Title: Idolism
Author: Marcus Herzig
Genre: YA
Reviewer: Aly
Book Blurb:
A new Pope, a world in social and political chaos, and a young singer and songwriter who has his unbelief tested as his big mouth accidentally propels him towards global superstardom. These are the ingredients of this thought provoking, tongue-in-cheek debut novel.
Seventeen-year-old Julian Monk never expected to be a famous singer, but when opportunity strikes, he strikes back and throws himself headfirst into that new, exciting world of record deals, TV interviews and screaming fan girls.
His band mates are rather less enthusiastic about that new life they never really asked for. Dealing with their newly acquired fame and fortune is one thing; dealing with Julian is quite another. His sudden and unexpected metamorphosis from the shy and timid creature they have known all their lives into a surprisingly charismatic public speaker and global superstar takes everyone aback, and when Julian sets off on a very public crusade to replace faith and bigotry with reason and compassion, he raises more than just a few eyebrows. He raises hell, and his friends are no longer having any of it.
Meanwhile at the Vatican, a former televangelist is elected Pope. Hell-bent on transforming the Church into a modern, ‘hip’ institution, Pius XIII is giving his PR advisor a headache or two. Intrigued by Julian’s radical way of inspiring some people while antagonizing others – including his own friends – simply by preaching love and understanding, the new pope can’t help but wonder where he heard that storyline before. They say God has a plan for every man, but this man has a plan of his own - and it involves a teenage atheist pop star.
Review:
Idolism is centered on a topic that many find it hard to read books about without coming to some kind of harsh conclusion. Either the book deals with religion in a way that people with religious believes feel their believes have been mishandled or like, Idolism, their religion has been handled fairly and carefully.I didn't really find anything that could annoy people who are religious or make them upset about the handling of the topic. It also didn't seem to handle just one religion but a small variety. These were handled carefully and without putting any one religion down. This keeps things from becoming too harsh or frustrating to the readers.
