One professor’s off-beat religious research turns into an unexpected adventure when it gets the attention of a small but odd motley crew in John Prather’s The Jesus Nut.

“Dr. Haley Berkshire was a tenured professor of Religious Studies who did not believe in God.” She’s also afraid of flying. Those unequivocal statements are crucial to grasping the length and breadth of this supposed far-fetched tale. Regardless of her religious opinion, her position at the University of Utah requires research—a vital “standing as a major institution.” After much blood, sweat, and tears and assembling a research team, Haley becomes the lead speaker at the annual North American Society of Religious Scholars. During the conference, she reveals that her team had located a new text, “rejected at Nicaea for its depiction of Christ”: The Gospel According to Trevor. While the announcement doesn’t raise many hairs among the scholars, what does attract attention has to do with the team’s interpretation of the Greek translation concerning Christ’s horrific death: The Testicle of Christ, in which one Roman soldier cut off and saved said testicle as a souvenir. That said, Haley’s next plan is to go on sabbatical in search of the lost memento. Her unannounced target? New York City (NYC).

In the meantime, news about her findings gets the attention of two unlikely individuals. Jesse Morales has been living on the streets of Venice Beach in Los Angeles longer than he can remember. Despite his meager existence coupled with a constant downward spiral of events, he believes in his direct connection to God—possibly the Messiah. It’s not until he comes across an article about Haley’s research in the LA Times that he believes God has given him a mission. After researching at a local library, he deduces that “The Testicle of Christ” can only be found in one place: NYC. How he plans to get there with no financial resources, only God knows. In North Seattle at Saint Helen’s Catholic Church, Father Brian William Callum Robert O’Shea finds himself questioning his faith. An article in the Catholic Digest about Haley’s discoveries, followed by his research, brightens his religious perspective. He convinces his parishioners to fund his spiritual quest to none other than NYC. What unfolds is a rollicking journey that defies all journeys leading to spiritual awakening as the Lord “works in mysterious ways.”

Masterful raconteur, John Prather, pulls all the heretical stops in The Jesus Nut. Prather’s book tells the story of three diverse individuals who have no idea how their lives will unfold as they venture into unknown “spiritual” territory. Amid religious quirkiness or the lack thereof, Prather opens each chapter with a verse from The Gospel According to Trevor, first in Greek, followed by its English translation before delving into the plot’s principal characters—Haley, Brian, and Jesse—and development. His highly original storyline is a brilliant mix of belief and balderdash that weaves in an interesting religious and nonreligious cast. Most notables include the Westboro Baptist Church, Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, and Kenneth Copland.

Prather’s engaging writing style drips with sarcasm as he keeps his story constantly moving from chapter to chapter, deftly flipping between each character’s backstories. His plot flows from one hilarious ironic situation to another amid unanticipated situations before the trio meets one other in an unlikely event. Prather further draws his readers into his storyline through his true-to-life principal cast that embodies a flurry of relatable human-interest struggles: dysfunctional families, unrealistic expectations of life, rejection, the aftermath of trauma (war), love, hate, and of course, faith, to name a few.

Prather closes with an appendix that includes selected verses from The Gospel of Trevor and a list of Book Club discussion questions. This reviewer’s only thought? “When is The Jesus Nut going to be on Netflix?” The Jesus Nut will keep readers absorbed from beginning to end.

Quill says: The Jesus Nut is the perfect next read for believers and skeptics alike.

THE LAUGH-OUT-LOUD ANTICS OF THREE UNLIKELY PILGRIMS HEADLINE THIS POIGNANTLY TOLD HUMOROUS NOVEL

After meeting up in search of elusive moral truths, three main characters find themselves in New York City looking for the greatest religious relic of the 21st Century.

The first of our lead characters is Dr. Haley Berkshire, a reviled professor of Religious Studies who does not believe in God. Second, there’s Jesse Morales, a homeless veteran who, in a way, is this story’s “Everyman.” Then, to finish off the main trio, we have Father Brian William Callum Robert O’Shea who knows a thing or two about sin, as current headlines about the ordained regularly reveal.

If you’re looking for a book with passages that make you laugh, then later tease you to think more seriously about its themes, The Jesus Nut is for you.The story serves as a gateway to discuss serious moral questions in easily recognized and comical scenes. But it’s not only a sharp and funny story of discovery; it also acts as a strong foothold on the topics therein, like how it uses the prologue to offer a concise summary of how the Bible and its iterations came to be based on the accepted sequence of events among religious scholars.

Readers familiar with Janet Evanovich’s satirical novels will appreciate Prather’s handling of characters who move in and out of each other’s orbits in this one. Each of the three main characters begins their journey in parallel fashion and later meet up to combine forces. The banter between these characters is a sure-fire high point for the novel, but it’s the adjoining discovery plot that keeps things moving.In order to explore the themes of homelessness, priestly celibacy, evangelicalism, same sex marriage – all prominent in our daily news cycles – the author utilizes close-up scenes filled with believable and sharp dialogue. We can hear ourselves asking the same questions and getting perplexed by the same type of surface inconsistencies as these characters do.

Readers are given a fast romp through modern day challenges in the stories of our protagonists and the experiences they encounter in their journeys. Prather’s chapter constructions allow for readers to compare and contrast how they may have responded to similar situations that defy moral certitude. Then, as the characters lean deeper into their journey, they must finally decide, as do readers, what they feel, think, and ultimately believe.

The Jesus Nut is a chance for readers and book clubs to explore life’s vexing challenges with more than a few laughs along the way.

Reviewed by Shannon Winings for Readers' Favorite

FIVE STARS

What do a priest, a professor, and a veteran have in common? One could ponder all the ways, or I could tell you. Religion. They're not those you find in the front pew of every service and volunteering to pass out pamphlets after mass, though. The book starts with a conundrum: a religion professor who doesn't believe in God. Of course, a lack of belief in a topic doesn't mean you can't teach it. Aristotle did say that educated minds can entertain thoughts without accepting them.

In The Jesus Nut by John Prather, readers join Professor Haley Berkshire, Jesse Morales, and Father Brian O’Shea through daily life, albeit with a religious undertone. While they are all undoubtedly unique, readers find them tied together on a journey to discover what was omitted from the Bible. Despite the general dullness of religion, the book is entertaining, comical, relatable, and anything but boring.

Frankly, I'm not sure I could list a book that I enjoyed more this summer than The Jesus Nut. It is easy to read, funny, quirky, well written, and relatable, especially as someone who grew up religious. That doesn't mean that this book is out to promote Christianity or religion, and the tone is never preachy. I found myself relating to Professor Berkshire the most, despite having rejected every religion she encountered. However, each character was meticulously placed in this book for a specific purpose, and readers will find themselves aching to see what's next.

If you're looking for something with more twists and turns than a roller coaster and something far funnier than one, pick up The Jesus Nut by John Prather.