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The Book of Harold, the Illegitimate Son of God
The Book of Harold is as profound and deeply respectful a novel as it is irreverent in its wild, often hilarious take on a modern messianic movement. The titular hero of this masterful satire is Harold Peeks, a quirky middle-aged suburbanite living a lonely if typical modern life in the outskirts of Houston, Texas. His world feels bland and pointless until one evening at a mundane office party he announces to his stunned co-workers that he is the Second Coming of Christ. Oddly enough, people start to believe him.
Blake Waterson, Harold's closest friend and narrator of the novel, is as skeptical as anyone of this disheveled and disconcertingly bawdy Savior and yet this would-be Judas is compelled to follow Harold on his two hundred mile walking journey to Austin with a mismatched group of equally puzzled disciples. On the road this motley crew of witnesses to the holy get to experience misguided converts, violent possums, and the ungrateful recipients of off-kilter healings. They also discover the inherent paradoxes, humor, and dangers within spirituality.
Blake Waterson, Harold's closest friend and narrator of the novel, is as skeptical as anyone of this disheveled and disconcertingly bawdy Savior and yet this would-be Judas is compelled to follow Harold on his two hundred mile walking journey to Austin with a mismatched group of equally puzzled disciples. On the road this motley crew of witnesses to the holy get to experience misguided converts, violent possums, and the ungrateful recipients of off-kilter healings. They also discover the inherent paradoxes, humor, and dangers within spirituality.
237 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2010
About the author
Owen Egerton
17 books125 followersOwen Egerton is the author of the novel The Book of Harold, the Illegitimate Son of God as well as the novel Marshall Hollenzer is Driving and the short story collection How Best to Avoid Dying. He is also an accomplished screenplay writer and commentator for NPR affiliated stations. He is also the co-creator of the award winning comedy hit The Sinus Show which performed for six years at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater, and for several years Egerton was the artistic director of Austin’s National Comedy Theatre. His writing has been featured in Puerto del Sol, Killing the Buddha, Tiferet, Word Riot, and several other magazines and literary journals. Egerton earned a MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University in 2005. He currently lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 28, 2010
Okay. So I wrote it. But I wanted it on my Goodreads shelf... so I rated it. And I rated it high!
February 11, 2020
This was a hot mess of a book. I am not sure what the author's intended purpose or message was, but I am quite sure that I did not get it. Mental illness is a horrible thing and it is on display throughout this book, in loads. It is not, (I don't think), intended as an attack on the church, although it can feel that way, at times.
It was just a strange read. There were numerous editing issues, but not the type that a spell-checker would get. The words were spelled right. They were just the wrong words. An editor SHOULD have caught them. But he or she was probably so dazed and confused by the prose that he/she gave up.
I DID read the whole thing, but felt like stopping numerous times. I kept hoping there would be some redemption, but it never came.
It reminded me of the story, Bartleby the Scrivener, which we were forced to read in high school. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, here. This represents the tragic face in the drama world. Is there madness and pain and hatred in our world? Yep. Lots of it. I just don't need to wallow in it. I need to cleanse my soul with a nice feel good story, now. Yikes!
It was just a strange read. There were numerous editing issues, but not the type that a spell-checker would get. The words were spelled right. They were just the wrong words. An editor SHOULD have caught them. But he or she was probably so dazed and confused by the prose that he/she gave up.
I DID read the whole thing, but felt like stopping numerous times. I kept hoping there would be some redemption, but it never came.
It reminded me of the story, Bartleby the Scrivener, which we were forced to read in high school. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, here. This represents the tragic face in the drama world. Is there madness and pain and hatred in our world? Yep. Lots of it. I just don't need to wallow in it. I need to cleanse my soul with a nice feel good story, now. Yikes!
June 28, 2010
Wow, this was a blast to read. I can totally see why folks might be prone to Harold's sometimes surly charms, but it's Blake, our narrator, I fell in love with by the end of this wise and witty work. The Book of Harold is chock full of humorous yet wise observations on the current state of American affairs, but even more vital to this novel is its constant attendance to grace. Beautiful! Very well done, Mr. Egerton.
March 21, 2011
This was a good read and I gobbled it up overnight. It was funny and clever. It wasn't entirely satiating though. At the end I felt I needed more from Harold in the way of an original message, to justify his following and to give him some substance.
April 14, 2021
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Illegitimate means: not recognized as lawful offspring, not sanctioned by law, not authorized by good usage, not rightly deduced or inferred, departing from the regular.
When I first picked up Owen Egerton’s book, The Book of Harold; The Illegitimate Son of God, I thought that Illegitimate was referring to Harold as the bastard son of god. However, each of the other definitions, particularly the last two, are probably much more appropriate.
I was absolutely enthralled by Egerton’s book; Everyone Says That at the End of the World and, immediately upon completing it, checked out The Book of Harold. Perhaps I should have read them in the reverse order as Harold was written earlier in Egerton’s career and, while a very good book, it did not captivate me nearly as much as Everyone Says That.
Both of these books feature, in a satirical and cynical manner, the topics of god, spirituality, and messiahs. Egerton’s spotlights his characters, with the storyline primarily told first person from one or more of them. He uses this approach well, letting us see the subject matter, in this case Harold Peeks, from the outside. Egerton seems to be telling us that how one sees Harold and what one gets from him is much more important that Harold himself. In fact, the book opens near the end of the story with the narrator, Blake Waterson, attempting to drown himself. This, apparently, is the effect Harold has on people.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Every One Says That at the End of the World was the humor. In Harold, the book starts off with a hilarious story of fourth grade Blake in his school’s live Christmas nativity play. I won’t give away what happens but after this play Blake comes to the conclusion, perhaps correctly, that God is hunting him the rest of his life “like a pissed off loan shark looking for payment.”
My main problem with The Book of Harold is it was not crispy written. In Everyone Says That, it feels like each word, each scene, and each meaning is well thought out. Harold struck me more as a book that needed more editing.
A side note: if you are looking for a good book about messiahs, my favorite is still Richard Bach’s, Illusions; The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (not to be confused with his earlier book, Johnathan Livingston Seagull).
I do not want to be too harsh with this review. I enjoyed the book, I am glad I read it, and I will definitely read more of Egerton’s works. I am hoping that my next Egerton review will be more enthusiastic.
When I first picked up Owen Egerton’s book, The Book of Harold; The Illegitimate Son of God, I thought that Illegitimate was referring to Harold as the bastard son of god. However, each of the other definitions, particularly the last two, are probably much more appropriate.
I was absolutely enthralled by Egerton’s book; Everyone Says That at the End of the World and, immediately upon completing it, checked out The Book of Harold. Perhaps I should have read them in the reverse order as Harold was written earlier in Egerton’s career and, while a very good book, it did not captivate me nearly as much as Everyone Says That.
Both of these books feature, in a satirical and cynical manner, the topics of god, spirituality, and messiahs. Egerton’s spotlights his characters, with the storyline primarily told first person from one or more of them. He uses this approach well, letting us see the subject matter, in this case Harold Peeks, from the outside. Egerton seems to be telling us that how one sees Harold and what one gets from him is much more important that Harold himself. In fact, the book opens near the end of the story with the narrator, Blake Waterson, attempting to drown himself. This, apparently, is the effect Harold has on people.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Every One Says That at the End of the World was the humor. In Harold, the book starts off with a hilarious story of fourth grade Blake in his school’s live Christmas nativity play. I won’t give away what happens but after this play Blake comes to the conclusion, perhaps correctly, that God is hunting him the rest of his life “like a pissed off loan shark looking for payment.”
My main problem with The Book of Harold is it was not crispy written. In Everyone Says That, it feels like each word, each scene, and each meaning is well thought out. Harold struck me more as a book that needed more editing.
A side note: if you are looking for a good book about messiahs, my favorite is still Richard Bach’s, Illusions; The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (not to be confused with his earlier book, Johnathan Livingston Seagull).
