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I am John I am Paul: A Story of Two Soldiers in Ancient Rome (2012)

af Mark Tedesco

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I am John, I am Paul A Story of Two Soldiers in Ancient Rome by Mark Tedesco
Was surprised from the start of this book as it's easy to read and I found it interesting and educational at the same time
Starts with a quote from Aristotle and summarizes the relationship John and Paul have.
Dedication page and table of contents included. Words and phrases used in the context lead to footnotes at the end of the chapter where the author explains what they mean.
Story starts out with John and he's on his way to join the Legion to fight for the emperor. He soon meets up with Paul and he's assigned to the same area so they bunk together.
Before long they can finish one another's sentences and know how the other feels before even talking. Like learning about how they prepare for battles and why they are fighting.
Because they are so busy with the Legion they don't have time to go back home to their farms to see their relatives and miss memorable times with them.
One fascinating mission was to take the emperor's daughter to her father's location and she just wants to be treated like anybody else-no special treatment.
Love how they hide out on the lands going undetected. Love hearing of the battles and fights they go through protecting her and overcoming others when there is only a handful of them vs. hundreds of others.
Cool schemes and strategic moves they make-good for me to use when I play army guys with my grandson...
Love space John's sister has made for them to gather when they are able. Politics play a big part in this story and battles.
Love the characters they meet along the way and take under their arms. Love hearing of camaraderie and fun times guys have.
A new religion finds them at odds with one another and sometimes others can't comprehend what is happening.
Didn't see the ending happening as it did, twists and turns along the way make this an interesting read.
Acknowledgements and studies, references, sources and endnotes are all listed at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion. ( )
  jbarr5 | Apr 21, 2020 |
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel -- a mixture of fact and fiction -- but I was pleasantly surprised. From the cover I supposed this would be strictly action/adventure; but it turned out be the story of two Christian martyrs, John and Paul, rather obscure soldier-saints, in the 4th century, martyred under Julian. Most of the novel concentrates on their life in the legion, their meeting and subsequent deep friendship and bond with each other. This lasts through their entire lives in spite of their often being separated by long distances; they were like brothers. They rescued Constantina, daughter of Emperor Constantine, from abduction by Licinius, Constantine's rival in an exciting episode. In gratitude, the Emperor grants them a home in Rome, close to the palace. The story details the men's spiritual quest; although worshipers of Mithras, they feel something is lacking and finally become followers of the Way of the Christos. After John's personal remembrances in his unfinished manuscript, his beloved sister, Fulvia, details their beheading in their own home.

I was enthralled from the very first paragraph: "It is so dim, even with the one lamp that burns, that I can scarcely see my own writing, or even my hands. I sit here in a small cell, in what part of Rome I do not know. There are sounds far away ... but here I am, a prisoner awaiting judgment. What events have come together to lead me here? What will come to pass? Where is Paul? What is happening to him?" It was hard to put the book down.

The writing was a bit stiff and stodgy but the book inspirational but not maudlin. The book was unforgettable in its emphasis on friendship, loyalty, and commitment. I got a wonderful insight into John's personality and emotions, to a lesser extent into those of Paul and Fulvia, also an Egyptian girl, Merytre, whom John befriends while posted to Alexandria and with whom he discusses philosophical and religious ideas, which start him on his quest for peace of mind. Today, in Rome, the church of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo commemorates them.

Highly recommended. ( )
  janerawoof | Jan 6, 2018 |
I agreed to read and review Mark Tedesco's book, I Am John, I Am Paul: A Story of Two Soldiers in Ancient Rome, because I have a certain degree of interest in the history and culture of Ancient Rome but have only had the opportunity to read a few stories set in that era. The book got off to a rather slow start for me, partly because the first few chapters didn't really draw me in very well and partly because of the writing style. We discover in the opening paragraphs that John is in prison and he's basically starting at the beginning and writing down an accounting of his life. Therefore, it's written in more of a journal or memoir style. It tends to skim over the surface of John's life, hitting all the high points, and in general, it's an interesting and adventurous journey. However, it doesn't delve too deeply into his feelings, nor does it go into great detail with regards to most events. He often skips quickly through time, jumping over days, weeks, or even months. It's written in such a way as to emulate the feel of sitting down with a friend and having him regale you with his life story. This made it very difficult for me to get into at first, because it's pretty much all telling and no showing. I primarily read fiction to escape into another world for a while, to live alongside the characters, which to some extent I was able to do with this story. However, I also like to immerse myself in their experiences, feeling what they feel and understanding how they think, and I didn't really get this kind of reading experience with this book. I will admit though, that around Chapter 4 or 5, when John and Paul strike out on their own to rescue Constantine's kidnapped daughter, things started to pick up a little. I gradually became more and more invested in the story, which is why I was able to give it four stars in the end.

