Eli

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad for Religious Fiction
Review: Conrad Davis is a TV journalist whose life appears to be good on the outside. Still, the competitive nature of his profession and his own internal drive had him continuously pushing for the next and best assignment. However, this also led to some problems in his past that he never really dealt with: divorce from his wife, Suzanne, and estrangement from his daughter, Julia. The latest assignment he hoped to pursue involved allegations by a scientist that he could prove the existence of parallel universes. However, on the way back from an interview of the scientist, he was involved in a fiery car crash . . . . From which he woke in a completely different life. He caught a ride with a couple young kids who looked like the jumped out of the 60's, and ended up at a cheap motel where he witnessed the birth of a newborn child, Eli. Years later he runs into Eli again, and witnesses many miracles that push him beyond all his former beliefs.

Mr. Myers really did a fantastic job of taking Jesus' miracles and stories from the New Testament, and setting them in present day. (FYI, the crux of the story is that in this alternate universe, Jesus was never born, and "Eli" is born in the 20th Century.) For example, the men that Eli chose to be his 12 disciples closely mirrored the diversity in the men Jesus chose, including ones with whom most people would never wish to associate. The only real "problem" I saw in the story was the overriding fact that today's society has clearly been influenced by Christianity. And it was difficult for me to see how a parallel universe/world could have developed so similarly if that belief system had never existed before. Additionally, it appears that even in fiction, the questions that many of us face regarding faith and belief in God still cannot be answered easily.

Rating:
Summary: What is the real Jesus really like?
Review: Do you want to find out what the real Jesus is like? Do you have trouble relating to external trappings that have been placed around the person of Jesus? Do you want to know what it would have been like to be with him and be his friend? What would it be like if he visited 21st century America? What would he say to you if you could walk and talk with him? Do you want to know what it would be like for Jesus to come to earth today? Then this book is FOR YOU!!!
For me, this novel captures more of the heart, love and character of Jesus than any other fictional book I have ever read or movie I have ever seen. The book expressed Jesus' story in a very real way which I could understand and relate to. So much so, that I wept when I read it, even though it is fiction. If you want to learn about Jesus without having to wade through man-made religious trappings, this book will help you understand what his life on earth was really like by translating his story and circumstances into modern terms and settings. I give this book my very highest recommendation.

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: DON'T PASS THIS BOOK UP!
Review: Extremly Inspiring. Riveting.
The only book I wasn't able to put down!

Bill Myers really captures Jesus and puts him in a modern setting it is so on cue, so realistic. I didn't feel like it was someone trying to conjure up what Jesus would be like if he hadn't walked the earth today. I didn't feel like Bill Myers was trying to be "hip", he was telling it like it is (just like Jesus did!.)It gets you thinking and wanting to know more about Jesus, wanting to the read the bible more to parallel parts in the book (it did for me!) It really brought everything to life for me! This is why I call this book inspiring!

This book is well worth the 10$ or whatever you spend on it (I paid $6.99 soft cover from a local christian bookstore).

This book is a great gift/read for anyone of I would say age 11-any!!! It's very open to different audiences.

Rating:
Summary: An Easy & Eye Opening Read, I'm A Better Person For It...
Review: First, forget the overblown, wordy, and tedious "Left Behind" series. If you want inspiration in print, look no further than this book (or any by Myers for that matter). The character development is excellent. By the end of the books, you feel like you know the characters personally. The messages presented here are clear and not preachy like the "Left Behind" books. Very inspirational and wonderful at putting old religious ideas in a modern context.
A must read.





Rating:
Summary: A thoughtprovoking read that dares to tick off its readers
Review: I am NOT a big fan of Christian fiction. A lot of it is hopelessly goody-goody..afraid to ever deal with REAL emotion. Afraid to admit the nastiness that often lurks underneath the facade of Christians as they struggle to slowly become more like Jesus and less like themselves.

