BOOK REVIEW (actually more of my experience with a book):
Until I Needed the Song: The Story of That Time God and Jesus Took an Angel Named Abigail On a Road Trip
by Steven Case
Received as an ebook from Speakeasy for review.
“What if God is a being of unlimited sense?
And we simply did not understand all that God is
because God is beyond taste, touch, smell, sight and sound.” – Introduction
Very interesting!
But not the premise of the story.
“Or what if God is an old guy with a beard?’
And there it is, the traditional image of God.
Now, once I released my disappointment, there were things I liked.
Firstly, the loving and pastorally sensitive approach to suicide.
“Am I going to Hell?” Thomas asked.
“No”, God said, standing. He put his hand on Thomas’ back.
“I think you are just coming out of it.”
Secondly, tough questions are raised, like:
why bad stuff happens,
why God permits suffering,
and why God seems to pick on certain people.
There are no simple answers to tough questions
but Case opens the space to air them.
I like this.
Thirdly, I love his humour.
When God is on Earth and wishing to remain anonymous,
God introduces Himself as “Avery Mann.”
Exclusive. But amusing.
There were descriptions when I laughed, out loud.
Fourthly, there is no doubting his imagination.
I loved the scene where the prayers come “up.”
“The edge was constantly alive with activity….
Some prayers seems to have great difficulty, as if they weighed more than the others.
The struggle inside was evident.” – Chapter 4
Is this a story meant to be analyzed deeply for theology?
I’d write a very different review if I answered yes.
I do hope the author might turn his considerable gift of imagination, humour and pastoral caring
to another book exploring the reality that “God is a not a boy’s name.”
– Social media meme on International Women’s Day (The God Article.)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. #SpeakeasyUntilINeededtheSong
