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Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk
Gabe is a teenage Jehovah’s Witness convinced God will kill him at Armageddon for masturbating. But Gabe’s not alone: there’s Peter, who writes swear words in the margins of his papers; Jihyun, the Korean kid who subsists on Ho Hos and Doritos; and Camille, who follows Gabe around, trying to be his girlfriend. There’s also Gabe’s mom, who sleeps sixteen hours a day, and his dad, an elder who decides the fate of sinners (like the married couple who confesses to accidentally having anal sex). There’s Brother Miller, an elder with a Napoleon complex, who accompanies Gabe from door to door, encouraging him to knock with confidence, and Sister Feeney, who looks forward to the day she can move into a Spanish-style house after its owner dies at the end of the world. Luckily for Gabe, there is Uncle Jeff, who used to tour with Santana and now gives Gabe the only valuable girl advice he ever receives. It's hard when school days are spent dodging questions about your weird religion and weekends mean preaching house to house. Life looks dreary until Gabe falls for Camille’s beautiful older sister and begins to see her as the answer to his frustrations.
- GenresFictionYoung AdultTeen
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Tony DuShane
4 books55 followersI don't rate every book I read because I read so many for my show Drinks with Tony. The books I do rate and show here are ones where I can give 5 stars for living authors, and, I don't mind dinging the dead ones.
And the authors I read that I'd give a 3 star review, I just wish them the best, but, I can't pretend it's a 5 star, and I don't want to insult them with my limited taste.
I love reading and writing, thanks for stopping by.
And the authors I read that I'd give a 3 star review, I just wish them the best, but, I can't pretend it's a 5 star, and I don't want to insult them with my limited taste.
I love reading and writing, thanks for stopping by.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 7, 2010
Tony DuShane's Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk is hilarious, sad, highly perceptive, and at times painful – in all it's an amazing bit of writing.
DuShane takes on the religious cult the Jehovah's Witnesses and lays it bare through the eyes of a sex obsessed teenager – although in reality "sex obsessed teenager" is probably the biggest oxymoron I've ever written. Yet, where other teenagers – read normal – get to grow up full of angst, frustrated at society, while drinking beer, smoking pot, and having sex. JW teenagers are apparently continuously tortured with the threat of damnation for even thinking about any and all of the above. Also, apparently, any thoughts of betterment, such as working hard for good grades in school, enlightenment through reading unapproved literature, or plans for a real life, are rigorously dissuaded – because Armageddon is coming and why bother. All the nonbelievers are going to be killed by god and then all the JW's will bask in the spoils – there's one scene where a devotee points out the house of a non-Jehovah's Witnesses that she is going to live in once the Rapture commences and those people are dead. I am continually amazed that religious organization like this exist – who the hell would want to live such a rigid unhappy life full of nothing but posturing for the church and praying for the rest of the world to be killed off? Apparently some people do. But there are those within the organization that question these beliefs and they are the people that make up DuShane's novel.
Sex crazed and tortured, his protagonist Dags stumbles from one scene to the next – having sex with his cousin, getting tossed out of the church, endlessly masturbating, and finally watching his friends and family implode. Ultimately, much to the satisfaction of this reader, Dags finds his way out and into the real world.
Although initially I wasn't that intrigued by the subject matter – I found myself so engrossed I couldn't put the book down.
DuShane takes on the religious cult the Jehovah's Witnesses and lays it bare through the eyes of a sex obsessed teenager – although in reality "sex obsessed teenager" is probably the biggest oxymoron I've ever written. Yet, where other teenagers – read normal – get to grow up full of angst, frustrated at society, while drinking beer, smoking pot, and having sex. JW teenagers are apparently continuously tortured with the threat of damnation for even thinking about any and all of the above. Also, apparently, any thoughts of betterment, such as working hard for good grades in school, enlightenment through reading unapproved literature, or plans for a real life, are rigorously dissuaded – because Armageddon is coming and why bother. All the nonbelievers are going to be killed by god and then all the JW's will bask in the spoils – there's one scene where a devotee points out the house of a non-Jehovah's Witnesses that she is going to live in once the Rapture commences and those people are dead. I am continually amazed that religious organization like this exist – who the hell would want to live such a rigid unhappy life full of nothing but posturing for the church and praying for the rest of the world to be killed off? Apparently some people do. But there are those within the organization that question these beliefs and they are the people that make up DuShane's novel.
Sex crazed and tortured, his protagonist Dags stumbles from one scene to the next – having sex with his cousin, getting tossed out of the church, endlessly masturbating, and finally watching his friends and family implode. Ultimately, much to the satisfaction of this reader, Dags finds his way out and into the real world.
Although initially I wasn't that intrigued by the subject matter – I found myself so engrossed I couldn't put the book down.
February 27, 2010
I wish I could give this 4 1/2 stars. It was that good, but I would only give 5 stars to something that was a future classic.
That said, this book was amazing. The beginning was funny and I thought it might gloss over the topic but toward the end it got very serious and quite sad. I definitely could relate to a lot of what the main character went through as part of a conservative Christian group in the US in the early 1980s, although I was a bit older at that time. It's such a hard process breaking out of that kind of group think. This is a very realistic story. A must read for anyone who wants to know what it is like to be a teen or young adult in a conservative Christian church or cult.
That said, this book was amazing. The beginning was funny and I thought it might gloss over the topic but toward the end it got very serious and quite sad. I definitely could relate to a lot of what the main character went through as part of a conservative Christian group in the US in the early 1980s, although I was a bit older at that time. It's such a hard process breaking out of that kind of group think. This is a very realistic story. A must read for anyone who wants to know what it is like to be a teen or young adult in a conservative Christian church or cult.
March 29, 2010
Wow. This made me laugh and cry. I picked it up randomly at the Boulder Bookstore and was immediately intrigued by the description on the back. I've always wondered what growing up JW was like (or at least I have wondered about it recently after coming into aquaintence with a devout JW). I used to roll my eyes at the crazy people who knocked on my door, but after reading this, I think I will be much more sympathetic. You never know what that person is actually going through, and if the psychological and emotional abuse done by the elders to regular JWs is as bad as was described in this book, all I can feel now is sympathy.
March 12, 2010
I've finally gotten back into a nice schedule of reading and I picked this little gem up at Books Inc. in San Francisco which is fast becoming my favorite place to spend my lunch hour. This is Tony Dushane's first novel and he does an excellent job of weaving the fanatical world of the Jehovah's Witnesses into the equally fanatical world of male adolescent sexuality.
The book is charming, reads fairly fast, and wouldn't you know it I got caught crying on BART at one point as the book evokes a vulnerability you don't expect. I liked this very much, very much indeed.
The book is charming, reads fairly fast, and wouldn't you know it I got caught crying on BART at one point as the book evokes a vulnerability you don't expect. I liked this very much, very much indeed.
September 27, 2009
I love this book! Hilarious, harrowing... oh, wait... I already blurbed it!
March 15, 2025
Really compelling read. Honest and funny and a little obnoxious but redeeming. Helped me understand my ex-jehovah’s witness ex-boyfriend and allowed me to view our conflict with more empathy and complexity. It’s not right and sad how much religion is allowed to run rampant hurting people. Grateful this wasn’t a hole I had to climb out of, proud of and happy for him that he did. (Author). Horny the right amount
March 14, 2012
Tony DuShane’s debut novel Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk chronicles the trials and tribulations of a young Jehovah’s Witness named Gabe. The tile is ill conceived. Not only does it employ the overly used “confession of”, but it doesn’t adequately describe the main character. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gabe really doesn’t give much consideration to Jesus and he is not really a jerk. To the contrary, despite his strict religious upbringing, the young man is quite engaging.
The opening chapters of the novel initially turned me off. Gabe shotgun blasts non-sequiturs about his life in junior high school and within his Jehovah’s Witness community. The writing is quite rambling and reads as if written by an eighth grader with ADD. Perhaps it is an intentional choice since the text is in the first person perspective.
I’m glad I pushed through. As Gabe moves forward into high school the writing falls into a nice rhythm. The narrative revolves around Gabe’s sexual awakening, starting with masturbating over contraband rated-R movies to awkward encounters with a cousin to backseat make-out sessions. This is common ground for all teenagers, but not all teenagers exist in a religious community where touching a breast can get you tossed out and unable to even say hello to friends and family.
For me this book is at its best when dealing with the minutia of life within the religious cult. Having the same background I could relate to things like hoagie assembly lines and scoping out girls in floral print dresses with binoculars at summer district conventions. All of this was relayed in a humorous manner with uncanny accuracy. If some of it reads as unbelievable, I can honestly say that “the truth” is stranger than fiction.
The ending of the story felt a little forced, but it wasn’t unsatisfactory and did get me choked up. I’ve lived that story and it is easy to connect characters in the novel to Witnesses I’ve known over the years. In total, it was a well-written, funny book with extremely likable and memorable characters. I look forward to what DuShane comes up with next.
