The Messiah of Morris Avenue

Perfect audio book- Wouldn't read in print, no way, no how, unless I was sitting in a Borders with absolutely nothing else to read...and I had time to kill...and I wouldn't be interrupted. Maybe. That being said I'm always fascinated when an author tries to capture the life of a beloved figure such as Jesus Christ or Buddha or the Dali Lama. Great Listen!!!!

Not to give away the ending (of this post, not the book) Hendra didn't do a bad job. Actually I'm giving him faint praise. He did an incredible job. His portrayal of the reception a reincarnation of Jesus would receive in the modern world (or near future) is dead on.

In Hendra's world, the Christian Right controls the world from Congress to Hollywood which they have renamed "Holywood" and like most power-mongers disputes, distrusts and destroys anything that gets in its way. Narrated by Johnny Grecco, a cynical reporter, readers are introduced to Jose Kennedy --- aka Jay. Through Johnny eyes we wonder- is Jay the modern day reincarnation of Christ? Or is he merely a deluded son of poor but devout Guatemalan immigrants? Johnny soon begins to follow the life of Jay starting with his Bronx based roots, interviewing his mother and the devout followers, including drifters and ho's.

Before long Jay's unpopular theology gains the attention of the Christian Right. Their response is typical and clichéd- CRUSH HIM, post-haste. This is a wonderful book from start to finish- well-paced and utterly believable especially in the modern world.