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Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife
Award-winning author Eric Schlich’s Eli Harpo’s Adventure to the Afterlife is an accessible and big-hearted novel that explores belief and forgiveness as a boy grapples with his faith and sexuality on a rollicking family road trip to Bible World.
When Eli Harpo was four, he underwent emergency open-heart surgery, flatlined on the operating table, and for a brief time, went to heaven and met Jesus. Or at least that’s what his father, a loving but devout Baptist minister, has raised him to believe.
Nine years later, Eli isn’t so sure. His rounds with his father to evangelize at hospices and sell his father’s self-published book, Heaven or Bust! , feel inauthentic and strange, especially now that he’s started having sex dreams about Jesus. Between that and his mother’s terminal breast cancer diagnosis, Eli feels further from heaven than ever. But when the famous televangelist Charlie Gideon shows up at the Harpos’ doorstep with a proposal to create a new attraction based on Eli’s trip to the afterlife at his Bible-themed park, Eli isn’t able to say no.
As the Harpos head off on a rollicking road trip from Kentucky to Bible World in Orlando, Eli is left to grapple with not just his faith and his sexuality, but also his own parents’ messy humanity and what happens when a family held together by mythmaking starts coming apart at the seams.
Hilarious and moving, Eli Harpo’s Adventure to the Afterlife is a kind-hearted story about self-discovery and the search for truth, wherever it takes you.
When Eli Harpo was four, he underwent emergency open-heart surgery, flatlined on the operating table, and for a brief time, went to heaven and met Jesus. Or at least that’s what his father, a loving but devout Baptist minister, has raised him to believe.
Nine years later, Eli isn’t so sure. His rounds with his father to evangelize at hospices and sell his father’s self-published book, Heaven or Bust! , feel inauthentic and strange, especially now that he’s started having sex dreams about Jesus. Between that and his mother’s terminal breast cancer diagnosis, Eli feels further from heaven than ever. But when the famous televangelist Charlie Gideon shows up at the Harpos’ doorstep with a proposal to create a new attraction based on Eli’s trip to the afterlife at his Bible-themed park, Eli isn’t able to say no.
As the Harpos head off on a rollicking road trip from Kentucky to Bible World in Orlando, Eli is left to grapple with not just his faith and his sexuality, but also his own parents’ messy humanity and what happens when a family held together by mythmaking starts coming apart at the seams.
Hilarious and moving, Eli Harpo’s Adventure to the Afterlife is a kind-hearted story about self-discovery and the search for truth, wherever it takes you.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published January 16, 2024
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February 9, 2024Gay ex-Christians unite
August 31, 2024
3.5 🌟
This did not help me in my effort to not believe that all organized religions are abusive blights on society. Oopsie
This did not help me in my effort to not believe that all organized religions are abusive blights on society. Oopsie
April 30, 2023
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
As a non-churchgoer who grew up in a very religious family, I found this book to be pretty accurate, funny, and heartwarming all at the same time. It came across as true to life and Eli, as the main character, is impossible not to love as he comes of age with the additional hurdles of going to Heaven at age 4 and losing his mother to cancer.
As a non-churchgoer who grew up in a very religious family, I found this book to be pretty accurate, funny, and heartwarming all at the same time. It came across as true to life and Eli, as the main character, is impossible not to love as he comes of age with the additional hurdles of going to Heaven at age 4 and losing his mother to cancer.
February 16, 2024
I liked this one quite a bit, not the least because it hit so close to home and felt very genuine - I had the urge to look up Eli and his family a few times, before remembering it was fiction. To my mind, it felt perfectly normal that they would have existed back in the day and I had just missed seeing the video.
November 17, 2024
I want to study this book under a microscope
February 12, 2024
This book took me on an emotional journey and it was wonderful - even the parts where I cried.
Simon reminded me of my father through his character traits.
Full review to come.
Simon reminded me of my father through his character traits.
Full review to come.
July 30, 2025
I’m a Christ-follower, and I think this book is spectacular.
Like the Sodom & Gomorrah rides at Bible World, this novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, and NOT one for the faint of heart. To fully embrace this novel and its eccentricities, you have to approach it with an open-mindedness that is discouraged in most organized religions. Many other reviewers found solace in this book because it presents the distress of navigating forced religion, family estrangement, and embracing one’s identity. I think there’s a very understated beauty in embracing the ugliness and awkwardness and loneliness of adolescence so boldly. Each character was written with such clear intention and represented significant aspects of childhood religious conflict.