I do not want to be too harsh with this review. I enjoyed the book, I am glad I read it, and I will definitely read more of Egerton’s works. I am hoping that my next Egerton review will be more enthusiastic.
June 10, 2012
I received this book from the author through the ARC Giveaway. Though much appreciated, it did not influence my impression of the book.
First I'll start with what I didn't like about the book: On the presentation side I found the typeface too small to read comfortably (personal preference). I felt the book begin to drag in some places and some of the ideas it presented may have been repeated too often. Also, I found there to be no true, definite and fulfilling end to the book, but as you'll come to learn if you read it, the journey is more about the walk than it is about where you're walking too.
This is the type of book that will change how you view and approach life and the world while you're reading it, which I've rarely felt while reading fiction (the nihilistic view I gained while reading Fight Club or the appreciation of life through the inevitability of death from Daytripper).
It's not an easy read, as I found myself reading it in small chunks and then taking a a few minutes to reflect on what I had read. It is a book rich in philosophy and encourages active reading, where most fiction requires only a passive approach, giving you a backseat experience while they break concepts down for you.
I'll probably carry a lot of the messages from this book with me for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed this books and the challenges it presented to me, both philosophically and through the unique writing style and structure of the novel, but at the same time I can't wait to sink me teeth into some light, fluffy shlock as a palette cleanser and shower for my soul. 4 out of 5.
First I'll start with what I didn't like about the book: On the presentation side I found the typeface too small to read comfortably (personal preference). I felt the book begin to drag in some places and some of the ideas it presented may have been repeated too often. Also, I found there to be no true, definite and fulfilling end to the book, but as you'll come to learn if you read it, the journey is more about the walk than it is about where you're walking too.
This is the type of book that will change how you view and approach life and the world while you're reading it, which I've rarely felt while reading fiction (the nihilistic view I gained while reading Fight Club or the appreciation of life through the inevitability of death from Daytripper).
It's not an easy read, as I found myself reading it in small chunks and then taking a a few minutes to reflect on what I had read. It is a book rich in philosophy and encourages active reading, where most fiction requires only a passive approach, giving you a backseat experience while they break concepts down for you.
I'll probably carry a lot of the messages from this book with me for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed this books and the challenges it presented to me, both philosophically and through the unique writing style and structure of the novel, but at the same time I can't wait to sink me teeth into some light, fluffy shlock as a palette cleanser and shower for my soul. 4 out of 5.
May 8, 2013
I honestly thought it was brilliant. The metaphors and images, the way the story unfolded, and the way the characters were revealed: brilliant. I enjoy a lot of books (I'm easy to entertain) but it has been a long, long time since I could not put a book down and even longer that I thought one so intelligently written. The story is absurd which I adored. It is also so deep you could call out into it and never find the bottom. The balance between those two things is (have I said it before?) brilliant! I keep thinking about it like an echo. It pokes fun at religion yet it made me ponder God and our way of relating to such a huge concept in new ways. I laughed. I shook my head. I smiled. I thought of my very favorite author Christopher Moore and his dark humor book about Jesus "Lamb". This book ranks with that. High praise, indeed! The description of the book doesn't move me. I probably would not have read it based on that. I found the author on YouTube doing a rap about the book by accident and then was excited to see he was an improviser. That got me to buy it. So glad I did! I will buy his next book, too. Oh, and if you don't like the ending as people mention in reviews… that would probably tickle Harold to no end, which just brings some of the deeper messages in this book home, if you ask me. Hee hee. :)
May 4, 2010
Wonderfully written, thoughtful, often heartbreaking, with a totally engrossing story line. Full of beautiful and/or painful reflections on love, faith, devotion, Austin, and the American way of life. I first came to know of Owen as a comedic performer (Mister Sinus Theater-->the Sinus Show-->Master Pancake), and it's wonderful to see this hometown hero stretching his talent in another direction so impressively.
