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Jump
International Book Awards winning author of Amidst Traffic, Michel Sauret, delivers a bold, human novel confronting the challenges of embracing faith in a world of free-fall. Ever since he was a boy, Christopher's parents made him jump off the tree in the backyard. This was to test his faith. Land safely and he might have enough faith to please God. But one year, Christopher breaks his leg, and suddenly it’s his little sister who seems to please their parents best. Distance grows between him and his father, especially as a sexual addiction takes root in his heart, launching him into a dangerous free-fall. Desperate for escape, Christopher looks to college, thinking he might find God on his own terms. Yet as he becomes entrenched in the secular haven of higher education, he discovers the “Cathedral of Learning” is no more of a savior than a tree. He flees once more, hitchhiking with an atheist set on his own spiritual journey. But as they end up in Selma, Alabama, Christopher and his new friend land in a church that won’t let them get away.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2016
2 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Michel Sauret
6 books105 followersMichel Sauret is the winner of the International Book Awards and a finalist int he USA Book News Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the National Indie Book Excellence Awards.
He is also the winner of the Army Journalist of the Year Award for his journalism in Iraq in 2008, and the recipient of several Scoop Brumfield and Keith L. Ware military journalism awards.
Michel published his first novel at the age of 18, and earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh.
He was born in Rome, Italy, but still considers himself a Pittsburgher at heart.
He is also the winner of the Army Journalist of the Year Award for his journalism in Iraq in 2008, and the recipient of several Scoop Brumfield and Keith L. Ware military journalism awards.
Michel published his first novel at the age of 18, and earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh.
He was born in Rome, Italy, but still considers himself a Pittsburgher at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2017
After reading the creative Amidst Traffic by Michel Sauret, I was happy to receive an advance copy of his new book "Jump" due out later this year. When asked to read this book I was ready for a change from my usual historical fiction, and boy, this was a change!
Three "jumps" in Christopher Dove's life affect him in different ways. ("Jumps" in this book are either literal, as in the first jump, or figurative, such as a change in his life).
Jump one, inflicted upon him by his parents, which supposedly measured his faith, actually produced fear.
Jump two, which separated him from his family, succeeded in creating skepticism about God.
Jump three was an adventure that started off as a lark and ended in life changing events.
Within the three jumps are 4 pastors from completely different kinds of churches that influence his life. Inadequacy and failure dominated Christopher in one church. While in college, confusion and doubt overshadow him at the next church. Exposure to false doctrine, ungodly control and demand for power crush him in the third church. Can one pastor with a true and pure faith finally break through all the deep rooted and newly acquired false doctrines?
Christopher's journey from childhood to young adulthood is extraordinary. He wrestles constantly with self esteem, temptations, philosophical inconsistencies, and the Christ he truly wants to know.
I love when a book reads like the author is really experiencing it; as if he's the actual character in the story. Mr. Sauret does this well. It sounds like each moment is coming out of him right then.
I especially enjoy when I find quotables as I'm reading, and I found quite a few in this lovely book. One of my favorites was when Christopher was wrestling with lectures by a professor who was making fun of anything having to do with faith. Christopher says, "We were taught to think for ourselves by professors who graded us by how closely our answers reflected their lectures." I had to laugh at this thinking back on my college years that, if we didn't regurgitate exactly the thoughts of the teacher, we received scorn and poorer grades.
Jump is a thought provoking work of inspiration. Both seeker and seasoned believer can find much to ponder and enjoy in this original work of imagination.
Three "jumps" in Christopher Dove's life affect him in different ways. ("Jumps" in this book are either literal, as in the first jump, or figurative, such as a change in his life).
Jump one, inflicted upon him by his parents, which supposedly measured his faith, actually produced fear.
Jump two, which separated him from his family, succeeded in creating skepticism about God.
Jump three was an adventure that started off as a lark and ended in life changing events.
Within the three jumps are 4 pastors from completely different kinds of churches that influence his life. Inadequacy and failure dominated Christopher in one church. While in college, confusion and doubt overshadow him at the next church. Exposure to false doctrine, ungodly control and demand for power crush him in the third church. Can one pastor with a true and pure faith finally break through all the deep rooted and newly acquired false doctrines?
