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The Book of Joby
The Book of Joby is an epic fantasy complete in one volume.
Lucifer and the Creator have entered, yet again, into a wager they've made many times before, but this time, the existence of creation itself is balanced on the outcome. Born in California during the twilight yearsof a weary millennium, nine year old Joby Peterson dreams of blazing like a bonfire against the gather...more
Lucifer and the Creator have entered, yet again, into a wager they've made many times before, but this time, the existence of creation itself is balanced on the outcome. Born in California during the twilight yearsof a weary millennium, nine year old Joby Peterson dreams of blazing like a bonfire against the gather...more
Paperback, 640 pages
Published
August 21st 2007
by Tor Books
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Jan 06, 2008
Alice
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fantasy fiction fiends
An illustrator turned writer's first novel and a very good one. God and Lucifer make a wager over a young boy's life (Joby). Laced heavily with Christian and Arthurian themes, this is an intelligent novel. Not that you need to be intelligent to read it (the book is extremely accessable), but the ideas are mature and more developed than I'd expected. Not your typical cheesy fantasy novel at all. Its not a Christian novel, but if you've been trying the Jesus lifestyle, you'll wonder when you read...more
What an entertaining read! The basic premise of the book is that God and the Devil make a wager ("the same stupid bet") at which a little boy named Joby is the center. This time, however, the stakes are higher. Ferrarri tells Joby's story from about age 9 until 40. It is a long book. Yet, while not a particularly difficult read, it is one of my favorites. The reason I gave it four stars and not five is that the ending was a little uneven for me; there was such a dramatic and emotional trajectory...more
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Nov 27, 2008
Margaret Gilmore
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys a good tale
Recommended to Margaret by:
Heather Petzoldt (my daughter)
I totally enjoyed this book. It was quite entertaining, not the typical book I would pick up to read, but sure glad I did! The story begins with the age old wager between God and Lucifer. The object of their wager is a young boy named Joby. It has angels, demons, magic, love, mild violence and fantasy. I would rate it 4.5 stars if I could. This is one I will read again just to be sure I did not miss anything the first time.
After spending so much time with it and feeling so invested in the main character's tribulations, I really hate to give this book less than 4 stars. But in the end, I found its flaws outweighed its flashes of occasional brilliance and inventiveness. Overlong, and in dire need of a strong editor to help this talented first-time author tighten the plotlines and rid the dialog of some of its stiltedness. I sometimes had to wonder what decade the characters were supposed to be living in - even the o...more
Now ... this was a surprise. At first, when I picked "The Book of Joby" up and started to read I made the assumption that it was .. religious. It was to my great delight that I discovered, after putting it down and picking it up again, that it's no more religious than it is magical. I saw the light, and was pleased.
Mark J. Ferrari's debut novel rocks. This beautifully written, character-driven novel weaves a story about one young boy, who grows into a confused and dismayed man, at the nexus of a...more
Mark J. Ferrari's debut novel rocks. This beautifully written, character-driven novel weaves a story about one young boy, who grows into a confused and dismayed man, at the nexus of a...more
1 like · like · see review
I literally just finished the last page of The Book of Joby by Mark J. Ferrari. What can I say other than this was one of the best books I had ever read. While it may have been a bit slow moving forward, pretty soon you're so caught up in the story that you forget everything around you. There hasn't been a book that could do that to me in... a very long time to say the least.
First off I would like to praise Ferrari's writing abilities and style. It is written so that you're honestly convinced t...more
First off I would like to praise Ferrari's writing abilities and style. It is written so that you're honestly convinced t...more
This book is marvelously ambitious. It seeks to give us a glimpse into the mind of God Himself! It deals with questions that are perhaps not answerable. What is the purpose of our existence? Why do we suffer? What is good? What is evil?
'The Book of Joby' centers around a man who is caught in a wager between the Creator and Lucifer. Joby is a hapless player in a game he only dimly understands, pitted against an adversary he cannot even hope to overcome. In this epic story, God comes across as inf...more
'The Book of Joby' centers around a man who is caught in a wager between the Creator and Lucifer. Joby is a hapless player in a game he only dimly understands, pitted against an adversary he cannot even hope to overcome. In this epic story, God comes across as inf...more
From: BarronWilderness
God and Lucifer once again enter into a bet in which the devil tries to sway a pure soul to join him. Their “contender” is Joby Peterson, a boy who must grow up with all the forces of hell bent on corrupting him.
* The Book of Joby is a sweeping first novel, that covers everything from The Bible to Arthurian legends to flaws in the public school system.
* The cast of characters includes demons, angels, wizards and school children. While some of the protagonists can be a li...more
God and Lucifer once again enter into a bet in which the devil tries to sway a pure soul to join him. Their “contender” is Joby Peterson, a boy who must grow up with all the forces of hell bent on corrupting him.
* The Book of Joby is a sweeping first novel, that covers everything from The Bible to Arthurian legends to flaws in the public school system.
* The cast of characters includes demons, angels, wizards and school children. While some of the protagonists can be a li...more
As a literature major in college, I am intensely passionate about reading. As a liberal agnostic, I don't generally find preachy books to be good. Thankfully, the Book of Joby was NOT preachy.
This was one of the best novels I have ever read...and I have read many, many novels. I found myself weeping overly at parts, and at other parts, laughing uncontrollably. It was an intensely emotion- and thought-provoking novel.
God and Lucifer make a wager they've made before, and now, all of existence is...more
This was one of the best novels I have ever read...and I have read many, many novels. I found myself weeping overly at parts, and at other parts, laughing uncontrollably. It was an intensely emotion- and thought-provoking novel.
God and Lucifer make a wager they've made before, and now, all of existence is...more
This book, despite it being a little long, is a really great read. There's a hefty dose of Arthurian legend and Biblical principles, as well as modern controversial beliefs. What's great about this book is how it all boils down to what I believe is the basic tenet of life:being good.
The book spans the life of Joby Peterson, the unknowing participant in a bet between God and Lucifer. As a child, Joby idolizes Arthur and the Roundtable and aspires to be just like him. As he grows, Lucifer's influe...more
The book spans the life of Joby Peterson, the unknowing participant in a bet between God and Lucifer. As a child, Joby idolizes Arthur and the Roundtable and aspires to be just like him. As he grows, Lucifer's influe...more
I had this sitting on hold in my library queue for the last 14 months; the hold expired so I finally read it. I don't know what drew me to this title (a positive review most likely), or why I kept putting it off, but at its conclusion I'm glad I read it.
Somewhere in my list of favourite books rest "Good Omens" and "Job: A Comedy of Justice". Both are great reads. Growing up I always loved reading both Greek Mythology (for the intimate manner in which Gods interact with the world) and Arthurian...more
Somewhere in my list of favourite books rest "Good Omens" and "Job: A Comedy of Justice". Both are great reads. Growing up I always loved reading both Greek Mythology (for the intimate manner in which Gods interact with the world) and Arthurian...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Nov 29, 2008
Mellissa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 18, 2011
Hesper
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
No one. Ever.
Shelves:
ass-chancres-are-preferable
Forget the hundred monkey and their typewriters. A senile ferret on crack could, whilst having apoplectic fits on a keyboard, come up with more compelling material than this.
But that would be cruelty to animals; PETA would be after you if you did that. Too bad there's no such thing as cruelty to readers because this book is rank abuse. Someone seriously needs to douse Mr. Ferrari with printer ink.
But that would be cruelty to animals; PETA would be after you if you did that. Too bad there's no such thing as cruelty to readers because this book is rank abuse. Someone seriously needs to douse Mr. Ferrari with printer ink.
Overall impression when I finished: Pleasantly surprised but not overly wowed.
I briefly read an interview with the author. To quote from it, Mr. Ferrari said, “…the book is not, in fact, about Christianity to begin with, only set in it.” That surprised me!
He sums up his themes as thus: (1) “The assumption most of us in America are taught from the cradle on that there is some reliable cause and effect relationship between what we do and what we get... As we grow up, however, this reassuring ass...more
I briefly read an interview with the author. To quote from it, Mr. Ferrari said, “…the book is not, in fact, about Christianity to begin with, only set in it.” That surprised me!
He sums up his themes as thus: (1) “The assumption most of us in America are taught from the cradle on that there is some reliable cause and effect relationship between what we do and what we get... As we grow up, however, this reassuring ass...more
Jun 04, 2009
Susanne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes a good tale, and fans of Good Omens and its like
Shelves:
sff
This was sooo much fun. The premise was promising (God and Lucifer making a wager which could lead to the destruction of the entire creation), the execution brilliant: We experience the trials and tribulations of a normal child (later teenager, and grown man) who is the subject of a tug-of-war between Good and Evil.
Joby is one of the most likeable, sympathetic characters I've ever encountered - I found myself rooting for him from the very beginning, and feeling wretchedly sorry for him when thi...more
Joby is one of the most likeable, sympathetic characters I've ever encountered - I found myself rooting for him from the very beginning, and feeling wretchedly sorry for him when thi...more
1 like · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I kept looking at this one on the shelf at work even though no one bought any copies of it. I picked it up as an 'underdog' kind of choice from among the bestsellers. So maybe that's why I feel a little more attached to it than it maybe deserves...but I did enjoy it.
God and the devil place a bet on the life of a boy named Joby...the bet spanning 30 years of Joby's life while he is beset by demons. I don't want to give anything away, but Ferrari manages to insert Camelot, Eden, archangels, the...more
God and the devil place a bet on the life of a boy named Joby...the bet spanning 30 years of Joby's life while he is beset by demons. I don't want to give anything away, but Ferrari manages to insert Camelot, Eden, archangels, the...more
This wasn't the epic fantasy that I was expecting, as the jacket copy stated. The age-old wager between God and Lucifer begins again, this time with a young boy named Joby. The book is a detailed chronicle of Joby's life, and the hardships he faces. That's about it.
I felt like I was being banged on the head over and over again with the idea that all people face hardships - not all brought about by the Devil - but that God is always there for us if we just ask for Him and his heavenly helpers. Af...more
I felt like I was being banged on the head over and over again with the idea that all people face hardships - not all brought about by the Devil - but that God is always there for us if we just ask for Him and his heavenly helpers. Af...more
I. Love. This. Book.
I don't believe that Ferrari is a Christian writer, and this book is not Christian fiction- don't be turned off by what I'm saying here.
What I'm saying is that this book says amazing things about God, wrapped in a great story that sucks you in.
The premise is that the bargain that God & Satan struck with Job is struck again and again throughout time, and Satan has until Joby is 40 to make him curse God.
We see the interactions between God, angels, and Satan, and it is dry...more
I don't believe that Ferrari is a Christian writer, and this book is not Christian fiction- don't be turned off by what I'm saying here.
What I'm saying is that this book says amazing things about God, wrapped in a great story that sucks you in.
The premise is that the bargain that God & Satan struck with Job is struck again and again throughout time, and Satan has until Joby is 40 to make him curse God.
We see the interactions between God, angels, and Satan, and it is dry...more
God and Lucifer have another wager going - whose influence will succeed in the life of young Joby Peterson, whose burning desire is to emulate King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, while living his life out in late 20th century California. I'm really enjoying the story so far: both sides have exerted just a bit of influence - nothing totally outside the boundaries of a typical kid's experience - but a small nudge here and there can be the key to Joby's fate. Reminds me a bit of Mark He...more
The age old debate between God and Satan - is humanity worth it all? God agrees to a contest - winner take all (whole earth & its existence) - God picks one remarkable boy from all humanity and Satan gets to try and destroy him (without killing him) to try and make this boy turn completely to the "dark side."
Very much like the biblical Job who seems to do everything right while all kinds of bad stuff happens to him throughout his life. Story is told from childhood through mid-30's. Really wa...more
Very much like the biblical Job who seems to do everything right while all kinds of bad stuff happens to him throughout his life. Story is told from childhood through mid-30's. Really wa...more
I am an absolute fanatic for fiction that stretches beyond the boundaries of conventional religious belief and grasps at something supposed and assumed. The act of creating God or any other of the leading characters of the Holy Book outside of the Bible is not only difficult but a fine line to walk when writing for audiences. The author of this book does it in a style which many may not agree with but which I loved dearly.
The book is long, but it's not unnecessarily long. Traveling the road alo...more
The book is long, but it's not unnecessarily long. Traveling the road alo...more
I love Arthurian lore....always have, it started in High school when I read all of theseThe Crystal Cave and then went onto theseTaliesin. And then I had a really cool english teacher in whose classroom we would just watch movies and then have tests, there I fell in love with Camelot.When you combine Arthur, Gwen AND Lancelot in a book, along with God Lucifer "the wager" of Job, demons and Angels.....well ya never know just what you might get.
When God and Lucifer bet it all ( yet again ) on the...more
When God and Lucifer bet it all ( yet again ) on the...more
In this rewrite of the Book of Job, God and the Devil replay an age old bet regarding the morality and inherent goodness of mankind; the wager: mankind itself. Poor Joby is taken as the object of this bet, his life constantly interfered with and tortured over by the Lucifer and his minions. Intertwined with the long-loved stories of Arthur and Camelot, it is a beautifully fantastic novel, studying just how much one human soul can withstand.
It wasn’t until I got half way through this huge six-hun...more
It wasn’t until I got half way through this huge six-hun...more
Jul 30, 2008
John
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to John by:
Amber Cook
King Arthur meets the Book of Job - in a nine year old boy. By the author formerly known as the artist Mark Ferrari. (In case you don't know, the premise of the Book of Job is that Satan challenges God that the apparently pious Job, if stripped of his prosperity and his children, would turn against God.)
It's a very well-written book. The Arthurian connection is fun, the characters are believable and engaging, and I enjoyed both the Creator character and the bickering, backstabbing, and ineptness...more
It's a very well-written book. The Arthurian connection is fun, the characters are believable and engaging, and I enjoyed both the Creator character and the bickering, backstabbing, and ineptness...more
Mar 11, 2010
Julia
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
age 13+, fans of fantasy, especially Arthurian or Christian Mythology
Forgive the length of this review, but when I picked up this book, it looked like it could be interesting. I never expected to find a true gem.
It's inspired by the Biblical story of Job, who was the subject of a wager between God & Satan. Satan bet that if Job lost all his blessings he'd turn away from God. Naturally Satan lost the bet. That's the gist of that story.
OK, so Joby is a 9 year old kid who's the subject of a similar wager. He has to renounce God through an act of evil by the age...more
It's inspired by the Biblical story of Job, who was the subject of a wager between God & Satan. Satan bet that if Job lost all his blessings he'd turn away from God. Naturally Satan lost the bet. That's the gist of that story.
OK, so Joby is a 9 year old kid who's the subject of a similar wager. He has to renounce God through an act of evil by the age...more
I have to admit that in my own knee-jerk reaction to books that may be a form of proselytizing, I passed this book by several times while wandering the shelves of our local book store...despite picking it up and looking at it time and again.
Eventually, I found myself in Half Price Books in San Antonio (the best used book store ever) while visiting my folks, and they had a copy there for $6.00..and I picked it up.
I'm glad I did. I'm not going to say it's some major work of literary fiction, I'...more
Eventually, I found myself in Half Price Books in San Antonio (the best used book store ever) while visiting my folks, and they had a copy there for $6.00..and I picked it up.
I'm glad I did. I'm not going to say it's some major work of literary fiction, I'...more
The Book of Joby- Mark Ferrari
This book was magical. It is in the great vein of C.S. Lewis with clear use of The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and That Hideous Strength merged with Arthurian legend. At points the protagonist, Joby, is a little too woe is me for my tastes, but in the end it’s a heartwarming, challenging, beuatiful story. I recommend it to anyone who likes a good, long, Lewis-like read. Soundtrack song: Avril Lavigne “Keep Holding On.” Overall, A+
This book was magical. It is in the great vein of C.S. Lewis with clear use of The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and That Hideous Strength merged with Arthurian legend. At points the protagonist, Joby, is a little too woe is me for my tastes, but in the end it’s a heartwarming, challenging, beuatiful story. I recommend it to anyone who likes a good, long, Lewis-like read. Soundtrack song: Avril Lavigne “Keep Holding On.” Overall, A+
I've had my sights set on this one for quite some time. The premise seemed like something I would absolutely adore. It just took me way too long to get past the half-way mark. Once Joby grows up, I found the whole thing just kinda stalled altogether. I kept getting restless, putting the book down to read something else. After awhile I realized the desire to finish just wasn't there. So I officially cry uncle. I'm out. I didn't hate this book (so no one star), and I'm feeling too ambivalent to gi...more
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