Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: This is one of the best Christian novels that I have ever read. While most novels about christianity seem content to meerly talk about the faith, Eli actually explores it. in many ways, this book reminded me of the the intelligence of C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce or Brian Caldwell's We All Fall Down, because like those novels, this one really made me feel like I had become a more AWARE Christian when i finished reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Bestseller Material
Review: Eli is typical of most bestseller kinds of material. The narrative is extremely good and keeps driving you throughout the pages. And then you get to the end and think, "Wait... Is that it?"When I finished reading this, I stopped and felt my way back through it and realized that it just felt hollow. It seemed like a shell of something real, and a fragile one at that. Were I to touch it, press on it just a bit, it would crack open, and I would see the void and emptiness beneath. There are some points where I did, admittedly, tear up, but they were few and based on a moment and not on the whole. It's an interesting concept, and, were it done exceedingly well, it would be startlingly powerful, but Myers just doesn't do that here. I don't see Jesus were he born 2000 years later. I see Eli, a miraculous and kind man. And it's just not enough.
Rating:
Summary: could have been better
Review: Since the synopsis has already been giving, I'm not going to repeat it... I liked the premise & what the author tried to do. Bring Jesus into the 21st Century, and I really liked that. It was cool & interesting to see what Jesus might have been like if He had come in our time. So that was cool. But I also found it a little confusing. The main character Conrad gets in a car wreck, & is in a coma. At the same time, his mind is in another parallel universe. I just think that was really odd. I would have like to have seen the character come back to his own universe and alive, mind and body. The author also doesn't go into much detail about why the character was thrown into this parallel world. In one scene, Conrad calls Eli "Jesus Christ", and then in another Eli acknowledges that he knows about the other world & Eli says that He created the parallel universes. That wasn't enough for me, I would have liked to have known more. It should have been more detailed. Its just weird. The flashbacks that his daughter Julia had about their estranged relationship, was annoying. The dialogue just kept repeating itself, and it was done too many times thoroughout the book. I don't mean no offense, but I just felt like the drama could've been much better, and the parallel universe could've been much better. I wish that the whole book had been written much better.
Rating:
Summary: Different in purpose from my expectations
Review: I bought this book with the expectation and hope that it would be a story that imagined what Christ and his life and ministry would have been like had he lived now, but instead it's a story that is basically Christ and his life merely superimposed onto a modern setting. This may be very useful for people who have trouble imagining Christ as a flesh and blood person, but I think for many Christians who are perhaps looking for a deeper understanding of how revolutionary his ministry really was, this might seem a little bit of a cardboard cut out of a story. I don't want to be too harsh. I think I just expected a different approach.
Rating: 
Summary: Reality Of Christ
Review: Summary of book:
Story surrounds journalist Conrad Davis living in southern California, cheated on wife, estranged from daughter Julia. An accident on the California highway sends him into a coma. While in a coma, he awakens in a parallel universe, same as ours, except for the fact that Jesus did not come to Earth 2,000 years ago, but today. And his name is Eli Shepherd. From witnessing Eli's birth in a laundry mat in the early 70s...then time traveling to present day in this parallel universe, where he becomes one of Eli's disciples, Conrad comes to the realization that he is empty. The book shifts from Conrad and other disciples following Eli across the U.S. in the parallel world, to Conrad lying in a coma, practically brain dead, in the this world, while daughter Julia, who has Power of Attorney to pull the plug on her dad's life, combats this decision. We see Eli performing miracles, telling parables and eventually making enemies of the religious elite, i.e. present-day Pharisees. While Conrad follows Eli, he becomes overwhelmed by how much love Eli shows to others despite any opposition or vocal abuse one sends his way.
In the present world, Conrad's life appears to be ebbing away, and Julia, who like her dad, left her spouse, is reminiscing about how her dad failed at his promises when she was younger, but still struggling whether to let the hospital take him off life support.
The book goes back and forth between these two worlds, with Conrad working out his faith, and belief in Eli, i.e. Jesus. Apparently the Lord has given him a chance even while in a coma to come to Him. Likes:
The concept of Jesus not being born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, but today in the U.S. and how the world would be different. Bill Myers parallels the story in the Bible to a present day fictional account. The book sent various emotional responses to me, ranging from love for others, to compassion and sadness for what Eli/Jesus went through on everyone's behalf. The story engrossed me. One scene in particular, I liked, was a tornado bearing down on where the disciples were hidden in a storm cellar in Kansas. Meanwhile, Eli is walking toward them, with the twister about 100 yards to his left, and Jake, who paralled, the disciple Peter, emerges from the storm cellar, and walks to Eli, keeping his eyes on him. As he draws closer, his eyes and focus shift from Eli to the tornado. The tornado starts to pick him up, then Eli grabs hold of him, and eventually the tornado dissipates. This of course, relates to the biblical account of Peter, walking on the water, and losing his faith and focus on Jesus, starts to sink. Dislikes:
The rush at the end when Eli is "crucified", and resurrectes on the third day. Felt that Bill Myers could have spent more time on this scene. Final Thoughts:
This book could be used as a witnessing tool, to those who love to read, but do not know Christ. The Bible, of course, is the first and foremost book, to go to for the way to salvation, but Eli, I believe, can help people think about their relationshop with God, in an easier to read story. The parallel universe theory must have come from Star Trek. Good job, Bill Myers.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting concept by a good fiction writer
Review: Bill Myers has a great plot going here: What would happen if Jesus Christ did NOT come two thousand years ago? What if he came to earth today...in this world...as we know it now? Of course, Bill Myers makes the concession in his preface, stating that the world as we know it would not even exist without Christ's existence. For instance, how do they measure time? A.D. and B.C. certainly won't work. But of course, there's absolutely no knowing what this world would be like without Christ's visit. So, Myers accepts this fact, and moves on. Introducing Conrad Davis. A successful news reporter who is studying the concept of parallel worlds for a news article. A theory exists that other worlds are out there, millions and trillions of them; each just a little like this one, and yet each a little different. One small decision may be made differently in this world, which causes a whole new history to be written. Suppose you arrive at an intersection. You turn left, and arrive home. But if you turn right, you crash into someone's car, and this person happens to be a city councilman. He misses a meeting as the result, and the counsel votes on something without him which changes the whole town's ordinance. There's no such thing as a small decision. And in one world, you turned left and got home, and in another you turned right the world split to accommodate for both actions. This is the theory that Myers operates on, and it works beautifully. Instead of fish and bread passed out for the Miraculous catch of fish, it's kids' meal burgers and fries. Instead of ministering to the tax collectors, "Eli" goes to a Playboy-type mansion. Instead of helping disciples catch fish, he helps them by tipping them off about a baseball pitch. It's a brilliant work, and certainly worth reading. My only complaint is that the characters are slightly under-developed...his descriptions are a little lacking, and his style of writing is rather terse and straight-forward. Otherwise, it's a great read! One question: If there ARE millions of worlds...which one is the real one?