Christopher's journey from childhood to young adulthood is extraordinary. He wrestles constantly with self esteem, temptations, philosophical inconsistencies, and the Christ he truly wants to know.
I love when a book reads like the author is really experiencing it; as if he's the actual character in the story. Mr. Sauret does this well. It sounds like each moment is coming out of him right then.
I especially enjoy when I find quotables as I'm reading, and I found quite a few in this lovely book. One of my favorites was when Christopher was wrestling with lectures by a professor who was making fun of anything having to do with faith. Christopher says, "We were taught to think for ourselves by professors who graded us by how closely our answers reflected their lectures." I had to laugh at this thinking back on my college years that, if we didn't regurgitate exactly the thoughts of the teacher, we received scorn and poorer grades.
Jump is a thought provoking work of inspiration. Both seeker and seasoned believer can find much to ponder and enjoy in this original work of imagination.
May 5, 2016
Some books come into your life and leave a bruise on your soul. Look at me, how poetic do I sound? In all seriousness, though, Jump is one of those books; kind of like a punch to the gut, that leaves you feeling breathless and a little bit giddy.
Jump deals with extremism in religion. Despite the difficult, shocking and often sickening moments that unfold throughout the novel, the reader cannot help but be drawn in; pulled along for the ride. And what a ride it is!
From Christopher's childhood, to his difficult transition into adulthood; this novel is as much a journey for the reader as it is for the protagonist. A dark, gritty and uncomfortable journey, but one the reader can't help but race through; hoping for a happy ending.
If it's a happy ending you're after, you might be disappointed. And I'll concede that the ending is a little anti-climactic. But because the journey there was so exciting, so intense and so thrilling, you can forgive that. In fact, you could forgive anything, I think, for the majority of this book is so well written, so absorbing that it stands out for me as one of the best books I've read all year.
An absolute must-read for fans of religion, philosophy and theology; as well as those who love a dark thriller.
Jump deals with extremism in religion. Despite the difficult, shocking and often sickening moments that unfold throughout the novel, the reader cannot help but be drawn in; pulled along for the ride. And what a ride it is!
From Christopher's childhood, to his difficult transition into adulthood; this novel is as much a journey for the reader as it is for the protagonist. A dark, gritty and uncomfortable journey, but one the reader can't help but race through; hoping for a happy ending.
If it's a happy ending you're after, you might be disappointed. And I'll concede that the ending is a little anti-climactic. But because the journey there was so exciting, so intense and so thrilling, you can forgive that. In fact, you could forgive anything, I think, for the majority of this book is so well written, so absorbing that it stands out for me as one of the best books I've read all year.
An absolute must-read for fans of religion, philosophy and theology; as well as those who love a dark thriller.
April 25, 2016
Jump
by Michel Sauret
One Way Street Productions
Christian, General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 16 Mar 2016
I was given a copy of Jump through the publisher and their partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
When he was a child his parents had him jump off branches of an old oak tree in order to measure his faith. When he was ten for the first time his Father asks him if be wants a birthday present and when he says a toy gun his Father tells him he will get him a sword instead when he opens the gift on his tenth birthday he is dissapointed to find its a Bible. He mumbles and curses under his breath.
When his Father takes him into a pet store to get a shock collar he thinks at first they are getting a dog but soon discovered the collar is to shock his strong willed little sister Arminelle into obedience. But despite that Christopher is jealous of his sister she has a beautiful voice unlike most five year Olds.
By the time he is sixteen Christopher is hiding the fact that he is gay from his parents. He wonders if you can "pray the gay away." When he was Seventeen Christopher applies to colleges all over Pennsylvania, but none of them Christian colleges. And when he was eighteen Christopher made his final Jump.
Christopher ends up going to Pitt against his Fathers wishes and his parents refuse to help him. Christopher meets Lena at school and she invites him to her church but the church is unlike what Christopher is used to. Despite going to church though Christopher still finds himself fighting his impulses. But his new church seems to be a series of contradictions, pastors trying to make more money from the families.
Finally Christopher seeks help for his born addiction.
By November Arminelle is sending Christopher emails about their Mother's poor health, when he goes to find out what's being done he is distressed to find out his Father refuses to take her to the doctors to see what is wrong. He insists that they are doing best for her by praying and laying hands on her. By Christmas of that year his Mother dies. Despite all the prayers, angry and defeated Christopher heads back to college.