This book rang true for me for the most part. I didn't cringe at the dialogue and plotlines. Myers here imagines that Jesus is born NOW in present-day America as "Eli". I liked that Myer's take on Jesus included Him overturning the "Jesus junk" (trinkets with some Christian symbol or Bible verse placed carelessly on them to make them 'holy') at the Christian theme park. It's the type of thing I would easily envision Jesus doing today. His Jesus was also difficult..asking seemingly impossible..or inconvenient things in order to be a follower. The real Jesus was like that, too, IMHO.

This was a gripping read...highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: I liked the story and it made me look at Jesus story in a different way. Very good attempt.

Rating:
Summary: Jesus said that? -- Yep
Review: I must admit to being a little skeptical about this book before reading it, but I enjoy Bill Myers' writing, so I bought it. I'm certainly glad I did. Myers succeeds brilliantly in waking the reader up to Jesus' life and ministry. For someone who grew up in the church, this is almost a must-read. I (and I would expect most people) have a lot of pre-conceived notions and ideas about Jesus that would make a lot of His claims sound perfectly reasonable. But coming out of someone else's mouth, they sound absolutely ludicrous (unless you believe it). Not only does this show what people must have thought of Jesus 2000 years ago, but it also illustrates what non-believers today must think of Jesus and those who follow Him.

Entertaining yes, but even more thought-provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: It is a shame that Myers doesn't write fiction as well as he does screenplays (notably the wonderful McGee and Me series.) This book was more disappointing than even his religious sci fi.

Conrad Davis slips into a parallel universe where Christianity hasn't happened yet and a new messiah named Eli is born in a laundry room in Santa Monica. Somehow the world had evolved as if Christianity had occurred however: hotel rooms have Bibles including only the Old Testament, not Talmudic tracts, the non-Jewish characters do not worship Greek gods but are monotheists, there are crystal cathedrals and evangelical theme parks celebrating Old Testament figures and a monotheist God- but they are certainly not Jewish. Did the Reformation happen anyway?

While the idea of a Messiah ploped down in contemporary life has potential, this book doesn't achieve it. The concept is half-baked and the interspersing between realities and memories is confusing. None of the characters is fleshed out- maybe Myers is better when he writes for actors who can add personality.

It's a shame. In religious fiction Myers is certainly no Madelline L'Engle and not even a C.S. Lewis.

Rating:
Summary: Explore This Parallel Universe!
Review: Reading a Bill Myers novel is like wading into a pond that's deeper than you expect. His writing, though simple, is fast-paced and effective. So long as I set aside my "Elements of Grammar" book, I'm able to enjoy his creative premises and engaging plots.

In this, his fourth adult novel and my favorite to date, Myers explores the idea of a parallel universe very like our own society where Jesus/Eli has just arrived on the scene. A media man, Conrad Ellis, is thrust into this parallel universe by a life-threatening car accident. As his family gathers in one universe and weighs important issues, Conrad lives life in the parallel universe as a follower of Eli.

Eli is a noncompromising person who shows love and grace and a leaning toward humor. He leads a group of followers across the America, preaching and teaching his gospel message. Of course, he is not without detractors, particularly the religious leaders of the day. Eli is a threat to their status quo.

Myers cleverly works in Biblical parables and miracles. Eli's dialogue directly parallels Jesus's words at times without sounding outdated. I was mildly disappointed by the depiction of Jake/Peter's denial, and I would've liked more of Eli's personal interaction after his resurrection, but overall Myer's captures the gist of the Gospels in a powerful way.

"Eli" works on most levels and definitely made me consider what our collective reaction would've been if Jesus had arrived in our present culture. Although some reviewers have noted the discrepancies with A.D. (anno domino) dating, Myers never actually dates anything in the parallel universe; at only one time does Conrad assign a date in his own mind to the clothing and styles of the hippie generation.

Yes, Conrad is slow to recognize certain parallels, but for the story's sake he advances slowly. In this manner, Myers is able to take the reader through a similar heart change--and therein lies this novel's power.