I'm now very much looking forward to reading his first novel, Marshall Hollenzer Is Driving... I've read his short story collection -- How Best to Avoid Dying -- and while I'd recommend that as well, I'd say read this one first; it's an outstanding introduction to Owen as an author.
I can't believe I get to chitchat with this guy on the playground sometimes while our kids run around (yay Austin). Can't wait to ask him some questions about the book. Preferably over a big greasy breakfast at a Waffle House, for which he seems to have an extreme fondness.
I'm now very much looking forward to reading his first novel, Marshall Hollenzer Is Driving... I've read his short story collection -- How Best to Avoid Dying -- and while I'd recommend that as well, I'd say read this one first; it's an outstanding introduction to Owen as an author.
I can't believe I get to chitchat with this guy on the playground sometimes while our kids run around (yay Austin). Can't wait to ask him some questions about the book. Preferably over a big greasy breakfast at a Waffle House, for which he seems to have an extreme fondness.
May 11, 2010
I liked this when I wanted to love it, which is pretty much the way I feel about his short story collection, How Best to Avoid Dying. In that collection, the best stories are note-perfect--proof that Egerton can manage the humorous, the introspective, and the spiritual expertly. The remainder are just stories. Either they overreach or fall short or simply assume that a liberated, sentient penis rolling around on its testicles is funnier that it really is. In this novel, it's more of the same, all the way down to the dick jokes. When this novel is at it's best, it's fantastic. There are moments of deep and sudden laughter and moments of put-the-book-down-and-stare-into-the-distance revelation that seem to open up ideas that really matter, ideas that resonate and penetrate. But somehow, the whole doesn't hang together. Maybe it's the shift in Book III away from humor. Maybe it's the quick pace that, as a friend said, makes this read like a film script. At times, Egerton seems dedicated to crafting sentences; other times he's just putting words on the page to get the idea out there.
So yeah, it's uneven--both promising and disappointing. I badly wanted this to be amazing, because Egerton's clearly capable of amazing, but this isn't it yet.
So yeah, it's uneven--both promising and disappointing. I badly wanted this to be amazing, because Egerton's clearly capable of amazing, but this isn't it yet.
June 7, 2010
As a matter of personal taste, the in-your-face spirituality of The Book of Harold isn't my typical reading material. Despite that initial reaction, this was really a great read. It was funny, had fun plot twists, was creatively constructed, and a real page-turner. (I was even sympathetic to the narrator!) Looking back now, it kind of reminds me of Paul Beatty's "The White Boy Shuffle," which is one of my favorite books. I will definitely recommend this to friends/family.
June 29, 2010
Am I biased because I worked as an editor on the book? Actually, I think it makes me a better reviewer. I've now read The Book of Harold five or six times, and each time I was wowed and moved by its humor, its compassion, its intelligence, its inventiveness, and its storytelling.
At this year's AWP conference, I witnessed people buying The Book of Harold, reading it during panels, and immediately passing it off to a friend. Buy this book! You'll love this book!
May 3, 2012
Egerton is a master of words and the human condition. Whether you are a believer in a religion or a believer in no religion this book will make you think. It will also make you laugh, cry, wonder, and question what is really important to you. I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to anybody.
July 25, 2010
This book is thoroughly engrossing, thought-provoking, and just down-right beautiful. I highly recommend it to everyone and can't say enough good things about this distinctive, original and important book.
July 6, 2013
Egerton's second book, Everyone Says that At the End of the World, was hilarious. This book, not so much. It was apparent that there was much unrealized potential; the concept is great. But the execution of that concept was greatly lacking.
June 29, 2010
When I saw the book had a possum on the cover, I knew it would be funny. Turns out it's also riveting, moving, thoughtful, and downright important. I hope to start over on page 1 again soon.
June 29, 2010
Love this book! Darkly funny, poignant, insightful. Kudos to Owen and his Harold.
August 18, 2010
I'm pretty sure this is really going to happen. And if it does, Harold help us.
