Joshua By Joseph F. Girzone - A Book Report

JOSHUA by Joseph F. Girzone

A Book Report

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph Francis Girzone is a priest. Advised by his doctor to withdraw from administrative work, he immediately set about a new career as a writer and philosopher. Though only 54 years old at the time he wrote the book, his experience as a priest had been unusual. He worked with teenage gangs in New York, and in the local mining area of Pennsylvania. He taught in schools most of his life, and worked in parishes at the same time. He was chairman of a government human rights commission which settled a jail riot and mediated racial tensions in public schools. On numerous occasions, he was called upon to negotiate in prison disturbances.

Girzone has become very well-known as an author. JOSHUA is his fourth book and many others have followed. Although his style is easy to read, his thoughts are so profound that one has to read his works over and over to absorb the rich messages hiding between the lines. His writings have been compared to diamond mines; to miss a paragraph is to overlook a precious gem.

THE CHARACTER: JOSHUA

Joshua is a woodcarver. He is a humble guy, but with a rich inner life. He is a well-balanced person, with a physical strength beyond the ordinary, but with gentleness that shows polish and refinement. He has a profound mind and inner beauty. Joshua is physically attractive: tall, slim and athletic, his elegant figure radiates a carefree grace. His blue-green eyes are striking in the deep feeling they express. When he looks at you, you have the feeling he is looking into your soul. His walnut-colored hair is thick and wavy, and gathers about his ears and neck. He possesses a grace that is charming, but when one comes to know him more intimately, all that seems to pale next to the richness and depth of personality which radiates from him.

SETTING

Salem, a town not too far from New York

Rome, Italy

TIME

The summer of 1983

The story lasts about three months

THEME

The profound love that Joshua feels for all human beings, his generosity towards everyone and everything

His mission in the world, his true identity: he was God’s son, Jesus, who came back

The lack of understanding of the representatives of the Church

PLOT

The story begins when Joshua comes to Salem. He was the object of curiosity, because no one knew anything about him. There was something that magnetized him, and