The Testament of Mary

July 23, 2012
Tóibín (Brooklyn) has chosen Jesus’ mother as the narrator of his poignant reimagining of the last days of Christ. Mary doesn’t think her son is the son of God; in fact, she’s convinced that he’s simply running with the wrong crowd, “Something about the earnestness of those young men repelled me... the sense that there was something missing in each one of them.” But when she recounts the story of Lazarus’s return from the grave, she presents no other explanation than that of his sisters, that Jesus was the one who brought him back. At the wedding at Cana, she sees Lazarus for herself and finds that “he was in possession of a knowledge that seemed to me to have unnerved him; he had tasted something or seen or heard something which had filled him with the purest pain....” This beautiful novella turns on who or what Mary should believe about her son’s life and death—and on a mother’s grief: “I saw that once again he was trying to remove the thorns that were cutting into his forehead and the back of his head and, failing to do anything to help himself, he lifted his head for a moment and his eyes caught mine.” Agent: Rogers, Coleridge & White.

Starred review from November 25, 2013
Meryl Streep takes on one of her biggest roles to date, voicing the mother of Jesus Christ in this audio edition of Tóibín’s novel. As Mary, Streep’s voice reflects the tragedy that befell Jesus at the hands of the Romans. Her tone is one of regret and loss, but her performance also captures Mary’s loyalty, steadfastness, and dedication. Though Mary wants nothing to do with the disciples who pen Christ’s story, she cannot help but reminisce about the past. Streep is the perfect choice to bring Mary to life, and the result is an engaging listening experience. A Scribner hardcover.