leighe's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
beautiful_haiku's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Last week I saw a commercial featuring a evangelist promising to send some "sacred water" to anyone who called the number flashing on the screen. Then when a donation was received, God would begin to send blessings enough to overwhelm any individual. I immediately thought about this book and made a trip to the local public library the next morning to pick up a copy. Some things never change.
maddy_walock's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
jcutrone93's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
k5tog's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Sinclair Lewis novel... As an expose of an evangelist, this novel meets its goal, but I would have liked to see Elmer get his comeuppance at the end. And you think it's going to happen, but then for some reason, Lewis saves Elmer. Sigh!
imyerhero's review against another edition
2.0
This book is one of those which you keep reading because you want to know what happens at the end but you donโt really have any hope of it turning out any differently than it already is. There was a complete blasting of any leadership position in Christianity in the person of Elmer. He was everything a hypocrite is supposed to be, and on top of that he was obnoxious and fairly disgusting. The book seemed to be the same story over and over again on progressively grander scales โ Elmer has an idea to become more famous, Elmer puts plan into action without considering anyone but himself, Elmer almost gets disgraced, Elmer emerges triumphant and more famous than ever.
wshier's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe it's too easy to send up a charleton minister and religious hypocrisy, but this is such a good job of it. While religious hucksters have been around forever, this book (written in the 20's) manages to both skewer the present form and also fortell of televangelism and and the cynical blending of Old Testament fire and brimstone with politics. As serious as that sounds, I litterally laughed outloud at parts of this book.
"he had learned that poverty is blessed, but that bankers make the best deacons."
"yes, the Maker of a universe with stars a hundred thousand light-years apart was interested, furious, and very personal about it if a small boy played baseball on Sunday afternoon."
"he had learned that poverty is blessed, but that bankers make the best deacons."
"yes, the Maker of a universe with stars a hundred thousand light-years apart was interested, furious, and very personal about it if a small boy played baseball on Sunday afternoon."