The Book of Jotham

by Arthur Powers

For 23 years the completed manuscript of The Book of Jotham sat in the author's desk drawer, typewritten, collecting dust and time. On an early autumn day in 2012, the manuscript arrived at Tuscany Press, and we discovered this compelling and moving story. Jotham is a mentally challenged man-child who, like the other apostles, follows Jesus as Christ carries out his ministry and experiences death by crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Yet the other apostles, the dedicated Mary, Peter, Thomas, and the rest, while they care for Jotham and look out for him, don't understand why Jesus loves him so. Thomas even says, after Jesus offers a parable, I don't see why all the pots cant be strong and beautiful.

Jotham may be different, but through him, we come to see Jesus and Jotham not just with our eyes, but also with our hearts.

Genres: Fiction, Catholic, Religion, Faith, Christian

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2013

About the author

Arthur Powers went to Brazil in 1969 as a Peace Corps Volunteer and lived most his adult life there. From 1985 to 1992 he and his wife (with their two daughters) served with the Franciscan Friars in the eastern Amazon, doing pastoral work and organizing subsistence farmers and rural workers' unions in a region of violent land conflicts. Later they directed relief & development projects in the drought-ridden Brazilian Northeast. Currently they live in Raleigh, NC.
Mr. Powers received a Fellowship in Fiction from the Massachusetts Artists Foundation & many other writing awards. His collection of short stories set in Brazil, A Hero For The People, is forthcoming from Press 53. His short novel, The Book of Jotham, winner of the 2012 Tuscany Novella Award, is published by Tuscany Press. Tuscanhttp://www.amazon.com/The-Book-of-Jot...

Reviews

[David C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Faulkner's best-known novel, The Sound and the Fury, the book that propelled him to the '49 Nobel Prize, purports to be "a tale told by an idiot." A mentally-challenged character, "Benjy," narrates the book's first section. Whatever term we now employ to signal Benjy's affliction, his voice is childlike, detached, and often disorienting. Benjy's narrative is characterized by nonlinearity: events appear in a stream of consciousness. Though some readers find this section difficult to follow, Benjy's perspective offers unbiased penetration into many other characters' true motivations. In Faulkner's inimitable telling, Benjy's specialness gives insight, enabling him to apprehend a deeper, underlying Truth. Compare Quentin, the most intelligent and most tormented Compson. Melancholy Quentin cuts classes at Harvard, wanders Cambridge & contemplates death. Unable to confront or accept reality, Quentin's febrile mind dwells endlessly on the South's post-war squalor. Though brilliant, Quentin succumbs to mortal despair. This inversion of rationalist, Enlightenment values evokes Dostoyevsky's 1880 masterwork, The Brothers Karamazov, wherein the smartest brother, Ivan, is tortured and crippled by existential doubt. In contrast, the simple, unquestioning faith exhibited by the (ostensibly) least-intelligent brother, Alyosha, represents the path to wisdom and salvation. Upon these literary foundations stands The Book of Jotham, a Catholic novella penned in the 1990's which slept unpublished for 23 long years. The story is told from the perspective of Jotham, described as “big as a house, stupid as a donkey.” The novella's title suggests that this book is an imaginary lost gospel -- another testament to complement and enrich the canonical offerings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. As reviewer Ellen G. Hrkach writes, "What makes this book so unusual is that it’s written in the second person and is a fictional story of [Jotham's] relationship with Jesus and the apostles. The narrative from Jotham’s point of view is filled with sentence fragments and (what appear to be) simple thoughts." Though the book is set during Jesus' life, and not during the Great Depression of the 1930's, Powers' memorable lead character is reminiscent of Lenny from Steinbeck's famous novella Of Mice and Men. Readers afraid to venture into the consciousness of a mentally-challenged narrator may prefer something lighter, whereas bold readers hungering for a new perspective on Christ's miraculous life and teachings may find this remarkable, spiritual work deeply rewarding. Readers of faith should celebrate the belated emergence of this compelling text from its decades-long hibernation.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is short but the message is profound, challenging the reader to see the value of a life not by intelligence or usefulness but though the eyes of God. The Book of Jotham is an original piece of biblical fiction through the eyes of a mentally disabled follower of Jesus (Jotham).

The second person narration and sentence fragments are less off-putting than I might have guessed since they serve an important purpose here as the story is told from Jotham's point of view.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very few books completely surprise me. This book has been on my radar for several years and been on my kindle for a few. I finally got around to reading it, when a different Catholic author I respect asked if anyone has read it. So, it jumped to the top of my to be read pile.

It is an easy book to read, and an easy book to understand. But it is not an easy book to process. I have been thinking about it a lot over the last few days. And it is not just the story, but how the story is told that is having a lasting impact upon me. The writing reminds me of the styles of both Noah ben Shea and Paulo Coelho. There are books by both of those authors that I have returned to time and time again. And this book feels like it might fall into that practice.

The description of the volume is:

“Jotham is a mentally challenged man-child who, like the other apostles, follows Jesus as Christ carries out his ministry and experiences death by crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Yet the other apostles—the dedicated Mary, Peter, Thomas, and the rest—while they care for Jotham and look out for him, don’t understand why Jesus loves him so. Thomas even says, after Jesus offers a parable, “I don’t see why all the pots can’t be strong and beautiful.”

Jotham may be different, but through him, we come to see Jesus and Jotham not just with our eyes, but also with our hearts.”

Some reviewers speculate that Jotham has Downs Syndrome, I think it just as likely that he is on the Autism spectrum. But the specific challenge he faced are not the issue. It is his interactions with Jesus, the disciples, Mary the mother of god, and Mary of Magdala. The power in the story is both the portrayal of Jotham’s view of events, but also how others in Jesus’s circle saw and interacted with Jotham. There is immense power in the story of his being cleaned up. And also having his feet shod.

I myself have a dual form of dyslexia, and throughout my schooling from grad 2 to 20 years in university I interacted often with special needs students, or students with disabilities depending on the school and what was politically correct at the time. My disability is not physical and is not obvious to many. Others were more like Jotham, it was clear that there were differences physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Reading this book has me reflecting back on some of the other students I encountered more often. Thinking about how they saw and interpreted those interactions, and how I myself behaved. And to be honest the book will have a lasting impact on my interactions with people going forward.

I am grateful that I finally got around to reading this book. It is not an easy book to review. But I can state that I highly recommend it and challenge you to give it a read and see what sort of impact it has on your life.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. This book is on Joseph Pearce’s list of 100 books every Catholic should read, and his list of 3 books to read to understand Down syndrome.

[Karen Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many writers are good and some writers are talented. The rare writer is both but also has a cadence, a rhythm, and an almost lyrical quality to his verse. Arthur Powers is one of those rare authors. In his new novella, The Book of Jotham, he invites us into the song of Jotham, the tale of a mentally-challenged man who lives in the time of Christ. We travel in Jotham’s mind, understanding as he understands, walking as he walks, being ridiculed as he is belittled for his limited comprehension of life. We are with Jotham when, failing to perceive his mother’s death, we see his vision of the ‘light’ fading from his life. We are with him when he wanders to the city, and when he finds ‘Abba’ a new source of light to guide his life.

Our journey with Jotham includes his participation in the the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. His simple take on the charity of Christ adds a sense of reality to the miracle. We are with him as Peter shares his sandals and introduces Thomas. We are privy to Jotham’s relationship with a lost and confused Judas whose betrayal of Christ destroys. Yet, the most profound relationship that Jotham develops, excluding that with his Abba, is the one he develops with Mary. Her compassion toward Jotham is revealed not only in her kindness, but in the glow of the Christ-light that grows in her. Jotham can see that light of Christ as it is transferred from the source of all light to those who follow his ways. It is a powerful explanation of how the Holy Spirit places the light of Christ into each individual believer. If only we, like Jotham, had the gift of seeing Christ in others.

So few see the light as Jotham does. So few see the love that Abba (Jesus) has for his slow- minded creation. Yet, as we think of Jotham as limited, this powerful author shows us that we are the limited. We are limited by our fear, our intelligence, our greed, and our sin. To truly see the pure light that Jotham does, we need to have the pure heart that he possesses. In this short magical read, Powers weaves us the story of a man who processes more than we ever will. A pure, simple, and loving heart that is drawn to the light of Christ without impediment. This is a powerful journey that we take with Jotham – a journey to the truth. Love is more powerful than any knowledge or pride we may have. And the love of Christ is the most powerful love of all. Bravo! Arthur Powers for The Book of Jotham, this is more than just a tale. It is a love song you have created. I highly recommend this book!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jotham" is a beautiful story of an unsung apostle, telling the story of Christ through different eyes. I loved reading this story and experiencing the Passion in an entirely new way. The powerful tale will be loved by all Christians and will hopefully open some eyes, and hearts. Also a wonderful testimony to the dignity of every human life.

