The Book Against God

The Book Against God follows Thomas Bunting, a philosophy PhD student in London who struggles with faith, truth-telling, and his relationship with his father, a beloved Anglican priest in northern England. Thomas maintains secret notebooks filled with arguments against the existence of God, which he calls his "Book Against God" or "BAG." His marriage to pianist Jane Sheridan shows signs of strain as Thomas avoids work on his thesis, fails to pay bills, and retreats further into his private philosophical musings. The tension between Thomas's intellectual rejection of religion and his deep connection to his faithful father forms the core narrative conflict. The story centers on Thomas's return to his childhood village when his father falls ill, forcing him to confront his family relationships and long-held grievances. His obsessive note-taking and philosophical arguments serve as both refuge and barrier as he navigates personal crisis. This debut novel explores the intersection of faith and doubt, examining how religious belief shapes family bonds and personal identity. Wood's background as a literary critic informs the book's careful treatment of big questions about truth, deception, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Readers found the philosophical and theological arguments compelling but criticized the slow pacing and unsympathetic protagonist. Many noted Wood's sharp wit and intellectual depth in exploring faith and atheism. Liked: - Smart handling of religious doubt and philosophical questions - Quality of prose and attention to detail - Complex father-son relationship dynamics Disliked: - Main character Thomas comes across as petulant and self-absorbed - Plot moves too slowly with limited action - Too much focus on internal monologue versus story progression - Several readers couldn't finish the book due to pacing issues Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 3.2/5 (40+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Brilliant writing trapped in a meandering story" - Goodreads reviewer "The theological arguments shine but the narrative disappoints" - Amazon review "Like listening to a clever but tiresome friend complain" - LibraryThing review

The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín A first-person narrative challenges religious orthodoxy through an alternative perspective of biblical events, mirroring Wood's exploration of faith and doubt.

Quarantine by Jim Crace The story reimagines Jesus's forty days in the wilderness, questioning religious truth and human nature in ways that parallel Wood's philosophical inquiries.

The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by José Saramago This retelling of Jesus's life through a skeptical lens examines the burden of faith and divine responsibility, echoing themes in Wood's work.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson A minister's letter to his son grapples with questions of belief, family legacy, and moral responsibility in the context of religious faith.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky The philosophical debates between faith and reason unfold through complex family dynamics, reflecting Wood's interest in religious doubt and familial relationships.

🔷 James Wood wrote The Book Against God (2003) while working as a prominent literary critic for The New Republic and The Guardian, making this his first and only novel to date. 🔷 The protagonist Thomas Bunting's crisis of faith mirrors some of Wood's own experiences, as the author grew up in an evangelical Christian household before becoming an atheist in his teens. 🔷 The book's title refers to the protagonist's secret notebook filled with arguments against religion, which he calls his "B.A.G." (Book Against God), mirroring a long tradition of philosophical works challenging religious belief. 🔷 Wood's expertise in music (he trained as a classical pianist) is reflected in the novel through Jane, the protagonist's wife, who is a professional pianist. 🔷 The novel explores the complex relationship between truth-telling and lying, drawing inspiration from Augustine's "Confessions" and its examination of religious doubt and personal honesty.