Black Jesus

by Simone Felice

Part love story, part protest at the broken promises lying at the heart of the American Dream, this astonishing debut novel from one of the music world's rising stars" "is a passionate, twisted hymn to the marginalized and forgotten"Black Jesus is shy, and a killer.""Black Jesus is white as a dove"A young marine returns from Iraq, blinded and scarred by a roadside bomb and harboring a terrible secret. Called Black Jesus by his fellow soldiers on account of his name being Lionel White and his birthday being Christmas Day, he has returned to his decaying home town to sit in the back of his mother's junkshop, pop OxyContin, and try to forget what he's seen. Into his life one day rides Gloria, a mysterious young dancer who is fleeing darkness and violence of a different kind, and with whom he finds unexpected love.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short, easy to read novel is full of tragic, broken people, but oddly I felt no real sympathy for any of them. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or not, or even if it's what the author intended. True, his writing style is very matter-of-fact, tongue-in-cheek - and rather than being a novel, this is probably more of an expose, or human study, or social study - or some bloody thing. In any event, I liked it. At least I think I did. I'm not really sure. Worth reading, if only for its originality.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book was powerful. So completely honest and moving and original. It is so poetic, I found myself re-reading some sections aloud just so I could hear them. Reading Black Jesus was definitely an afternoon well spent!

[Karo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I reviewed this book for alternativmusik.de, a German music magazine, but it's in German, and although I'm sure that counts, I'll just quickly say a few words about it here. Simone Felice may be a lot of people's musical hero, and probably quite rightly so, but boy, can he NOT write a novel. Black Jesus is the man's third published book, after some shorter fiction, and it's still only 200 pages long. That's just not enough space to deal with all the things Felice set out to deal with. Black Jesus is Lionel White, a young soldier returning from Iraq. He's blind and drugged and suffering from what he saw in the war, and now he has to move back in with his mum. She loves her boy but can't get through to him. On the other side of the country, a stripper called Gloria (or maybe not) runs away from the boyfriend who possibly broke her leg after he learned that she had auditioned for a ballet company. Well, technically she doesn't run, but drives a moped, which I'm sure is much easier to do with a BROKEN LEG. She drives across the whole of America, ponders life and the landscape a bit, then meets Black Jesus, and the two of them solve their crises together. Also, there's a lot more pondering, and somehow it's a given that America is on its last leg and everything is DOOMED. That may well be, only there is no lyrical quality to it at all. There are hardly any adjectives other than "good" and "bad" (yes, there is a bad Nazi. Not just a Nazi, a BAD one) and "lonely". The only stylistic means we are being bombarded with are endless enumerations. They're meant to be deep, but they're just annoying. And as for the meeting of kindred lost souls? They kidnap an old lady from her nursing home and then lie down in the grass together (minus the old lady). That's it. There is a very small chance all this might have been due to the piss poor translation, but I have to cut the translator some slack. There had to be a bad text first.

[Alec · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. It may not be the most advanced writing but nonetheless this book gave me goosebumps numerous times. It hits you where it hurts so good.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful. Simone is a fantastic writer.

[Rebecca Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Simone's writing style, the reading was enjoyable. But I just didn't 'get' this book. Oh I don't mean that I didn't get his style or what he was trying to portray, I just mean the book - although beautifully written didn't leave any impression on me at all.
I will admit I found the critics sudden mental break to be a little melodramatic and pointless for my taste.

[JJ Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has been written by a poet and song writer and this talent runs through this brilliant story from beginning to end. There is actually so much I want to say about this stunningly original and simply perfect book. But I am going to leave it there. My favorite book for quite some time, thank you very much Simone Felice.

[zespri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that the author of this book was a celebrated songwriter and poet. Maybe a good thing, as I was captivated from the first page with the author's use of language and imagery. I'm a sucker for words, words, words.

The story is simple, and charming, and all in all this was a very satisfying read for me.

[4ZZZ Book Club · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Grace's review here, and listen to Sky's interview with the author.

[Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it an extra star because I like his music... don't get me wrong. For what it is, it's great. A short story/stream of poetic thoughts held together by almost cliche characters. Simone really shines when it comes to tone and similes.

[Charley Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my video review on why i rated it 4/5 stars!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpJPQ...
Charley

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has just arrived in the post. The minute I finish this PGCE, it is getting read. Sounds amazing!

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Simone Felice's music an his writing is just as poetic. A lovely read which left me somewhat heartbroken in parts.

[Theimaginarygirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt contrived. It was pretty predictable, yet I did like many of his characters. It was an okay read, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and poetic

[Kenneth]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13826999