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On the Road to Heaven
From the author of "Latter Days: A Guided Tour Through Six Billion Years of Mormonism" comes this exuberant and groundbreaking autobiographical novel about the modern Mormon convert experience. Revealing the author's hard-won path to meaning, faith, and forgiveness, "On the Road to Heaven" is a love story about a girl and a guy and their search for heaven-a lotta love, a little heaven, and one heck of a ride in between. In a style reminiscent of and offering homage to Jack Kerouac, "On the Road to Heaven" traces an LSD-to-LDS pilgrimage across the geographic and cultural landscape of two continents in the late twentieth century. From the 1970s hippie heyday of the Colorado mountains to the coca fields of Colombia, it's a journey through Thoreau ascetics, Ram Dass Taoism, and Edward Abbey monkey-wrenching to the mission fields of one of the world's fastest-growing-and most trenchantly conservative-religions. Few stories have ever described a more unusual road to redemption.
333 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 18, 2010
While I found the style a bit uneven, the experience was well-told and resonated with mine. I was raised a Mormon in western Oregon, while the main character in Newell's book was raised as a tree-hugging hippie in Colorado before becoming a Mormon, but still he did a better job of explaining part of what appeals to me about being a Mormon better, perhaps, than any other book I've yet read.
May 13, 2008
SO GOOD. I gobbled it up. I adored Coke Newell's book Latter Days, so when I heard he had written an "autobiographical fiction" I snapped it up. He didn't disappoint.
January 18, 2017
The inspiring conversion story of a 70's-era, Rocky Mountain-high hippie.
November 22, 2008
When a book is advertised as an "autobiographical novel" you are left to constantly wonder what is autobiography and what is fiction - especially when you're acquainted with the author (I met him briefly when I worked at the Church).
The book tells the story of Kit West. In the first half he grows up in the Colorado mountains as a long-haired, philosophy-reading, pot-smoking, society-rejecting hippie. He meets Annie, who has run away from home to escape her parent's "religious fanaticism" after their conversion to Mormonism. Kit and Annie become close and share unusual experiences, but eventually Kit converts to Mormonism and Annie returns home to accept her family's faith as well. The second half describes Kit's mission to Colombia. He's an exceptional missionary and has some remarkable experiences; I related to many descriptions of his service to a South American people. Meanwhile, Annie finds her faith and serves a mission to Quebec. They have drifted far apart - will they get together in the end?
I enjoyed much of the book, and related to the experiences on quite a few levels. The one very negative impression was the author's fixation on women's bodies. There was a bit much during the hippie phase of the book (phrases like, "she had breasts the size of Cook County"), but I hoped it would get better during the mission - not so. Lots of talk about the beautiful scantily-clad Colombian women, their impact on missionaries, baptisms without bras, nursing mothers, and so on - completely unnecessary, and detracted much from an otherwise fascinating memoir.
The book tells the story of Kit West. In the first half he grows up in the Colorado mountains as a long-haired, philosophy-reading, pot-smoking, society-rejecting hippie. He meets Annie, who has run away from home to escape her parent's "religious fanaticism" after their conversion to Mormonism. Kit and Annie become close and share unusual experiences, but eventually Kit converts to Mormonism and Annie returns home to accept her family's faith as well. The second half describes Kit's mission to Colombia. He's an exceptional missionary and has some remarkable experiences; I related to many descriptions of his service to a South American people. Meanwhile, Annie finds her faith and serves a mission to Quebec. They have drifted far apart - will they get together in the end?
I enjoyed much of the book, and related to the experiences on quite a few levels. The one very negative impression was the author's fixation on women's bodies. There was a bit much during the hippie phase of the book (phrases like, "she had breasts the size of Cook County"), but I hoped it would get better during the mission - not so. Lots of talk about the beautiful scantily-clad Colombian women, their impact on missionaries, baptisms without bras, nursing mothers, and so on - completely unnecessary, and detracted much from an otherwise fascinating memoir.
February 23, 2016
I read a positive review of this book in a BYU magazine and was intrigued because Newell was the person from the Church's office of Public Affairs who helped me with the chapter on Mormonism about five years back when I edited a book on building religious collections for teens published by Libraries Unlimited.
It's classified as autobiographical fiction, and tells the story of a mountain hippie boy growing up in Colorado, converting to Mormonism at 17, and then serving a mission in Colombia. It's definitely a different kind of Mormon novel, and probably wouldn't appeal to those who want their stories squeaky clean. Richard Bushman, author of JosephSmith: Rough Stone Rolling, said this about Newell's book:
"I have never read such a gripping story of conversion and missionary labor. It held me fast partly because of the winsome romance mixed into the story of a mountain hippie who finds life's meaning in Mormonism. But the gritty descriptions of friendship and adventure in the Colorado wilderness and of missionaries working the mean streets of Colombia are enthralling in themselves. The candid view of the vicissitudes of a spiritual life will startle readers accustomed to more staid narratives."
The writing style is unusual and it took me a bit to get into it, but once in I loved it and was sorry to have it end.
It's classified as autobiographical fiction, and tells the story of a mountain hippie boy growing up in Colorado, converting to Mormonism at 17, and then serving a mission in Colombia. It's definitely a different kind of Mormon novel, and probably wouldn't appeal to those who want their stories squeaky clean. Richard Bushman, author of JosephSmith: Rough Stone Rolling, said this about Newell's book:
"I have never read such a gripping story of conversion and missionary labor. It held me fast partly because of the winsome romance mixed into the story of a mountain hippie who finds life's meaning in Mormonism. But the gritty descriptions of friendship and adventure in the Colorado wilderness and of missionaries working the mean streets of Colombia are enthralling in themselves. The candid view of the vicissitudes of a spiritual life will startle readers accustomed to more staid narratives."
The writing style is unusual and it took me a bit to get into it, but once in I loved it and was sorry to have it end.
June 15, 2008
Coke Newell is an extroadinary writer. I got SOOO much out of this journey through Coke'[s autobiographical odyssey through two phases of life. I thoroughly enjoyed how he put his life to hell in the first half, then his Road to Heaven in the second half.
This journey through is life as a Colorado hippe boy who communes with nature, Kereoack and communes with Native American Indians is great.
He finds who he is through his closenesswith nature and where God is. His Missionary experiences are what make him what he is today. What a most rewarding journey Coke takes in the fields of Colombia where he has encounters with cockroaches, illnesses, and an earthquake.
I rate this book in my top 25 of all time favorite books, it's that good.
This journey through is life as a Colorado hippe boy who communes with nature, Kereoack and communes with Native American Indians is great.
He finds who he is through his closenesswith nature and where God is. His Missionary experiences are what make him what he is today. What a most rewarding journey Coke takes in the fields of Colombia where he has encounters with cockroaches, illnesses, and an earthquake.
I rate this book in my top 25 of all time favorite books, it's that good.
April 15, 2012
If you are going to write a book about your religious conversion and certain miracles you have experienced make it a memoir. The tag 'autobiographical novel' bothers me. What is real? What is exaggerated or simply made up?
The work loses a lot of appeal because these questions keeps plaguing the reader. I liked the first part of this book, loved the nature writing and all the hippie stuff. Loved his exploration of mysticism, Native American religions, Ram Dass, Thoreau. I could relate so well to all of it. But as soon as he starts talking about his conversion to Mormonism, I felt funny. My gut dropped. I felt it became manipulative and corny. And I am a Mormon! I didn't even WANT to read about his mission. No can do. Sorry, Coke.
The work loses a lot of appeal because these questions keeps plaguing the reader. I liked the first part of this book, loved the nature writing and all the hippie stuff. Loved his exploration of mysticism, Native American religions, Ram Dass, Thoreau. I could relate so well to all of it. But as soon as he starts talking about his conversion to Mormonism, I felt funny. My gut dropped. I felt it became manipulative and corny. And I am a Mormon! I didn't even WANT to read about his mission. No can do. Sorry, Coke.
November 20, 2012
A great story of LDS conversion and missionary work. This semi-autobiographical fictional work by Coke Newell describes the conversion of a young Colorado hippy in the early 1970's and his subsequent mission to Colombia. While this book is a bit too open to be a Deseret book, (For example, the young convert has to learn a couple of weeks after his baptism that marijuana use is against the word of wisdom), it presents a very honest and spiritual story of finding the gospel, and hanging onto it, against all odds. My wife and I, and some of our best friends, have found reading it to be a wonderful spiritual experience.
I am not sure how easy it is to find on paperback, but it can easily be downloaded as an E book,
I am not sure how easy it is to find on paperback, but it can easily be downloaded as an E book,
June 9, 2008
This book was a counterbalance to the Backslider. It was the story of a young man's coversion to the LDS church then gave a pretty detailed description of his mission to South America. It was positive and uplifiting and I enjoyed reading it because I could relate to many of the experiences of this young man. I calculated the young man was just a couple of years younger than me. Although it had a positive and uplifting tone I think the author tried to be honest about the challenges in the mission field and trying to keep one's faith. This is not great literature but a good story and one I thought would be good for someone preparing for a mission.
September 8, 2009
C Jane recommended this book on her blog. I really enjoyed his conversion story. I think that the first half of the book was excellent and the second half was good, although I stayed up half the night because I had to see how it ended. I am always fascinated by what really draws people to find truth. He does an excellent job translating how he felt such a yearning to understand the purpose of life. I really hope that our book club picks this in the next few months so that I can really discuss some of the 'big picture' concepts that this book discusses.
I'm recommending this to all my goodreads friends. And then, please call me so that we can have lunch and talk about it further.
I'm recommending this to all my goodreads friends. And then, please call me so that we can have lunch and talk about it further.
June 7, 2008
I found this to be a delightful conversion story, written as "autobiographical fiction." The first half describes the author as a Colorado hippie teenager in the 70s, and the second half tells of his susequent mission to Colombia. An enjoyable account of a less-than-traditional LDS boy's experience, complete with quotes from Jack Kereouac's "On the Road."
July 31, 2008
I really liked this book. It was recommended on one of the blogs that I read, so I picked it up and I'm glad I did. The whole time I was reading it, I thought it was an autobiography (not an autobiographical novel) and I couldn't figure out why the author and the person telling the story had different names. Duh! In spite of that, it is a good conversion/missionary story, but not necessarily the type of story you would expect from an LDS author. I would recommend this book.
February 14, 2009
What can I say to convince you to read this book? I didn't realize until after I finished it that it was an autobiographical novel, which makes me love it even more.
It's a love story, sure, but it's more about one person's journey to personal conversion and finding truth and sharing it with the people of Columbia. It was so... real. Don't let me mess things up by trying to describe the beautiful descriptions and sheer honesty in this book. Just go read it already!
It's a love story, sure, but it's more about one person's journey to personal conversion and finding truth and sharing it with the people of Columbia. It was so... real. Don't let me mess things up by trying to describe the beautiful descriptions and sheer honesty in this book. Just go read it already!
February 27, 2009
Nan gift, highly recommended by she and Don.
I enjoyed the read. The author's writing style is refreshingly his own, not contrived to meet the standard of a particular publisher as is often the case with LDS fiction writers. I read it as a book of fiction based on the author's personal experiences. I doubt there is another LDS mission- related story published that freely expresses many young men's challenges and bonuses of serving an LDS mission as well as this does.
I enjoyed the read. The author's writing style is refreshingly his own, not contrived to meet the standard of a particular publisher as is often the case with LDS fiction writers. I read it as a book of fiction based on the author's personal experiences. I doubt there is another LDS mission- related story published that freely expresses many young men's challenges and bonuses of serving an LDS mission as well as this does.
February 18, 2009
This book is an autobiographical novel of a boy trying to find the meaning of life. I had a really problem reading this book and almost quite a number of times until I reached chapter 18. The rest of the book made it worth the read. When I was done I decided that if I had read the first three chapters than chapter 7 and 8 and the moved to chapter 15. It would have been a great book.
April 2, 2010
My daughter had to read this book for a class and she recommended it, so I read it and loved it. It was so nice to have a book like this without cheesy fake conversations. Coke Newell did a good job of telling his story. I'm glad he put in the bad stuff as well as the good. I thought it was uplifting. I have found out that this book is all true except the names have been changed.
April 10, 2008
This is a remarkable book. I highly recommend it to family and friends. I think I will buy a copy so I can lend it. A surprisingly fast read. Much of it is set in the Colorado mountains that I loved as a child. Made me wish I spent more time outdoors.
October 30, 2008
This very realistic fictional account of the conversion of a teenage hippie during the 1970's and his subsequent mission to Colombia was a real page turner for me . . . especially the missionary part since I also served in Colombia at about that same time.
September 10, 2009
I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one day. His story of going from a life of no religion to being totally immersed and teaching others about his newfound is inspiring. I would strongly consider purchasing this book and adding it to my library.
July 7, 2009
I read this while I was taking a Mormon Lit class. I loved it! It took me a little while to read though. I have read Jack Kerouk's On The Road, in which this book is paying homage to, and that also took me a little while to read. While they were very similar I liked this one much much better!!
February 10, 2008
This is a great story about a nature loving Colorado hippie from the seventies who converts to Mormonism. It's inspiring, funny and compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 4, 2008
Fascinating autobiographical novel about a hippie mountain kid turned Mormon missionary. Real and at times gritty. I'd like to see more LDS fiction like this.
October 13, 2009
The story (if you like Mormon conversion stories) was totally good. The writing...not so much. It was disjointed and hard to follow (especially in the beginning) and I almost quit a few times.
September 4, 2008
I enjoyed this book, I just couldn't get into it until his conversion and his mission to Columbia which was amazing.
August 26, 2008
This book is great for anyone who is a mormon or curious about mormonism.
September 15, 2008
This book grew on me as I got to know the author better through seeing why/how he made the choices he did as he went from a tree-hugger to a missionary.
It was a quick easy read.
It was a quick easy read.
April 11, 2010
Fiction, based on a young man's conversion story to the LDS Church.
July 17, 2009
My first adventure in Mormon fiction. It is a great story (colorado moutain hippy turns Mormon missionary), but the narrative comes off amateurish.
July 21, 2009
Good read. Not your usual LDS author.
September 5, 2009
Not your typical conversion story--a hippie seeker finds what he's been looking for (autobiographical).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews