This is another great book by Morris West. Jesus has come as Redeemer in the modern age. One of the things that I will always remember is the incident that gives the book it's name. The "clowns of God" are children who are mentally or physically handicapped. The French have given them that name and feel that these children are especially close to God's heart. Jesus pulls one of the children towards him and tells his followers that he knows that they want a sign that he is really the Messiah and

Four and a quarter stars. Published in 1981.This is one of Morris West's pope novels. It is a good read, an interesting story, with likeable and believable characters. The pope has had a vision of end times. This presents a dilemma for his fellow priests, as it is not acceptable for a pope to be also a prophet with a hotline to God. Rather than be forced from office, the pope resigns.The novel traces the journey of this pope and his friends in a world where terrorist acts are common and people w...

I'd heard this was better than Morris' first in the trilogy, The Shoes of the Fisherman. Perhaps because I stopped and started it so often, it failed to capture me the way his first one did. Once I got back into it, however, then I was hooked. I especially liked when it switched vantage points and I loved the ending. Someday I'm going to try reading it over again from start to finish without all the breaks and see if I don't get more out of it.

I swear West must have written this book with me in mind. It switched a light on in my head that will never go off again. Thank you, Morris.Not only is it a terrific story with well-crafted protagonists, it's also a profound look into human nature.Be prepared for a stunning paradigm shift in the closing sequence.

I wish I could pinpoint what about Morris West’s writing draws me in as far as it does. I can see what I consider flaws in his writing, the flatness of his characters, for example, his lecturing mode, and how he represents his female characters – not with disrespect exactly, more like they are children that have surprised him with their talents (granted, some of this is due to the time in which he wrote, in some ways he could even be considered enlightened). It drives me crazy, annoys the hell o...

A good friend who shares reading tastes loaned me this book. She said it made an impression when she read it in the 80s. The novel still makes quite an impact. It begins: "In the seventh year of his reign, two days before his sixty-fifth birthday, in the presence of a full consistory of Cardinals, Jean Marie Barette, Pope Gregory XVII, signed an instrument of abdication, took off the Fisherman's ring, handed his seal to the Cardinal Camerlengo and made a curt speech of farewell." The short good-...

I was very disappointed after reading this book. I expected a lot of religious philosophy but instead it turned out to be a debate as to whether between the concept of Consummation and Continuity. It was one's man search to find out the truth in the pope's prophecy of the end times. If one is not careful and is weak in faith then the book can easily shake the ground on which he or she stands. Maybe the first one is better if only I could find it.

I am loving this book by Morris West. He wrote it years ago but it's basic premise is timeless. He writes of a Pope who understands that people who have Downs Syndrome are gifted and are bringing a special gift to the world for those who are open to learn from people with this giftedness. Further review, when I'm finished reading this, so far, wonderful read.I'm not Roman Catholic, however it is interesting to get a bit of an insider view (just a tad) of some of the goings on in the Vaticanl. Wi...

A journey Through PhilosophyThe Clowns of God by Morris West, is not your average book. This book delves deep into the depths of the philosophy of religion, politics, corruption, and what is truly moral. From the start, a pope faces the destructive decision of wether or not to proclaim the second coming of Christ, which would cause panic across the world, and possibly another Schism in the church. Morris West keeps the reader enthralled from beginning to end with plot twists. One of these plot t...

Everyone remembers Morris West for his book " The Shoes of the Fisherman," a wonderfully written book about a new pope who revitalizes the Catholic Church and rfeinstates "humility" to the Church. It is very much more interesting in light of the new Pope Francis. It was also made into a riveting, lush, and pertinent motion picture starring Anthony Quinn at his best. However "The Clowns of God" which is grouped into what they now call West's "Vatican Trilogy" with "Shoes," this book and "Fisherma...

I really liked this book UP UNTIL the end. (I would give the first 4/5 of the book five stars but the last 1/5... not even one!) The characters were very intricately written and the relationships and/or encounters between them so real and full of meaning. There were powerful struggles with faith and doubt in terms of human to human relationships, individual to institution relationships and human to divine. Each character represented a diverse and interesting reaction to the inevitability of the

As a sister to a challenged individual, I found this book insulting. As a Protestant/Christian, the story was ok, but not something that would have kept my attention if I didn't have to read it for my book club. This book reminds me of overly greasy pizza the morning after: it'll get you through if you have to have something - but it's not something you really want to have on an ongoing basis.

I read this because it's allluded to in I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. I was stunned by the thematic similarities and the message.

"The Clowns of God" is Morris West’s 1981 book revolving around the Catholic Church and its Seat in the Vatican. This book is considered the second volume of what's been dubbed his "Vatican Trilogy." In this tale, the reigning Pope (Jean Marie Barette) is forced to abdicate, after he reveals he has had a private revelation of the Last Days and the Second Coming. The Pope has even gone to the extent of drafting an encyclical laying out his thoughts on these two subjects. With the College of Cardi...

So.This is what I spent the last 20 years looking for.I started this book as a teenager, I'm not sure any longer why I couldn't finish it then, probably lost or got torn or something. I just remember I was hooked and had to finish it. When I eventually got a Kobo account some 2 years ago, it was one of the first books I looked for on kobostore. It was there for 10 dollars, so I kept it on my to-read shelf, until Kobo took it off their shelf last year or so, so I couldn't buy it from them eventua...

I think this is a wonderful book. I never tire of re-reading it.

A Pure Challenge of Understanding The Clowns of God, by Morris West, was a roller coaster of emotions and confusion. Right off the bat you find out that the Pope during this time received a vision from God about the end of the world, or the second coming of Jesus. West fills this story with twists and turns that will keep any reader on their toes. The amount of trauma and violence that occurs in this book is baffling. From shootings to the CIA planting bombs, this story is not for the faint hear...

this book was a great find. based around the turn of the century (2000) and having to do with Catholocism should not turn you off. this is an honest and intelligent look at religion as a whole wrapped up in a riveting novel. i am a lapsed catholic who was blessed to learn from a liberal parish priest fed up with the structure, one who just wanted to focus on the love and charity of religion; a well known monsignor who was much more right wing and a rule follower while equally showing love and ch...

I found this book a decent and interesting read, but I was never riveted in my seat while reading. Nor had I ever had one of those 'can't-wait-to-get-home-to-my-book' moments. The characters – the way they're drawn and developed, the setting they inhabit (late 20th century Europe) is very clearly dated. Many times when reading a truly great novel, the setting and the feel-of-the-moment, no matter whether the story is set in the past, present or future, has a tangible sense of Timelessness. This