Meeting God or Something Like It

by Morrie Ruvinsky

In this visionary collection of short stories, we stumble on God - or not God - in back alleys and promised lands, at family tragedies and sleazy racetracks. In the eponymous Meeting God or Something Like It, a man encounters the Messiah. The real one? How can he know? Can’t ask for ID. It’s enough to drive anyone mad.

In The Lamb, a young Israeli soldier and an old Arab shepherd set aside their mutual suspicions and put themselves in mortal danger in an effort to save a lamed animal. A Bedtime Conversation Regarding Delays in the Second Coming is a funny and moving conversation between God and his Son.

Whether God is there pulling the strings or is just the Great Placebo in the sky, all seven stories, the ones that make you laugh and the ones that make you cry, share a common perspective: It’s never about God. It’s always about us.

118 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2014

About the author

Award-winning writer and filmmaker Morrie Ruvinsky studied science at McGill University and did graduate work at UBC with the novelist Robert Harlow (Royal Murdoch, A Gift of Echoes).

While most of his career has been based in California, he has worked internationally in places like Paris, Vancouver, and Berlin as a writer-producer of movies including Improper Channels, Going to Kansas City with wife and partner Alicia Wille, and the famously banned The Plastic Mile. He has written and/or produced TV series classics like Misfits of Science, Highlander, and MythQuest.

Ruvinsky taught Film Theory at McGill University where he developed the twelve-volume A Modular Introduction to Film with Donald F. Theall (The Virtual Marshall McLuhan). He also taught hands-on film production and screenwriting at Concordia University.

His much-praised debut novel, Dream Keeper, was named to the Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year He is currently finishing his much anticipated new novel, Agua, and is involved with several New Media startups.

He lives in Santa Monica with his wife and partner Alicia. Daughter Jessica and her husband Michael live nearby. Most of life is walking distance but every very once in a while he and Alicia are overwhelmed by the urge to drive across the country. And back again. Seven times so far.

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review. I enjoyed reading it, and am glad I did. But, found some of the stories disturbing... which I suppose makes this an excellent read! I especially liked "The Lamb" right up to the totally unexpected ending!

[Lynn Grier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received Meeting God or Something Like it as a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for the chance to read this book. I did have mixed feelings on this book. I likes part of the book and some of the short stories made no sense to me. The stories I did enjoy had true meaning to me. Thanks Morrie for your book. I would give your books another try.

[Little Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my honest review

It has taken me a little while to get through this book, and now I find it hard to decide what to rate and how to rate it.

Overall, the stories were well written with beautiful imagery. Some stories really left me with a feeling of shock and awe. I like that in a story. However, I find it hard to really write a review.

The Lamb

left me with a Holy. Shit. feeling when I was finished reading. I think

The Conversation

was entertaining. God in this story had a very humorous sense of humor.

Podcasting Mercy

was probably one of my favorite stories in the book. It was a very intense conversation between a young man just out of prison and a clergyman. The young man had abducted the clergyman, blindfolded him, tied him up and over a bluetooth device, podcasted an entire history of abuse this clergyman inflicted upon numerous little boys.

Whether or not you are religious, you may or may not like this set of stories. I couldn't really tell if if Ruvinsky is poking fun at religion, or pointing out how religion pops up randomly in people's lives when they least expect it. Decide for yourselves if you give this book a go.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through GoodReads First Read program.

I am not a big fan of short stories but I did enjoy Ruvinsky's topic and his wry humor. God is all around us and we often just don't take the time to look.

I enjoyed The Lamb and The Crucifixion the most. There were only 7 stories and they were pretty short. Read it in a few hours.

What was there was good. Just need me some more God.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like poetry, these are short, beautiful pieces that reward slow reading. Alternately touching, sad, and delightful, the author's love and compassion for humanity shine through these stories of people striving to serve (or just to find) the divine.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I cannot tell if I like this or not really. Kind of a bland story. I don't feel the heart of the author.