Joshua and the City

by Joseph F. Girzone

Overview

The fourth installment in the Joshua series, Joshua and the City reaches some encouraging and very important conclusions. In an urban community where poverty, senseless violence, racism, and AIDS seem like insurmountable problems, Joshua manages to sow seeds of renewal with his words of love. He reaches out to every person with transforming openness, showing how to regenerate the city and bring about undreamed-of economic revitalization.
   Yet many other problems remain that money cannot help. And it is, most importantly, to these that Joshua addresses his healing message. In a world of despairing doubt, Joshua and the City gives the reader hopeful answers that lead toward peace and understanding.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385485692
Publisher:	PRH Christian Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/1996
Series:	Joshua
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Father Joseph Girzone retired from the active priesthood in 1983 for health reasons. He then embarked on the surprising writing career that has brough him millions of readers and admirers. Among his best-selling titles are Joshua and Never Alone: A Personal Way to God. He lives in Albany, New York.

Editorial Reviews

The effect of the eponymous hero on a New York inner-city neighborhood is the subject of this latest in Girzone's (Never Alone) inspirational series. Gentle, mysterious Joshua is propositioned by a young runaway turned prostitute. When her pimp muscles in, Joshua brings him to his knees, promising the young woman he'll never bother her again. He also heals the next person they encounter, a wealthy woman troubled by depression; Girzone would have us believe that this affluent woman is the prostitute's loyal friend and regular picnic companion! Then Joshua meets the woman's generous husband, some confused black youths and their single mother and several others, all of whom he impresses with his kindliness and charity. Obviously Jesus come again, he heals, ministers, inspires and even casts out devils. Because the message of his ministry is uplifting, it is all the more unfortunate that the vehicle is so flawed. Girzone's prose is devoid of imagination or drama, the style is clumsy, the dialogue pathetically false and the plot predictable. The cardboard characters simply represent society's ills. Though the flaws are almost enough to bury the lesson, the message does shine through the pedestrian telling. Drawings not seen by PW. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly