Danny Gospel

“Danny Gospel” is the story of a man named Danny.  Danny is a mailman living in a rundown trailer in Iowa. All he has to look forward to everyday are the old women on his route giving him baked goods. Danny used to be a gospel singer with his family, hence the name, “Danny Gospel.”   He has gone through a lot of recent tragedies and is struggling to maintain his sanity.  One day after a vivid dream of a woman kissing him he wakes up and decides to put on a blue suit and go find her.  He is sure that she will be his wife and they will marry on Christmas Eve.  Everyone around him begins to think he has gone crazy when he tells them about her.  It is also discovered that a lot of mail has gone missing and they begin to point the finger at Danny. Is Danny really going crazy or is this a man who has so much faith that he can make his own dream come true?

The author takes us through Danny’s journey in an almost dreamlike state. His writing is eloquent with descriptions so vivid they jump off the page.  The story was a bit confusing because it went back and forth in time introducing us to a lot of characters.  I did really like the story though so it is worth it to figure them out.  Danny’s faith was very inspiring to me and I found myself wishing he were a real person. I wanted to help him and look up to him just like the other characters in the story did.  You will find yourself thinking of Danny long after you lay down this book, “Danny Gospel.”

Danny Gospel
David Athey
Bethany House Publishers (2008)
ISBN 9780764204449
Reviewed by Tracy Kokemuller for Reader Views (6/08)