Book Review: When the Buddha in Beaumont Met God's Gardener, by J. Manchester

When the Buddha in Beaumont Met God's Gardener by J. Manchester

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I found out about this author when I read her excellent short story "Freedom", which was featured as a free read on The Write Launch recently. I bought a copy of this book after reading that. "When the Buddha in Beaumont Met God's Gardener" is a fun read but is much more than that.

After being inspired by a book about the Buddha, fourteen-year-old Andrew sets up a website proclaiming himself to be the Buddha in Beaumont. It attracts a Hollywood actor who is down on his luck. Soon, the actor begins to see Andrew as a guru and looks to him for advice. The arrival of the Hollywood actor in Andrew's hometown causes mixed reactions from his friends and family.

The book explores issues such as bullying, family relationships, and discrimination. There are many true-to-life characters and it's an engaging read. Ultimately, this is a book about the importance of forgiveness. The story is well structured and it kept my interest. I'll be looking forward to reading more stories from this author.



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