Father Joe
by Hendra, Tony
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Fine in Fine DJ
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Synopsis
TONY HENDRA attended Cambridge University, where he performed frequently with friends and future Monty Pythons John Cleese and Graham Chapman. He is the author of Going Too Far , a classic history of modern American satire. He was editor in chief of Spy magazine, an original editor of the National Lampoon , and he played Ian Faith in the movie, This Is Spinal Tap . He has written frequently for New York , Harper’s , GQ , Vanity Fair , Men’s Journal , and Esquire , among other magazines. He is married to Carla Hendra; they have three young children, Lucy, Sebastian, and Nicholas. From the Hardcover edition.
Reviews
In many parts, this is a very moving book. These are the parts where Hendra is with Fr. Joe at the abbey. But much, perhaps too much, of the book is just Hendra's life story. Of course, some of this needs to be recounted to understand how Fr. Joe "saved his soul". One thing that bothered me (as a Catholic) is that, while Hendra confesses a great respect for the Eucharist, he sometimes seems more enamored with the rituals of the Church (e.g. chant, divine office, etc.) than with the actual faith. He takes several swipes at Catholic sexual morality - no surprises here considering his career as a "satirist." So I wasn't surprised that his political views were also left of center - he seriously labels Reagan and Thatcher "war mongers." I guess it comes with the territory.But Fr. Joe is like no one else. By far, the best parts of the book are his conversations with Hendra. The insight of this man was staggering. His statement about how being at peace with God is not some feeling of constant elation, but rather a constant reassurance is that you're never alone really hit home. He had a wonderful way of exposing the truth to Hendra in a non-confrontational way that lead him back home. Best of all was how he pointed out, in a very gentle way, that satirists often are merely spouting hate at those they claim do nothing but spout hate. I'm not familiar with Hendra's other work, or if it changed after this realization, but I hope it did.All in all, a worthwhile read.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Primrose Hill Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 19554
- Title
- Father Joe
- Author
- Hendra, Tony
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine in Fine DJ
- Edition
- First UK edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Penguin Books,
- Place of Publication
- London:
- Date Published
- 2004
- Bookseller catalogs
- Memoirs;
Terms of Sale
Primrose Hill Books
About the Seller
Primrose Hill Books
About Primrose Hill Books
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes: