"Jump"

by Michel Sauret

Edgy Christian Fiction

Description

International Book Awards winning author of Amidst Traffic, Michel Sauret, delivers a bold, human novel confronting the challenges of embracing faith in a world of free-fall.
Ever since he was a boy, Christopher's parents made him jump off the tree in the backyard. This was to test his faith. Land safely and he might have enough faith to please God. But one year, Christopher breaks his leg, and suddenly it’s his little sister who seems to please their parents best. Distance grows between him and his father, especially as a sexual addiction takes root in his heart, launching him into a dangerous free-fall. Desperate for escape, Christopher looks to college, thinking he might find God on his own terms. Yet as he becomes entrenched in the secular haven of higher education, he discovers the “Cathedral of Learning” is no more of a savior than a tree. He flees once more, hitchhiking with an atheist set on his own spiritual journey. But as they end up in Selma, Alabama, Christopher and his new friend land in a church that won’t let them get away.

Biography

Michel Sauret was born in Rome, Italy, and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's English Writing department. He is the winner of the International Book Award (2013) for his short story collection, "Amidst Traffic" which was also a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Indie Excellence Book Awards.

He is currently serving in the U.S. Army as a public affairs communications professional. His Army writing earned him the title of Army Journalist of the Year in 2008, and earned him several Keith L. Ware awards. His photography and articles have been published internationally and featured by the National Geographic, Army Times and USA Today.

Website:  http://www.msauret.com/

My thoughts ~

This coming of age chronicle of Christopher's struggle with God is powerful! Christopher's story begins with his childhood and the developments pivotal to his growth as a young man as he questions his faith and his sexuality. 

Christopher's experiences with Christianity and cults further confuse his faith and where he stands in his relationship with God. He is raised in a dysfunctional family, and his feelings of inferiority contribute to his confusion and unsettling concerns about his interest in pornographic materials. His faith is refuted even more strongly as he continues to question his sexuality.

Secular events in Christopher's life confuse him even more, essentially breaking him, and bringing him to the brink of a drastic change in his life. Leaving the past behind takes him on a journey that radically changes him, robbing him of any trust.

Jump is an impressive look into faith, Christianity, coming of age, finding oneself and overcoming past feelings of inadequacy due to his dysfunctional parentage. I highly recommend this novel! It's a revelation into a young man's world, and how his past has affected his future.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.