The opening chapters of the novel initially turned me off. Gabe shotgun blasts non-sequiturs about his life in junior high school and within his Jehovah’s Witness community. The writing is quite rambling and reads as if written by an eighth grader with ADD. Perhaps it is an intentional choice since the text is in the first person perspective.
I’m glad I pushed through. As Gabe moves forward into high school the writing falls into a nice rhythm. The narrative revolves around Gabe’s sexual awakening, starting with masturbating over contraband rated-R movies to awkward encounters with a cousin to backseat make-out sessions. This is common ground for all teenagers, but not all teenagers exist in a religious community where touching a breast can get you tossed out and unable to even say hello to friends and family.
For me this book is at its best when dealing with the minutia of life within the religious cult. Having the same background I could relate to things like hoagie assembly lines and scoping out girls in floral print dresses with binoculars at summer district conventions. All of this was relayed in a humorous manner with uncanny accuracy. If some of it reads as unbelievable, I can honestly say that “the truth” is stranger than fiction.
The ending of the story felt a little forced, but it wasn’t unsatisfactory and did get me choked up. I’ve lived that story and it is easy to connect characters in the novel to Witnesses I’ve known over the years. In total, it was a well-written, funny book with extremely likable and memorable characters. I look forward to what DuShane comes up with next.
October 21, 2010
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
Like many in the indie-lit world, I was dismayed at the demise last year of revered small press Soft Skull, although glad to see it live on at least in imprint name only, over at the larger publisher Counterpoint; and now that its first books are coming out under its new ownership, I'm glad as well to see that they've maintained their editorial spirit too, with this lightly fictionalized memoir about growing up Mormon from punk stalwart Tony DuShane perhaps overly familiar in overall subject matter, but definitely original when it comes to tone and quality. And that's because, just like the best memoirists, DuShane has pulled out a whole series of incredibly specific memories about those years, ones that most of us tend to forget as we get older and older, which is what makes it such a delight when author like this reminds us of them -- for example, the endless erotic possibilities that come to a virgin merely from spying a bit of ass cheek poking over the jeans of a girl sitting in front of them -- and then peppers the otherwise fairly rote tale with details so specific and odd, they simply must be true; for example, the big teen Mormon convention he and his friends would attend each year, where the horny religious high-schoolers would participate in these elaborate Austenesque chaste flirting rituals while endlessly promenading around the convention center's main rotunda, and where the author and his buddies made a big splash one year by dressing in retro Mod outfits, exciting to the ska-listening girls but deemed safely traditional by their clueless parents. Funny and sad at the same time, with an ending guaranteed to get you furious at conservative religious organizations if you aren't already, this is a fine early title from the newly Counterpointed Soft Skull, and hopefully bodes well for the future of the imprint.
Out of 10: 9.0
Like many in the indie-lit world, I was dismayed at the demise last year of revered small press Soft Skull, although glad to see it live on at least in imprint name only, over at the larger publisher Counterpoint; and now that its first books are coming out under its new ownership, I'm glad as well to see that they've maintained their editorial spirit too, with this lightly fictionalized memoir about growing up Mormon from punk stalwart Tony DuShane perhaps overly familiar in overall subject matter, but definitely original when it comes to tone and quality. And that's because, just like the best memoirists, DuShane has pulled out a whole series of incredibly specific memories about those years, ones that most of us tend to forget as we get older and older, which is what makes it such a delight when author like this reminds us of them -- for example, the endless erotic possibilities that come to a virgin merely from spying a bit of ass cheek poking over the jeans of a girl sitting in front of them -- and then peppers the otherwise fairly rote tale with details so specific and odd, they simply must be true; for example, the big teen Mormon convention he and his friends would attend each year, where the horny religious high-schoolers would participate in these elaborate Austenesque chaste flirting rituals while endlessly promenading around the convention center's main rotunda, and where the author and his buddies made a big splash one year by dressing in retro Mod outfits, exciting to the ska-listening girls but deemed safely traditional by their clueless parents. Funny and sad at the same time, with an ending guaranteed to get you furious at conservative religious organizations if you aren't already, this is a fine early title from the newly Counterpointed Soft Skull, and hopefully bodes well for the future of the imprint.
Out of 10: 9.0
December 7, 2010
I'm a big fan of coming-of-age stories. And then this book is also about religion, specifically conservative Jehovah's Witnesses. I was raised pentecostal; only a small leap really from that to Jehovah's Witnesses. So when Tony DuShane pulls those two elements together in Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk he had me in his thrall.
How does a boy navigate the treachery of the contradictions in the bible with reality? These are tenets that are thoroughly believed in youth, tenets that begin to crumble in early teens. Are they still in place when a boy graduates from high school? That is the progression that DuShane writes, the progression that happened with me. I wonder how autobiographical it was.
The characters change and grow in unanticipated ways. The plot, well it isn't a book of plot twists, though it is intriguing.
I liked this book a lot. It was honest, didn't shy away from tough questions. It had humor through it all. I was never able to find a good spot to put it down, to go to sleep. That is truly a sign of a book that I enjoy. I will have to keep my eyes out for other novels as DuShane writes more.
How does a boy navigate the treachery of the contradictions in the bible with reality? These are tenets that are thoroughly believed in youth, tenets that begin to crumble in early teens. Are they still in place when a boy graduates from high school? That is the progression that DuShane writes, the progression that happened with me. I wonder how autobiographical it was.
The characters change and grow in unanticipated ways. The plot, well it isn't a book of plot twists, though it is intriguing.
I liked this book a lot. It was honest, didn't shy away from tough questions. It had humor through it all. I was never able to find a good spot to put it down, to go to sleep. That is truly a sign of a book that I enjoy. I will have to keep my eyes out for other novels as DuShane writes more.
March 31, 2010
Wow. I just finished reading this book this morning, and it's still sinking in. It was a fantastic and engrossing read, especially for someone who spent his formative years in San Francisco, so tales of hanging out at the Lyon's on El Camino or watching ladies of the night stroll through North Beach are comforting. Still, while I was completely hooked in to the whole story, the last three chapters or so cast a bit of a shadow on the book for me. I won't give away any spoilers or anything, but I'll just say that I didn't necessarily expect the conclusion to be like it was after the bulk of the book was generally entertaining, fairly lighthearted coming of age and bildungsroman fare. Still, it was a delightful read from an author I think has a fantastic voice and should be a major player in the Bay Area literature scene for some time to come.
April 1, 2013
3.5 stars actually--this is the coming of age story of Gabe, a Jehovah's Witness and normal teen (read sex- obsessed). He is disfellowshipped for being chivalrous, basically, and then learns about the wider world of literature in the period following his time cut-off from family and friends. The novel is sometimes humorous, as he deals with restrictions within the church and sometimes sad as he loses more than one friend along the way. His trials of trying to be a good Witness wars with his desire to be normal. Which will win out? Does he have his own "Crisis of Conscience" even as he grieves for his lost love Jasmine, his best friends Peter and Jin, and his parents?
February 2, 2010
A funny look at the life of a Jehovah's witness told though the eyes of a teenage boy in San Francisco. If you thought the teen years were rough you had no idea how easy you had it compared to Gabe. He struggles through adolescence trying to balance a social life that is driven by the church and a life of happy teendom. A thought provoking look at God in general that asks the question of how do you define your God? Funny at times but more spiritual than comedy. Similar in tone to C.D. Paynes brilliant Youth in Revolt. A fast and easy read that will leave you thinking.
May 5, 2010
This book was a flashback to my childhood and though this is fiction I largely related to so many of the things in the story. Reading this made me feel lucky I grew up where I did and also so happy that I didn't just follow blindly that which I was raised with. I believe everyone deserves to choose and I think I learned some great lessons being raised a JW but man am I glad I'm out. This book may not make sense to outsiders, but it held my interest and captivated my heart.
March 16, 2010
From the cover art and the back of the book, I was expecting something much funnier. This book definitely had its funny moments, but I found that my heart ached for the protagonist more than my belly from laughter. This was a touching story, and I gained a lot of insight into the life of a Jehova's Witness teen. In the end, I sensed that this was a book that took courage to write.
July 15, 2021
Let's be frank. Jehovah's Witnesses don't tend to be good writers. Their lack of education makes their attempts at sentence structure and paragraphing clunky and full of grammatical errors.
Knowing this, I was a little unsure about spending my good Australian dollars on this novel.
Thank God I love all things cultish! The money, it turned out, was well spent. I stayed up until 2am this morning reading "Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk" by Tony DuShane on my Kindle. OMG. I could not put it down. The writing was excellent, the world-building spot on, and the characters were people who made me laugh, cry, and celebrate my freedom.
The ending was especially painful for me (my son had a LOT in common with Peter with the same result), but it was so well-handled that I continued reading despite my inner sobbing
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. A must read for young Witnesses struggling to understand the life that has been chosen for them, and for worldly people who want to gain an insight into the reality of living within a high-control group.
Knowing this, I was a little unsure about spending my good Australian dollars on this novel.
Thank God I love all things cultish! The money, it turned out, was well spent. I stayed up until 2am this morning reading "Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk" by Tony DuShane on my Kindle. OMG. I could not put it down. The writing was excellent, the world-building spot on, and the characters were people who made me laugh, cry, and celebrate my freedom.
The ending was especially painful for me (my son had a LOT in common with Peter with the same result), but it was so well-handled that I continued reading despite my inner sobbing
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. A must read for young Witnesses struggling to understand the life that has been chosen for them, and for worldly people who want to gain an insight into the reality of living within a high-control group.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2022
Love the Book and LOVED the movie!! I felt like all of it was my life growing up. I was cracking up in many of the scenes. My new graphic novel called CULT GIRLS is a comedic, full color inspiring story of 4 woman raised and married in the Jehovah’s Witness religion that fade out, each with a different story, but it shows we all are individuals with different dreams, goals and desires. They have funny flashbacks of being raised in a harsh JW religion and explain a lot of the JW marriage culture and policies.
January 21, 2018
Spot on Glimpse into JW Teen Life aka Hell
Having grown up roughly the same time as Gabe as a JW, it brought back memories of a life I left behind. Pretty accurate telling of life behind the curtain in all of its painful sometimes funny ways. This made me angry and hurt by turns and even laugh at the ridiculous way people--children--are treated in the name of some silly rules that supposedly makes Jehovah happy. Kudos, Mr. DuShane for capturing the life of a JW teen.
Having grown up roughly the same time as Gabe as a JW, it brought back memories of a life I left behind. Pretty accurate telling of life behind the curtain in all of its painful sometimes funny ways. This made me angry and hurt by turns and even laugh at the ridiculous way people--children--are treated in the name of some silly rules that supposedly makes Jehovah happy. Kudos, Mr. DuShane for capturing the life of a JW teen.
April 29, 2020
Riveting coming of age story
As a former Witness, a lot of the story was very personally relatable. It was hilarious in places and heartbreaking as well. You will find yourself rooting for Gabe and his friends as they navigate the awkwardness of their teenage years with the extra added awkwardness of growing up as Jehovah's Witnesses.
As a former Witness, a lot of the story was very personally relatable. It was hilarious in places and heartbreaking as well. You will find yourself rooting for Gabe and his friends as they navigate the awkwardness of their teenage years with the extra added awkwardness of growing up as Jehovah's Witnesses.
May 20, 2018
This book is amazing. The characters jump off the page. I have no doubt they will continue to live in my mind for a long time. I'm excited and a little scared to watch the movie, a movie I wasn't aware of until I finished the book.
August 25, 2018
Better than the film
But then books always are. Fills in the missing details and completed the story. Having lived this life it made me recall all the good and bad times and the freedom that comes from leaving.
But then books always are. Fills in the missing details and completed the story. Having lived this life it made me recall all the good and bad times and the freedom that comes from leaving.
November 7, 2019
Holy crap, this was so reminiscent of my childhood. It perfectly describes the umbrella of paranoia you deal with constantly and how insane and mysterious the rules are. I'm going to read this book again if I ever get nostalgic about going to the meetings.
August 25, 2025
Holy shit! Jehovah's Witnesses are in a crazy cult. So hard to read this book and see all the damage this cult does but I'm so glad Tony wrote this book.
May 15, 2026
Pretty good book, not accounting for the random incest at the end… but other than that I’d say the book was great representation of the average tortured jw!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2026
Could’ve done without the incest, but I guess he is telling accurate stories of religious cults. Man what a mindfuck. Really well written
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 26, 2011I'd give this a 4.5 if I could.
There are a number of things to appreciate about Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk, not least of which is the humor. Parts of this novel had me laughing so hard I snorted, like the part where Gabe tricks his dad into going to an Untouchables show, or the thing about one of the Jehovah's Witness' experiencing a demon attack, and the elders tracing it back to a Stevie Nicks album cover.
As funny as it was, the ending was just as heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time.
The writing is interestingly done -- short and choppy to begin with, which morphs as the main character gets a little older. It's really well done as far as the goes, and I would have appreciated the confusion and angst of this if I'd read it as a teen (not that I didn't as an adult, but that's a whole other story).
