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| I like sex . . . in books. - K'Lynn
Letitia - 7.25
I found this book very interesting. In several sections I laughed out loud and other times I was holding my breath over what was going to happen, whether it would be for Jack's sexual escapades or his outbursts of temper, as well as Jerry's cross dressing. Being raised a Catholic, I have wondered often what would draw men into priesthood and the challenge of celibacy. I found this book very believable, including the foibles of human nature and desire which plague Jack and Jerry, as well as the self examination by Jack and the crisis of faith that he felt throughout the book. In addition to his own lack of certainty about God, starting in seminary, he learns to question the Church's doctrines and version of historical events. The part about the Church turning a blind eye to what the Nazi's did to the Jews is something my husband read about in the book God's Banker, so I was familiar with that. I can't help wondering if Jack was unusual as a priest, or if cases like his are common. With all of the news in the last decade regarding sexual abuse of priests towards altar boys, I think Jack's inability to control his libido seems less of a sin.
The fraternity of Irish priests who were trying to protect Hogan from his punishment reminds me of what has been happening with those sex offenders in the church who were quietly moved to other parishes. That has cost the Catholic church big time! In some aspect, this was a coming of age book for Jack, but I don't know if he ever was able to move on at the end. Though Jack always questioned his faith, he seemed to know what to say to make people feel better when in distress, such as his first roommate who sewed himself together, and his best friend Jerry when he made the confession of his cross dressing compulsion. This is an important quality for a priest, to be able to comfort. When he described himself as a young child with his mother at the graveside of his sister, he also knew how to comfort her and was afraid of what would happen when he wasn't there to help her. Many times the priesthood seemed dead wrong for someone with his personality and lack of conviction, yet when he questioned his suitability for priesthood, he was urged on. Jack was a political animal who was driven by his ambition to climb the ladder of power in the church hierarchy, despite his lack of faith which is ironic considering his rise in the church. Reading the description of the author, I felt this book had to be partially auto-biographical, and his being a former priest lent credibility to the insights that he gave about the Church. Jack's time in college in the 60s and the liberal atmosphere of the priests and their pot smoking, drinking, and sexual exploits, was an interesting glimpse into Church history. The glimpse into the hoped for reforms and disillusionment in the church during that period were interesting as well. I was disappointed in the end of the book to some extent. First of all, I would have liked to have known how his exit interview went with the Bishop. Was Breen really forced out or did he continued as a priest? Did writing what happened to him exercise the demons from his past, what did he pursue afterwards? I reread the beginning of the book to find out what the newspapers had said about him after he left the church. The monk quoted the paper "It reports that you, John Holland, a Catholic Official, were removed from office...'for acts of willful disobedience to Church authorities." The part of his youth and his homosexual fling with Tommy was a bit odd as he wasn't attracted to other men in the story. Perhaps it was just the flattery of being loved, or that women weren't readily available. He definitely became obsessed with Tommy and haunted by guilt of his own cowardice in that relationship. He recognized it for what it was. I loved the friendship between Jerry and Jack, between the bishop and Jack, between the monk and Jack. The descriptions of the tiring trips with the Bishop to the different parishes and the mandatory pot roast and massive quantities of alcohol made me laugh, but especially the scene where he was trying to be one of the "guys" and had too much red wine and guessed the ending of the priest's joke.
Maggie - 4
Abandoned for bad language throughout. Can't stand it. I was a 2. I struggled with it. It was very funny. Would have rated higher if the F-bombs were out. These are priests talking. I'm sorry. Had trouble with that. Didn't have a lot of sympathy for him. Got into the priesthood for the wrong reasons. Ignored the rules. Didn't believe in God. He didn't even try to be celibate. How could God's men be so cruel to each other? Friendship between Holland and Jerry was the centerpiece and bumped the story up to a 4. He was a great success as a priest. He went through the rituals and said he was a non-believer, but was he really? When he got Breen at the end Maggie was cheering. Docile and exploitable but also gave courage to face death. Appreciated that.
K'Lynn - 3
Are all priests this wild?
Sex, sex, and more sex. Sex with a prostitute, sex with a man, sex with a married woman, and then sex with a nun. I was like, what? I was raised Catholic and could not ever in a million years see my priest having sex with anyone. Father Thomas or Father Lopez.
Then the lead up to the death of Jerry. It was built up for over 300 pages, and we were led to believe that Jack was somehow responsible for his death. He wasn’t. I know that Hogan’s crew were trying to take Jack down, so they set up Jerry…but suicide because of that? Just leave the diocese and have a life in the private sector. Jerry & Jack could’ve blended in especially by today’s standards of fluidity in gender. Also with all the sex Jack had as a priest, why was he celibate after leaving? Made no sense.
I did like the way the story of Father Pastorelli played out. I liked Jack’s stand on gay priests. This was back in the 70’s too.
Story overall didn’t have enough stuff going on to hold my interest. Too much sex for me.
Caroline 6
The reason Jack became a priest was because he couldn't make college. His cousins were perfect but their mom was pissed they wouldn't have a priest in the family so hey! he could beat his perfect cousins at something. Caroline was confused. Didn't realize it was the same person between chapters. Had a hard time with the flow. He rambled on a bit. The brogue got in the way occasionally. Funny that everything was so religious in the prostitute's room. Disappointed that his friend set him up like that. A lot of F and S words. A whole book of them. C'mon. Liked Jack and Jerry's relationship. Interesting that in the plays Jerry always had the the role of the seducing female. Very odd that that's the type of plays they would do. Chuckled when he tried to decide if his relationship with Tommy was a mortal sin. The monk was probably just waiting on the edge of his seat for the story to be slipped under his door. So hard to be truthful all the time. Lots of drinking, swearing, pot and sex. Very busy with all those things. What would they have done without their pizza and beer nights?
Becky 7.25
Had to read the first two pages a couple of times. Very entertaining with talk of needing to castrate the priests. Reminded of Christmas letter hearing all about his perfect cousins and their accomplishments. Four months should be enough time to get the concept of holy purity. Hardly seemed decent that he recovered from a mortal sin so quickly. George sewing up his penis. What if God told him this in Latin and he just misunderstood? Interesting comparison between demon God and Daddy American God. Jerry made her nervous going out all the time. Thought he'd get caught. Honesty is great while looking for God, but not so good once you've found Him. Jack was naive to be talking to reporters. Laughed a lot.
Artie 7.75
Satirical at first oh, a nun! How's he going to top that? Thinks he had an agenda. All these things happened. He put them all on the protagonist. Was waiting for a child to be molested. When you put same sex together for six years you are eventually going to have some same sex activity. The author wanted to get across that this stuff happens and just like a big organized business they try to sweep it all under the rug for as long as they can. Liked him as a bishop. Sorta fitting that he got in his red truck and drove away in the end. When you have wealth and power you don't want to give it away.
Miles 6.75 - 7
This book humanized the Catholic Church for me in details that I liked. . . (the author was well positioned to handle a lot of topics).
Really interested in the notion of men going into the seminary/priesthood without any conviction (and thriving since being a politician or fund raiser is more important than faith and piety).
And author didn't depict this as a real outlier or a real problem ...(liked the fact that issues of 'faith' was not present in the book).
Liked the coalition of priests / based on ethnicity (Irish vs. American), age/timing, and mutual interests (same as normal life).
Fascinated a bit about the sexual ambiguity depicted - though in spite of celibacy, everyone seemed to know everyone's orientation.
Liked the part where the parish group went after the effeminate priest - but it was the older rebuffed priest who orchestrated it all (made me think in these molestation cases, not everything is cut and dried)
Jack Holland was a bit of a conundrum for me - masculine in speech, demeanor, but confusingly sexual/bi-sexual
Affair with 'Ted' seemed a bit bizarre (and unsettling to read)
Relationship with Jerry perplexing 'should have run away with him' exclamation odd since they never were intimate, etc.
Story was rambling and incohesive in parts - thought a good editor could have fixed it up. Confusing scene near the end: when Breen calls (and there are other people on the line?) - kept thinking the head Bishop was behind the scene in cahoots with Breen.
Confusing scene with Breen where he bloodies him and forces letters
The monk/psychiatrist Holland was seeing turned out merely to be a vehicle for hearing the story . . . odd. The last chapter was particularly odd/unnecessary.
Original. Good Pick.
Sandy 8.5   |
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