Cross Roads

By Wm. Paul Young (Faith Words, Hachette Book Group, 2012)

Genre: Fiction/Inspirational

Pages: 286

Via: Library Book Sale

Kimber: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay/My, oh my, what a wonderful day…

Mom: You’re awful chipper today.

Kimber: I’m always chipper. Especially when there’s a nice, juicy pot roast hangin’ around unattended. Or when we stumble upon a gem of a book at a library book sale.

Mom: You mean Cross Roads? That we picked up for like, a quarter at the library book sale?

Kimber: Bingo! I’ll let Her Royal Momness fill you in:

The Basics

Cross Roads is set in Portland, Oregon. Sort of. You’ll get that in a min. So kindly keep your hair on, Cookie.

Anthony Spencer is an uber successful and cut-throat Portland businessman. He’s also a Grade AAA Jerk. We’re talking serious yahoo here. In fact, Tony is so self-centered and ruthless, he makes pond scum look good. On the outside, he’s Mr. Uber Success. But on the inside? Well. P.U.!

The last gift she had ever given him lay inside his safe, in the foundation of the building that housed his secret places, and it was the single most precious thing he possessed.

The Crash

Tony’s perfect life comes crashing down when he has a brain aneurysm and winds up in the hospital. In a coma. What happens next is… Well. Let’s just say, don’t forget to pack your imagination.

If freedom is an incremental process, so, too, is the encroachment of evil.

The Journey

In an “in-between” place post-aneurysm, Tony meets God. God sends Tony on a mission of sorts, which no one really understands – least of all Tony. In this realm, he confronts his past and present while engaged in conversations with Jesus and a regal, wise Lakota woman, Grandmother (the Holy Spirit). Tony’s journey of discovery is long and tangled as he gradually learns how to Love and Trust.

The Slide

Then Tony slides into the body of a 16-year-old Down syndrome boy named Carsten “Cabby” Saunders. Cabby’s joy and innocence become a catalyst for Tony’s awakening. Tony’s mom is Maggie. There’s also Clarence the police officer, Maggie’s main squeeze. If. Only.

Pain, loss, and finally abandonment are each a hard taskmaster, but combined they become a desolation almost unendurable.

The Mom

Anyway, Maggie, is a single mom with two kiddos. Her eldest is Carsten “Cabby.” Her daughter, Lindsay, is fourteen. Dying of leukemia. Twist: Jesus gives Tony the gift to heal anyone before he dies. There are several likely candidates. As the story unfolds, the reader is left wondering who that person will be. (Additional development of this candidate and their background would’ve strengthened the story.)

Sometimes silence speaks loudest and presence brings the most comfort.

The Main Conflict

The main conflict? Tony confronts his ego, past mistakes, and the consequences of his actions. Is he too late? Meanwhile, Tony’s internal battle hinges on one big question: Can he choose to act with integrity and seek forgiveness for his past mistakes? Each lesson draws him closer to understanding the essence of grace and human compassion.

“You must remember, Tony, that there is not one good thing, or memory, or act of kindness, not one thing that is true and noble and right and just, that will be lost.”

The Novel

Now before you get your knickers in a knot, Cupcake, kindly note that Cross Roads is a novel. As in fiction, okay? Like its predecessor, The Shack, (which we totally love-if-ied), Cross Roads uses literary devices to convey key themes and concepts. It is not and does not pretend to be a theological treatise on the triune God. Savvy?

“There is no ‘it.’ The question is and has always been, ‘Are YOU worth it?’ and the answer is and always, ‘Yes

The Core

At its core, Cross Roads is a discussion of what’s Real vs. what’s True. And yes, Virginia, there’s a difference. It’s also about relationships. Beauty. Authenticity. Choices. The influence and impact of a mother’s love. This is one of Cross Roads’ strongest undercurrents, in our not-so-humble opinion. It’s about a lot more, too. Like how life isn’t fair. But neither is grace or forgiveness. Battlefields. God’s “kiss of grace.” And a certain Irish author named Jack. Nice touch, that. You’ll recognize him when you see him. Or should.

Papa never does anything for just one purpose, and most of these you will never understand or even know. All part of the weaving.

The Expectation

We half-expected this to be a hokey re-run of The Shack. Or as corny as Kansas in August, as normal as blueberry pie….

Kimber: What is this, a Rodgers & Hammerstein sing-a-long?

Mom: Oh yeah. Right. Where were we? Book review. Okay. Got it:

Anyway, that corny re-run thing? Just shows you what we know.

Like The Shack, Cross Roads drips with grace. It’s faith-flavored but not preachy. If you know what to look for, you’ll find pages soaked in love and marinated in mercy. It gets a little “metaphysical” in places. Like, “What is a soul, exactly?” But it’s not scary. Or cumbersome. Promise. Instead, the descriptions and interactions between characters, especially between Tony and Cappy, ring with authenticity. There’s also Swagger and Bluster. Yeah. Proper nouns. (You’ll get that if you read the book.) Sosho. Wakipajan. Hope. Talitha cumi. Never alone.

The best is yet to come and Papa God (To find out more, click here.)

The Writing

In terms of writing, the author’s command of the language is impressive. Ditto his world-building skill and creativity. Think size of Alaska here. Or maybe the whole planet.

One thing that comes across crystal clear in this book? The author is well-familiar with deep loss and sorrow. He couldn’t have written this book without first-hand experience with same. And a whole lot more.

It is a fragile and thin place, these moments between life and death, and Maggie didn’t want to walk without compassion on this holy ground.

https://youtu.be/YPAdJl68AGo?si=1Bji4DeVfChREidJ

The Down Side

On the down side, the author’s choice of “Maggie” and “Molly” for two main characters gave us whiplash. What? No Diane? Barbara? Gwendolyn, Maxine, or Esmerelda? Sheesh. It can get confusing. And one of us did. (Hi, Mom.) We do have some bones to pick with some of the doctrine presented in this book. But remember. It’s a novel, okay? So kindly quiet down in back.

The Final Analysis

Packed with power and pathos, Cross Roads is a worthy read. The title has a double meaning. In case ya haven’t already figured that out. We read it cover to cover in one day.

Mom: Okay, Kimster. Bring it on home. Like the end of this book.

Kimber: I’m on it! … Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way/Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay…

Our Rating: 4.5