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Lent
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
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Lent
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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.
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What listeners say about Lent
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Heather Procter
- 08-05-20
Missing ending
Warning: this version is missing the final (and very significant) sentence of the book, making the story end on an ambiguous note. Beware.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ash Roskell
- 17-12-22
Where Theology Meets Many Worlds Theories
It is only after reading a book like this that I have come to realise just how vanishingly rare it is to encounter the truly, “original,” in literature. This has to be one of the most unique ideas for a story, at least in terms of its daring premise, that I have ever enjoyed.
Drawn to this author as a history buff, by the intriguing premise, I have been fully rewarded by an intelligently executed, creative, thoughtful, well paced and, above all, entertaining story.
It is read rather well by the narrator, though it fell short of what it could have been had the characters been invested with a little more life, and if accents had been used to reflect their very different backgrounds.
Being an enthusiastic follower of physics, thus knowing something about the, “Many Worlds,” hypothesis that sparks such controversy among scientists and philosophers, helped my enjoyment enormously. As did my (rudimentary) knowledge of Renascence Italy. Not essential for a rewarding experience, but it helps.
Ultimately, this meditation on the philosophy (and some of the catholic theology) of, “hope,” - whether that be in God or some other thing, need not be a hang up here - is a highly literate contribution to philosophy in general.
However, it ought to hit the sweet spot for those who love fantasy, historical fiction, or alternative history, “What if?” narratives.
I have never even considered Savonarola as a sympathetic historical character before. Yet, in the hands of this author, I came to actually care about him and was surprised to feel myself genuinely moved by his plight. That speaks to the skill and imagination of the author.
I am certainly going to read more of this author’s better known works, now that I have enjoyed this compelling tale so thoroughly.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Selu
- 03-06-20
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.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John T Gillette
- 27-08-23
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.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Tasha Harwell Christensen
- 29-07-23
what?
I skipped so many chapters and it still was too long. not sure what the point of the story was.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Diana
- 04-05-23
Terrible ending
The assumptions by the author on his afterlife was so counterintuitive to Savonarola’s portrayal as an honest and devoted religious.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- 24-03-23
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.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Michael G Kurilla
- 12-02-23
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.
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