Beginning in mystery--the theft of a large brass cross from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church and its reappearance on the roof of the Synagogue for Evolutionary Judaism--this mordantly funny masterwork by the author of "Billy Bathgate" and "The Waterworks" emerges as a narrative of the 20th century written for the 21st. "Doctorow is a master of atmosphere . . . he knows the art of storytelling inside and out."--"Newsweek."
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Beginning in mystery--the theft of a large brass cross from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church and its reappearance on the roof of the Synagogue for Evolutionary Judaism--this mordantly funny masterwork by the author of "Billy Bathgate" and "The Waterworks" emerges as a narrative of the 20th century written for the 21st. "Doctorow is a master of atmosphere . . . he knows the art of storytelling inside and out."--"Newsweek."
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Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $1.25, fair condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House.
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Fair in fair dust jacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $1.26, very good condition, Sold by More Than Words rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Waltham, MA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House (NY).
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Very Good. . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $1.26, good condition, Sold by More Than Words rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Waltham, MA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House (NY).
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Good. 9780593540275. All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofi t job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $1.56, good condition, Sold by BookHolders rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gambrills, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House (NY).
Add this copy of City of God to cart. $1.99, very good condition, Sold by Gladewater Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gladewater, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House (NY).
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Very good. No dust jacket. cover worn, small stain on lower text block, remainder mark on upper text block; text and binding fine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 288 p. Audience: General/trade.
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $2.20, very good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House (NY).
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Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $3.00, like new condition, Sold by Great Expectations Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Staten Island, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House.
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Fine in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7æ"-9æ" tall. Hardcover in dust-jacket. 272 pages. Book Club edition, first printing thus [2-9 for Random House]. No previous ownership marks. A very clean, square, fresh and unmarked copy, as new. Fine in a fine dust-jacket.
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $3.00, good condition, Sold by HPB-Red rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or limited writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of City of God: a Novel to cart. $3.00, good condition, Sold by HPB-Emerald rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Random House.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
The late E.L, Doctorow's turn-of-the century novel "City of God" explores the nature of religious faith for those for whom traditional forms of religion have become difficult or lost their meaning. The book straddles the line drawn by some people between religion (in the sense of devotion to a traditional creed) and spirituality (a personal devotion to the transcendent separate from any church or group.) The predominant form of religion in the book is Judaism, but it is very evolutionist, modernistic, and personal, in many respects, and definitely not tied to the texts and practices of traditional Judaism.
The book is modernistic and episodic in tone with three principal voices: a journalist who seems to be a figure for at least some of the author, a lapsed Episcopalian priest, and a woman rabbi of the Synagogue for Evolutionary Judaism. The three are drawn together by the theft of a cross from the Church and its mysterious appearance at the Synagogue. The "mystery" is dropped but it is mostly a vehicle to discuss the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, another theme of this complex book.
There are long chillingly written scenes of the Holocaust which forms a backdrop to at least some of the thought and action of the principal characters. Also, important discussions of the philosopher Wittgenstein, which I found very apropos to the spiritual questing theme of the book, contemporary physics, the big bang theory, and popular song and film.
Doctorow has New York City in his bones and the large secular city is artfully drawn. In fact, one of the main themes of the book is the secular city (to steal a title from Harvey Cox's book of many years ago) and of a secular America with its own Civil Religion. Contrary to what I remember of Doctorow from earlier books, such as The Book of Daniel, Doctorow appears to me to cherish the city and America in their very variety and secularity for the purposes of spiritual growth and questioning that they afford. A wonderful development from the America-bashing of the 1960s.
The book also shows song and poetry, (in the line of Whitman, Reznikoff, Ginsberg, W.C Williams) as components of a spiritual journey towards self-understanding.
As befitting a book with a title from St. Augustine, the book explores questions of original sin, the nature and possibility of immortality and religious change. It shows the continual struggle of people with religious questions and, importantly, suggests an evolving religion, not necessarily bound to the forms of the past.
The book does not give answers but provokes questions and is an antidote to all-pervasive smugness or indifference.
Doctorow's "City of God" is a valuable book for those who want to think about religion and spiritual issues or to see why people think about them. Although difficult to read, the effort will be rewarded.
Robin Friedman
Joan C
May 12, 2011
Challenging
Not an easy read, but well worth sticking with it for views on religion, politics, and more. Less a novel than a series of philosophical essays, but still suspenseful.
EHCH
Feb 4, 2010
Good book shopping experience
The book was in great condition as the seller advertised.