Rating:
Summary: Eli
Review: What I had heard about Bill Myers was that he was a awesome writer. So after my grandma gave me this book I thought 'What the hay,' and began to read. In the begining it was kind of confusing and weird but after I got into it, things got cleared up. I gave it a 3 because while it was a well thought up book and was historically correct on the events that took place, to me it was not deserving enough to give a five but yet not so bad to give it a one, so I gave it a three. In my opinion I wouldn't waste my time on this book but would rather read other books by him because some of his other books are better.I would probably not read this book again.
Rating:
Summary: In Our World
Review: This is a great reminder of what Christ was is and will be. It helps to make Him real in our time. It is too easy to distance ourselves from "Bible stories" and babies in mangers. This book shoves Jesus back into our reality. I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: 3 Stories In 1
Review: Eli by Bill Myers is a pleasant look at the "what-if" scenario of "What if Jesus existed Today?"
Myers tackles this by inserting the events in the gospels of Matthew, John, and Luke and putting them
into a modern day setting. The events are pretty much the same, but the settings have changed. For example
instead of Jesus's "Sermon On The Mount" its more of "Sermon At Denny's". Instead of the miracle of the loaves of bread and fishes
we're treated to the miracle of feeding thousands from a bag of fries and hamburgers from the local non-descript McDonald's or Burger King. Does Myers succeed in retelling this story of Jesus with a modern flair? Yes and no. The story is really 3 stories in 1. Eli is pretty much told through the eyes of Conrad Davis. Divorced and somewhat alienated
from his daughter Julie, Conrad is your average workabholic T.V. journalist. His latest assignment
deals with talking to a scientist about alternate worlds and quantum physics. This sets the stage for what will rock Conrad's world.
A freak car accident hurls him into an alternate reality. A world were Jesus didn't exist 2000 years ago, but exists today. Conrad meets
up with his alternate version of his ex-wife. His ex in this world was born-again, but in the world that Conrad has been thrust into, she is
a follower of Eli. Eli is Jesus Christ in this reality. Plot 'A' in this book deals with a refreshing of the events marked in the gospel and adds dimension and life to Jesus. Myers does a great job of applying the teachings of Christ and how he handles his apostles in a 20th century setting.
Myers also did a wonderful job in putting life into his character of Eli and demonstrating Jesus's love towards us all.
The only problem I had was Myers never really set the stage enough to see really what kind of world does Conrad and Eli/Jesus live in during the 20th century.
How is the world different if Christ wasn't here 2000 years ago? Are people more hateful? Less hateful? Is language different? I can imagine some
aspect of language would be different since taking the Lord's name in vain is the most used exclamation. "Jesus Christ!" The world is never
really explored in depth here. I know that wasn't the point the author was trying to deliver, but I would like to see how Myer's would see the world without
Christ. Plot 'B' in Eli deals with Conrad and more importantly grace. God's grace to us. You see, Conrad isn't saved. In this world, his ex-wife
is saved. Conrad spends more time at work than with his family. His daughter Julie has probably taken the brunt of this issue, since she feels
alientated from him. By being tossed into this reality of a modern day Christ, Conrad is given an opportunity which many people don't take
advantage of. That is God's grace. God's grace in giving us the chance to ask for forgiveness. Grace to embrace Christ and turn from our sins.
Conrad is given this chance by following Eli around in this reality. Conrad sees all the miracles and listens to all the parables that Eli tells
to his followers. Yet, just by following the messiah around the country, does Conrad become saved? You'll have to read the book to find out. Plot 'C' deals with Conrad's daughter Juile. As I mentioned she is alientated from her father. Her story takes place in our present reality.
She deals with visiting her comatose father in the hospital, all the while having flashbacks to her childhood and how little time she had spent with
her father. Her story deals with the important aspect of forgiveness. How do you forgive? Forgiveness is an important point that Jesus has taught us.
We should always forgive. Not once, but a thousand times if need be. It is Julie's story that deals with this important lesson. All three plots tie together in an enthralling story by Bill Myers. I highly recommend to anyone interested in reading an innovative and compelling story.
Rating:
Summary: Challenge your comfort level & Sunday school Jesus
Review: This phenomenal book will shake you up and cause you to rethink how you see Jesus. It will challenge your commitment to Christ if you have made one, if not, it will challenge you to make one after truly seeing His compassion for and authentic understanding of YOU. This book does not water down who Christ claimed to be or skip over the most controversial things He said. You will better see how those who met Him in the flesh responded to Him and why. READ the INTRODUCTION!
| 