As a Christian reader who has felt many of the church-inflicted pressures of self-identification and redemption, I felt most moved by the author’s exploration of childhood choice. I often wonder how authentic Christian redemption can be when it’s an expectation rather than a conscientious choice. I’m not here to preach or to share a moving testimony, but I think aspects of my religious journey are relevant. As a kid, I “accepted” Christ before I could pick out my own clothes, and when my belief started to wither as my adolescence bloomed, I started to number the trusted adults who shamed me for skepticism instead of encouraging me to find my own walk in faith. Though my story is clearly different from protagonist Eli’s, I value an overarching motif of raising your children to be clever enough to make big life choices and not forcing them into religious politics.
And, for what it’s worth, the Jesus I follow embraces our questions and forgives our skepticism. My Jesus loves all the people, and He loves them regardless of sexuality or even personal belief. That’s not a popular thought with a lot of American Christians, but they missed the parts of the Bible where Jesus is very clear about His unwavering love. My God gave us the ability to rationalize, to make decisions. He didn’t give us the right to drag anyone kicking and screaming into Bible World. Love to all believers and nonbelievers. Love to all who believe in our right to think. Love to this book!
Like the Sodom & Gomorrah rides at Bible World, this novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, and NOT one for the faint of heart. To fully embrace this novel and its eccentricities, you have to approach it with an open-mindedness that is discouraged in most organized religions. Many other reviewers found solace in this book because it presents the distress of navigating forced religion, family estrangement, and embracing one’s identity. I think there’s a very understated beauty in embracing the ugliness and awkwardness and loneliness of adolescence so boldly. Each character was written with such clear intention and represented significant aspects of childhood religious conflict.
As a Christian reader who has felt many of the church-inflicted pressures of self-identification and redemption, I felt most moved by the author’s exploration of childhood choice. I often wonder how authentic Christian redemption can be when it’s an expectation rather than a conscientious choice. I’m not here to preach or to share a moving testimony, but I think aspects of my religious journey are relevant. As a kid, I “accepted” Christ before I could pick out my own clothes, and when my belief started to wither as my adolescence bloomed, I started to number the trusted adults who shamed me for skepticism instead of encouraging me to find my own walk in faith. Though my story is clearly different from protagonist Eli’s, I value an overarching motif of raising your children to be clever enough to make big life choices and not forcing them into religious politics.
And, for what it’s worth, the Jesus I follow embraces our questions and forgives our skepticism. My Jesus loves all the people, and He loves them regardless of sexuality or even personal belief. That’s not a popular thought with a lot of American Christians, but they missed the parts of the Bible where Jesus is very clear about His unwavering love. My God gave us the ability to rationalize, to make decisions. He didn’t give us the right to drag anyone kicking and screaming into Bible World. Love to all believers and nonbelievers. Love to all who believe in our right to think. Love to this book!
January 8, 2025
bitterly upsetting, but i really struggled with Will’s character. There were a lot of scenes where he seemed to be extorting Eli in extremely similar ways to his family.
March 24, 2024
Borrowed from another reviewer: “at first based on the description, I was concerned that this was going to be an off the wall strange novel that I might not like, but this was so much more than that. Whatever you do, do not let the description sway you from reading this. The dream scenes are minor and nothing truly perverse at all”
I selected this as part of my goal to read more new releases and it completely exceeded my expectations. I know the author has published short stories, but I think this is still a debut novel for him and I was so impressed with the readability and writing style. I would group this story with the likeness of “Lessons in Chemistry” or “Remarkably Bright Creatures” and would recommend it to lovers of those reads too.
I selected this as part of my goal to read more new releases and it completely exceeded my expectations. I know the author has published short stories, but I think this is still a debut novel for him and I was so impressed with the readability and writing style. I would group this story with the likeness of “Lessons in Chemistry” or “Remarkably Bright Creatures” and would recommend it to lovers of those reads too.
February 20, 2024
Stunning! Just absolutely stunning! At first based on the description, and the hint of dreams of sex with Jesus, I was concerned that this was going to be an off the wall strange novel that I may not like, but this was so much more than that. Whatever you do, do not let the description sway you from reading this. The dream scenes are really minor and nothing truly perverse at all. No true sex between the main character and Jesus happens.
I grew to love the entire story, and quite quickly at that. I felt for the main character, and really the supporting cast as well. This was very well written and it teaches/affirms the belief in me that religion as a whole, is truly a racket, only made to make you feel less than, and they are in it for their own financial gains. I am not atheist, but I am not one for organized religion in the least.
Astounding achievement!! I loved this so much!!!
Wow!! 📖
I grew to love the entire story, and quite quickly at that. I felt for the main character, and really the supporting cast as well. This was very well written and it teaches/affirms the belief in me that religion as a whole, is truly a racket, only made to make you feel less than, and they are in it for their own financial gains. I am not atheist, but I am not one for organized religion in the least.
Astounding achievement!! I loved this so much!!!
Wow!! 📖
April 13, 2024
Really fantastic. Loved the raw emotion—the narrator being an adult reflecting on his traumatic childhood. It wasn’t quite black and white though. He was emotionally abused through religion, but still felt close with his family. Really great meditation on grief and trauma and how our past and future affect each other. Absolutely adored this, it spoke to me on so many levels.
January 20, 2024
Phenomenal.
January 23, 2024
Adored this. It has all my favourite things: estranged families, religious trauma and male model Jesus Christ.
March 6, 2025
really heartfelt take on the damages of organized religion and fame on families, particularly children
January 9, 2025
Unfortunately this book fell short for me. Here’s why:
••• the book started out interesting and caught my attention right away, so I chose to pursue it. The main character is a man named Eli, who is married and has a son, and is meeting at a Bible Camp/Land with his dad and adult siblings and their kids. Bible Land is going out of business so they are there for some reminiscing and one last hurrah on the rides.
We quickly learn that when Eli was very young, there was some sort of event where it was believed he “saw the light” (Heaven) for a moment during a surgery
••• as the book continued, I checked not once but twice, to double check this was not a memoir, or a book of fiction that was very diaristic. It was neither. This book reads like a memoir - after the initial introduction above, it goes back in time to Eli’s childhood, the Event, and his religious upbringing.
••• there was so much evangelicalism in the middle of the book. It was just a lot. It did draw a picture of a family that became embedded in a religious community (led by this grifter Gideon) whose goal seemed to be to create ways to profit off Eli’s story. Did this impact their family, yes. Did this call into question the authenticity of their particular religious group? Yes. Was this part interesting to me, not really. I was quite bored with the majority of the middle of the book. The end got interesting again, but it was too little too late.
•••• it felt like Eli’s being gay was a plot device. Which didn’t sit right with me. We saw his mother grapple with how to address it, but we really didn’t hear much about the interplay of his being gay and being brought up religious played out for him and the undoing of a belief system he had supposedly been taught. . I felt like this part was glossed over too quickly. I was expecting more of this to come in each new chapter and it just never did. Perhaps this is because the book was not diaristic in this sense? Not sure. Maybe this is a me thing. Idk
2.5 stars
••• the book started out interesting and caught my attention right away, so I chose to pursue it. The main character is a man named Eli, who is married and has a son, and is meeting at a Bible Camp/Land with his dad and adult siblings and their kids. Bible Land is going out of business so they are there for some reminiscing and one last hurrah on the rides.
We quickly learn that when Eli was very young, there was some sort of event where it was believed he “saw the light” (Heaven) for a moment during a surgery
••• as the book continued, I checked not once but twice, to double check this was not a memoir, or a book of fiction that was very diaristic. It was neither. This book reads like a memoir - after the initial introduction above, it goes back in time to Eli’s childhood, the Event, and his religious upbringing.
••• there was so much evangelicalism in the middle of the book. It was just a lot. It did draw a picture of a family that became embedded in a religious community (led by this grifter Gideon) whose goal seemed to be to create ways to profit off Eli’s story. Did this impact their family, yes. Did this call into question the authenticity of their particular religious group? Yes. Was this part interesting to me, not really. I was quite bored with the majority of the middle of the book. The end got interesting again, but it was too little too late.
•••• it felt like Eli’s being gay was a plot device. Which didn’t sit right with me. We saw his mother grapple with how to address it, but we really didn’t hear much about the interplay of his being gay and being brought up religious played out for him and the undoing of a belief system he had supposedly been taught. . I felt like this part was glossed over too quickly. I was expecting more of this to come in each new chapter and it just never did. Perhaps this is because the book was not diaristic in this sense? Not sure. Maybe this is a me thing. Idk
2.5 stars
March 1, 2024
This book explores complicated relationships with family, religion and death. It follows Eli, a 'Heaven Kid'. When he was younger, Eli (or so he thinks?) died and went to Heaven before coming back.
It ends up being a mystery as it bounces between the past (where Eli is Heaven Kid) and the present (Eli is married to Will, his husband, with a kid, and has come back to explore Bible World with his family as an adult) and you find out what happened at Bible World that kind of tore their family apart or so it seems
It is very easy to devour, but it didn't end up having as much of an emotional impact as I expected. The subject matter is very interesting to me, and I really enjoy how Eli's journey was explore. I do feel like the way the story was told (bouncing between time periods, and told from the perspective of older Eli) did weaken it and I think that while having this sort of mystery at its center kept you reading, it didn't necessarily need to be told this way. I also feel like the ending was a little rushed and so much was told to us quickly towards the end. Overall, this book maybe could have been a bit subtler with showing us as opposed to outright telling us what was happening and what characters reactions meant.
It ends up being a mystery as it bounces between the past (where Eli is Heaven Kid) and the present (Eli is married to Will, his husband, with a kid, and has come back to explore Bible World with his family as an adult) and you find out what happened at Bible World that kind of tore their family apart or so it seems
It is very easy to devour, but it didn't end up having as much of an emotional impact as I expected. The subject matter is very interesting to me, and I really enjoy how Eli's journey was explore. I do feel like the way the story was told (bouncing between time periods, and told from the perspective of older Eli) did weaken it and I think that while having this sort of mystery at its center kept you reading, it didn't necessarily need to be told this way. I also feel like the ending was a little rushed and so much was told to us quickly towards the end. Overall, this book maybe could have been a bit subtler with showing us as opposed to outright telling us what was happening and what characters reactions meant.
March 3, 2024
I live in a place where a local news channel does so many "He died... AND SAW HEAVEN!!!" stories that it might as well be a recurring travel segment. So I really enjoyed seeing what might happen to some of those poor kids who get swept up in hysteria for something they said after a traumatic event where they were heavily sedated. I was worried it was going to swap between past and present, but it actually spent most of the time in a single time period with a narrator speaking from the future. It made the timeline a bit wonky sometimes ("Years later, when I met Will..." or "Days before, this happened...") but definitely preferable.
February 19, 2024
3 and a half rounded up.
October 21, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. It's a 10/10 for me and quickly landed itself on my top list for the year. As someone who grew up in rural Southern Ohio, the themes and messaging of this book rang so real for me. I grew up in a family of religious singers who toured from church to church and I could so relate to Eli's struggles with the captial T truth and self-discovery. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel all the feels.
August 28, 2025
3.5 stars. As someone who grew up in an uber Christian household, the religious trauma is relatable!
February 16, 2024
"Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife" by Eric Schlich is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that takes readers on a unique journey through the realms of life and death. Schlich masterfully combines elements of fantasy, philosophy, and introspection to create a narrative that transcends traditional storytelling. The novel follows the protagonist, Eli Harpo, as he navigates life with his family, particularly his devout Baptist father, after a brush with the afterlife. From the very beginning, Schlich establishes a tangible and genuine family dynamic, as he leads Eli through various experiences that help shape him and challenge his beliefs. The author's warm vivid descriptions bring the story to life, making it a warm and immersive setting for the unfolding adventure.
One of the standout features of the novel is Schlich's ability to seamlessly weave present day and past storylines into the narrative. These transitions from past to present and back are skillfully executed as Eli Harpo encounters various characters and challenges in his life, readers are prompted to contemplate existential questions about life, death, and the meaning of existence. The novel encourages readers to reflect on their own beliefs and perceptions, making it a truly introspective and engaging experience. The character development is skillfully executed. Eli undergoes a profound transformation as he grapples with his beliefs and feelings about his journey to the afterlife, and how it fits with his own developing beliefs in possible contrast to his father's. The supporting characters add depth and complexity to the story, each representing different facets of the human experience. Through these characters, Schlich explores themes of love, loss, redemption, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with a mix of suspenseful moments and contemplative interludes. The narrative unfolds like a puzzle, inviting readers to piece together the clues and revelations as they accompany Eli through his journey. Furthermore, the prose in is beautifully crafted. Schlich's writing is both poetic and evocative, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
In conclusion, Eric Schlich's "Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife" is a wonderfully written and stimulating novel. It goes beyond the conventions of typical fantasy literature, delving into the realms of philosophy and existentialism. The story is a testament to the power of storytelling to provoke thought and inspire self-reflection. Readers who appreciate a narrative that challenges the mind while offering a captivating adventure will find this novel to be a truly rewarding experience.
One of the standout features of the novel is Schlich's ability to seamlessly weave present day and past storylines into the narrative. These transitions from past to present and back are skillfully executed as Eli Harpo encounters various characters and challenges in his life, readers are prompted to contemplate existential questions about life, death, and the meaning of existence. The novel encourages readers to reflect on their own beliefs and perceptions, making it a truly introspective and engaging experience. The character development is skillfully executed. Eli undergoes a profound transformation as he grapples with his beliefs and feelings about his journey to the afterlife, and how it fits with his own developing beliefs in possible contrast to his father's. The supporting characters add depth and complexity to the story, each representing different facets of the human experience. Through these characters, Schlich explores themes of love, loss, redemption, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with a mix of suspenseful moments and contemplative interludes. The narrative unfolds like a puzzle, inviting readers to piece together the clues and revelations as they accompany Eli through his journey. Furthermore, the prose in is beautifully crafted. Schlich's writing is both poetic and evocative, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
In conclusion, Eric Schlich's "Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife" is a wonderfully written and stimulating novel. It goes beyond the conventions of typical fantasy literature, delving into the realms of philosophy and existentialism. The story is a testament to the power of storytelling to provoke thought and inspire self-reflection. Readers who appreciate a narrative that challenges the mind while offering a captivating adventure will find this novel to be a truly rewarding experience.
February 8, 2025
Meh. I honestly didn’t really like this. It was a fast read so I didn’t DNF but it fell really flat for me and I’m not entirely sure why. I feel like it would have been more enjoyable if the author had opened the book the same way but instead of then starting over from age 4, if the author had toggled between the “present day” and the past. Instead I kept waiting for the payoff and when it finally came…there was no payoff. I also wanted adult Eli to put more of his perspective on his childhood experiences. Instead it felt a bit objective “cuz happened at this age” but it lacked the analysis or depth he could have brought with his adult perspective. I also believe the Dad as a character and at the same time he felt like a cartoon. There wasn’t any depth. And I didn’t understand how someone so cartoonishly Christian would actually marry and stay with his wife who was obviously not?
January 30, 2024
This book made me so mad. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw it across the room. 10/10 would recommend. I’ve never read anything like it, and I doubt I ever will again.
March 28, 2024
2.5 rounded up.
I’m going to be ~that guy~ unfortunately. Throughout the whole book I just had this overwhelming sense I was being preached at? Given the content, I guess that makes sense. But I couldn’t shake the question of if this book presented anything new to me.
Don’t get me wrong, the message of the book I obviously agree with. The problem is I think that the story won’t ever reach the people who would benefit from it.
I also, the whole book, got the sense that the person writing this gay protagonist was not themselves gay. And I tried not to be judgmental, but it just felt like every agonizing, horrible part of being queer, particularly in a religious environment, was glossed over - as if never having been felt. I don’t really subscribe to the belief that one must only write their own experience, however the author’s note indicates that not only is he not gay, but his wife’s experience with a religious upbringing informed that part of the book.
So, it felt like the religious dogma aspect of the book was very fleshed out, and unfortunately (and definitely not intentionally) the protagonist’s sexuality felt like a device, and not equally well-researched. As a person who consumes a lot of queer literature, it just felt a little icky.
I’m going to be ~that guy~ unfortunately. Throughout the whole book I just had this overwhelming sense I was being preached at? Given the content, I guess that makes sense. But I couldn’t shake the question of if this book presented anything new to me.
Don’t get me wrong, the message of the book I obviously agree with. The problem is I think that the story won’t ever reach the people who would benefit from it.
I also, the whole book, got the sense that the person writing this gay protagonist was not themselves gay. And I tried not to be judgmental, but it just felt like every agonizing, horrible part of being queer, particularly in a religious environment, was glossed over - as if never having been felt. I don’t really subscribe to the belief that one must only write their own experience, however the author’s note indicates that not only is he not gay, but his wife’s experience with a religious upbringing informed that part of the book.
So, it felt like the religious dogma aspect of the book was very fleshed out, and unfortunately (and definitely not intentionally) the protagonist’s sexuality felt like a device, and not equally well-researched. As a person who consumes a lot of queer literature, it just felt a little icky.
September 8, 2024
This is a well-written and deftly handled exploration of religious trauma and exploitation. It’s an entertaining and somewhat light read in spite of the heavy subject.
July 28, 2024
I made my way quickly through the book because it had a great flow with understandable characters and an interesting plot. I found it interesting that the author noted it’s a story about fathers and sons in the acknowledgements, which it definitely is, but it also felt like a powerful study of a relationship that is shifting and then ending (Eli & Debbie) and how that shapes your other relationships. Looking forward to reading more writing by the author.
May 16, 2023
This novel will cause some readers to raise their eyebrows. Is “religious trauma” real? Yes of course. Does religion create a divide in families? Yes of course. Can a religious father with unshakable faith love a son who chooses a life completely opposite to what he believes? Ah. Read and discover.
July 18, 2024
Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife (Hardcover) by Eric Schlich
"Oh. Church is a game we play to make ourselves feel better about the things we can't control." p. 60
'"Yes, Eli, I'm afraid. We're all afraid. It's what makes us human. But fear doesn't give us permission to abandon all reason. Especially when the alternative - belief in a delusion - distorts how we live the one life we've got."' p. 169 - Debbie Harpo
The book opens in the present, with Elijah (Eli) James Harpo and his husband Will - and their son Oliver - returning to Bible World to make a documentary for Will. They are accompanied by Eli's father, Simon, his two brothers, and their families. Then there is a flashback.
At age 4, Eli underwent emergency open-heart surgery, flatlined on the operating table, and for a brief time, went to Heaven and met Jesus. Or at least that’s what his father, a loving but devout Baptist minister, has raised him to believe.
Eli's father, Simon Harpo, writes a book, Heaven or Bust, which he self-publishes. Simon is a pastor at Creation Baptist Church in Canaan, Kentucky, but has never been able to give a good sermon. He lacks charisma - but whatever he lacks in charisma he overcompensated in devotion. They struggle financially because Eli's mother, Deborah (Debbie) Harpo has late-stage breast cancer and the medical expenses are hitting them hard.
Nine years later - Eli is now 13 - and he's not as sure that he went to heaven, as he struggles with homosexual tendencies and deals with his mother's disease. To make matters worse, Eli finds out he never flatlined on the operating table. As Debbie is dying, she tries to make Eli comfortable with his sexual orientation and takes him to a PFLAG meeting - which makes things worse for Eli.
Around this time, Simon is approached by the famous Megachurch pastor Charlie Gideon, who promises a lot of money and fame to the Harpo family for the rights to Simon's book and an attraction at his theme park - Bible World - in Orlando, Florida. Because of the financial rewards - Eli is forced to say yes. Even Debbie - who is not a believer - aids in coercing Eli to go along with the charade. Debbie wants all of her children -Abraham (Abe) and Jake - to go to college and Charlie has promised a trust fund to pay for all of their costs to get an education.
Mr. Gideom is also troubled because the person he was going to use - Levi Livingston and his book "A Tour of Heaven" was found to be a hoax - hurting Charlie's business.
As the Harpos head off on a rollicking road trip from Kentucky to Bible World in Orlando, Eli is left to grapple with not just his faith and his sexuality, but also his own parents’ messy humanity and what happens when a family held together by mythmaking starts coming apart at the seams.
Narrated from the first person point of view, this was a satire of Christianity written from an atheist's point of view. It is not told in a linear timeline - the writer chooses to go back and forth even after the flashback.
Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife is a coming-of-age story, a self-discovery tale, and the search for truth, wherever it takes you. The characters are caricatures - but they have to be. I loved Eli's evolution as he dealt with his internal conflicts. I loved the other characters and I cared for them. Despite the absurdity of the plot, I loved it. What troubles me, is that Christianity is taking itself too seriously and wants to inflict its beliefs on everyone else.
"Oh. Church is a game we play to make ourselves feel better about the things we can't control." p. 60
'"Yes, Eli, I'm afraid. We're all afraid. It's what makes us human. But fear doesn't give us permission to abandon all reason. Especially when the alternative - belief in a delusion - distorts how we live the one life we've got."' p. 169 - Debbie Harpo
The book opens in the present, with Elijah (Eli) James Harpo and his husband Will - and their son Oliver - returning to Bible World to make a documentary for Will. They are accompanied by Eli's father, Simon, his two brothers, and their families. Then there is a flashback.
At age 4, Eli underwent emergency open-heart surgery, flatlined on the operating table, and for a brief time, went to Heaven and met Jesus. Or at least that’s what his father, a loving but devout Baptist minister, has raised him to believe.
Eli's father, Simon Harpo, writes a book, Heaven or Bust, which he self-publishes. Simon is a pastor at Creation Baptist Church in Canaan, Kentucky, but has never been able to give a good sermon. He lacks charisma - but whatever he lacks in charisma he overcompensated in devotion. They struggle financially because Eli's mother, Deborah (Debbie) Harpo has late-stage breast cancer and the medical expenses are hitting them hard.
Nine years later - Eli is now 13 - and he's not as sure that he went to heaven, as he struggles with homosexual tendencies and deals with his mother's disease. To make matters worse, Eli finds out he never flatlined on the operating table. As Debbie is dying, she tries to make Eli comfortable with his sexual orientation and takes him to a PFLAG meeting - which makes things worse for Eli.
Around this time, Simon is approached by the famous Megachurch pastor Charlie Gideon, who promises a lot of money and fame to the Harpo family for the rights to Simon's book and an attraction at his theme park - Bible World - in Orlando, Florida. Because of the financial rewards - Eli is forced to say yes. Even Debbie - who is not a believer - aids in coercing Eli to go along with the charade. Debbie wants all of her children -Abraham (Abe) and Jake - to go to college and Charlie has promised a trust fund to pay for all of their costs to get an education.
Mr. Gideom is also troubled because the person he was going to use - Levi Livingston and his book "A Tour of Heaven" was found to be a hoax - hurting Charlie's business.
As the Harpos head off on a rollicking road trip from Kentucky to Bible World in Orlando, Eli is left to grapple with not just his faith and his sexuality, but also his own parents’ messy humanity and what happens when a family held together by mythmaking starts coming apart at the seams.
Narrated from the first person point of view, this was a satire of Christianity written from an atheist's point of view. It is not told in a linear timeline - the writer chooses to go back and forth even after the flashback.
Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife is a coming-of-age story, a self-discovery tale, and the search for truth, wherever it takes you. The characters are caricatures - but they have to be. I loved Eli's evolution as he dealt with his internal conflicts. I loved the other characters and I cared for them. Despite the absurdity of the plot, I loved it. What troubles me, is that Christianity is taking itself too seriously and wants to inflict its beliefs on everyone else.
December 23, 2025
For anyone looking at this book and going "there's no way a Bible-themed theme park could exist, this is outlandish," I'd like to point to the now-defunct Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida, a theme park that existed for nearly twenty years and, like the park in this book, was run by a religious broadcasting mogul. And it's not even unique -- look up Holy Land Experience's Wikipedia page and you'll find at least four other religious-themed parks and tourist traps in the "See Also" section. As someone who had read about Holy Land Experience and is fascinated by the weirdness that springs up from religion, I was immediately intrigued by this book... and it was actually a lot better than I was expecting it to be.
Eli Harpo went to Heaven during heart surgery when he was four years old... or at least, that's what his father claimed in a faith-promoting book that he tries his hardest to promote. Now thirteen, Eli is unsure of what he really saw while on the operating table, and is even more confused by the fact that he's having erotic dreams about Jesus. When televangelist Charlie Gideon offers to make Eli his spokesman and to model an entire Heaven-themed land in his Christian theme park after Eli's dreams, he starts to question whether this is where he really wants his life to go... and whether standing up for himself is worth shattering his father's dreams.
Eli's journey is obviously based on some of the more sensational reports of children "dying" and coming back with stories of having seen heaven (some of which have since been debunked or recanted). But his story will still resonate with anyone who was raised in a high-demand religious environment, especially those who are LGBTQ and had to closet themselves due to said religious environment. Religious trauma is something that's only recently started to be discussed and recognized, and Eli's journey shows how devastating that can be... but also how one can find healing and regain control of their life enough to escape it, even if it does leave lasting trauma behind.
One thing I do appreciate about this book is that despite Eli's upbringing, his family are never made out to be villains or cartoonish caricatures. His father means well and earnestly believes in the message he wants to spread via his son's vision, even if it blinds him to the real harm he's doing in the process. His mother isn't necessarily shown to be the "better parent" because she has doubts about the authenticity of Eli's trip to heaven -- she's a skeptic, but still fully willing to play along if it means financial aid for the family. Charlie Gideon is more of a stock, cartoony caricature of predatory religious megachurch leaders, but he's nonetheless effective and proof of just how a charismatic person can keep a con going even when controversies come to light.
This was a stunning read, one that manages to cast a scathing eye on religious trauma and megachurch greed without being too harsh on the people who believe in such religions themselves. It deserves more attention.
Eli Harpo went to Heaven during heart surgery when he was four years old... or at least, that's what his father claimed in a faith-promoting book that he tries his hardest to promote. Now thirteen, Eli is unsure of what he really saw while on the operating table, and is even more confused by the fact that he's having erotic dreams about Jesus. When televangelist Charlie Gideon offers to make Eli his spokesman and to model an entire Heaven-themed land in his Christian theme park after Eli's dreams, he starts to question whether this is where he really wants his life to go... and whether standing up for himself is worth shattering his father's dreams.
Eli's journey is obviously based on some of the more sensational reports of children "dying" and coming back with stories of having seen heaven (some of which have since been debunked or recanted). But his story will still resonate with anyone who was raised in a high-demand religious environment, especially those who are LGBTQ and had to closet themselves due to said religious environment. Religious trauma is something that's only recently started to be discussed and recognized, and Eli's journey shows how devastating that can be... but also how one can find healing and regain control of their life enough to escape it, even if it does leave lasting trauma behind.
One thing I do appreciate about this book is that despite Eli's upbringing, his family are never made out to be villains or cartoonish caricatures. His father means well and earnestly believes in the message he wants to spread via his son's vision, even if it blinds him to the real harm he's doing in the process. His mother isn't necessarily shown to be the "better parent" because she has doubts about the authenticity of Eli's trip to heaven -- she's a skeptic, but still fully willing to play along if it means financial aid for the family. Charlie Gideon is more of a stock, cartoony caricature of predatory religious megachurch leaders, but he's nonetheless effective and proof of just how a charismatic person can keep a con going even when controversies come to light.
This was a stunning read, one that manages to cast a scathing eye on religious trauma and megachurch greed without being too harsh on the people who believe in such religions themselves. It deserves more attention.
March 14, 2024
There is a lot going on in this story (too much, actually) but for the most part it is quite a good book.
Several things are done very well. The Harpo family and their interrelationships are described sensitively and without judgment by the author. That is not an easy task. In particular I appreciated the depiction of Simon, the father. He is a deeply religious Baptist fundamentalist, and it would have been very easy (and very cheap) to satirize him. Schlich makes Simon's decency come through, even when he makes choices which are unfortunate for Eli.
On the other hand, monetized religion is fair game for satire. Schlich does an adept job of doing this, and Charley Gideon is the only character in the story who is judged, and negatively, though it seems utterly appropriate.
There are more complicated themes as well. To what extent is it child abuse for Eli to be forced into a religious stardom he absolutely does not want? There is also an interesting question about both the fallibility of memory, and the effect on it when someone is repeatedly told what happened. This does not change Eli's sense of how he is in the world, but it certainly could have.
What worked less well for me is gay aspect of the story. Both of Eli's relationships (with Chase Brinkley and with his husband, Will) lacked the emotional impact for me that was present in the rest of the book. It's hard to understand why Will is emotionally involved with Chase, someone who has always treated him badly, and assuming there is some intimacy there, it is hard to find it credible. I also thought the marriage of Will and Eli seemed flat and predictable, more a caricature of a relationship than one which seemed vibrant and credible. I found myself feeling this story would have worked better had Eli not been gay, but of course, that is up to the author.
Quibbles aside, this is a very good book and both fun to read and of some significance.
Several things are done very well. The Harpo family and their interrelationships are described sensitively and without judgment by the author. That is not an easy task. In particular I appreciated the depiction of Simon, the father. He is a deeply religious Baptist fundamentalist, and it would have been very easy (and very cheap) to satirize him. Schlich makes Simon's decency come through, even when he makes choices which are unfortunate for Eli.
On the other hand, monetized religion is fair game for satire. Schlich does an adept job of doing this, and Charley Gideon is the only character in the story who is judged, and negatively, though it seems utterly appropriate.
There are more complicated themes as well. To what extent is it child abuse for Eli to be forced into a religious stardom he absolutely does not want? There is also an interesting question about both the fallibility of memory, and the effect on it when someone is repeatedly told what happened. This does not change Eli's sense of how he is in the world, but it certainly could have.
What worked less well for me is gay aspect of the story. Both of Eli's relationships (with Chase Brinkley and with his husband, Will) lacked the emotional impact for me that was present in the rest of the book. It's hard to understand why Will is emotionally involved with Chase, someone who has always treated him badly, and assuming there is some intimacy there, it is hard to find it credible. I also thought the marriage of Will and Eli seemed flat and predictable, more a caricature of a relationship than one which seemed vibrant and credible. I found myself feeling this story would have worked better had Eli not been gay, but of course, that is up to the author.
Quibbles aside, this is a very good book and both fun to read and of some significance.
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