Book 15 - Father Joe

This was quite a good read. The start and the end were really well put together, though like some of the other reading that I have done for this blog, I think the padding in the middle was somewhat superfluous, and somewhat of a struggle, but it was all worth it, as the book had an amazing ending, and a great conclusion.

Onto the content ... Joseph Warrillow, aka Father Joe is a monk who has devoted his life to his religion. He lives in a monastery, with other monks, who also have a life long devotion to their religion. Tony Hendra, as author, explains in essence, the role that Father Joe has played in his life, especially during tough times, which for Tony, there have been many.

Tony was taken to Father Joe as a 14 year old, by the husband of the married woman that Tony was having an 'affair' with (he started young, apparently). The affair was not too 'sexual', as the pair was busted by the husband, before it got too out of hand. But, it was off to the monastery, for a meeting with Father Joe. Tony was obviously terrified on the way, but the meeting was the first of many that the two were to have over the next 40 or so years.

Tony was not chastised, as he was prepared for, by Father Joe, who took a very soft approach to the situation. He was very calming, very understanding and very friendly. He called Tony 'Dear', from that point forward. The meeting had such a profound impact on the young Tony that he decided to become a monk himself. He worked and studied hard towards that endeavour, that was, until he hit university and discovered girls and alcohol. Sounds familiar ...

So, onto and through a working life in the media business, with many visits back to see Father Joe along the way, Tony marries (twice), fathers several kids and  manages quite a successful career. Tony is actually a very educated, very academic and very intelligent individual (evidenced by all of the big words - most of which I did not understand - that he used in the book). His grasp of the English language is amazing, though I need to say that some of the words and some of the intense vocabulary was not actually required and was a little over the top. That is just my call, and once again, I need to say that I might not be hugely qualified to critique a best selling book. Once again, though, my blog, my call, I guess.

So, coming to the end of the book, and really, to the end of the life of Father Joe, the ending is somewhat unexpected. Inevitably, Father Joe passes on, which is sad and which is in a quite inhumane way. Mind you, he beat cancer twice before it got him, and affected his looks and his eyes. He loved Tony with a father like love until the day he died.

I won't spoil the ending of the book for you, though I will say that it is very sad, and very unique. Very impressive really, and it does demonstrate the importance that some lives have on others.

Overall, a 4 out of 5. A good read, and very enjoyable. Feel good at times.