After finishing the book, I did a bit of research, and discovered that this is a biographical fiction, inspired by the lives of Sts. John and Paul. There's apparently enough of a historical record to know that these two men were indeed Roman soldiers, who were eventually martyred for their Christian faith and were later granted sainthood by the Catholic church. Their remains are buried in their own home, over which the Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo was later erected. These underground areas were rediscovered in the late 19th century by the rector of the Basilica, who was searching for the tomb of the martyrs. I've seen some of the photographs of this underground area, and it's quite impressive. I can see why Mark Tedesco might have been inspired to write about it and these men.

That said though, because of the telling and not showing style of the writing, I can't say that I got a strong sense of who John and Paul were. We learn quite a bit more about John than Paul, because he is the first-person narrator of the entire book, with the exception of the last chapter. We learn that he is a loyal and skillful soldier, who is a leader of men and who follows orders even when being treated unjustly. He's also brave and physically strong. He loves his family, particularly his mother and sister, and misses them when he's stationed far away. John is also a man of faith and a spiritual seeker. He initially follows the teachings of the Roman god, Mithra, but he still feels an empty space in his life and is searching for something more. Most importantly, we also know that John shares a deep friendship with his fellow soldier, Paul. Except for three years when John was stationed in Egypt, the two men are pretty much inseparable. They do most things together and after earning the gratitude and favor of Emperor Constantine for rescuing his daughter, which included a prominent home, they also lived together. While there are a couple of very subtle remarks that could be taken as there being more between these two men than mere friendship, this part of the story is left pretty ambiguous. While I don't think it's necessarily important what the exact nature of their relationship was, it's obvious that they were at least best friends and brothers of the heart. Where I kind of had a problem though was in understanding exactly how they came to be so close. I was willing to accept that their friendship was a fact, but since the author doesn't delve into feelings and emotions, showing how that friendship came about, I simply didn't grasp the why of it.

I enjoyed the parts where John and Paul rescue Constantina, and I especially enjoyed the parts where they begin to learn of and follow the new Way of the Christus. I've always had an interest in early church history and the beginnings of Christianity, so that part drew me in more than some of the others. I also liked that the inspirational message is present, but not in any way overpowering. I can tell that Mark Tedesco's background in history served him well in writing this story too. He even includes several endnotes, which while not unheard of, are definitely unusual for a work of fiction. The fact that he piqued my curiosity sufficiently to make me want to look things up on my own says something as well. The lack of emotional engagement, however, left me feeling distant from his characters. If he had drawn out their humanity more and made me feel what they were feeling, I could easily see this book having keeper-status potential. The book is also free of anything potentially offensive. It has no bad language, no sensuality, and considering that the two main characters are soldiers, even the violence is kept at a minimum, so IMHO, it would be appropriate for most readers. Even without the emotional attachment I would have liked to see, I'm willing to recommend I Am John, I Am Paul to readers who are interested in the history of Ancient Rome or early Christianity, as long as they don't mind a more journalistic style of writing.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )
  mom2lnb | Jun 10, 2015 |
The story of the friendship between two Roman soldiers who become Christian martyrs in the 4th century AD.

The story is narrated by John. The author has given him a good, strong, plain voice which makes the reader feel they know him and keep turning the pages to hear more of his story.

However, I found the story of the actual martyrdom unconvincing, and despite the author's endnote on his sources, have my doubts about it as a historical event since we usually get the impression that there was no active persecution of Christians under Julian beyond the withdrawal of privileges the clergy had been given under Constantine and his sons and the prohibition on Christians teaching the study of pagan authors. ( )
  Robertgreaves | Mar 18, 2015 |
I Am John I Am Paul by Mark Tedesco is a short historical fiction that recreates in modern, accessible language, the life and times of Ionnes Fulvis Marcus Romanus and Paulus. They were Roman soldiers from the 4th century who forged a life long friendship.

Told from John's point of view, we follow his life as a Roman soldier as he is shipped across the empire, desiring only to stay close to his family and his friend Paul. As a lifer he is shipped to all the different corners, including a lengthy and frustrating stay in Egypt.

Although the book was pitched as a gay novel that didn't strike me as the overt point. It's really more about life in the military and the problems of poor leadership, hazing among the ranks, and the same sorts of themes you'd see in any contemporary war novel. That's not to say there's nothing between the two men, it's just understated. Really the relationship can be read between the lines but it's not out there, screaming for the reader's attention. ( )
  pussreboots | Mar 26, 2014 |
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tilføjet af gsc55 | RedigerGLBT Reviews, John "Mack" Freeman (Jul 2, 2014)
 
tilføjet af gsc55 | RedigerKit Moss Reviews (Jul 9, 2013)
 
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