The pope has died, and the corridors of the Vatican hum with intrigue as cardinals from all over the world gather to choose his successor. Suddenly...
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reviews
May 03, 2010
booklady
rated it: 
Profound on many levels, this book is amazing. Although written in 1963, it predicts a Ukrainian Pope named Kiril Lakota who suffered much under the Communist system, envisions a worldwide, peace-making role for the papacy, anticipates traveling to Marian apparition sites, and is deeply spiritual. Does this remind you of someone? Even the name Karol Wojtyla and the Eastern-block location are eerily close. I wonder what Morris West thought when Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) became pope?
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Apr 06, 2010
Dick
rated it: 
The book I just read was a paper back, published in May of 1964. There was a movie made of this story that I saw in the late 60's.
When I first started reading the book I fully expected it to track somewhat closely to the movie.
Not so.
The book story line begins with a new pope from behind the iron curtain. This brings with it some special challenges as you can imagine. The development of the new pope Lakota has to face the daunting job of being a pope durin More...
When I first started reading the book I fully expected it to track somewhat closely to the movie.
Not so.
The book story line begins with a new pope from behind the iron curtain. This brings with it some special challenges as you can imagine. The development of the new pope Lakota has to face the daunting job of being a pope durin More...
Jan 18, 2009
Erik
rated it:
This book was recommended to me by David Erickson, the middle son of my Dad's best friend, Arthur Erickson Sr., when David and I were picking out books from a drugstore carousel in Bridgman, Michigan. We were probably both still in elementary school then, maybe junior high, and I was impressed by his choice, my own tastes going toward science fiction and Famous Monsters of Movieland magazine. Since we were sharing a room downstairs at grandmother's cottage, we spent time reading together and o
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Sep 29, 2008
Ron
rated it:
Read and enjoyed this years ago (before the movie). Current readers may have a little trouble understanding why a Russian pope would have had such impact (prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and election of John Paul II).
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Apr 07, 2010
Karina
rated it: 
The beginning of the book reminded me of Angels & Demons because it starts with the death of a pope and election of a new one. But it seems better researched. And so far that's the only similarity. I'm not very far into it, but I'm enjoying it so far. A little bit slow-moving, but thoughtful.
This was different from what I usually read... Not a whole lot of action, but still fascinating to read about the thinking of all these characters. There's a lot in there. The book also lacks More...
This was different from what I usually read... Not a whole lot of action, but still fascinating to read about the thinking of all these characters. There's a lot in there. The book also lacks More...
Sep 22, 2008
Juan Carlos
rated it: 
West is without a doubt a superb writer, however I found The Shoes of The Fisherman to be a great dissapointment. In spite of the fact that most of the reviews I have read higly praise the book, it never really got to me.
The concept seems quite interesting at first: an unknown russian, cardinal Kiril Lakota is elected pope. After being held prisioner for quite a few years, he steps up to lead millions of people around the globe in a new world which he basically has knowledge of only More...
The concept seems quite interesting at first: an unknown russian, cardinal Kiril Lakota is elected pope. After being held prisioner for quite a few years, he steps up to lead millions of people around the globe in a new world which he basically has knowledge of only More...
Aug 26, 2007
Coinboy
rated it:
Coming from a deep dislike of the Catholic Church, I'm not sure why I even wanted to read this. But I enjoyed it particularly because I think the author projected his ideals about what intellectual and spiritual life at the highest levels of church hierarchy should be. I don't think these characters resemble reality in any way, which is fine. This is fiction, after all.
Pope Kiril I has a deep humanity, and his interaction with the Jesuit Jean is one of the best expressions of aff More...
Pope Kiril I has a deep humanity, and his interaction with the Jesuit Jean is one of the best expressions of aff More...
Jun 14, 2009
Anne Hawn
rated it:
The Pope is also the Vicar of Rome and this pope goes into the city disguised as a simple priest to see his "parishioners." What he finds are problems not solved easily, especially ones that deal with babies being born with severe birth defects due to a medicine for morning sickness. West doesn't let the characters get by with an easy solution.
May 16, 2009
Lynda
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Read and reread for years, this book fascinates me. I don't know if it is the workings of the Vatican or Kiril's character that draws me the most.
Jul 25, 2011
Rsaal2021
rated it:
It was insightful in the inner workings of the Vatican. I would have had a different ending, but overall it is a good story.
Mar 04, 2009
Don
rated it:
Morris West is a master storyteller. Have a dictionary handy when reading this profound work.
Feb 05, 2011
Capitu
rated it:
I liked much more than I expected to like it. Coinboy's review is a very good one. Go read his impressions here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/446...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/446...
Sep 02, 2011
Ellen
rated it:
This book is better and more believable then the movie of the same name. I think that this book is as relevant to today's world as to the early 1960's when it was written. About the only thing that has changed is the geography of the problems. There also real world parallels with the papacy of John Paul II. I would recommend this book to people who like political and religious literature.
Oct 18, 2008
Rae
rated it:
This came highly recommended, but I didn't want to stay with the slow-moving plot. I did like the first part of the book in which a new Pope is chosen (and he is not what everyone expects) and must deal with his new burden. Besides him, though, I just didn't care about the other characters.
Sep 02, 2010
Lisa
rated it: 
loving it so far...
what is it with most of the books i've been reading lately?
they start out with such promise, but never seem to reach their potential.
this was but another that just never went anywhere...
what is it with most of the books i've been reading lately?
they start out with such promise, but never seem to reach their potential.
this was but another that just never went anywhere...
Jan 06, 2008
Beth
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I wanted to re-read this book that I had read 40 or so years ago. It's a book about best intentions flying in the face of the establishment and may be a good foil for The DaVinci Code.
Nov 28, 2011
Raquel
rated it:
Estupendo e ingenioso. Yo hubiese pensado que el libro estaba inspirado en Juan Pablo II. La historia es conmovedora; por lo que recuerdo, y lo leí hace ya varios años.
Jul 18, 2008
Jen
rated it:
As fascinating as the concept is, i felt the various plotlines ended abruptly.
Feb 11, 2012