[Clinton Festa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I don't know the exact word count, but it's either a short novel or a novella. The concept was wonderfully executed, and though we watch the world through Jotham's eyes, we see the motivation and development of compelling Gospel characters like Judas and Mary Magdalene. I had always had questions about Judas Iscariot - was he in control and responsible for his actions if God needed them to happen, and, what could make him do what he did? Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth miniseries handled the Judas character brilliantly, and the Book of Jotham handled him just as well. In Jotham, you feel the everyday words and anxieties more intimately of these and other characters and think, "Yes, it not only could have been that way, but it must have been that way." Like A Hero for the People (same author), there is a kind spirit to the writing that allows the reader to experience difficult things in a save environment, providing the reader with a cleansing of fear and anxiety, or at least an opportunity to feel good about them. Aristotle's Poetics called this 'catharsis,' but it's just something you have to experience by reading exceptional writing like this.

[Amanda Lauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written quick read detailing the last couple weeks of Christ's life on earth through the eyes of a young man with Down's Syndrome named Jotham. While the text is simple, it's profound seeing this story from such a unique point of view.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one fits the amazing category, so five stars. Emotive writing is in a style I had not previously encountered.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, yet profound read. Written as a novella, I picked up that even the short length of the story proves that truth can be presented succinctly in few words. Jotham as a disabled man communicates his journey with Christ and humanity in a very sensory way. He processes events and the genuine character of individuals around him through what he feels. This is opposite of what we define as competence. His conversation is limited but his understanding of relationship with the Creator and Savior is deep and necessary. He epitomizes that "childlike faith" our Lord so encouraged in each one of us.

What I like most about this story is that Jesus could have restored Jotham to complete normalcy, but chose for the better of surrounding souls to live and let live. Jotham's underlying peace and received love was grace enough to endure mockery and insults. Although challenged in a way that I felt he was locked inside his disability, Jotham no less understood when he was being insulted or loved: A most basic intelligence. The book's message is encouraging to those who are caregivers to disabled people. Wholeness as a perception is expressed in this novella as one that draws us to faith, something beyond what we see, feel, hear, and taste.

[Caroline Valencia Dalisay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad Mr. Powers wrote The Book of Jotham. The language Mr. Powers used brought me to a level where I saw the world through Jotham's heart and it was a much higher place than where I was. Being familiar with the gospels, I marveled at the inclusion of Jotham in them, which I used to my advantage...I put myself in his sandals and they fit. I always remember my favorite books by the message I walk away with after reading them. The Book of Jotham gave me this: God loves me. I don't know if there can be a better message. God bless you, Mr. Powers for this humbling and uplifting tale, beautifully written, wonderfully told.
– P.S. I wrote the above review in Amazon right after I read the book. Months later, the story’s sentiment still tugs at me. There is something uniquely wonderful in The Book of Jotham: it stays in one’s heart, like God’s promise that His words shall never pass away. It is a story worth reading not only for its literary soundness, which is quite a big bonus in itself, but for what it does to your heart. ~Yen Valencia-Dalisay

[Diana Tabbaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. I thought the narrative was beautiful, poetic with a strong first person viewpoint. The most moving part to me was in the beginning when Jotham describes his mother. It clearly reflected the deepness of a mother’s love, as a reflection of God’s love. This poignant note was touched upon again when he meets the Blessed Mother and sees her as another mother. The characters were very “earthy” , yet the underlying sense of spiritualty came through. It was a good read for adults and youth as well. It left me with a sense of peace.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depicting the life of Christ from the perspective of a mentally-challenged man, The Book of Jotham is a tale that is both haunting and lyrical. The story is narrated in the second person in short sentences that take on a poetic quality. At first, this device may seem distracting, but it gradually draws the reader into Jotham's world, and what an amazing world that is. Jotham's understanding of Jesus is far more profound than those around him who mock him or shame him. Jotham is the child-like adult who sees the truth when others are blind.

An unusual and memorable book!

[Trudy Matus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Christ has been told from many different viewpoints, but this fictional short read was different and appealed to me as a mother, a retired teacher who worked with special needs students, and a Christian. Jesus's teaching about the pure in heart is shown so exquisitely by this author, and Powers's portrayal of the interaction between his fictional character and Mary Magdalene was beautiful and touching. I dearly loved this book.

