Cuerpo divino es un personaje misterioso, especie de mesías que llega a un pequeño pueblo rural y va cambiando la vida de las personas con las que se relaciona.

[Dan Currier]
"Ecco, è come se tutti quelli che conosco, o quasi, parlassero una lingua che io ignoro, o usassero parole di una lingua che non ho mai imparato. E loro – voi – tutti voi vi capite al volo, e questo io lo vedo, ma è come se io avessi perso il vostro treno." (pp.90-91)
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"[...] ho scoperto che non viviamo in un mondo dove alle persone importa che qualcosa sia "vero" o "non vero". Sarebbe meglio, ma non è così. Non è questione di verità, ma di ciò che dice la gente, e di come si fa a farla parlare e, soprattutto, del perché dice certe cose." (p.139)

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[RECENSIONI]
"Godbody" Theodore Sturgeon e il suo Dio hippy, Dianella Bardelli, Cronache letterarie, 26 gennaio 2018 https://www.cronacheletterarie.com/2018/01/26/godbody-theodore-sturgeon/
Se è di Sturgeon bisogna leggerlo, Daniele Barbieri, La Bottega del Barbieri, 21 febbraio 2017 https://www.labottegadelbarbieri.org/se-e-di-sturgeon-bisogna-leggerlo/ ( )

This startling book is about what happens when one instance of the Second Coming (Godbody makes it clear that he does this on a regular basis, without public fanfare) consists primarily of the message "love one another" and the re-institution of Agape Feasts, with the healing of sexual wounds as a necessary first step before the rest can take place. It is not science fiction. If you don't believe in the Divine, you could categorize it as Magical Realism. I consider it a Christian myth about sacred sexuality.

Some people don't like the explicitness, but to me it seemed necessary because each person's relationship with sex and their past experiences with it, including their wounds and/or shame, were key to understanding their current situation. And the differences between the startlingly powerful, intimate and joyous sex first experienced by the Curriers sets up the contrast not only to their own past but to the situations of others.

One could accuse Sturgeon of oversimplifying life by portraying a community in which everything comes back to sex, but if you think of this book as a myth rather than a novel it makes it easier to accept. And let's face it: a lot of peoples' issues are rooted in sex, especially sexual wounds, shame, fear, and loneliness.

The other aspect is that of Godbody's utter compassion and acceptance. It doesn't matter what anyone has done in the past. Godbody accepts them utterly, loves them, wants them to be whole and healthy, but doesn't force anything on them. As another reviewer noted below, just being listened to with complete focus and acceptance is healing in itself.

"Godbody" is not about is free love, despite what some other reviewers have said. Godbody the character does not encourage or prompt people to have sex with everyone and anyone. In fact, some people might label him conservative, since it's fairly clear that all the sex takes place between couples who apparently are going to remain focused on each other. (The one exception is a single woman who makes love with Godbody but does not start trying to seduce the other men later.) Instead, what is portrayed is an Edenic, innocent intimacy, where characters are naked, but without stirring inappropriate lust in others, and married/committed couples become happier in their monogamy.

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely! But it needs to be approached with an open mind and a certain level of spiritual and sexual maturity if you're going to fully appreciate it.
( )

Unique, beautifully written. Lots to think about. ( )

In the true spirit of a sixties appropriation of the Jesus story; all you need is love man, and everybody get naked.
I loved it. ( )