Danny Gospel

David Athey

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Once he'd performed in his family's gospel band, but now most of his loved ones have passed on. Still known as 'Danny Gospel', he is living a sedate, quiet life as a postman in a small Iowa town. Soon his tranquil existence is broken open by - a dream, a vision, a sign? - a beautiful woman he is sure is his 'beloved'. Logic and sense tucked safely out of harm's way, Danny launches a quest to find his true love. Always good-natured, he is a hero on a journey - dreaming impossible dreams and, no matter how much he must suffer, pursuing romance and heavenly glory.

Review by Gina Hendrix (090809) Rating (8/10)

Review by Gina Hendrix
Rating 8/10
If you sing your life... a wondrous tale of the life and times of a young man searching for the tempting and ever elusive 'normal, happy life'. C. S. Lewis once said "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." Danny Gospel is a book worth reading again and again. I imagine many Christians yearn to view life as Danny Gospel did.

Danny Gospel is the name given to the main character by those who had heard him sing with his family years ago. He is a mail carrier in a small Iowa town with strong faith, believing the unbelievable and quick to notice the miracles (signs and wonders) that occur every day in the lives of each of us.

He begins his journey after receiving a kiss in a vision prompting him to seek out the 'normal, happy life'. He encounters many colourful characters which hearken thoughts and recollections of his life from blissful childhood to the rude awakening of the loss of all his family members, save one - his brother Jonathan.

So refreshing were the colourful characters, the vivid landscape descriptions, and the spirited dialogue that I found myself still thinking of this story long after I finished the book. Extremely well written, the author touches on relationship nuances that you do not find in many novels. These nuances, expressed at times in lyrics hymns and poems, stir the reader to nostalgia and wonder.

As you read through Danny Gospel's memories, you will encounter love, romance, yearning, sadness, grief, loss, and tragedy and find yourself in the end reading of redemption and reconciliation.
Gina Hendrix (9th August 2009)