Thanks to João Cerqueira for information about his novel Jesus and Magdalene, published by Line by Lion Publications in July 2016. It is available for order at Amazon.
The novel won the silver medal at the 2015 Latino Book Awards with the original title A segunda vinda de Cristo à Terra.
The book has 66,000 words and is divided in three parts:
- I. Corn – GMO and radical ecology
- II. Resort – Corrupt politicians and the destruction of natural resources
- III. Race – Racial clashes
The novel addresses issues of critical interest in discussions on the problems of today’s world:
- Is the food that we eat safe?
- Are governments protecting the environment?
- Why there are so many racial and religious conflicts?
Synopsis
Jesus returns to earth. After meeting activist Magdalene, who is fighting for a better world, he becomes embroiled in three problematic situations.
He meets an extremist ecological group, which is plotting to destroy a maize plantation it believes to be genetically modified. Then, he observes the rise up against a tourist development that is to be built in a forest reserve. Finally, he witnesses an armed conflict between blacks and gypsies.
Along this journey, he meets a series of characters: the ecologists already mentioned, a priest who forces him to take confession, a corrupt local politician, unscrupulous contractors, a police commander forced to play Pilate, the inhabitants of run-down neighbourhood, a wizard who solves all the problems, and a black boy and a gypsy girl in love (Romy and Julian).
However, although he limits himself to accompanying Magdalene attempting only to pacify those on bad terms, even then Jesus is unable to escape the fury of mankind.
And only the con man–Professor Kacimba–will recognise him.
Using irony and sarcasm, the Second Coming of Jesus to Earth broaches recent phenomena of social and political conflict.
Excerpts of the novel were published in Ragazine, Queen Mob’s, Modern Times Magazine, Saturday Night Reader, Foliate Oak Literary, Linguistic Erosion, Calamities Press, Cleaver Magazine, and others.
