Book: Conclave
Author: Robert Harris
Reviewer’s Instagram: booksandteawitherin
Photo Credit: booksandteawitherin
Original Book Review
Conclave follows through the eyes of Cardinal Lomeli and starts with the death of a pope, and the subsequent papal concave to elect the next one. Throughout the book you are presented with Lomeli’s struggles, both personal and professional and his dilemmas surrounding his faith, friendships, and morality. In the beginning we see him struggle through his faith, doubt in himself and his mental strength but he reconciles this and preservers through prayer.
The radical characters of Cardinal Tremblay and Cardinal Tedesco, the scandal surrounding Cardinal Adeyemi. The religious and cultural backgrounds of all characters was fascinating, although they follow the same faith, they don’t hold the same views and beliefs, which is something that struck me, the factions within the church due to culture and country. Benitez, this profound yet secretive character was interesting, and got much more interesting at the end where he becomes a much bigger part to the story than you realise. And later the final decision in the election of the new pope.
Throughout the book I found myself picking sides, rooting for specific characters, and deliberating who I would vote for and why.
This book was very interesting, and I commend Harris with how he has been able to depict the power politics within the Catholic Church and the effect it has on the rest of the world. The book was engaging and well written with a great insight into the operations of the Vatican and Church which is private and kept secret from the public. A gripping plot with complex characters, this story was fascinating and enlightening.