[R.b. O'gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing; moving story. It's written in second person and before you know it, you become the protagonist, the mentally challenged young man sitting on the side of the road when a charismatic rabbi passes by. A very fast read. First I read for the emotion of the tale, and then re-read to enjoy the poetry of the words.

[Holmes Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! A unique perspective with a simple but powerful impact. It really made me take 'pause' & think & experience my faith in a raw form. Let go of the baggage; feel & understand the beauty of God's grace that lives in all of us if we choose to accept it.

[Esther Koncyk Mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a recommendation

I follow Ellen Gable and have read many of her recommendations and have never been disappointed. This book was no exception.
It is written entirely from Jotham's perspective. Under normal circumstances, this is not a problem. But Jotham is not what we would consider "normal". Because of the way it's written, one gets a look at how a simple person lives life.
More importantly, once Jotham find the light, he never lets go. He doesn't let his circumstances cloud his vision. He is a shining example for each of us.

[April Prosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Made and Loveth All

This is an amazing book: Jesus through the heart and mind of Jotham, a man who thinks with difficulty but feels and loves with far more clarity than others with more powerful minds, even Jesus’ own disciples. Jotham’s life following Jesus during His last year of ministry is told as he would tell it, simply and full of passion, confused but following the beacon light of Christ.

[Patricia Jo Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touches your heart

It is hard to put in words how this book touches your heart. Quietly. Lovingly. It gives you peace. May we look at each other as equally loved by God. To Him be the glory.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read. Loved the story. Makes you think who really is at a disadvantage.
Makes you want to have the spiritual insight that Jotham had. To be able to truly see, what a gift.
By the time I finished the book I had tears in my eyes.

[Terresa Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can understand why this would good for the world

It put us on the inside looking out, Great book to share and even read to your children to let them see how it feels when they love God just as we do, The light of love, Abba Father ,

[Terri Walkemeyer T.L.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS AN AMAZING SPIRIT FILLED BOOK!!!

WOW, JUST WOW!!!
This story is so GREAT!!
CAUSED ME TO FEEL JESUS AND EMBRACE HIS LOVE.
THANK YOU MR. POWERS FOR YOUR GIFT AND YOUR GENEROSITY! This is Definitely a KEEPER 😇

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella about Jotham, a mentally challenged apostle of Jesus. The contrast between him and Judas was telling. It made me think of Jesus' saying that we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of God.

[Terry Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inexplicable. Must be read to be appreciated. A novella that can be read in an hour or two. Worth it. Do it.

[Emily Sparks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a beautiful message, but the writing style was terrible. There is a place for stream of consciousness, but this was not done well. It was frustrating to read.

[Christie Silvestri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as fiction, loved it.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Never Give 5 Stars...

... but this author has reached into my soul and taken them! Wonderfully ungrammatical stream-of-consciousness spiritual uplift in a mere 55 pages. Bravo!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I picked up this book to read a little tonight, I considered not continuing it. I found myself annoyed by Powers' writing style. I found it too fragmented and unnatural and it was distracting me. I wasn't enjoying the story and the prospect of 800+ pages remaining was more than I felt I could committ to. Am I ever glad I listened to my better judgement. The beauty of the characters and of the story is in the simplicity of the writing!
Where I am now, Jotham has just witnessed the healing of a blind man and has just overheard the telling a parable of clay pots. Powers' narrative has painted such a vivid picture for me that I actually feel as though I am sitting around the fire seeing what Jotham sees, hearing what he hears; its personal, intimate, and so tender it made me emotional. I can't wait to get back to it...

[Peter Mongeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Ellen Gable Hrkach on CatholicFiction.net:

The Book of Jotham is a unique and beautifully moving account of a mentally challenged man (Jotham) who becomes one of Jesus’s followers. What makes this book so unusual is that it’s written in the second person and is a fictional story of this man’s relationship with Jesus and the apostles. The narrative from Jotham’s point of view is filled with sentence fragments and (what appear to be) simple thoughts. I initially wondered whether it might be difficult to read, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing style actually had a poetic feel to it.

Read more: http://catholicfiction.net/book-revie...

[Erin Cupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a moving book that drew me into an illustration of a concept that is either mocked or championed in our current culture: the value of the "incapable." With language that manages to be simultaneously both deep and light-handed, Powers paints a picture of both why and how God creates all His children in love, even if we can't see that same loveability with which He sees us at every moment. If you're looking for a brief vision to warm your heart towards those you might find yourself holding in any kind of contempt, I recommend you take a look at The Book of Jotham.