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Mukurob
When Father David Callaghan, a young Catholic priest in a small Irish town, discovers his childhood friend has been brutally murdered by extremists, he begins to question how mankind has fallen so far. In search of answers, David takes a sabbatical from the priesthood to travel to Namibia where he volunteers to help on an anthropological experiment with the people believed to be the oldest humans on earth - the San people. Living in the middle of the Kalahari with an eclectic bunch of scientists he finds many of his concepts about life and faith challenged. The inevitable clash of beliefs ultimately compels the priest and the anthropologists to embark on a philosophical battle forcing David to question what it means to stay true to himself. Murder, romance, and poaching all intertwine on this thought-provoking journey deep into the roots of humankind.
Will Father David Callaghan unearth the answer to what went wrong in the human saga? Will his faith be restored? Will an unlikely romance restrain him from returning to the priesthood?
A drama with uplifting humor, The Prodigal Priest brings the reader to the center of today's debate over how modern humans came to risk their own existence.
Will Father David Callaghan unearth the answer to what went wrong in the human saga? Will his faith be restored? Will an unlikely romance restrain him from returning to the priesthood?
A drama with uplifting humor, The Prodigal Priest brings the reader to the center of today's debate over how modern humans came to risk their own existence.
- GenresReligionAfricaNonfiction
332 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2018
7 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
André Costa
3 books16 followersAndré Costa is a career diplomat, writer, and filmmaker. His experience on four continents has broadened his perception of the human condition and inspired his works.
www.andrecosta.website
www.andrecosta.website
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 18, 2021
It had some good bits but couldn't fully get invested in it. Maybe it was too philosophical for me. Not terrible but not an story I'll remember for a long time
January 21, 2019
Shattered by the brutal abduction and murder of his childhood friend Father David Callaghan an Irish priest journeys to the Kalahari Desert after reading an article about the San people, the oldest race of people on earth. In “Mukurob” David stuck in an emotional vacuum after the brutal death of a friend is determined not only explore how mankind ended up the way they are today but to find renewed purpose in his own life.
Working on the project with a former seminarian, and three anthropologists, one of which is a linguistics expert not only are David’s ideas about his life and faith challenged but the adventure takes on a sinister tone when he and the team get caught up in a kidnapping, murder, and the pursuit of rhino poachers.
Combining a philosophical view mankind’s purpose on earth into a fictional adventure, the narrative is very slow and monotonous, any excitement lost in all the rhetoric. Although Andre Costa has a fluid writing style, the intensity or suspense of David’s Namibian adventure gets gobbled up in a host of philosophical, religious and scientific arguments.
Yet there are some interesting characters whose personality makeup could have been further developed as the adventure unfolds. You get snapshots of people like thirty-two- year-old David Callaghan, introverted as a child until his rebellious teens whose genuine curiosity about life and charismatic personality as a priest are shattered by the inhuman murder of a life-long friend. There’s free-spirited Dr Marie Steensen who divides her time between her scientific pursuit and dangling her sexual favours between their chauvinistic driver Benjamin and the unpredictable Dr. Edward Freeman; the sharp-tongued Dr. Ecklund, who heads up the research team; as well as the insightful, self-taught former seminarian John Paul (Jack) Elliot.
Sadly, the story is a clever way to present philosophical ideas, but readers will lose interest with all the rhetoric. “Mukurob” is hard to get through in its present form.
Working on the project with a former seminarian, and three anthropologists, one of which is a linguistics expert not only are David’s ideas about his life and faith challenged but the adventure takes on a sinister tone when he and the team get caught up in a kidnapping, murder, and the pursuit of rhino poachers.
Combining a philosophical view mankind’s purpose on earth into a fictional adventure, the narrative is very slow and monotonous, any excitement lost in all the rhetoric. Although Andre Costa has a fluid writing style, the intensity or suspense of David’s Namibian adventure gets gobbled up in a host of philosophical, religious and scientific arguments.
Yet there are some interesting characters whose personality makeup could have been further developed as the adventure unfolds. You get snapshots of people like thirty-two- year-old David Callaghan, introverted as a child until his rebellious teens whose genuine curiosity about life and charismatic personality as a priest are shattered by the inhuman murder of a life-long friend. There’s free-spirited Dr Marie Steensen who divides her time between her scientific pursuit and dangling her sexual favours between their chauvinistic driver Benjamin and the unpredictable Dr. Edward Freeman; the sharp-tongued Dr. Ecklund, who heads up the research team; as well as the insightful, self-taught former seminarian John Paul (Jack) Elliot.
Sadly, the story is a clever way to present philosophical ideas, but readers will lose interest with all the rhetoric. “Mukurob” is hard to get through in its present form.
September 23, 2018
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
In Mukurob: How Far Would You Go For Your Life Purpose? Author Andre Costa takes us on a philosophical journey back to the roots of mankind – the cradle of humanity and the San people of the Kalahari, in Namibia. When Father David Callaghan, a Catholic priest in a small Irish town, discovers his childhood friend has been brutally murdered by extremists, he begins to question how mankind has ended up in the mess they seem to be in. To try to discover where it all went so terribly wrong, David takes a sabbatical from the priesthood to travel to Namibia where he volunteers to help on an anthropological experiment with the people believed to be the oldest humans on earth – the San people. David wants to know how hunter/gatherers like the San somehow took humanity on its journey to where it finds itself today. Living in the middle of the Kalahari with an eclectic bunch of scientists he finds many of his concepts about life and about faith, challenged and he will be profoundly changed by his experiences.
It’s a while since I’ve read a novel that attempted to describe such a broad analysis of humanity and the philosophy of life, in the context of a fictional story. Author Andre Costa does an excellent job of managing to embody such deep and enduring religious, philosophical and scientific arguments within what is essentially an adventure story. The character of David Callaghan is beautifully drawn, with his underlying angst about his profession, his faith, and the purpose of life. Yet, despite that, he had an enduring desire to find the answers, an innate kindness, a rare humanity, and a preparedness to do what is necessary to find the answers. I think David is a character that many of us can identify with, especially those of us who feel dissatisfied with the stories we have been told from our youth and our inability to find an alternative that has both meaning and logic. Mukurob: How Far Would You Go For Your Life Purpose certainly achieves what its author probably set out to do – to make his readers think and to question what they may well have always seen as immutable truths. That he was able to do this and still entertain with an interesting adventure into the Kalahari Desert, is a credit to his writing abilities. If you like a challenging read that makes you think and question your beliefs, while still providing a jolly good yarn, then this is definitely the book for you.
In Mukurob: How Far Would You Go For Your Life Purpose? Author Andre Costa takes us on a philosophical journey back to the roots of mankind – the cradle of humanity and the San people of the Kalahari, in Namibia. When Father David Callaghan, a Catholic priest in a small Irish town, discovers his childhood friend has been brutally murdered by extremists, he begins to question how mankind has ended up in the mess they seem to be in. To try to discover where it all went so terribly wrong, David takes a sabbatical from the priesthood to travel to Namibia where he volunteers to help on an anthropological experiment with the people believed to be the oldest humans on earth – the San people. David wants to know how hunter/gatherers like the San somehow took humanity on its journey to where it finds itself today. Living in the middle of the Kalahari with an eclectic bunch of scientists he finds many of his concepts about life and about faith, challenged and he will be profoundly changed by his experiences.
It’s a while since I’ve read a novel that attempted to describe such a broad analysis of humanity and the philosophy of life, in the context of a fictional story. Author Andre Costa does an excellent job of managing to embody such deep and enduring religious, philosophical and scientific arguments within what is essentially an adventure story. The character of David Callaghan is beautifully drawn, with his underlying angst about his profession, his faith, and the purpose of life. Yet, despite that, he had an enduring desire to find the answers, an innate kindness, a rare humanity, and a preparedness to do what is necessary to find the answers. I think David is a character that many of us can identify with, especially those of us who feel dissatisfied with the stories we have been told from our youth and our inability to find an alternative that has both meaning and logic. Mukurob: How Far Would You Go For Your Life Purpose certainly achieves what its author probably set out to do – to make his readers think and to question what they may well have always seen as immutable truths. That he was able to do this and still entertain with an interesting adventure into the Kalahari Desert, is a credit to his writing abilities. If you like a challenging read that makes you think and question your beliefs, while still providing a jolly good yarn, then this is definitely the book for you.
May 31, 2020
The Prodigal Priest – André Costa
On the surface, André Costa’s 'The Prodigal Priest' follows the African adventure of Father David Callaghan, a man of the robe who may have lost his faith. In fact, we are led through pages of Costa’s own philosophy, a social criticism of modern life and its spirituality, or lack thereof.
Following the added losses of his mentor, his mother, and his best friend (and first, never explored, love), and burdened with his own sense of inadequacy, Father Callaghan decides to go on a sabbatical. Drawn to the idea of finding prelapsarian innocence among the San people of the Kalahari, thus understanding how humans fell from grace, he decides to join an anthropological team in Namibia. There, he is enthralled by the notion of an ego-less society, as well as by the people he meets, most notably Marie, a sexually-active Finnish scientist; and Jack, a self-taught, ex-seminarian anthropologist. Cue in many introspective philosophical conversations on humanity, human evolution, the role of religion, and the decay of human values. Also, expect a cursory experience of San life, alongside poaching, sex, socioeconomic depression, interracial relationships, murder, surviving an accident-the desert-a violent night ambush.
The title gives the ending away, to be honest, leaving the reader no less baffled than the good son in the parable is by his father’s favouritism. Then again, it may have been intended to do so. The Prodigal Priest brings to mind the film ‘The Man from Earth’, with its flurry of ideas, lack of cohesion, as well as the underdeveloped moments of action.
Who will enjoy this
In style, Costa’s work may appeal to lovers of Stream of Consciousness literature. Its perpetual search of human truths through dialogue is slow, inciting more questions than presenting actions. More so, the language aims for erudition, requiring further thought.
Similarly, it could resonate with those disenchanted with modern culture. Its exaltation of the past cultures, of the dangers of the individualistic ego in a materialist society, matched by Callaghan’s increasing despair, provide a soothing mirror to those searching.
Who should give this a pass
'The Prodigal Priest' is not a book of action; thus, it will fail to engage the interest, let alone the sympathy, of any reader expecting such delivered. Moreover, it does not explore the San, the Kalahari, or the ancient survival skills in any fashion, despite introducing them.
On the other hand, it is not a sound philosophical, theological, scientific, etc. text, either. Anyone with a medium-to-strong background knowledge on any of the fields touched will be left dissatisfied, even frustrated. In the same vein, any reader with sensitivity to projects of colonial benefactor spirit will find this tome a trigger.
Conclusions and suggestions
I do not recommend this book. André Costa’s 'The Prodigal Priest' is an exercise in missionary pontification disguised as a journey into the depths of human interaction. It might make an alright indie film, as noted above, but as a book, it is sorely lacking.
Costa has clearly great knowledge, with which he peppers the tale. Most of that information given is irrelevant though (see the explanation of Herero clothing, or traditional Gaelic dishes), yet he leaves out much of what would actually be useful to understand the realities David Callaghan encounters in Namibia. Obviously, he aims at biasing the readers’ perspectives, glossing over the difficult issues (such as merely mentioning the political interracial and intertribal tensions) while promoting a paternalistic influence on the ‘natives’ (forcing the San back in time, away from modern conveniences such as medicine or higher education). This agenda is neither subtle, nor commendable.
Added to this, there is great imbalance between action and reflection, to the detriment of both. If a work requires action, this should be given enough weight, presence and progression. If it is a tome on introspection, then no action should be present to break it, except as anecdotal recollection. Costa seems unaware of this simple rule, introducing events he is unable, or unwilling to properly present, develop, and close. These situations, which meagre as they are seem quite promising, rather than help the rest of the book, simply show up the rest as meaningless filler.
This book could be salvaged, but it would require a lot of trimming of dialogues, and a lot more writing to flesh out the events – the actual turning points in character development.
On the surface, André Costa’s 'The Prodigal Priest' follows the African adventure of Father David Callaghan, a man of the robe who may have lost his faith. In fact, we are led through pages of Costa’s own philosophy, a social criticism of modern life and its spirituality, or lack thereof.
Following the added losses of his mentor, his mother, and his best friend (and first, never explored, love), and burdened with his own sense of inadequacy, Father Callaghan decides to go on a sabbatical. Drawn to the idea of finding prelapsarian innocence among the San people of the Kalahari, thus understanding how humans fell from grace, he decides to join an anthropological team in Namibia. There, he is enthralled by the notion of an ego-less society, as well as by the people he meets, most notably Marie, a sexually-active Finnish scientist; and Jack, a self-taught, ex-seminarian anthropologist. Cue in many introspective philosophical conversations on humanity, human evolution, the role of religion, and the decay of human values. Also, expect a cursory experience of San life, alongside poaching, sex, socioeconomic depression, interracial relationships, murder, surviving an accident-the desert-a violent night ambush.
The title gives the ending away, to be honest, leaving the reader no less baffled than the good son in the parable is by his father’s favouritism. Then again, it may have been intended to do so. The Prodigal Priest brings to mind the film ‘The Man from Earth’, with its flurry of ideas, lack of cohesion, as well as the underdeveloped moments of action.
