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94th out of 114 books
—
69 voters
Madman: A Novel
by
Tracy Groot (Goodreads Author)
If there is a way into madness, logic says there is a way out. Logic says. Tallis, a philosopher’s servant, is sent to a Greek academy in Palestine only to discover that it has silently, ominously, disappeared. No one will tell him what happened, but he learns what has become of four of its scholars. One was murdered. One committed suicide. One worships in the temple of Di...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
April 1st 2006
by Moody Publishers
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Jan 23, 2008
Jeff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Age 17 and up
Recommended to Jeff by:
My wife
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
"Madman" is a historical novel that tells the imagined backstory of the two demon possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes from the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is the third novel from Tracy Groot.
Tallis is a young Athenian scholar and servant. Eight years ago his master helped found a new academy, staffed by a group of brilliant scholars across the Sea of Gallilee. When his master asks Tallis to visit the school he believes it wiil be a quick trip, nothing more than a week...more
Tallis is a young Athenian scholar and servant. Eight years ago his master helped found a new academy, staffed by a group of brilliant scholars across the Sea of Gallilee. When his master asks Tallis to visit the school he believes it wiil be a quick trip, nothing more than a week...more
This book took a LONG time to get through. That's not a statement on the quality of the story. It was given to me as a paperback, which makes it cumbersome compared to the digital reading I've gotten used to the last few years.
After two years of reading a few pages at a time, I was about 100 pages into it on Independence Day 2012, and devoted myself to finishing the book by the end of the day. It took hours of off and on reading from about 6 AM to 9 PM, but I did it.
As for the story, this is a...more
After two years of reading a few pages at a time, I was about 100 pages into it on Independence Day 2012, and devoted myself to finishing the book by the end of the day. It took hours of off and on reading from about 6 AM to 9 PM, but I did it.
As for the story, this is a...more
Tallis, an Athenian servant, has been sent to visit the Palestinian school his master has been supporting financially for the past few years. To his surprise, he discovers that the school is no longer in existence; to his dismay, he finds that no one wants to acknowledge it ever existed. Through persistence, he’s able to learn that one of the former teachers was murdered, one committed suicide, one now worships in the temple of Dionysus, six are missing or in hiding, and one has become a madman....more
I read this several years ago, and didn't note much of what I thought of it. The story takes place in ancient times, in Palestine. I did say that it painted an interesting picture of the times, but I cannot remember much now. Some quoted lines: "You can choose." "You cannot choose for another." "To believe we can make a good choice is hard work." and "Our choice for good will always aid another." As I read I was wondering about the time period, and it turned out to be the time of Christ.
Wish I c...more
Wish I c...more
I was hooked from the beginning. A "fly on the wall" look at how the culture may have possibly been, at the time of Jesus' ministry. Even though He doesn't enter the story until the last few pages, this story depicts a culture ripe for salvation - from "black magic" to dependably weak human nature. The author depicts madness with all it's pain, horror, and misery. This isn't a story for the Disney-story-minded casual reader. One line from the story may give a hint: "The man in the boat brought y...more
I am not a fan of most contemporary Christian fiction as it is not usually very well written, and Madman certainly had its technical issues. However, the premise (the imagined back story of the man in the Bible whose evil spirits caused a herd of pigs to run off a cliff when Jesus cast them out of him) was really interesting--fresh, creative and cleverly developed. The book is really about what caused the man to become possessed in the first place and is told from a third person point of view by...more
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The book is not a light read. It takes time and devotion.I am a Catholic who goes to mass more or less regularly, I took all the sacraments, I studied Bible and still read it from time to time but I've never registered a part of the story about Jesus on Galilee Lake speaking with the madman. I did remember him waking up in the boat and stopping the storm but not about him talking with the madman. I'm not sure why that is but I was on vacation with limited access to the Internet and my Bible was...more
I think this book should actually get 4.5 stars. Groot took the setting found in the book of Matthew where Jesus healed the demon-possessed man and wove a tale around this man. The main character is not the man himself, but the servant of a wealthy scholar who is sent to Galilee to investigate a school of learners who had not been heard from in years. Don't be expecting a 'preachy' story - the author makes her point about deception, strongholds of the mind, spiritual forces both evil and good, a...more
When I picked this book up off the shelf I took one look at the cover and thought to myself, "Madman???!!!" But oh, how surprised I was!! One of the most emotionally gripping books I think I've ever read! From the very beginning I found myself at the edge of my seat, waiting, for the redemption in the end that I knew Christ alone could give to this man, suffering from his own dreadful sins.
Though a wonderful book, I have to say I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 16 years of age, since it i...more
Though a wonderful book, I have to say I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 16 years of age, since it i...more
Amazing, touching story based on the demoniac in the graveyard that Jesus exorcised. Tracy Groot writes almost poetically in her descriptions that make you see clearly & feel the exact emotion she is trying to convey. I also loved how there were at least 3 different stories going on that were entertwined like a grapevine that flowed easily in & out from one another & eventually met up as one in the end.
While an interesting read there just wasn't enough Jesus in it. If it wasn't for Jesus Tracy Groot wouldn't even have the source to write from. We wouldn't even know about the demoniac. There was more creepiness in it than I am used to so I felt creeped out the whole time while reading it. Just a weird place and I wasn't saying "ahhh - what a great book" after finishing it. The one thing I will say that is very positive is that I never gave thought to the idea that the storm that Jesus and His d...more
This is one of the best christian books I have ever read. Really gets behind the scenes of what may have transpired to bring about the maniac of Gadara's devil possession. Great insight into spiritual behind the scenes workings.It is so good that it was used in Mid Day book discussions when the professor that moderates that group usually only does classics. This book is HOT!
Fantastic! I got so wrapped up in this book. It takes a sketchy Biblical story of a posessed man that Jesus set free and fleshes it out into a supernatural mystery. Realistic (as far as I understand things) description of demonic influence and posession. Very well written. I want to find everything else Groot has written. (This is Margie on Carla's account.)
Feb 08, 2010
Merajsiddiqui
added it
Madman by Tracy Groot
I am currently one-fourth completed with this book.
Tallis, the servant of Callimachus sets out to discover the truth of what happened to the Academy of Socrates in Palestine. He learns that some of the teachers have died in mysterious circumstances. He also learns of a local legend of the madman who will cause people to run in pure terror. What will he do? What will he find?
I am currently one-fourth completed with this book.
Tallis, the servant of Callimachus sets out to discover the truth of what happened to the Academy of Socrates in Palestine. He learns that some of the teachers have died in mysterious circumstances. He also learns of a local legend of the madman who will cause people to run in pure terror. What will he do? What will he find?
Grade: A
FABULOUS! Highly recommended. Essentially it is the story of the demoniac of Gerasene that Jesus healed (the story can be found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke) and a foreigner who happens upon this man and his family in the course of investigating the disbanding of an Academy of Socrates that is funded by his employer.
FABULOUS! Highly recommended. Essentially it is the story of the demoniac of Gerasene that Jesus healed (the story can be found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke) and a foreigner who happens upon this man and his family in the course of investigating the disbanding of an Academy of Socrates that is funded by his employer.
Didn't really know anything about this book--it was on display at the library. I ended up getting really into it. The only thing I didn't really care for was the ending. It wasn't bad; I guess I just didn't know enough about the book to be prepared for the ending.
This book came highly recommended by my sister. I really enjoy the occasional historical fiction novel. Especially when they give some cultural context to the oh-so-familiar yet somewhat-lacking-in-apparent-relevance stories of the Bible. This is the story from the gospels of the demoniac at the Decapolis. Or rather, what his story might have been.
The story itself was rather enjoyable. I think i had a hard time getting past the humor and personal interactions that seemed to hinge on modern-day...more
The story itself was rather enjoyable. I think i had a hard time getting past the humor and personal interactions that seemed to hinge on modern-day...more
A compelling and engaging work of historical fiction that brings interesting insight to this Biblical story. Even knowing it's a fictional account, it made me feel like I was "there" and deepened my appreciation of the actual Gospel account.
I will buy a book on the discount rack with out blinking an eye, that way if it is horrible, I only blew 5 or so bucks.
However, more often than not, especially in the case of Christian Fiction, I have been VERY Successful. (My first Mary DeMuth book was on the clearance rack).
And this is another home run.
WOW.
The story centers around a small village near the sea of Galilee. Many of the characters are/were members of a Greek Academy of Philosophy when something happened.
We discover exactly what th...more
However, more often than not, especially in the case of Christian Fiction, I have been VERY Successful. (My first Mary DeMuth book was on the clearance rack).
And this is another home run.
WOW.
The story centers around a small village near the sea of Galilee. Many of the characters are/were members of a Greek Academy of Philosophy when something happened.
We discover exactly what th...more
Dec 14, 2007
Sonia Reppe
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
suspense/horror lovers
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Starts off as a mystery but has elements of horror as things are revealed: child sacrifice, cannibalism, demoniac rituals. (Not my cup of tea, but I read it for a book group). The end could've saved it, but to me it was disappointing because I didn't get much from the main character and the climax I had already read in the bible. As for the supposed spiritality in the book, there were only two spots in the book that touch on this topic. Once, when the servent Samir speaks lamely about "two Truth...more
I can appreciate a novel based on the man Jesus healed by casting out the demons, however, I didn't fully enjoy this book. At times it was hard to follow and a bit confusing. Perhaps 3 stars is a bit generous.
wow! awesome book! stand alone book not a series. 3 rules to walk away with... 1. we have a choice. 2. we cannot choose for others. 3. Jesus in choosing. l loved this book!
Groot's compelling plot moves this story of the Geresene Demoniac along. And although you know how it ends if you've read Matthew, Mark or Luke, her narrative and plot twists make this a page-turner. But by far the best part about the book is the illumination of scripture that she adds. A twist on a story of Jesus at the end left me rushing to the Gospels to check it out - and sure enough, it wasn't poetic license she took, it was right there in scripture and I just missed it all these years. An...more
Greek servant faces metaphysical, Palestine 30 AD.
I thought this book was so well written and very powerful!
Despite the surprising Jesus saves message which popped up near the end this was a pretty good book. The writing was often intense and captivating, and overall Tracy Groot spun a very good story. Even though I typically dislike Christian propoganda, this was a great novel from a historical point of view, and it was my choice to continue reading until the end. I really enjoyed the focus on Greek mythology, especially after having just read the Bacchae, and would recommend this novel to religious...more
Another trip into a genre I haven't explored, thanks to my book club taking me out of my reading boxes.
I stayed up all night reading this book. It's 3 A.M. and I just couldn't put it down. It was slow in parts but never slow enough to make me want to put it down. The language was beautiful, almost poetic, and the imagery was fantastic. Overall, this was a surprising five-star read.
This novel was a surprisingly rich and thought-provoking read. The plot's tension increased through every page as bit by bit, as the mystery of four men and their dark demises were unraveled. The contrasts between Greek and Jewish culture and the discussions about the world of Greek philosophy made 'Madman' an even more interesting and intriguing read. Hopefully, Tracy Groot will write more in the vein of this gripping and original novel.
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| River North Ficti...: Madman | 1 | 1 | Aug 18, 2011 09:30am |
Tracy Groot writing career began when she was published as a young adult author by Crossway Books, a division of Good News publishing.
From there she wrote a series of historical fiction pieces published by Moody Press out of Chicago IL. The first of 3 books, The Brother's Keeper, story of James the brother of Jesus, was described as a "lyrical and affecting first novel" by Booklist. Second in the...more
More about Tracy Groot...
From there she wrote a series of historical fiction pieces published by Moody Press out of Chicago IL. The first of 3 books, The Brother's Keeper, story of James the brother of Jesus, was described as a "lyrical and affecting first novel" by Booklist. Second in the...more
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