Pope Bob by Bill Dodds

available in Kindle edition for $2.99 from Amazon

reviewed by Jody Rakis

Pope Bob was a difficult story to get into. To me, the scenario was just not a believable situation. My brain did not accept it as ever being a possibility. But I kept reading…and the characters, one at a time, brought me into the story. Each character is so well developed and true to the meaning and soul of the story that they are easy to believe in and understand. Their relationship with each other brings the story to its full achievement.

Could a modern day, highly intelligent priest, educated in theology and philosophy, who has risen to the summit of the world’s oldest, strongest religion, possibly become lost on the streets of Seattle and end up on Skid Row? I don’t know. But that is the premise behind this book.

Each character brings something new in kindness, compassion and downright good nature to the storyline.  As the reader continues through the story, those are the feelings, the real rewards of reading this book.  How could down-and-out-people who have what the world describes as ‘nothing,’ give so much to each other?  Yes, there is also evil on the streets of the city, but life is lived to its fullest when all you have is your life.

I enjoyed the book for that reason alone. How the characters are real, and above humanity’s guidelines for goodness and kindness, and how they relate to each other, giving everything they possess for others. Not knowing what tomorrow might bring is a lesson we should all take to heart.