May 4, 2017
I came across The Book of Harold in a used book store. After reading the back cover, I wasn't sure if it was for me but for some reason had to take it home. I am glad I did. It was a fresh storyline filled with vivid characters that all seemed slightly familiar. It is the type of book that you would be glad to have with you if you had to spend hours in a hospital waiting room.
September 16, 2023
I found myself reading passages of this book out loud to my husband because I was laughing and he wanted to know why.
I also cried sometimes which maybe wasn’t intended by the author.
I really enjoyed this.
I also cried sometimes which maybe wasn’t intended by the author.
I really enjoyed this.
September 12, 2012
(7/09)
I live in a sort of Jesus freak town. Actually it's just a bunch of religious hypocrites that believe they were touched by the hand of God himself. Anyway, the first time I read this, I was halfway through it. I was at a coffee shop getting ready to settle in my chair and read it. I set it on a table so others would know that someone will be sitting in that spot momentarily. Anyway, a woman picked up the book and rolled her eyes. Her body language definitely told me that she didn't approve of the book! No matter! I liked this book, regardless of whether or not she approves of it.
It definitely approaches concepts of simple spirituality, not making it a religiously inclined book.
(7/10)
Upon my second reading of Harold, the dinner party was one of my favorite situations - so far. Blake compared the dinner party speak like a monotonous (and very predictable) card game, and when he finally looks at Harold in the moments after everyone notices that the dog died, Harold says,
"Since we finished dinner, two hundred and seven people starved to death. The sun has risen on seven percent of the globe. At this moment, three blocks from here, a grandfather is describing what a whale looks like to his granddaughter."..."a woman in Boston is using coal to sketch her husbands face. My mother used to call me Huck. She loved Mark Twain. A man in Africa is being shot in the head for a crime he didn't commit. He wants his daughter to know he's innocent."..."One hundred and four people are dying this minute. Two hundred and fifty-three are being born. Over seven billion people are alive and kicking. And that dog is dead."
I liked this switch in conversation. It put the boring dinner party in perspective to all of the things that are realistically happening close to home and across the globe. Plus, he pointed out the pink elephant in the room - the dog. Which everyone seemed content not to check if the dog was dead or not, so as not to create a scene, ruining their precious dinner party. Harold forced them back into reality. As the dinner party progresses, Harold points out that their empty conversations are full of fluff, and points out certain points in the dinner party.
In the pages that follow, that describes Blake's breakdown and subsequent unhappiness, he asks, "Would you rather be burned at the stake or buried?" to Tammy's friend at dinner. I love that. The book is full of little pieces like that - that happen in moments perfectly crafted, like it's a realistic comedy series! It's great to watch the movie going on in my head, from cubicle walls crashing down, to the moments of the death of Pickles, to the little things that happen on their trek to Austin. I would definitely recommend this book - especially to the religiously inclined person. Perhaps, in my opinion, the book would encourage people to imagine the possibilites of Jesus consciousness comng in the form of another person, instead of a zombie Jesus actually coming to teach us all that it's not a good thing to be an asshole!
I live in a sort of Jesus freak town. Actually it's just a bunch of religious hypocrites that believe they were touched by the hand of God himself. Anyway, the first time I read this, I was halfway through it. I was at a coffee shop getting ready to settle in my chair and read it. I set it on a table so others would know that someone will be sitting in that spot momentarily. Anyway, a woman picked up the book and rolled her eyes. Her body language definitely told me that she didn't approve of the book! No matter! I liked this book, regardless of whether or not she approves of it.
It definitely approaches concepts of simple spirituality, not making it a religiously inclined book.
(7/10)
Upon my second reading of Harold, the dinner party was one of my favorite situations - so far. Blake compared the dinner party speak like a monotonous (and very predictable) card game, and when he finally looks at Harold in the moments after everyone notices that the dog died, Harold says,
"Since we finished dinner, two hundred and seven people starved to death. The sun has risen on seven percent of the globe. At this moment, three blocks from here, a grandfather is describing what a whale looks like to his granddaughter."..."a woman in Boston is using coal to sketch her husbands face. My mother used to call me Huck. She loved Mark Twain. A man in Africa is being shot in the head for a crime he didn't commit. He wants his daughter to know he's innocent."..."One hundred and four people are dying this minute. Two hundred and fifty-three are being born. Over seven billion people are alive and kicking. And that dog is dead."
I liked this switch in conversation. It put the boring dinner party in perspective to all of the things that are realistically happening close to home and across the globe. Plus, he pointed out the pink elephant in the room - the dog. Which everyone seemed content not to check if the dog was dead or not, so as not to create a scene, ruining their precious dinner party. Harold forced them back into reality. As the dinner party progresses, Harold points out that their empty conversations are full of fluff, and points out certain points in the dinner party.
In the pages that follow, that describes Blake's breakdown and subsequent unhappiness, he asks, "Would you rather be burned at the stake or buried?" to Tammy's friend at dinner. I love that. The book is full of little pieces like that - that happen in moments perfectly crafted, like it's a realistic comedy series! It's great to watch the movie going on in my head, from cubicle walls crashing down, to the moments of the death of Pickles, to the little things that happen on their trek to Austin. I would definitely recommend this book - especially to the religiously inclined person. Perhaps, in my opinion, the book would encourage people to imagine the possibilites of Jesus consciousness comng in the form of another person, instead of a zombie Jesus actually coming to teach us all that it's not a good thing to be an asshole!
May 22, 2012
I received this book from the author through the ARC Giveaway. Though much appreciated, it did not influence my impression of the book.
First I'll start with what I didn't like about the book: On the presentation side I found the typeface too small to read comfortably (personal preference). I felt the book begin to drag in some places and some of the ideas it presented may have been repeated too often. Also, I found there to be no true, definite and fulfilling end to the book, but as you'll come to learn if you read it, the journey is more about the walk than it is about where you're walking too.
This is the type of book that will change how you view and approach life and the world while you're reading it, which I've rarely felt while reading fiction (the nihilistic view I gained while reading Fight Club or the appreciation of life through the inevitability of death from Daytripper).
It's not an easy read, as I found myself reading it in small chunks and then taking a a few minutes to reflect on what I had read. It is a book rich in philosophy and encourages active reading, where most fiction requires only a passive approach, giving you a backseat experience while they break concepts down for you.
I'll probably carry a lot of the messages from this book with me for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed this books and the challenges it presented to me, both philosophically and through the unique writing style and structure of the novel, but at the same time I can't wait to sink me teeth into some light, fluffy shlock as a palette cleanser and shower for my soul. 4 out of 5.
First I'll start with what I didn't like about the book: On the presentation side I found the typeface too small to read comfortably (personal preference). I felt the book begin to drag in some places and some of the ideas it presented may have been repeated too often. Also, I found there to be no true, definite and fulfilling end to the book, but as you'll come to learn if you read it, the journey is more about the walk than it is about where you're walking too.
This is the type of book that will change how you view and approach life and the world while you're reading it, which I've rarely felt while reading fiction (the nihilistic view I gained while reading Fight Club or the appreciation of life through the inevitability of death from Daytripper).
It's not an easy read, as I found myself reading it in small chunks and then taking a a few minutes to reflect on what I had read. It is a book rich in philosophy and encourages active reading, where most fiction requires only a passive approach, giving you a backseat experience while they break concepts down for you.
I'll probably carry a lot of the messages from this book with me for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed this books and the challenges it presented to me, both philosophically and through the unique writing style and structure of the novel, but at the same time I can't wait to sink me teeth into some light, fluffy shlock as a palette cleanser and shower for my soul. 4 out of 5.
September 10, 2014
This is a book about faith. In the end, every religion asks its believers to take a leap that can't be cushioned by logic or facts--to choose to believe, wholeheartedly, in something which can't be proven without a doubt. And the journey, from doubt to faith, is a strange one, riddled with obstacles and moments of crisis.
