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Joe B.
We all experience suffering. But not like Joe B.
Joseph Brescia is the toast of New York City, a lighthearted CEO beloved by bureaucrats and bartenders and beggars alike.
But Joe’s joy has attracted some dangerous attention. The devil himself has taken notice. And now he's obsessed with getting Joe to renounce his faith.
Satan challenges God to a wager for Joe’s soul. 'Unleash hell' is no longer a figure of speech.
All of heaven and hell watch as Joe's happy life is systematically destroyed. A broken man must decide how to react to his sufferings – and determine the winner of the wager.
This is the ancient Book of Job reimagined. It's not a story of why bad things happen to good people.
The truth is much more demanding than that. . .
. . . and much more beautiful.
Joseph Brescia is the toast of New York City, a lighthearted CEO beloved by bureaucrats and bartenders and beggars alike.
But Joe’s joy has attracted some dangerous attention. The devil himself has taken notice. And now he's obsessed with getting Joe to renounce his faith.
Satan challenges God to a wager for Joe’s soul. 'Unleash hell' is no longer a figure of speech.
All of heaven and hell watch as Joe's happy life is systematically destroyed. A broken man must decide how to react to his sufferings – and determine the winner of the wager.
This is the ancient Book of Job reimagined. It's not a story of why bad things happen to good people.
The truth is much more demanding than that. . .
. . . and much more beautiful.
201 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2021
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1486 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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March 13, 2022So, in the interest of full disclosure, I have a mild conflict of interest in reviewing this book: Fr. Anthony Federico is the parochial vicar at my parish.
With that out of the way, I will say that this is a far more ambitious than the "modern adaption of the Book of Job" that you might be expecting. The attempt to describe skirmishes between angels and demons is thrilling in its own right, but also provides more hope to the biblical story, which is typically adapted in a way that emphasizes the opacity of God's will and His distance from man - this story is a helpful corrective.
With that out of the way, I will say that this is a far more ambitious than the "modern adaption of the Book of Job" that you might be expecting. The attempt to describe skirmishes between angels and demons is thrilling in its own right, but also provides more hope to the biblical story, which is typically adapted in a way that emphasizes the opacity of God's will and His distance from man - this story is a helpful corrective.
October 13, 2021
An entertaining, easy-to-read modern re-telling of the book of Job, mixed with a clear influence from The Screwtape Letters. Most Catholic literature is way over my head, so this was a welcome break. While it probably wouldn’t resonate much with non-Christians, this is a wonderful book for Catholics who are plagued by questions of evil and suffering.
February 28, 2022
Job has long been my favorite book of the Bible, and I loved this modern retelling, with all of its wit, creativity, and abundance of energy that Anthony Federico puts into everything he does.
I loved the mythic portrayal of heaven, and of angels and demons as they encounter one another and busy themselves at work in the world. The way Federico justified the perception passing time in his retelling of the fall of Satan, as a concession for the charity of the angels who all wanted the other angels to encounter God before them, was very clever. I would extend a word of caution over one line: “someday God would forsake his own glory and the Son would become one of them.” Jesus had to be glorified in his humanity, yes, but we do not and cannot say that the Son forsook his glory, not even in the Incarnation. I know this is a line from Lucifer (who is an untrustworthy literary POV if there ever was one), but the fact that he expresses this thought “before” his fall is, I think, I cause for caution.
I loved that so many little elements and all of the characters from Job were pulled into the story. The way that all of the abundance of fortune of Job was represented in Joe B.’s character to the point that he never had to even wait at crosswalks made me laugh. And I appreciated that the protagonist, who is kind of supposed to be the embodiment of an “upright man,” isn’t characterized by a sort of cheap, overvalued, Americanized niceness; Joe, like Job, is a strong man who experiences righteous anger, puts it to use, and it is part of his uprightness. Brilliant.
It also made me happy to see a lot of Federico’s own character in Joe B. This especially came through in Joe B.’s energy, his love for his Italian heritage, and the many references to random games and competitions he would play, usually with his granddaughter Julianna. And it made me smile to see this list of names together to represent some of the families in Joe B.’s old neighborhood: “Deeley. Egan. Mullan. Williams. Riedel.”
Joe B. is fun, accessible, engaging presentation of the ever important and ever profound messages of the book of Job. Thanks for publishing, Fed.
I loved the mythic portrayal of heaven, and of angels and demons as they encounter one another and busy themselves at work in the world. The way Federico justified the perception passing time in his retelling of the fall of Satan, as a concession for the charity of the angels who all wanted the other angels to encounter God before them, was very clever. I would extend a word of caution over one line: “someday God would forsake his own glory and the Son would become one of them.” Jesus had to be glorified in his humanity, yes, but we do not and cannot say that the Son forsook his glory, not even in the Incarnation. I know this is a line from Lucifer (who is an untrustworthy literary POV if there ever was one), but the fact that he expresses this thought “before” his fall is, I think, I cause for caution.
I loved that so many little elements and all of the characters from Job were pulled into the story. The way that all of the abundance of fortune of Job was represented in Joe B.’s character to the point that he never had to even wait at crosswalks made me laugh. And I appreciated that the protagonist, who is kind of supposed to be the embodiment of an “upright man,” isn’t characterized by a sort of cheap, overvalued, Americanized niceness; Joe, like Job, is a strong man who experiences righteous anger, puts it to use, and it is part of his uprightness. Brilliant.
It also made me happy to see a lot of Federico’s own character in Joe B. This especially came through in Joe B.’s energy, his love for his Italian heritage, and the many references to random games and competitions he would play, usually with his granddaughter Julianna. And it made me smile to see this list of names together to represent some of the families in Joe B.’s old neighborhood: “Deeley. Egan. Mullan. Williams. Riedel.”
Joe B. is fun, accessible, engaging presentation of the ever important and ever profound messages of the book of Job. Thanks for publishing, Fed.
January 1, 2022
This book is the second novel by Father Anthony J. Federico III. I was asked to give it a read and see what I think. As soon as I heard the premise of the story I thought about two other books, Job: Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein and The Story of Job by Regina Doman and Ben Hatke. All three are different takes on Job. This one is more a direct updating of the story.
This is the story of Joe Brescia, or Joe B. he is a big shot in New York, CEO of a company he founded and has steered for year. Former councilman, and liked by almost all who cross his path, from influencers, bartenders, and the homeless alike. There is no question Joe has a blessed life, a beautiful wife, a son who is a rising star in his own right and one grandchild and one on the way. But the evil one has noticed Joe, his joy, his devotion, and his faith. Satan comes before God and makes a wager for Joe’s soul. And soon all hell is unleashed on Joe, in a series of tragedies similar to the biblical tale it is fashioned after, and not just the loss of position, his company, and even most of his family. His reputation is being dragged through the gutter. He faces betrayals he never saw coming. Hordes of demons are targeting him specifically.
This book does an excellent job of retelling the story of Job. We see the physical and spiritual realms overlapped. And the influences of one on the other. In some ways the way the spiritual real is presented is reminiscent of This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti. And the story reads a bit like the Joshua books by Father Joseph F. Girzone.
The book is not a difficult read, and I think it would be an excellent read for teens and young adults. It would be great if there was a discussion guide for youth groups or book clubs that pick the volume up. The book can be read in a few sittings or one long sitting over a large mug of coffee or tea. At the beginning of the volume we are informed that “Half of any revenue from this book will be used to feed those experiencing homelessness.”. It is an interesting read and on I can easily recommend. I enjoyed it and would definitely pick up the good Father’s next offering.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
This is the story of Joe Brescia, or Joe B. he is a big shot in New York, CEO of a company he founded and has steered for year. Former councilman, and liked by almost all who cross his path, from influencers, bartenders, and the homeless alike. There is no question Joe has a blessed life, a beautiful wife, a son who is a rising star in his own right and one grandchild and one on the way. But the evil one has noticed Joe, his joy, his devotion, and his faith. Satan comes before God and makes a wager for Joe’s soul. And soon all hell is unleashed on Joe, in a series of tragedies similar to the biblical tale it is fashioned after, and not just the loss of position, his company, and even most of his family. His reputation is being dragged through the gutter. He faces betrayals he never saw coming. Hordes of demons are targeting him specifically.
This book does an excellent job of retelling the story of Job. We see the physical and spiritual realms overlapped. And the influences of one on the other. In some ways the way the spiritual real is presented is reminiscent of This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti. And the story reads a bit like the Joshua books by Father Joseph F. Girzone.
The book is not a difficult read, and I think it would be an excellent read for teens and young adults. It would be great if there was a discussion guide for youth groups or book clubs that pick the volume up. The book can be read in a few sittings or one long sitting over a large mug of coffee or tea. At the beginning of the volume we are informed that “Half of any revenue from this book will be used to feed those experiencing homelessness.”. It is an interesting read and on I can easily recommend. I enjoyed it and would definitely pick up the good Father’s next offering.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
May 5, 2024
An absolute masterpiece! Father Federico made this a work of love and faith. The main character, Joe, is one of unwavering devotion to God, and that made me a bit nervous at first. I was afraid that Joe would be portrayed as this ideal churchgoer who was so devout that I would feel bad for not practicing my faith in the same way. However, seeing the realistic heartbreak that Joe endures made me see that even God’s most invested followers will be put to the test. This book made me realize two things - one, bad things don’t happen to good people because they did something bad. Sometimes, it’s the devil working his hardest to get to you because of how good you are. And two, I now have a different understanding of how much the angels do behind the scenes of life. Our world would be fully of utterly more turmoil without our guardian angels, and even when things are horrifically bad, they are still protecting us. I finish this book seeing that life isn’t perfect, so our relationship with God doesn’t have to be, either. I walk away with more inspiration to pray in all moments, no matter what that prayer looks like. Not to mention, the language that Father Federico uses in this book is inspiring! Despite the story, the writing style is beautiful and intelligent, making for a fantastic piece of literature.
October 24, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this modern-day telling for the story of Job. It was so well written and captivating that I kept reading late into the night, wanting to know what would happen. There are so many different aspects of this book to marvel at that I hope many people of faith or without faith take a chance on reading it. The story delves into suffering, trust, love, betrayal, loss, and ultimately believing God has a loving plan we can trust no matter what happens. The main character, Joe, is certainly put to the test on the strength of his relationship, faith, and trust in God by Satan himself. I found the inclusion of angels (good and fallen) woven into this story in a very real way to be fascinating and it made me much more aware of their presence in our lives. I hope you read this book several times as it makes you rethink life and our relationships (human and divine). Well done!
November 7, 2021
Even if you know the story of Job from the Old Testament, you haven't experienced like this.
Fr. Federico brings the ancient tale into the 21st century, making the story extremely relatable to the modern audience. Additionally, the depth and detail he gives the characters of Joe and his family brings them alive, making his tribulations and suffering that much more powerful.
I highly recommend this book as an opportunity to reflect on your own faith, and how well you would handle suffering.
Fr. Federico brings the ancient tale into the 21st century, making the story extremely relatable to the modern audience. Additionally, the depth and detail he gives the characters of Joe and his family brings them alive, making his tribulations and suffering that much more powerful.
I highly recommend this book as an opportunity to reflect on your own faith, and how well you would handle suffering.
December 24, 2023
What a beautiful story of faith. A truly relatable retelling of Job in a modern day where temptation is everywhere and so are angels. Thank you for sharing these clearly inspired words Father Anthony. Your gift is well received.
October 25, 2021
This was a book that is a quick read. It made me think about life’s ups and downs. There is always a choice on how to react. Great book! Highly recommend!
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November 22, 2021A really powerful and thought-provoking story. I loved the relationship between the main character and his wife; it's rare to see such thoughtfully-drawn portraits of good marriages.
September 7, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! It is definitely a hard read especially if you know the story of Job and therefore what is to come, but it is a good cry. Father Federico really knew how to re-invent this ancient biblical story to appeal to 21st century person. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2024
This is an amazing read. It is a modern retelling of the Book of Job. It will open your eyes to the reality surrounding you. Every confirmation candidate should read this.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews