Saving Erasmus: A Novel

by Steven Cleaver

Andrew Benoit, a fresh seminary graduate, is sent to the tiny parish of Erasmus, where he encounters the Angel of Death who threatens to destroy the town, but as Benoit tries desperately to save the small town, he soon discovers that he himself is the only one who needs saving.

Genres: Fiction

182 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2007

About the author

Steven Cleaver is the author of Saving Erasmus, a fictional novel that combines humor with church history and pop culture in a story about finding faith. The book won Best Christian fiction of 2007 from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Cleaver won Original Voice from Borders Books. Cleaver is also author of the poetry compilation, Dear God, or Whatever Your Name is Now, From One of Your Carbon Units published by Lulu.com. Cleaver is graduate of the Earlham School of Religion."

Reviews

[Lisa Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great opening, but the rest dragged.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a little gem. A little philsophy, a little religion......a little humor all rolled into one.

A young seminarian grad. meets the angel of death in a laudromat and the action starts from there. Andrew Benoit is the young pastor, who's given the job of saving a town called Erasmus from destruction........he has a week to do it.....and the problems and the people he meets create a humorous modern day Jonah tale.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic novel! Reading works written by personal friends is a bit scary sometimes - what do I say to them if I hate it? Do I just never bring it up? But, in this case, I really enjoyed every bit of this story/fable/work of Steve's imagination.

Andrew is fresh from seminary and idealistic. He has the opportunity to take the best placement at a polished and successful congregation on the easy coast (think ocean view gated community). Instead, with some nudging from a trusted professor, his own inner voice and some plagues from God, he chooses to go to Erasmus, a nondescript mid-western community known for - well - nothing. Along the way, he encounters death who has a message from him, evil, and a band of comic misfits. His journey becomes one of inner-contemplation as he combats a theology of wealth and power with a message of hope and an invitation into caring community based on the good news of the gospel, a community that he needs just as much as the people he is ministering to.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern retelling of the biblical journey of Jonah. If you've ever wondered how that would look in the 21st century, wonder no more. Andrew Benoit's faith is constantly on full display for the reader, causing plenty of time for personal reflection ("What Would I Do"). Other characters are more caricatured, but it is effective especially in 2020.

The author utilizes some obscure references, but after looking them up they are well placed. I enjoyed being part of Jonah er Andrew's faith journey.

If you are at all seeking answers in your life and/or faith, read this book.

[Van Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleaver's clever tale took me on quite a unique journey filled with links to a changing world as Andrew, a young seminary grad deals with the Angel of Death and figures how who needs saving. Both whimsical and profound, Saving Erasmus was delightful and surprising from page 1 to the end.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

very nice prose; witty. love the character of Death

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put this in fantasy; not because I don't believe that we could have a modern day Jonah-and-Ninevah, but because the author obviously doesn't believe he could. He couldn't seem to take his own wonderful story seriously. Everybody that Andrew met along his journey was a cliche or a thinly veiled representation of some other piece of fiction.

Aside, from that, the theology behind the story was sketchy at best. In the end, though, I wasn't sure if that was poor theology of the author or poor theology of the main character (who comes to change his views about God). Even so, the whole conversing with the dead thing? Isn't that strictly verbotten? And even the Angel of Death treats God as an aloof figurehead. "He just decides these things and I have to carry them out. So, I chose you to be the prophet to turn these people around."

The only redeeming of anything was an odd moment where Andrew shouts at the stars "Don't you love me!?" and some unidentified voice somewhere answers "I do." There is absolutely nothing about the Cross, the Christ or His Saving Grace. Never.

All that aside, it was an intriguing story and one that made you think, even it was extremely one-sided.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta love a book that has the Angel of Death enter the scene by crawling through a washing machine in a laundromat. Andrew Benoit, a recent seminary graduate, encounters the Angel upon his arrival to his posting in Erasmus. Death tells him that he's under orders from God to destroy the town unless they all repent. Benoit takes on the role of Jonah, unlikely prophet though he is.

The characterization and plot had their weak spots, but it was still an enjoyable read.

"I really needed a good cup of coffee. Fortunately, I had brought with me a month's supply of Oscar's Organic Free Range Coffee. Oscar's beans were shade grown and talked to every day by a caring and nurturing mendicant of The Order of Java, a rather nondescript group of spiritual aspirants devoted to their task. Growing coffee required diligence and a higher call. There are lesser forms of commitment. These aspirants were engaged in a noble effort to provide true sustenance to the world. I might save Erasmus, but without good coffee, they would still be lost."

[John Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the Biblical Jonah, Andrew Benoit is a reluctant prophet. This role began during his seminary graduation. Each graduate was to announce where he or she would be serving. Although Andrew had plans to serve within large parish, when he received his diploma, he blurted out a small church in the community of Erasmus. When the bus dropped him off at a laundromat to await his ride, he encountered Death extricating itself from one of the washing machines. He then proclaims that faithless Erasmus would be destroyed in seven days unless Andrew could induce the town to repent. This allegory then introduces us to a number of quirky characters including the mystics who worship in the basement of the Instant Coffee Cup, a local establishment owned by John Luther Zwingli, which only serves different brands of instant coffee.

Any clergy or seminarian would enjoy this humorous book; however, unless you were one born during the early years of the television age, you might miss some cultural references.

[ShareStories · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saving Erasmus by Steven Cleaver is a well-written book that reads more like a symbolic dream sequence than a story. If his opening meeting with the Angel of Death in a laundromat no less!) doesn't convince you to suspend disbelief, then the rest of the story will!

At times the symbolism becomes heavy handed and over-obvious, but the story (or the "moral") is one worth telling.

The beginning of the book is so witty--I literally had to stop myself from reading every single sentence out loud to my husband, that once the story gets going, the reader misses those frequent barbs.

The story itself is one that could have been told in a longer book. It is told quickly, I assume, in order not to take away from the symbolic nature of the tale, but I couldn't help but wonder what the book would have been like if Cleaver had fleshed it out a bit.

All in all, a well-written and enjoyable first effort.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, light read for when you aren't looking for something serious.

This is what the story of Jonah would look like in modern day. Andrew is a seminary student who is called to preach in a small nowhere town named Erasmus. He has one week to restore faith to the people there or -- DOOM SHALL RAIN DOWN ON THEM! Also the Angel of death will be awfully peeved with Andrew.

Sadly, no giant fish swallows Andrew. We always seem to forget that the real lesson in Jonah isn't the running away it's the turning around. I loved the humor that the author uses to tell the story. The crazy citizens of Erasmus are worthy of their own sitcom, think Vicar of Dibly meets the three stooges.

Three stars for weak non-denominational theology. I would have liked to see a mention of Jesus, instead of a citation of various saints. Yes cross denominational lines but don't forget that Christians worship Christ not Saints and relics.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a weird book I picked up at the library. It's a fable where a young seminary student receives his calling to a small town called Erasmus. As he arrives in town he meets up with Death (who travels via washing machine at the coin-op laundrymat). Death says he's going to destroy the whole town in one week unless Andrew can help them have a change of heart. He meets a lot of weird characters and even talks them into putting the livestock into sackcloth & ashes. The book is very spare and sometimes it seems like it could use a little filling it the gaps. For example at the beginning of one paragraph he will be talking to a character at a picnic outside the church, then at the end of the paragraph they are suddenly in the instant coffee shop. It does have a good Christian message though and a quirky sense of humor. I don't know if it would have wide appeal.

[Don]

Saint Benedict, Saint Hildegard, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Patrick…meet Harpo Marx, Curly, Lucy, Lou Costello, Mae West, and…um…John Wayne. Freshly graduated seminarian Andrew Benoit forgoes a prestigious assignment to St. Expuery’s and instead heads to the small in-the-middle-of-nowhere town, Erasmus. Just outside of town he is visited by the Angel of Death, who is climbing out of a washing machine at a laundromat. Death informs Andrew that he is the prophet who can save the inhabitants of Erasmus, which is scheduled to be destroyed at the end of the week. Andrew then encounters the wrath of Mrs. Primrose Davenport, who both owns and runs the town. In addition to the mystics (who have taken the names of comedians, almost), he meets a Knight Templar and many peculiar townspeople. Will Fate, or Faith, prevail?

[Richard Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this may be the first Christian fiction book I've read and I can't say I'm impressed, it isn't because it is a bad genre, but the story was just mediocre.

It starts out strong with some slight humor and introducing a bunch of decent characters. Then the story kind of stammers around until nothing really happens and then it is over.

Basically it is an overly fleshed out short story. It should not have been made into a novel. There are a few too many flashbacks at the beginning that are only kinda relevant. Then at the end the conclusion doesn't exist, it ends at the end. That's it, it's just over.

So, I wouldn't suggest this unless you really just need something to read and you've read most everything. Not a bad book, but there is a lot of stuff better out there.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Benoit, recent seminary graduate and narrator, grabbed my attention from the beginning of this short, easy-to-read novel: “I did not expect to meet the Angel of Death while he was extricating himself from a washing machine…slowly unwinding himself from the open door of Dixie Manufacturer’s finest front-loading commercial washer… over the rim and onto the laundromat floor.” Andrew relates this humorous, scary, intellectual story about trying to find his way in life while paying off his student debt by trying to save the Potterville-like town of Erasmus from the Angel of Death’s impending doom. To help him along his way in saving Erasmus, we meet historical and popular characters from film, philosophy, and religion. You’ll find yourself rooting for Andrew and Erasmus.

[Angel Jhanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally, when I am reading a Christian fiction-genre book, I don’t know but I always expect to have some characters like those in As Sure as Heaven, The Hideaway or The Printed Letter Bookshop, but what about Saving Erasmus? This was such a random pick from Booksale and a casual read. I love how odd the characters are; although some events in the book were really quaint (the Angel of Death who travels via washing machine at the coin-op laundrymat), it makes me wanna read more. What I love about the book is how humorous and witty the lines are. Talk about the little philosophy in the context. As much as I love the book, there’s still that unsatisfying feeling about it. But, overall the book and the characters journey was great.

[E.M. Welcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read through this book once a year. It is a hauntingly lovely book for all those serving people in the small and oft overlooked places.

"My tears fell easily for Jamie, my father, and my mother, and for the town of Erasmus. We share so much in common. We all have our dreams. We all wanted to feel important. We all want love and to be loved. We all hurt. I suddenly felt connected, and the connection felt stronger and better than it ever had.
I had hated God for so long. I had been angry, and my anger had only continued the process of Death. Long ago I had allowed my spirit to die, and it was only by the faith of a small boy, the belief of a town, and the magic of the night sky, that I had been resurrected."

p. 174

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious seminary insider puns. If you have any background in Christian history/theology, you'll enjoy Cleaver's cleverness.

For example, Check out the theology of Zwingli (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theol...) vs the theology of Luther (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marti...). One of the characters says their mother was a Zwingli while their father was a Luther. Lol! Sly and funny.

Or what about Jimmy Constantine? (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Const...).

I love the Jonah story and enjoyed this modern take on it. The religious puns just made it better.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was something just unsatisfying about this. It was a great idea that just never quite made it. Seminary grad/new minister must save town before the grim reaper shows up. It was too over the top. The factory owner was such a caricature and ridiculous (you had to pay a toll to enter her yard). Playing this a little more straight would have made it better. If the characters were closer to real people, I think it would have worked. It just wasn't funny enough to carry off over the top.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book. It started out great. Funny, witty, with unexpected twists (who expects death to come out of a washing machine?? And rice krispies as an alarm system? Brilliant!)

The first half was great, but it kind of fizzled at the end and left me a bit unsatisfied.

I hope Cleaver continues to write, I would like to see another novel from the author that is a bit more fleshed out and has a bit more follow-through.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging quirky little book with a mere 182 pages. The book gently chides about morals without being preachy and demonstrates the do’s and don’ts of treating others as we would like to be treated. I would recommend this novel as a fun read for those who want a feel good book that doesn’t require a lot of thinking about an intricate plot or discourse although the book could sustain a brief discussion about how we interact with others.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a random find at the library and was a random read as well. Still not sure exactly how I feel about it. It was kind of endearing and kind of overdone. There were parts I don't truly understand why they were added (the bit about Jackie Paper and the woman who doesn't decay after dying), but I suppose it gives the book a bit of spunk.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm not smart enough for this book, I kept thinking "what?".

[Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to make you think about your faith, if you have it, and where it lives.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see this book as a movie. It's an entertaining story about redemption - humerous at times but gives a good message.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

highly recommended, but i thought it was just ok.

[Paula]

I vaguely remember starting this book. Don't remember much else about it. I'm guessing it was a library book that I had to return unfinished.

[Fiona Robson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very impressed at all. The only thing in this book's favour was that it was quite small, so I hadn't wasted much time on it. It was trying to be allegorical, but it was just a bit silly.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though not a writer at heart, Cleaver's writing is at his best when he lets his charming sense of humor loose. It was a joy to laugh aloud with him while reading those passages, puns, and one-liners.