Foy

On the Road to Lost

De: Gordon Atkinson

Narrado por: Karl Miller

Foy is a minister who can no longer make sense of the religious world into which he was born. A strange bus journey to the heart of New Orleans marks his exit from a familiar life and a rebirth into a new reality. But the secular world is a strange and lonely place for Foy. His identity as a clergyman is more deeply embedded in his soul than he thought.

The same impulse that guides Hester Prynne to shape her future in The Scarlet Letter guides Atkinson's Foy. Foy is determined to chart his own course rather than allowing others to define who he is. A series of flashbacks to his childhood and his time as an unorthodox minister give us clues to the forces that shaped this man and a glimpse at what may be in store for him.

This may contain language that is objectionable to some.

©2017 Material Media (P)2017 Material Media

A Brilliant Literary Tale

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you enjoy great writing, Foy should be in your audiobook collection. Karl Miller does an excellent job giving Foy a voice.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a series of short stories woven together to present a fascinating picture of a complicated man.

Any additional comments?

The language reflects the way people speak in real life - sometimes crude. But to paraphrase the author of Inherit the Wind; there are damn few enough words in the English language without being able to use the bad ones.

Makes you think...

I was given this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All in all this was a pretty good read. It jumps around a lot making it a little confusing but also really makes the reader think about things. I would recommend giving it a listen.

Did Not Understand

I got this ARC via audiobook boom. This look into the life of Foy is presented. It goes from chapter to chapter and relates the life of a preacher who lost his way. it tells glimpse of that life. I did not really relate to any of them. Perhaps I missed some points that would have helped me understand the book. But the more I listened the less I understood.

Interesting and Different kind of Story

Where does Foy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have literally listened to THOUSANDS...lol...so, it would definitely not be in my top 100, but somewhere probably within the 600-700 range

What other book might you compare Foy to and why?

This was a new one for me, and I haven't read or listened to another one like it. So, it stands alone as far as I can see so far because it is quite unique.

Which character – as performed by Karl Miller – was your favorite?

Foy

If you could take any character from Foy out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Foy--because I am certain we would have interesting and thought-provoking conversation.

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A breath of fresh air On the Road to Lost

I have to admit that I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started this book, but what a pleasant surprise. It certainly is not your tradition modern fiction novel as it is a series of individual stories along the timeline of a minister's (Foy) life. The essence of the work is ones struglle from a life dedicated to God, to unbelief, and possibly back again. I say possibly back again because the bigger story is still a work in progress according to the author. That being said, this book can, and does, stand on its own as all the pieces fit together in describing a life wrought with questions and searching.

I wouldn't say this is an uplifting listen, nor is it a discouraging, but rather very realistic in a heartening way. As a Christian, I found this to be an especially compelling listen as I could identify with the premise of the struggle the minister faced as well as those individuals he interacted with. An earlier reviewer mentioned the foul language; yes there are a few F-bombs and even a taking of God's name in vain. However, I did not find it offensive as it simply fit with the realism of the life situations being described. It was not swearing for the sake of it, but rather to make a point in the story. I was never even close to finding it offensive. It is also a rather minute portion of the overall listen.

Given the description, and the author being a former minister, it should come as no surprise that there is a predominantly Christian theme; it runs the gauntlet from Baptist, to Catholic, to Evangelical, to agnostic. Still, this does not come across as a "preachy" type of work. If anything, it opens the door to the question of faith.

As an added bonus, there are two short essays by the author that I found as being the highlight of the listen. Do yourself a favor and do not skip by them!!!

Overall I found this to be a great listen, with Karl Miller doing a superb job in a nice smooth narration. In fact, I listened to it almost straight through with only a minor interruption to eat dinner. I would highly recommend this book to those looking for a unique listen. It is clearly fiction, but could just as easily have been a memoir. Well worth the price of a credit and I am looking forward to the upcoming release of Foy's continuing journey On the Road to Lost.

A review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in return for this unbiased review. My hope is that this review helps in your decision to obtain this book.