Review by Quinto -- A Good Boy by Anthony Andre
Posted: 04 Oct 2017, 12:49
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Good Boy" by Anthony Andre.]
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The novel A Good Boy by Anthony Andre is an indulgent narration on an inexperienced Pastor who comes face to face with the challenges of presiding over an old fashioned church in Asheville. Luckily, what he lacks in experience he more than compensates through his charisma, wit and geniality.
To put matters into perspective, Asheville is a beautiful, relaxed and laid-back city; and with a prominent population of the "hippie crowd" who are recognizable by their dreads, tattoos, backpacks, ever-present cell phones, and either boots or sandals. Perhaps this and more, contributed to this somnolent Appalachian town's attitude to "little to no use for churches."
Pastor Wesley Aames, on the other hand, is a man in a transition. Having been brought up in foster care and, later, losing his wife and unborn child, he is now looking for some restitution. Consequently, and with heaviness of heart, he leaves his only daughter with his in-laws and even declines a salary raise meant to induce him into continuing as a Youth Minister in his home church in Charlotte, North Carolina; against all odds, he opts for a part-time Minister job at a church with a declining membership and that can't even afford a full-time experienced Pastor.
As fate will have it, Wesley is barely settled at his new job than church politics, frustration with meetings, and more so, a teenage-girl's suicide besets and upsets his heart to the point of questioning his readiness for the job. Furthermore, his association with the girl's mother becomes highly controversial to the point where the church's trustees call for a vote of no confidence with his leadership. But, what could be so serious as to inform a church's decision to want to rescind an appointment less than two weeks into the term?
Undoubtedly, Pastor Wesley is an enigmatic character. Consider this quote from one of his friends: "Laughter rumbled from Simon. 'You're full of surprises. A lying, beer-swilling preacher. You might be exactly what our church needs.' " Isn't it ironical the shepherd is "worse" than the sheep he is trying to save? By any means, this is the one trait that distinguishes him from any of his predecessors and may just serve to increase his church's membership. He is this gregarious character who reaches across racial and social divide and ever looking for an opportunity to make a friend. Even if it's an animal, in this case, a forlorn dog named Lucky! Rosa Lee on the contrary, is a woman to be pitied. Not only does she lose her only daughter through suicide but her penchant for cheap publicity, whether the same it's by manner of dress or opportunity proves to be her Achilles' heel. In a nutshell, she is this heinous and mischievous character that preys upon her daughter's demise to enrich herself.
The author uses repetition, more specifically anadiplosis, as a rhetorical device to make an idea clearer. For example, on page 151, where Wesley's returns home from consoling his friend, Simon, who has lost his wife, the author repeats the last clause: "Wesley returned home" over and over again. Hand in hand with this, the writer's tone is mainly cheerful and informal, except during the various incidents of death when it gets to downright sad. He manages to convey this through diction and dialogue among the characters. Consider this dialogue between Mamie Black (a charming old lady and an acquaintance to Wesley) and Dr Kirby (a friend to both).
" 'You silver-tongued devil,' Doc Kirby winked"
"Wesley grinned just as Mamie bellowed, 'Hurry up you old coot. I'm nekkid and cold.' "
" 'You haven't even had time to take your clothes off yet,' Doc Kirby called back."
"Shut up. My sciatica is acting up."
" 'You don't have sciatica,' Doc called out as he opened the door."
"Shut up, you old quack."
The narrative revolves around the major subject of Christian leadership. Some of the minor themes handled include ecumenism, homosexuality, autism, pre-marital sex, racial and religious tolerance and teenage suicide. The author expertly presents the themes through the feelings of the main character: Wesley and Rosa Lee. In the case of Wesley, for example, the reader appreciates his openness and readiness to dialogue with representatives of different churches within his locality. Additionally, we also get to understand various viewpoints through the thoughts and conversations of different minor characters: social workers. In the latter case, the viewpoints are in the form of expert advise on how to handle a distressed person contemplating suicide, for example.
The formatting of the book is great and seems to be professionally done. The spelling errors are few and thinly dispersed. The plot is convincing with the issues raised being brought to a resolution wonderfully. I would happily recommend the book to a wide audience. For starters, it handles teenage issues like pre-marital sex, so it will appeal to readers in high school and above. Secondly, it's also a good family oriented book that can be used by parents to open conversations on those difficult topics touching on their children like autism, use of profanity, pre-marital sex and suicide; or lastly, a good book to relax on a laid- back day. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
A Good Boy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Quinto's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The novel A Good Boy by Anthony Andre is an indulgent narration on an inexperienced Pastor who comes face to face with the challenges of presiding over an old fashioned church in Asheville. Luckily, what he lacks in experience he more than compensates through his charisma, wit and geniality.
To put matters into perspective, Asheville is a beautiful, relaxed and laid-back city; and with a prominent population of the "hippie crowd" who are recognizable by their dreads, tattoos, backpacks, ever-present cell phones, and either boots or sandals. Perhaps this and more, contributed to this somnolent Appalachian town's attitude to "little to no use for churches."
Pastor Wesley Aames, on the other hand, is a man in a transition. Having been brought up in foster care and, later, losing his wife and unborn child, he is now looking for some restitution. Consequently, and with heaviness of heart, he leaves his only daughter with his in-laws and even declines a salary raise meant to induce him into continuing as a Youth Minister in his home church in Charlotte, North Carolina; against all odds, he opts for a part-time Minister job at a church with a declining membership and that can't even afford a full-time experienced Pastor.
As fate will have it, Wesley is barely settled at his new job than church politics, frustration with meetings, and more so, a teenage-girl's suicide besets and upsets his heart to the point of questioning his readiness for the job. Furthermore, his association with the girl's mother becomes highly controversial to the point where the church's trustees call for a vote of no confidence with his leadership. But, what could be so serious as to inform a church's decision to want to rescind an appointment less than two weeks into the term?
Undoubtedly, Pastor Wesley is an enigmatic character. Consider this quote from one of his friends: "Laughter rumbled from Simon. 'You're full of surprises. A lying, beer-swilling preacher. You might be exactly what our church needs.' " Isn't it ironical the shepherd is "worse" than the sheep he is trying to save? By any means, this is the one trait that distinguishes him from any of his predecessors and may just serve to increase his church's membership. He is this gregarious character who reaches across racial and social divide and ever looking for an opportunity to make a friend. Even if it's an animal, in this case, a forlorn dog named Lucky! Rosa Lee on the contrary, is a woman to be pitied. Not only does she lose her only daughter through suicide but her penchant for cheap publicity, whether the same it's by manner of dress or opportunity proves to be her Achilles' heel. In a nutshell, she is this heinous and mischievous character that preys upon her daughter's demise to enrich herself.
The author uses repetition, more specifically anadiplosis, as a rhetorical device to make an idea clearer. For example, on page 151, where Wesley's returns home from consoling his friend, Simon, who has lost his wife, the author repeats the last clause: "Wesley returned home" over and over again. Hand in hand with this, the writer's tone is mainly cheerful and informal, except during the various incidents of death when it gets to downright sad. He manages to convey this through diction and dialogue among the characters. Consider this dialogue between Mamie Black (a charming old lady and an acquaintance to Wesley) and Dr Kirby (a friend to both).
" 'You silver-tongued devil,' Doc Kirby winked"
"Wesley grinned just as Mamie bellowed, 'Hurry up you old coot. I'm nekkid and cold.' "
" 'You haven't even had time to take your clothes off yet,' Doc Kirby called back."
"Shut up. My sciatica is acting up."
" 'You don't have sciatica,' Doc called out as he opened the door."
"Shut up, you old quack."
The narrative revolves around the major subject of Christian leadership. Some of the minor themes handled include ecumenism, homosexuality, autism, pre-marital sex, racial and religious tolerance and teenage suicide. The author expertly presents the themes through the feelings of the main character: Wesley and Rosa Lee. In the case of Wesley, for example, the reader appreciates his openness and readiness to dialogue with representatives of different churches within his locality. Additionally, we also get to understand various viewpoints through the thoughts and conversations of different minor characters: social workers. In the latter case, the viewpoints are in the form of expert advise on how to handle a distressed person contemplating suicide, for example.
The formatting of the book is great and seems to be professionally done. The spelling errors are few and thinly dispersed. The plot is convincing with the issues raised being brought to a resolution wonderfully. I would happily recommend the book to a wide audience. For starters, it handles teenage issues like pre-marital sex, so it will appeal to readers in high school and above. Secondly, it's also a good family oriented book that can be used by parents to open conversations on those difficult topics touching on their children like autism, use of profanity, pre-marital sex and suicide; or lastly, a good book to relax on a laid- back day. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
A Good Boy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Quinto's review? Post a comment saying so!
I enjoyed your thoughts on the themes of the book and how they're explored through the contrasting opinions of Rosa Lee and Wesley.