When Blake Waterson first met the son of God, Harold Peeks, it was at a meeting that led to Harold getting fired--because Harold claimed to be Christ. At first, Blake thought Harold was crazy, but the longer her spent in Harold's company, the more something seized him. Belief.
Harold decides to walk two hundred miles, from Houston, Texas, to Austin, and is accompanied by a group of his faithful--and Blake, who isn't so sure he believes, but is unable to separate himself from Harold. But what, ultimately is the goal of Harold's journey--to Austin, or in life? What roles will his followers play, and what will be the results of doubt, if it's allowed to creep into the group.
Blake tells the story in flashbacks, unraveling the truth of what happened, interposed with the beliefs of the religion that sprung up around Harold--often with a hilarious contrast. Harold himself is an unlikely savior, but he is a person and not a myth, with his own doubts and failures that haunt him. After all, not all miracles have good results, and not all wishes happy consequences.
When Blake Waterson first met the son of God, Harold Peeks, it was at a meeting that led to Harold getting fired--because Harold claimed to be Christ. At first, Blake thought Harold was crazy, but the longer her spent in Harold's company, the more something seized him. Belief.
Harold decides to walk two hundred miles, from Houston, Texas, to Austin, and is accompanied by a group of his faithful--and Blake, who isn't so sure he believes, but is unable to separate himself from Harold. But what, ultimately is the goal of Harold's journey--to Austin, or in life? What roles will his followers play, and what will be the results of doubt, if it's allowed to creep into the group.
Blake tells the story in flashbacks, unraveling the truth of what happened, interposed with the beliefs of the religion that sprung up around Harold--often with a hilarious contrast. Harold himself is an unlikely savior, but he is a person and not a myth, with his own doubts and failures that haunt him. After all, not all miracles have good results, and not all wishes happy consequences.
May 31, 2010
"Friggin funniest book I've read since Confederacy of Dunces. Excellent read."
This comment above was my original thought when reading this book. Well, suffice it to say I just finished it (after going on vacation and forgetting my book - d'oh!) and let me say it did not let me down one bit. This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time - I'm talking "laugh out loud on the subway" funny.
The great part is there is a lot more to it than just humor though. It is actually a very poignant (sorry cheezy word) look at the way we humans behave in certain situations, particularity when it relates to religion. Even though it's HILARIOUS it has some beautiful, serious, touching moments.
Here's the summary: It's a about a computer salesman who decides one day that he is the son of god. The book follows him and his followers on their journey through Texas. I'll leave it at that as that's probably enough to hook you.
Ok, last thoughts. This is really a great book. Don't miss out on it.
This comment above was my original thought when reading this book. Well, suffice it to say I just finished it (after going on vacation and forgetting my book - d'oh!) and let me say it did not let me down one bit. This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time - I'm talking "laugh out loud on the subway" funny.
The great part is there is a lot more to it than just humor though. It is actually a very poignant (sorry cheezy word) look at the way we humans behave in certain situations, particularity when it relates to religion. Even though it's HILARIOUS it has some beautiful, serious, touching moments.
Here's the summary: It's a about a computer salesman who decides one day that he is the son of god. The book follows him and his followers on their journey through Texas. I'll leave it at that as that's probably enough to hook you.
Ok, last thoughts. This is really a great book. Don't miss out on it.
June 28, 2010
This is what indie publishing should be about! A completely brilliant concept (what if the next son of god is that frumpy dude who has the cubicle down the hall) coupled with beautifully written and sharp comedy writing (at least three separate times I insisted on reading sections outloud to friends), I really loved this book! A friend passed it along to me with a huge recommendation and I've since passed it along to another friend with a "holy crap you HAVE to read this." If I had any more copies you could be sure I'd be forcing you to read it too. Didn't 100% love the ending, hence 4 rather than 5 (would have been 4.5 if I could) but the writing itself was so fantastic and there were enough twists and turns that I had no choice but to devour it quickly. Looking forward to more from Sir Egerton in the future.
May 7, 2012
I received this through a drawing on the Good Reads website.
I entered the drawing hoping it would be something similar to "Lamb" by Christopher Moore (one of my favorite books). It isn't.
I was somewhat conflicted as I read this book. One of the characters wonders if Harold is "a lunatic, a liar, or the Lord...or maybe all three". This stuck with me throughout the whole book. Then, once I had finished it, I realized it didn't matter. This is a book that makes you think. It made me look at my own life and put value to the things I thought mattered.
Harold made me thing of Chance. from the movie "Being There". Harold never really comes out and delivers messages. He says something and leaves his followers to interpret the meaning based on their own needs and beliefs.
This book can be very deep if you have your mind open to it...
Recommended.
I entered the drawing hoping it would be something similar to "Lamb" by Christopher Moore (one of my favorite books). It isn't.
I was somewhat conflicted as I read this book. One of the characters wonders if Harold is "a lunatic, a liar, or the Lord...or maybe all three". This stuck with me throughout the whole book. Then, once I had finished it, I realized it didn't matter. This is a book that makes you think. It made me look at my own life and put value to the things I thought mattered.
Harold made me thing of Chance. from the movie "Being There". Harold never really comes out and delivers messages. He says something and leaves his followers to interpret the meaning based on their own needs and beliefs.
This book can be very deep if you have your mind open to it...
Recommended.
January 22, 2013
this is an interesting book for several reasons. the story focuses on blake. he is married with one kid (a teenager) and in a boring dead end job. his co-worker, harold, is someone blake hasn't taken the time to know or notice. one day blake must fire harold. later that same day at dinner, harold proclaims he is the son of god. harold then sets out to define what this means.
blake is skeptical of harold's proclamation at first, but then he begins to question his own purpose in life. prompted by harold's cryptic comments, blake quits his job and begins to hang out with harold and his inner circle.
the group of pilgrims begin walking to austin. this poses a number of lessons about tenacity and faith.
this is a satirical look at what drives people to blindly follow questionable leaders and what drives those leaders to lead.
blake is skeptical of harold's proclamation at first, but then he begins to question his own purpose in life. prompted by harold's cryptic comments, blake quits his job and begins to hang out with harold and his inner circle.
the group of pilgrims begin walking to austin. this poses a number of lessons about tenacity and faith.
this is a satirical look at what drives people to blindly follow questionable leaders and what drives those leaders to lead.
March 13, 2013
At an office holiday dinner, a sales analyst named Harold receiving an award proclaims he is the son of God. Offended, his colleague Blake is tasked with firing Harold. Later that same evening, Harold shows up at a dinner party at Blake's house where his dog and his TV suddenly die. Pretty soon Harold attracts a small band of followers among them Blake. He leads them in a walking pilgrimage from Houston to Austin. The occasional small miracle occurs but mostly things happen as one might expect including charges of heresy by the Texan churchfolk they encounter. Set in the present of an America going through an economic and spiritual crisis and by turns poignant and funny, find out if a dude named Harold and his motley crew are the new Saviors or something else entirely.
June 26, 2012
This is the book I happened to be reading when my mother died. So I cannot offer any sort of clear-headed review that is not colored by that experience. I think I felt connected to the setting more than to the characters. I have deep ties to both Houston and Austin. Maybe it was my state-of-mind as a reader, but it basically made me feel sad and like life is random and pointless and unfair. I told you not to expect objectivity.
April 7, 2013
What if the Son of God is a middle-aged guy who lives outside Houston, Texas? And what if he walks to Austin, leading a ragtag group of apostles? And what if he becomes the basis for a new religion after the economic collapse of the US? This ambitious work gives the reader a different take on the divine. And in its irreverence, it makes one consider their own personal beliefs.
January 3, 2011
First half was hilarious. Then it became more serious but was a great story! It was my book club's first book. We met Owen Edgerton shortly after reading it and he was stoked to learn that we enjoyed it.
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