After failing all five of his mid terms Christopher once again decides to leave this time he is unsure what he is searching for. While on his search he ends up traveling with a young man named Stephon and while in one town Stephen's tires are intentionally flattened. Showing Christopher that prejudice still exists.
Jump is a novel about one young man's journey of self discovery as well ashes search for God.
I give this story five out of five stars
Happy Reading
by Michel Sauret
One Way Street Productions
Christian, General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 16 Mar 2016
I was given a copy of Jump through the publisher and their partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
When he was a child his parents had him jump off branches of an old oak tree in order to measure his faith. When he was ten for the first time his Father asks him if be wants a birthday present and when he says a toy gun his Father tells him he will get him a sword instead when he opens the gift on his tenth birthday he is dissapointed to find its a Bible. He mumbles and curses under his breath.
When his Father takes him into a pet store to get a shock collar he thinks at first they are getting a dog but soon discovered the collar is to shock his strong willed little sister Arminelle into obedience. But despite that Christopher is jealous of his sister she has a beautiful voice unlike most five year Olds.
By the time he is sixteen Christopher is hiding the fact that he is gay from his parents. He wonders if you can "pray the gay away." When he was Seventeen Christopher applies to colleges all over Pennsylvania, but none of them Christian colleges. And when he was eighteen Christopher made his final Jump.
Christopher ends up going to Pitt against his Fathers wishes and his parents refuse to help him. Christopher meets Lena at school and she invites him to her church but the church is unlike what Christopher is used to. Despite going to church though Christopher still finds himself fighting his impulses. But his new church seems to be a series of contradictions, pastors trying to make more money from the families.
Finally Christopher seeks help for his born addiction.
By November Arminelle is sending Christopher emails about their Mother's poor health, when he goes to find out what's being done he is distressed to find out his Father refuses to take her to the doctors to see what is wrong. He insists that they are doing best for her by praying and laying hands on her. By Christmas of that year his Mother dies. Despite all the prayers, angry and defeated Christopher heads back to college.
After failing all five of his mid terms Christopher once again decides to leave this time he is unsure what he is searching for. While on his search he ends up traveling with a young man named Stephon and while in one town Stephen's tires are intentionally flattened. Showing Christopher that prejudice still exists.
Jump is a novel about one young man's journey of self discovery as well ashes search for God.
I give this story five out of five stars
Happy Reading
May 8, 2016
This was a compelling book. I have read a number of literary novels, but this is extraordinary literary fiction. Similar books with female characters (regarding tragedy and the ultimate search for God) are Into the Free by Julie Cantrell, and Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary Demuth. Only this book features a main character that is a young man who is growing up and trying to find his way in the world. He is searching for a place to belong, and although he had quite a variety of religion in his background, some of what he learned was messed up. At the same time there were checks in his heart when obvious false teaching came into play. Similarly themed books about young men written in a literary style are From the Dead by John Herrick and Between these Walls by John Herrick. I loved both of those books. Some others are Words by Ginny L Yttrup and Pocketful of Pearls by Shelley Bates.
The fact that Jump is a Christian novel makes it that much more compelling to me because I love reading books with a spiritual element; especially the kind that drives many of us to search for that missing piece (peace) in our lives. Some people might find the reality of this man's struggles to be a bit too edgy for them, but I loved it. I really, really did. There is simply not enough realistic emotion embedded in tragic tales written by Christian authors, though they do exist. Too many authors tend to lean toward the conservative end to sell their stories to bigger publishing houses, but stories like this really speak to people's hearts. I can't say much about this book without giving away spoilers, but I will say it was very easy for me to relate to this character and the issues he faced. Wonderful literary fiction. I highly recommend it.
The fact that Jump is a Christian novel makes it that much more compelling to me because I love reading books with a spiritual element; especially the kind that drives many of us to search for that missing piece (peace) in our lives. Some people might find the reality of this man's struggles to be a bit too edgy for them, but I loved it. I really, really did. There is simply not enough realistic emotion embedded in tragic tales written by Christian authors, though they do exist. Too many authors tend to lean toward the conservative end to sell their stories to bigger publishing houses, but stories like this really speak to people's hearts. I can't say much about this book without giving away spoilers, but I will say it was very easy for me to relate to this character and the issues he faced. Wonderful literary fiction. I highly recommend it.
