Man of Pain: A Novel

by Christopher B. Barnett

Howard Lamb is a trial lawyer—bright and accomplished, with a home adjacent to one of Alabama’s most prestigious country clubs. He also believes he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Without telling anyone, Lamb takes to the streets of Birmingham, seeking to bring “good news” to everyone he meets. But he soon discovers that his message of love and forgiveness is misunderstood by friends and foes alike. With his efforts increasingly thwarted, and his whereabouts finally revealed, Lamb’s leap of faith soon becomes a race against time.

170 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2023

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel by an author new to fiction. Man of Pain is about a washed out, newly divorced Birmingham lawyer who suddenly decides he is an apostle. He and an acquaintance he picks up along the way, a crass garbage man named Bobby Ray Boner, made me laugh out loud. It’s a thought provoking book with a sad ending.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Christopher Barnett admits that his novel was somewhat inspired by Flannery O'Connor and similarly colorful and Southern, an appropriate review may be to compare reading it to reading Flannery. So it is similarly well-written, interesting, colorful, and a page-turner. It is very provocative and in the end leaves you scratching your head. Knowing that Barnett is a scholar of Kierkegaard I have some theories regarding what he does with the novel. But they are best left undisclosed because stating them may amount to spoilers. In sum, as with Flannery O'Connor stories, some will love it and some will hate it, maybe a few will be somewhere in-between. Personally, I loved it, but am still scratching my head, which as with O'Connor, that's a good thing. I will add one advisory, as should be obvious, those with interest in the Christ of the gospels, Kierkegaard, and modern American Evangelicalism, whether a fan or foe, or again, someplace in-between, will probably find the novel more interesting than those who do not.

[RH Kwait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novel, which, in clear and sharp writing style, provides a unique and evocative portrait of characters (the earnest and the oddball, the washed and unwashed) and place (Birmingham, Alabama). The author seems to understand that in order to convey more serious themes and thoughts, the reader should first be entertained and even made to laugh out loud and the plot should drive things, so that only in the blur of this wild ride can one glimpse profundity.

[Len Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like here?
• Unforgettable Flannery O'Connor-ish characters
• An insightful peek into the peculiarities of Southern evangelical culture
• Beautiful prose
• Laugh-out-loud dialogue
I will think about this story for a long time.