So Many Books; So little Time

The Secret Supper

The Secret Supper

by Javier Sierra

c. 2004

translated by Alberto Manguel

The Secret Supper is a historical novel of the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Unlike another more popular book this book takes place in 1497 in MIlan, Italy. The narrator is a priest from Rome who is sent to the Dominican monestary where The Last Supper is a work in progress and has been for nearly 3 years. He goes there to solve a riddle that will lead him to a “Soothsayer” who has been feeding information to Rome on the heretical beliefs of Leonardo da Vinci.

This book took three years of research into the Cathars and the beliefs of da Vinci before being written in Spain. Each of the characteristics of the beliefs of the Cathars and the idiosyncracies of da Vinci are taken into account in the writing of this novel. You won’t look at the Last Supper the same way again. The painting is featured on the endsheets and I found myself referring to them often as the characters study the work in progress.

Sierra presents parts of the painting that most people miss–the one knot on the tablecloth on the far right, the dagger in Peter’s hand, the absence of the cup and the hand of Christ and the hand of Judas reaching for a piece of bread. The characters also note many missing things in addition to the cup. They note that gone is the passover lamb and instead a fish is on the table. He also suggests certain fictional people for the faces of the disciples in the painting. He also suggests that da Vinci never intended the painting to last but to be copied many times as a way to convert the populace.

Interesting concepts, well researched, and interesting characters but it’s not exactly a page-turner. It leads to a lot of questions as to the true beliefs of the Cathars and da Vinci. It also brings to light the Gnostic Gospels and the lengths the Catholic church in Rome would go to to fight any opposition to its power. It also shows the edges of the corruption among the wealthy in the late 15th century.

Not controversial which is probably why it’s not as well known as a certain other work which we have all heard of and which was made into a movie. In my opinion, this would make a better movie.

Lessons I Learned in the Dark

Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not By Sight

by Jennifer Rothschild

c. 2002

Jennifer Rothschild is a blind singer, speaker and writer who shows us how her blindness has made her faithwalk deeper in this, her first book. She begins by telling us of the day she learned she was going to be completely blind. She takes us through her remaining high school days and into her college years. She takes us to parenting and teaches us how to put on make-up with sightless eyes. But more important she tells us how being blind has worked in her favor and brought her closer to Christ.

How? Because she is so dependent on others in her blindness that she understands all too well how she must be just as dependent on God all the time. Yes, she had problems adapting to a white cane just as she and we have problems adapting to letting go and letting God. But every step of the way she has learned to wait on that dependance. On campus she learned to depend on her cane and prayer to cross a busy street to go to and from the chapel. And she learned it by not depending or praying on the way across off campus and so realizing that she had to wait and pray for someone to help her back across.

What Jennifer finds in the dark of her life, she relates to the spiritual life we all live. If only we could all walk by faith the way she does, we would all be much happier in our lives. Which is not to say that she is always blissful and patient but she is getting there with a little help from friends, husband, children and God.

Short chapters that are filled with every day humor and are easy to read. Each chapter is seperated from the next by the words to a song, most of which were written by Jennifer herself. This is a highly uplifting book that will challenge you to a deeper faith.