Heroes and Monsters: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be Human [Kindle Edition]

I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting from this book, but what I found wasn't it. Even though I found the writing style somewhat rambling and unconventional, the story does have a valid message about soul-searching, redemption and grace. Besides getting to know Josh, the main character very well, I would have also liked to get to know the others, especially his wife. At one point in the story, Josh had a conversation with a cow. Yes, very unrealistic and I wondered about this exchange and its significance to the story. However, it is hilarious and a nice break from pages and pages of text with little dialogue. As much as this is an account of one person's search for peace of mind, I didn't really see it as, `an honest look at the struggle within all of us', Nevertheless, `if you're craving a story that is just a wee bit odd' this book should quench your longing quite nicely.
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

First I'll state that this is not the usual type of book I usually read, so I was surprised at how raw & honest the author was with his writing & story about his struggle to find his faith & become who he was destined to be. The book is kind of "jumpy" if you will, and not as fluid as I'm used to, so you sometimes wonder where you're at, but it definitely fits with the type of his book. Another interesting thing s that he writes as though he is in the 3rd person sometimes looking down at the situation, which is different, but I understand why it's done. It's like he's telling you his every thought & letting you into his own private world while he deals with what we all inherently struggle with. Life, family, relationships, friendships, faith, love, etc...

It's an interesting & absorbing read, which in the end makes you realize that we all have our own private struggles & demons to deal with. If you enjoy something a litte more real & honest than the usual, you'll enjoy Heroes and Monsters!

When I am struggling with my faith, I often turn to spiritual autobiographies as a source of comfort and strength. Comfort knowing that I am not alone in my struggle and strength knowing that there is hope for the future. When I was a teenager, a pastor strongly recommended that I read Augustine's Confessions for its theological depth and, more importantly, for its honest account of the struggles inherit in a life of faith.

We all have a story to tell ' indeed our lives are best understood in terms of narrative. It is the truly bold among us that are willing to share their stories and, in so doing, themselves. Indeed, we are the stories we tell. Writing a spiritual autobiography is not an easy task ' it requires the willingness to be publically vulnerable, the ability to patiently reflect upon and dissect one's life, and the wherewithal to be brutally honest about one's failings and weaknesses. I have a great deal of respect for those who've publically shared their faith stories, whether orally or written. Their courage in sharing and their willingness to lay themselves bare so that others may grow is exemplary.

I share this respect for Josh Riebock and his book Heroes and Monsters.

It is very difficult to write a review of someone's spiritual autobiography ' it is their story, not mine and there is the danger that any criticisms could be mistaken for personal attacks. However, such is the nature of the genre.

Throughout Heroes and Monsters, Riebock creates some great turns of phrase ' 'we all want the possibility of not being alone' (50); 'grief is a kleptomaniac' (146); ''filled with the special kind of hollowness that comes only when we're missing out on the important things of life' (189). In addition, the artwork was a welcome addition. It was well-drawn and added depth to the narrative.

However, there were some things that made the book very difficult to read. First of all, Riebock's using 'Jack' to refer to Jesus. This is less an issue of reverence and more one of annoyance because there is no apparent reason as to why Riebock refers to Jesus this way. This leads to very distracted reading and makes it difficult to engage the story.

Furthermore, the book required further editing. Riebock never met an exclamation point he didn't like(!) In many cases, rather than carefully crafting a sentence to convey his desired emphasis, he relies on strings of synonyms which cause the sentence to read more like a thesaurus entry than as self-reflective prose. What was meant to be a soul-searching narrative ends as the rambling inner monologue of an introvert (as an INTJ myself, I know what the monologue of an introvert sounds like, both internally and when it spills out orally). This leant to what I felt was an overly whiny and mopey tone of the book ' Riebock came across in my mind a bit neurotic - less in the befuddled Woody Allen way and more in the fastidious George Canstanza way ' which made the book difficult to read to the point where I found myself having to put it down repeatedly and, in some instances, skimming over sections.

As a result, I found myself uninterested in Riebock's story ' and for a spiritual autobiography, like any book, this is not a good thing. What initially drew me to the book was Josh's perspective on life and faith since there is only one year age difference between us. I was looking for wisdom from one-millennial-to-another. I came to the book ready and willing to enter into Riebock's story. However, what I found was the story of someone with whom I had difficulty relating.

While this book didn't resonate with me, but that doesn't mean his story won't for others, and for that reason I encourage others to 'take and read' for themselves and enter into a conversation with Riebock's life, looking for those shared echoes of the divine.

I would rate this book at 2 stars, but in order to encourage others to read it and to help give it a wider readership, I'll give it three stars here.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller.