very nicely so, even though I really liked the book, and I would have given it a five star, I gave it four stars because of the presumption it had.

Favorite author but disappointing book

This book def kept my attention. Now I’ve read all of Margaret George, and sadly this was a disappointment. It starts out interesting. Her reason for seeking god was very compelling. But the story is so well known that nothing much happens that we don’t already know.
I am not looking for bible quoting truth. It annoys me that many people reviewed this based on how closely it followed there perception of the Bible. This is historical fiction. Of all authors Margaret George does her research. But it’s still always fictional. Sadly I just thought the story was bland. Once you’ve read her Cleopatra, it’s hard to settle for Mary!!! That’s the best way I can describe how I feel.

Mary

The Best Book on one of the Most Enduring Women of the Bible. There is so much more that I can't until she gives me answers.