Who will enjoy this
In style, Costa’s work may appeal to lovers of Stream of Consciousness literature. Its perpetual search of human truths through dialogue is slow, inciting more questions than presenting actions. More so, the language aims for erudition, requiring further thought.
Similarly, it could resonate with those disenchanted with modern culture. Its exaltation of the past cultures, of the dangers of the individualistic ego in a materialist society, matched by Callaghan’s increasing despair, provide a soothing mirror to those searching.
Who should give this a pass
'The Prodigal Priest' is not a book of action; thus, it will fail to engage the interest, let alone the sympathy, of any reader expecting such delivered. Moreover, it does not explore the San, the Kalahari, or the ancient survival skills in any fashion, despite introducing them.
On the other hand, it is not a sound philosophical, theological, scientific, etc. text, either. Anyone with a medium-to-strong background knowledge on any of the fields touched will be left dissatisfied, even frustrated. In the same vein, any reader with sensitivity to projects of colonial benefactor spirit will find this tome a trigger.
Conclusions and suggestions
I do not recommend this book. André Costa’s 'The Prodigal Priest' is an exercise in missionary pontification disguised as a journey into the depths of human interaction. It might make an alright indie film, as noted above, but as a book, it is sorely lacking.
Costa has clearly great knowledge, with which he peppers the tale. Most of that information given is irrelevant though (see the explanation of Herero clothing, or traditional Gaelic dishes), yet he leaves out much of what would actually be useful to understand the realities David Callaghan encounters in Namibia. Obviously, he aims at biasing the readers’ perspectives, glossing over the difficult issues (such as merely mentioning the political interracial and intertribal tensions) while promoting a paternalistic influence on the ‘natives’ (forcing the San back in time, away from modern conveniences such as medicine or higher education). This agenda is neither subtle, nor commendable.
Added to this, there is great imbalance between action and reflection, to the detriment of both. If a work requires action, this should be given enough weight, presence and progression. If it is a tome on introspection, then no action should be present to break it, except as anecdotal recollection. Costa seems unaware of this simple rule, introducing events he is unable, or unwilling to properly present, develop, and close. These situations, which meagre as they are seem quite promising, rather than help the rest of the book, simply show up the rest as meaningless filler.
This book could be salvaged, but it would require a lot of trimming of dialogues, and a lot more writing to flesh out the events – the actual turning points in character development.
October 22, 2018
I wanted very much to like this novel which touches on widely disparate cultures. Unfortunately, you can learn more about each culture by reading National Geographic or reading tourist guides online. The narrative is very slow-moving, often deadly-dull, and I had to force myself to plod onward. The ending came as no surprise--uninspiring as expected. Descriptions are poor to non-existent. For example, in one scene we are told that David, the main character, enjoyed the freshness of his surroundings. (But WHAT surroundings? Dry? Wet? Trees? Bushes? Raining? Cloudless? Flat? Hilly? -- You make up your own!) The characters do not speak like real people--they talk like they are reading from a dictionary or encyclopedia. Point of view frequently changes within paragraphs, leading to confusion. The characters are dull and poorly developed. If there is a plus side, the author seems to have had an editor who knows grammar and can spell. However, he really needed an editor who could tell him how to construct a novel. I'm in a generous mood, hence the three stars.
September 26, 2020
Interesting tale of a young Irish Catholic priest who is having a period of questioning humanity.
To find the answers he seeks, he goes off to Africa to interact with the San people in Nambia.
The experience is not what he expected with many twists and turns that cut his time there short.
Returning to Ireland, he has to work through things before he can finally discern whether to stay a priest or leave that world behind.
To find the answers he seeks, he goes off to Africa to interact with the San people in Nambia.
The experience is not what he expected with many twists and turns that cut his time there short.
Returning to Ireland, he has to work through things before he can finally discern whether to stay a priest or leave that world behind.
June 7, 2020
This was an interesting story of a priest who goes to Africa looking for answers. The brutal death of a childhood friend makes him question the future of the world. He wants to learn about the San people. They live simply and seem to be more content. It got a bit overwhelming with some of the philosophical discussions but was otherwise a good read.
June 16, 2020
Held my interest throughout
June 29, 2020
I liked the characters and the philosophical discussions that made me think. This doesn't rise to the top of my favorites, but I enjoyed reading it.
October 3, 2020
Interesting read. Makes you think. Difficult to follow at times.
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February 11, 2023Just got it and haven't read it yet.
July 25, 2021
This is a well written book with complex and (therefore) interesting characters. The book held my attention throughout. It is well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews