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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Having grown up indoctrinated in the Baptist church, I found this book to be soothing, funny, and needed. I remember having a lot of the same questions as Eli growing up.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one didn't pop my corn, and that's on me. Eli Harpo "died" during a surgery at 4 years old and woke up saying he went to heaven. This led to years of his religious father exploiting him as Heaven Boy, which was hard for Eli to blame him for because his dad actually believed it. So did Eli for a time, and I enjoyed watching him realize more doubts as he aged.
The title says it's about his adventure to the afterlife, but I went in wanting to know mostly about Eli's deconstruction and coming out/into himself. Instead of being the 80% present day and 20% flashback I wanted, it was the reverse. As a fella Exvangelical from KY I just thought I'd connect more to him. I did in that the pressure to remain part of the church was entirely external, but that wasn't even explored as deeply as I wanted in the adult Eli portions. I found the last half hard to get through because it was slow paced and it's pretty clear we're slogging toward a fall from grace. I got tired of waiting. 3 taters 🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
The title says it's about his adventure to the afterlife, but I went in wanting to know mostly about Eli's deconstruction and coming out/into himself. Instead of being the 80% present day and 20% flashback I wanted, it was the reverse. As a fella Exvangelical from KY I just thought I'd connect more to him. I did in that the pressure to remain part of the church was entirely external, but that wasn't even explored as deeply as I wanted in the adult Eli portions. I found the last half hard to get through because it was slow paced and it's pretty clear we're slogging toward a fall from grace. I got tired of waiting. 3 taters 🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggle to rate this book, there was about point in the middle I almost DNF’d but it broke out of the monotony it put itself it. As someone who was pushed into religion as a kid this book hit hard at times, and stirred up some religious trauma but it was nice to face these things again and know how I have grown