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Rating: 
Summary: vert good
Review: Another fine book, by Jospeh Girzone. Some people critize his writng style, but in truth it's really good and easy to read. It's simplistic and in terms anyone could understand, which is wonderful. All the books in the series are well worth reading. They all rank up high on my list of favorite and mmost read books.
Rating:
Summary: vert good
Review: Another fine book, by Jospeh Girzone. Some people critize his writng style, but in truth it's really good and easy to read. It's simplistic and in terms anyone could understand, which is wonderful. All the books in the series are well worth reading. They all rank up high on my list of favorite and mmost read books.
Rating: 
Summary: Not As Good As Joshua
Review: I have enjoyed all of Father Girzone's Joshua books, but this one is a bit of a disappointment. It begins as an allegorical tale about nameless people who come to worship "the kingdom" with its rules and power structure, more than "the King," which we soon learn, is Jesus. Then the story seems to become barely fictionalized autobiography. "Francis" is a former priest who is now world-famous for his writings and teachings about Jesus, yet many in the church despise him, particularly those in the church power structure. The message is basically the same as that in the Joshua books--Jesus came to set us free from mindless rules and regulations, so that we would learn to love one another. But in this book the messenger is not Jesus, but (apparently) Girzone, fighting against a heartless church establishment. The writing is not polished, sometimes repetitive, and it wanders unpredictably between history and allegory. A good editor could have made the book more consistent and more coherent. I enjoyed the book, and it's easy enough reading, but not of the same quality as the Joshua books.
Rating: 
Summary: Appallingly narcissistic and pompous
Review: I have enjoyed all of Father Girzone's Joshua books, but this one is a bit of a disappointment. It begins as an allegorical tale about nameless people who come to worship "the kingdom" with its rules and power structure, more than "the King," which we soon learn, is Jesus. Then the story seems to become barely fictionalized autobiography. "Francis" is a former priest who is now world-famous for his writings and teachings about Jesus, yet many in the church despise him, particularly those in the church power structure. The message is basically the same as that in the Joshua books--Jesus came to set us free from mindless rules and regulations, so that we would learn to love one another. But in this book the messenger is not Jesus, but (apparently) Girzone, fighting against a heartless church establishment. The writing is not polished, sometimes repetitive, and it wanders unpredictably between history and allegory. A good editor could have made the book more consistent and more coherent. I enjoyed the book, and it's easy enough reading, but not of the same quality as the Joshua books.
Rating:
Summary: Appallingly narcissistic and pompous
Review: When I first realized that the "hero" of this book was none other than the author himself, I was sure it had to be a joke--or some sort of Christian parable that would be explained in the end. Alas, it was not so. Girzone uses the platform of this "novel" to crab about the friends, bishops, and church that neglected to shower him with adulation. In one scene, he actually pats himself on the back for making his own breakfast, even though he was a guest in someone's house and therefore, according to him, should have been waited on. In every chapter, he remarks on how wonderful it is that a VIP like him would deign to give speeches, etc. to his humble and awe-struck audiences. Astonishingly--given that he ditched (or was kicked out of) the Catholic priesthood and criticizes the hierarchy at every turn--he supports the notion that all ordained men are remarkable and should be treated like royalty. It's clear by the end that the writer is monomaniacally obsessed with himself and his noble life goals. I've never read anything like it. The only reason to buy this book would be to fund much-needed psychopharmaceuticals for its author.
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