April 1, 2016
If it can be said that fiction is escapism, this particular piece of literary fiction is the opposite of that. It seeks not to escape the realities of the world but to dive (jump?) straight into them. Through Christopher, Michel Sauret leads his readers into the heart of matters of faith and doubt and discovery, exploring the darkest corners with eyes wide open.
It’s not the sort of book you curl up with before bedtime (at least, I don’t). This is for wide-awake moments; it is a thinking person’s book, for those who seek opportunities to refine their understanding of religion in general and Christianity in particular. There’s no shiny veneer here to gloss over uncomfortable truths. As we journey alongside Christopher, we are taken through the darkness of abuse, addictions, and sexual aberration. And while that is a gritty and often grim journey, that is not the ultimate destination. Instead, God is found. Hope awaits.
Believers and non-believers who resonate with books that chronicle the evolution of personal faith will likely recognize themselves and their own doubts here. And perhaps also recognize the eventual destination. This novel is for discerning millennials in a post-modern age who welcome questions of faith and who understand that faith is not something to be inherited, but to be claimed after fierce discovery.
Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
It’s not the sort of book you curl up with before bedtime (at least, I don’t). This is for wide-awake moments; it is a thinking person’s book, for those who seek opportunities to refine their understanding of religion in general and Christianity in particular. There’s no shiny veneer here to gloss over uncomfortable truths. As we journey alongside Christopher, we are taken through the darkness of abuse, addictions, and sexual aberration. And while that is a gritty and often grim journey, that is not the ultimate destination. Instead, God is found. Hope awaits.
Believers and non-believers who resonate with books that chronicle the evolution of personal faith will likely recognize themselves and their own doubts here. And perhaps also recognize the eventual destination. This novel is for discerning millennials in a post-modern age who welcome questions of faith and who understand that faith is not something to be inherited, but to be claimed after fierce discovery.
Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
May 14, 2016
This coming of age chronicle of Christopher's struggle with God is powerful! Christopher's story begins with his childhood and the developments pivotal to his growth as a young man as he questions his faith and his sexuality.
Christopher's experiences with Christianity and cults further confuse his faith and where he stands in his relationship with God. He is raised in a dysfunctional family, and his feelings of inferiority contribute to his confusion and unsettling concerns about his interest in pornographic materials. His faith is refuted even more strongly as he continues to question his sexuality.
Secular events in Christopher's life confuse him even more, essentially breaking him, and bringing him to the brink of a drastic change in his life. Leaving the past behind takes him on a journey that radically changes him, robbing him of any trust.
Jump is an impressive look into faith, Christianity, coming of age, finding oneself and overcoming past feelings of inadequacy due to his dysfunctional parentage. I highly recommend this novel! It's a revelation into a young man's world, and how his past has affected his future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
Christopher's experiences with Christianity and cults further confuse his faith and where he stands in his relationship with God. He is raised in a dysfunctional family, and his feelings of inferiority contribute to his confusion and unsettling concerns about his interest in pornographic materials. His faith is refuted even more strongly as he continues to question his sexuality.
Secular events in Christopher's life confuse him even more, essentially breaking him, and bringing him to the brink of a drastic change in his life. Leaving the past behind takes him on a journey that radically changes him, robbing him of any trust.
Jump is an impressive look into faith, Christianity, coming of age, finding oneself and overcoming past feelings of inadequacy due to his dysfunctional parentage. I highly recommend this novel! It's a revelation into a young man's world, and how his past has affected his future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
July 20, 2016
Writing about religion cannot be easy, so reading about it can be quite confounding. I loved the shock factor of the extremes taken by the charismatic churches as this is something I've encountered in my search for spirituality. The protagonist is very wimpish, in total denial, but opens himself up to the search for 'something better, fulfilling' - just as we all need to at one time or another.
This author's writing 'jumps' through a myriad of relative situations and manages to weave them together into a comprehensive culmination.
This author's writing 'jumps' through a myriad of relative situations and manages to weave them together into a comprehensive culmination.
January 20, 2018
Review to come
May 7, 2016
I'm at Crossroads: I love this book, but then...
This book was a constant for me, it occupied my thoughts even when I wasn't reading it. I loved the beginning, it was captivating- so very imaginative and a reflection of distorted beliefs. A child's- Christopher's- faith is tested ever since he was a child. That's until his thoughts imposed too much on him and become critical of his actions and his lifestyle, forcing him to leave familiarity and pursue a life elsewhere. When raised up by strict parents who aren't very flexible, encouraging or even accepting in their views, this is quite easily a forgone conclusion. During his time away from his small-town Christian community, he faces conflicting views- some of which are quite unorthodox. He can't help but judge his new Church community and eventually leaves to pursue another journey- of a more spiritual nature- to seek God, this is essentially provoked by his battles with a guilty addiction and doubts of God's existence.
I found this the most intriguing: how his thoughts became so liberated, a breath of fresh air, a cool serenity. His quick companionship with a 44 year old man was witty and it, too, was refreshing: it almost cemented the possibility of him finding God, that maybe he really could venture out there and live freely. This is disrupted and then, fragmented when they find themselves trusting the wrong man: of all people, perhaps the least expected.
Michael Sauret writes with a brilliant yet bewitchingly subtle vision: he explores the greater picture. He writes of more than just young Christopher's childhood, then his adolescence and finally, his adulthood. No, he writes of an individual's journey of attaining faith, of coming to realise what faith really is, and what exactly it is. Sauret surprisingly does this by exposing how corrupt a religious constitution can become- some churches may thrive themselves on power and influence; others on popularity and wealth. He writes of this in a purely fabricated manner, but the true message remains: we shouldn't be afraid to question, we shouldn't be quick to trust nor judge and we shouldn't allow anyone- anyone who can easily become corrupt- to be sovereigns over us.
I do not disagree with religion at all, so do not be mistaken in believing that I only liked this book, because I am a critic of religion. Though, I have to admit that maybe it was too heavy on Christian principles, especially with all the lengthy sernons, maybe I couldn't fully appreciate it because I am not a Christian (though I do follow an Abrahamic faith). I just felt it was a bit much, almost like the author was forcing the Bible on us- as though, this was imaginative way of making us read it. I don't know...
There were other slight inconsistencies and loose ends: Christopher and his childhood friends seemed pretty close but when he returns home, there is no mention of them- no reunion. Also the birthday jump, how did the neighbours not see the children jumping? How did teachers not learn of what was going on? Then, you get Christopher's father- in dealing with his grief- he consumes a lot of alcohol. Did Pastor Rock no longer play a role in his life? I don't suppose he visited the church whilst in his intoxicated state. And then with Pastor Nobel and The Household, did no one file missing persons reports? These were just a few questions that were niggling at the back of my mind, especially whenever I was shocked about a certain chapter. Like I wrote, this book is a constant- I kept thinking about it.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.
This book was a constant for me, it occupied my thoughts even when I wasn't reading it. I loved the beginning, it was captivating- so very imaginative and a reflection of distorted beliefs. A child's- Christopher's- faith is tested ever since he was a child. That's until his thoughts imposed too much on him and become critical of his actions and his lifestyle, forcing him to leave familiarity and pursue a life elsewhere. When raised up by strict parents who aren't very flexible, encouraging or even accepting in their views, this is quite easily a forgone conclusion. During his time away from his small-town Christian community, he faces conflicting views- some of which are quite unorthodox. He can't help but judge his new Church community and eventually leaves to pursue another journey- of a more spiritual nature- to seek God, this is essentially provoked by his battles with a guilty addiction and doubts of God's existence.
I found this the most intriguing: how his thoughts became so liberated, a breath of fresh air, a cool serenity. His quick companionship with a 44 year old man was witty and it, too, was refreshing: it almost cemented the possibility of him finding God, that maybe he really could venture out there and live freely. This is disrupted and then, fragmented when they find themselves trusting the wrong man: of all people, perhaps the least expected.
Michael Sauret writes with a brilliant yet bewitchingly subtle vision: he explores the greater picture. He writes of more than just young Christopher's childhood, then his adolescence and finally, his adulthood. No, he writes of an individual's journey of attaining faith, of coming to realise what faith really is, and what exactly it is. Sauret surprisingly does this by exposing how corrupt a religious constitution can become- some churches may thrive themselves on power and influence; others on popularity and wealth. He writes of this in a purely fabricated manner, but the true message remains: we shouldn't be afraid to question, we shouldn't be quick to trust nor judge and we shouldn't allow anyone- anyone who can easily become corrupt- to be sovereigns over us.
I do not disagree with religion at all, so do not be mistaken in believing that I only liked this book, because I am a critic of religion. Though, I have to admit that maybe it was too heavy on Christian principles, especially with all the lengthy sernons, maybe I couldn't fully appreciate it because I am not a Christian (though I do follow an Abrahamic faith). I just felt it was a bit much, almost like the author was forcing the Bible on us- as though, this was imaginative way of making us read it. I don't know...
There were other slight inconsistencies and loose ends: Christopher and his childhood friends seemed pretty close but when he returns home, there is no mention of them- no reunion. Also the birthday jump, how did the neighbours not see the children jumping? How did teachers not learn of what was going on? Then, you get Christopher's father- in dealing with his grief- he consumes a lot of alcohol. Did Pastor Rock no longer play a role in his life? I don't suppose he visited the church whilst in his intoxicated state. And then with Pastor Nobel and The Household, did no one file missing persons reports? These were just a few questions that were niggling at the back of my mind, especially whenever I was shocked about a certain chapter. Like I wrote, this book is a constant- I kept thinking about it.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.
April 5, 2016
Michel Sauret’s new novel Jump undertakes a daunting task: to explore a
young man’s pursuit of Christianity in today’s world without succumbing to formula or cliché. To my mind, he accomplishes his goal admirably, providing readers plenty of perspectives from which to view their own spiritual lives. Well-structured, the novel divides into three parts, each dramatizing significant physical/spiritual “jumps” in Christopher’s life.
The first jump is from the branches of a tree in his family’s back yard, a branch from which Christopher must hurl himself every year on his birthday, a little higher every time, thereby proving his faith to his father. Raised in a fundamentalist home where no one questions Dad, it’s no wonder that, after leaving home for college, the boy doesn’t look back (except to worry about the younger sister he left behind).
Sauret’s novel possesses a multitude of multidimensional characters, such as my personal favorite, Lena, the worldly Christian coed with whom Christopher finally winds up on the rooftop of the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. His journey so far resulting in disillusionment, the young college student wonders if he should end it all by jumping. I won’t spoil such a great scene by saying more.
Jump also penetrates Christian and societal issues like the spiritual effectiveness of mega-churches, cults masquerading as mainstream places of worship and many more. After college, Christopher continues his pilgrimage on the road, winding up in Selma, Alabama, coming under the influence of the charismatic Pastor Noble and eventually joining his flock. While some readers will doubtless find the book’s latter third an exciting payoff to the book’s dramatic buildup, I preferred the serious exploration of Christian issues of the book’s second act, Christopher’s college years. When Lena and her friends ask themselves many of the same questions which consumed me and my fellow seekers in my younger years, I was pleasantly surprised to find them still relevant. And Sauret doesn’t avert his eyes from frankly examining hard issues for Christians (alas, for everyone): sexual addiction and homosexuality.
I found the book, at nearly 400 pages, overly long, but that does not mean it was full of boring digressions, just that it needed cutting for conciseness and faster pacing. Also, after the author had been so fair to all characters and sides in theological arguments, I was disappointed when, in the final Selma section, it became a battle between good and bad Christians, some events straining credibility. However, the spiritual bottom Christopher finally reaches is convincing—and deeply moving—a place from which he can finally come to grips with his God. Christopher’s hard-won truth was worth his struggle—for him and for this reader.
young man’s pursuit of Christianity in today’s world without succumbing to formula or cliché. To my mind, he accomplishes his goal admirably, providing readers plenty of perspectives from which to view their own spiritual lives. Well-structured, the novel divides into three parts, each dramatizing significant physical/spiritual “jumps” in Christopher’s life.
The first jump is from the branches of a tree in his family’s back yard, a branch from which Christopher must hurl himself every year on his birthday, a little higher every time, thereby proving his faith to his father. Raised in a fundamentalist home where no one questions Dad, it’s no wonder that, after leaving home for college, the boy doesn’t look back (except to worry about the younger sister he left behind).
Sauret’s novel possesses a multitude of multidimensional characters, such as my personal favorite, Lena, the worldly Christian coed with whom Christopher finally winds up on the rooftop of the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. His journey so far resulting in disillusionment, the young college student wonders if he should end it all by jumping. I won’t spoil such a great scene by saying more.
Jump also penetrates Christian and societal issues like the spiritual effectiveness of mega-churches, cults masquerading as mainstream places of worship and many more. After college, Christopher continues his pilgrimage on the road, winding up in Selma, Alabama, coming under the influence of the charismatic Pastor Noble and eventually joining his flock. While some readers will doubtless find the book’s latter third an exciting payoff to the book’s dramatic buildup, I preferred the serious exploration of Christian issues of the book’s second act, Christopher’s college years. When Lena and her friends ask themselves many of the same questions which consumed me and my fellow seekers in my younger years, I was pleasantly surprised to find them still relevant. And Sauret doesn’t avert his eyes from frankly examining hard issues for Christians (alas, for everyone): sexual addiction and homosexuality.
I found the book, at nearly 400 pages, overly long, but that does not mean it was full of boring digressions, just that it needed cutting for conciseness and faster pacing. Also, after the author had been so fair to all characters and sides in theological arguments, I was disappointed when, in the final Selma section, it became a battle between good and bad Christians, some events straining credibility. However, the spiritual bottom Christopher finally reaches is convincing—and deeply moving—a place from which he can finally come to grips with his God. Christopher’s hard-won truth was worth his struggle—for him and for this reader.
May 3, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Michel Sauret continues his reputation as an unorthodox writer; his Christian faith shows deeply in his writings but continues to present itself in genre-breaking ways. In Jump, we see the world through the eyes of a young man struggling to reconcile the faith he's learned from his parents with the world he sees around him. His early exposure to faith consists of literal jumps, as his father tries to instill in him a recognition of God as protector - a viewpoint the young man cannot grasp, especially as he grows into young manhood and sees the hypocrisy of those around him who hold fast to claiming faith. He experiences the realization that his father is all too human and later, further on in his life, sees firsthand the painful results of relying entirely on scripted faith as his mother dies without medical assistance, just the insistence of the church orthodoxy to rely only on the Word. His life is defined by jumps as he tries to break away from what he views as his family's backward resistance and chooses to go to a university of which his family does not approve. He finds he cannot break entirely away from his childhood's faith, and he struggles to find some proof of God's existence, to find a reason for his OWN existence. His experiences lead him into life-threatening situations and when he is at his lowest point, the awareness that God does indeed exist comes to him. Sauret's writing is unique in this genre because even after that experience, we are shown that there is still much healing to be done, and we are left with many unanswered questions - Michel does not wrap everything up in a neat little ecclesiastical bow and a warm "and he lived happily ever after". We are still aware that Christoper is a work in progress, and there is much still to be done - his attempt to mend fences with his father doesn't prove to be the warm panacea one might expect and Christopher's life remains a book yet unwritten - with the one main difference now being his awareness that God will be with him. Sauret's God is a God to be experienced in the every day, rather than one sought out for the emotional high and flamboyant display, and this latest novel is ample evidence of a sure and quiet faith, written in a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude.
Michel Sauret continues his reputation as an unorthodox writer; his Christian faith shows deeply in his writings but continues to present itself in genre-breaking ways. In Jump, we see the world through the eyes of a young man struggling to reconcile the faith he's learned from his parents with the world he sees around him. His early exposure to faith consists of literal jumps, as his father tries to instill in him a recognition of God as protector - a viewpoint the young man cannot grasp, especially as he grows into young manhood and sees the hypocrisy of those around him who hold fast to claiming faith. He experiences the realization that his father is all too human and later, further on in his life, sees firsthand the painful results of relying entirely on scripted faith as his mother dies without medical assistance, just the insistence of the church orthodoxy to rely only on the Word. His life is defined by jumps as he tries to break away from what he views as his family's backward resistance and chooses to go to a university of which his family does not approve. He finds he cannot break entirely away from his childhood's faith, and he struggles to find some proof of God's existence, to find a reason for his OWN existence. His experiences lead him into life-threatening situations and when he is at his lowest point, the awareness that God does indeed exist comes to him. Sauret's writing is unique in this genre because even after that experience, we are shown that there is still much healing to be done, and we are left with many unanswered questions - Michel does not wrap everything up in a neat little ecclesiastical bow and a warm "and he lived happily ever after". We are still aware that Christoper is a work in progress, and there is much still to be done - his attempt to mend fences with his father doesn't prove to be the warm panacea one might expect and Christopher's life remains a book yet unwritten - with the one main difference now being his awareness that God will be with him. Sauret's God is a God to be experienced in the every day, rather than one sought out for the emotional high and flamboyant display, and this latest novel is ample evidence of a sure and quiet faith, written in a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude.
July 13, 2016
Christopher attempts to escape his abusive fundamentalist family by going to a secular college away from home, but his desire to answer the Big Questions leads him on a road trip from Pittsburgh to Selma, during which he explores all different kinds of faith communities and discovers what it means to believe.
I found some parts of the book difficult to believe. For example, he meets a Christian protester who implores him to get saved, and he asks the protester "saved from what?" to which the protester has no reply. I'm dubious that someone from a fundamentalist background (both he and the protester) would not be well-versed in that particular theology.
I also found myself wondering if the author meant for Christopher to come across as 'on the spectrum.' There were several instances that might confirm this theory. First, he's socially awkward. It's possible though that this is because of his isolated fundamentalist upbringing, and he's not equipped to deal with college interactions. He is very focused on two things in the book: his faith journey and another addiction. He is quick to judge others who fall short of perfection, namely his college friends he meets at the megachurch. When he is thinking about faith and theology, it is laid out in a very methodical way from point A to point B as if instead of taking the "leap of faith" he is using logic to argue himself into having faith. Other characters are described and act in one-dimensional ways, either being all good or all bad, and it's possible this is because Christopher is the narrator and lacks nuance. Finally, when he's at the boarding church in Selma, at one point he realizes that he's being excluded from the conversations of his bunkmates and all of a sudden the people that were nice to him become unfriendly but he doesn't know why, a sign that he isn't picking up or responding appropriately to social cues. I don't know, just a thought I had while reading.
I found some parts of the book difficult to believe. For example, he meets a Christian protester who implores him to get saved, and he asks the protester "saved from what?" to which the protester has no reply. I'm dubious that someone from a fundamentalist background (both he and the protester) would not be well-versed in that particular theology.
I also found myself wondering if the author meant for Christopher to come across as 'on the spectrum.' There were several instances that might confirm this theory. First, he's socially awkward. It's possible though that this is because of his isolated fundamentalist upbringing, and he's not equipped to deal with college interactions. He is very focused on two things in the book: his faith journey and another addiction. He is quick to judge others who fall short of perfection, namely his college friends he meets at the megachurch. When he is thinking about faith and theology, it is laid out in a very methodical way from point A to point B as if instead of taking the "leap of faith" he is using logic to argue himself into having faith. Other characters are described and act in one-dimensional ways, either being all good or all bad, and it's possible this is because Christopher is the narrator and lacks nuance. Finally, when he's at the boarding church in Selma, at one point he realizes that he's being excluded from the conversations of his bunkmates and all of a sudden the people that were nice to him become unfriendly but he doesn't know why, a sign that he isn't picking up or responding appropriately to social cues. I don't know, just a thought I had while reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2016
Jump is a bold and incredibly human novel confronting the challenges Christians face today growing up in the church, desperate for God’s love and direction, yet seduced by the world’s offers. It is a literary gem, with prose that is honest and self-aware throughout.
The novel takes a modern-day approach to the Pilgrim’s Progress while acknowledging the obstacles we all face in today’s journey. From multi-denominational confusion, over-sensationalized Christianity, the allure of secular academia, the conflicts of sexual desire and the search for personal identity, Jump follows a youth named Christopher, who has tried his hardest to please God ever since he was a little boy by jumping off a tree in his backyard.
The novel takes a modern-day approach to the Pilgrim’s Progress while acknowledging the obstacles we all face in today’s journey. From multi-denominational confusion, over-sensationalized Christianity, the allure of secular academia, the conflicts of sexual desire and the search for personal identity, Jump follows a youth named Christopher, who has tried his hardest to please God ever since he was a little boy by jumping off a tree in his backyard.
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