The religious aspect of the novel (Jehovah's Witness) is revelatory without being completely damning. It could have just as easily have been any religion -- evangelical Christian, extremist Islam. The details, particularly about the elders and disfellowship, were interesting.
And, of course, I loved the music in the novel. Henry Rollins? MC5? Yes, please. I kind of wish this one would get made into a movie because the soundtrack would be tremendous.
There are a number of things to appreciate about Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk, not least of which is the humor. Parts of this novel had me laughing so hard I snorted, like the part where Gabe tricks his dad into going to an Untouchables show, or the thing about one of the Jehovah's Witness' experiencing a demon attack, and the elders tracing it back to a Stevie Nicks album cover.
As funny as it was, the ending was just as heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time.
The writing is interestingly done -- short and choppy to begin with, which morphs as the main character gets a little older. It's really well done as far as the goes, and I would have appreciated the confusion and angst of this if I'd read it as a teen (not that I didn't as an adult, but that's a whole other story).
The religious aspect of the novel (Jehovah's Witness) is revelatory without being completely damning. It could have just as easily have been any religion -- evangelical Christian, extremist Islam. The details, particularly about the elders and disfellowship, were interesting.
And, of course, I loved the music in the novel. Henry Rollins? MC5? Yes, please. I kind of wish this one would get made into a movie because the soundtrack would be tremendous.
February 5, 2011
I loved this book. Having been raised religiously (although not a Jehovah's Witness like the main characters here) I could relate to the central struggles of the teenage narrator, much of which involve a battle between his sex drive, and the religious notion that said sex drive is evil. That is not to say the book is overly simple, and just a teen sex comedy with a religious overlay. Rather, it shows how that central notion that one's most basic desires are wrong, combined with the notion that the religion that has been thrust upon one can NEVER be wrong, leads to all manner of unhealthy suppression. Sexual curiosity becomes obsession. Emotional expression becomes so stifled one loses touch with what one wants and feels. Intellectual curiosity becomes taboo to the point where ideas become potentially destructive. And the characters have to weigh the various sacrifices and benefits that come with being a part of their religious community as they move into adulthood. On top of it all, the book is genuinely funny and told with the earnestness that can only come from a teenage boy who is convinced his compulsive masturbation WILL land him in hell.
December 18, 2012
I think that this book has out me on a roller coaster. I have seen and felt what its like to be the character. It has made me laugh, made me feel sad, made me feel like this is going to continue to happen to many other young people who are stuck in this stupid cult. I felt much anger for the JWs in the past. Now I feel nothing sadness that these people are stuck in a rut where they will never know anything else outside of the religion. Gabe is tortured by his own guilt instilled in him by years of cult brain washing and mind control, he wants to be a normal kid, who wouldnt? Well thats no the case and it never will be for him. Please read this if you want to step in to the world that is being a JW kid.
January 25, 2016
A funny and strange book. Yes it's a bittersweet coming of age story but the overlay of the strange world of Jehovah Witnesses and the narrators juvenile sweetness and horniness and humor make this a unique read. Everyone is slightly off and unusual from his friends to his parents to the girls he likes. Gabe is the narrator and he attempts to navigate the mad world he inhabits while grappling with the usual challenges of a teen life. The style is first person and the writing is clean and paced which surprisingly keeps you flipping the page. This book has stayed with me in terms of the story and the narrative - the story has power when weeks later a sentence or a character is remembered with sharp clarity.
October 9, 2010
Much like adolescence, Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk is a roller coaster of emotions. All Gabe wants is to be a normal teenager, to make out with girls and fit in, but being a Jehovah's Witness routinely squashes any chance of that. His narrative is heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking. With a unique vantage point not often explored, that of a Jehovah's Witness, this book is a quick but good read.
June 20, 2013
An amusing book about coming of age within a cult. Gabe lusts after
all females, and almost constantly masturbates- which in itself should bring him divine retribution at the Apocalypse. But the hypocracy and restrictions finally bring about tragedy and a shove to find out the truth on his own-- and will he take the challenge? A good reminder of all that is bad about any religion that not only claims to be the only one, but forces itself upon others.
all females, and almost constantly masturbates- which in itself should bring him divine retribution at the Apocalypse. But the hypocracy and restrictions finally bring about tragedy and a shove to find out the truth on his own-- and will he take the challenge? A good reminder of all that is bad about any religion that not only claims to be the only one, but forces itself upon others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews