Title: Heavenly
Author: Thomas Duffy
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN: 979-8718984675
Pages: 199
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Dan MacIntosh
Hollywood Book Reviews
It’s safe to say, we all love redemption stories. Whether that be a tale about a woebegone football team which turns things around to become league champions, or an ex-con who turns his/her life around and becomes a productive citizen. We want to see others succeed, especially if it’s against the odds. Thomas Duffy’s Heavenly novel is just such a redemption work; however, his creation takes on a decidedly spiritual angle. At the risk of being a spoiler, Duffy’s main character goes from being a loser to becoming a winner. Only, it takes a little bit of reincarnation manipulation to eventually make this victory happen.
The story’s main character is named John. John loves movies and has a lot of trivial knowledge which doesn’t exactly translate into dollars and cents. He works at a movie theater, though, so at least he labors at a job where his passion is somewhat appreciated. On the other hand, John is working at a place of employment which is more appropriate for those just entering the workforce, and he is well beyond that age in life. Furthermore, John is a complete failure in the romantic realm. Early on in the book, John loses his life when he is at the wrong place, at the wrong time. God has given up on him, just like almost everybody else.
After his death, John meets God and God’s assistant (Yes, this is strange theology, but just go with it). These two afterlife gatekeepers feel John is basically a hopeless case and both are all set to send him to whatever awaits in his post-Earthly existence. He wants a second chance, though, so these heavenly overseers allow John to be born again this time as Peter, for a second chance at a successful life. If he succeeds this time, the reader is led to believe, John as Peter can live a much longer life.
According to the God of this book, the criteria for success in life is mostly finding a mate and getting married. A majority of religions teach that being a good person and doing good deeds are what make a person’s life successful. Secularists would say having respect and making good money are the keys to a successful life. Therefore, God’s unique standards may throw you for a loop.
The reader follows Peter’s life from his youth up until his adulthood. For the most part, Peter’s life doesn’t work out all that much better than John’s short life did. He can’t seem to succeed in school or work, and worse than that, he mostly fails miserably with the ladies. And when he finally meets ‘Miss Right,’ this girl turns out to be a prostitute. You can just picture the Grim Reaper prepare to visit poor Peter.
All the while, Duffy lets the reader look in on God and God’s assistant’s reaction to Peter’s progress. For the most part, they’re not hopeful Peter will ever find true love. These reactions highlight some of book’s questionable theology. One is left with the impression at times that poor God is nearly helpless to assist Peter and his pursuit of lasting love. It’s as though this deity has the power to reincarnate John into another human body, but pretty much unable to help the guy much more once he’s been re-bodied. You might just find yourself asking, ‘Well, what good is a god like that?’
Questionable godly attributes aside, though, Duffy does eventually let Peter make his dreams come true. He becomes a husband and a father, and although he may not become wealthy, he ends up having all his needs met.
Duffy deserves praise for creating a unique spiritual story. Although these circumstances may not play out the way you learned about life in Sunday School, there is a decided moral to this story. After all, the definition of ‘heavenly,’ is oftentimes all in the eye of the beholder. And as unusual as it often is, Heavenly is most certainly a happy-ending, redemption story.