Reviews of The Road Show (excerpts)
For Goodreads reviews, go here.
For Amazon reviews, go here.
Alexes, One Cluttered Brain:....This book was not only funny at times, but touching as well. Life is hard but if we turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, during our trials He can relieve our burdens.Yup, this is what I learned from this book. And you know what the best part is?It is only 120 pages. It is a quick, easy, delightful read. (Read more).
Anne Bradshaw, author/screenwriter: The fact is, this novel took my spiritual breath away. I couldn't stop reading it until late into the night. So cool. Loved the humor. The story moved me to tears several times, and the characters are forever etched in my mind. This is one book I won't forget in a hurry and will recommend to friends and family. (Read more)
Annie Valentine, Regarding Annie: Braden’s book is wonderful. I decided that I’d ask him a few questions about how it came to be, things I wondered while reading it. If you’re looking for some good LDS fiction for Father’s Day (depending on whether or not your husband can read), or just want an inspiring, uplifting story, get yourself a copy. I was totally impressed with Braden’s ability to tap into characters, and I don’t think I put the book down until I finished it...I’m a huge fan of Braden’s work, and I think his book is amazing. He takes topics that many Christian authors would probably shy away from and mixes them all together in one wonderful story... (Read more)
Heidi Ashworth, author of Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind: This guy knows how to hook the reader from paragraph one, how to paint a picture in the mind with deft strokes and how to write about LDS people without sounding as if it was written by someone with no other perspective than that of an LDS person ....Sensing that I was about to experience a highly enjoyable ride, I hunkered down and read the book from beginning to end in one sitting...this book is full of characters at least one of which every LDS person will be able to relate to in one way or another (and a story in which all believers of Christ and his mission here on earth will be drawn to, regardless of denomination)...it’s a Not To Be Missed Must Read book that is full of hope for one and all...(Read more)
Jenna Consolo, Cranberry Corner: "The book opens with a heavy hitter. The main character, Scott, soon-to-be-called road show director, is battling an intense addiction to internet pornography. He is a graduate student in theater, marked for his excellence and promise, who has fallen from grace and is now involved in deliberations to determine his future in the program. No one can understand the dramatic decline in the work he produces. But he can. And though he is praying for help, for deliverance from the tentacles of this horrid addiction, he fears God is no longer listening, regarding him as filthy and unworthy. Each character is introduced, intricate and real....Braden deftly crafts each of these characters and their lives so that they seem viable, recognizable even, and he does so seamlessly, as he connects them all together eventually bringing them to the stage....The meaning of the Atonement becomes real, individual, life-changing. But the storytelling is never preachy.One of my favorite things about the way that Braden wrote this story was his use of internal dialogue. Besides the narration and actual dialogue, there are three other streams of dialogue revealed to the reader: the characters' thoughts, the whisperings of the Spirit, and the darker, discouraging whispers of the Adversary. I loved this technique because it shows such a clear window into the minds of not only the characters, but myself too. I found myself recognizing patterns that I've slipped into before, and being removed while reading the book, I could see with such clarity the power that both the Spirit and the Adversary can have on our actions, and how sweet the One, and manipulative and self-serving the other. I found myself cheering the characters on to listen to the "good" voice and make the right choice....The Road Show is a thoughtful, profound read. A quick read too, at under 120 pages. And a read I highly recommend." (Read more)
Karlene, Inksplasher: "This is NOT your standard LDS fiction. It may be a little too realistic for some, dealing with issues that we often try to pretend don't exist in our LDS communities....I thought it was hopeful, without being preachy and unrealistic in its outcomes." (Read more)
Lara Neves, Overstuffed: Not many books hit as close to home for me as this one did. But of course, because of our universal struggles with weakness and sin and our absolute need for the Savior, I think this book will probably hit every reader just as closely to home as it did me. The book centers around 5 characters who are each dealing with their own individual struggles. Sin, addiction, depression, health problems, loneliness, and pride are all represented. I related very well to these characters, because I know them. They are my family. They are my friends. They are my neighbors. They are me. As each of these characters comes together to participate in the ward road show, the assigned theme of "Our Savior's Love" becomes more than just the expected, stereotypical, cheesy performance. They each discover the healing power of the atonement, and as I read, I rediscovered the same healing power. Although each character's story seems to be tied in a lovely little bow at the end, I feel that it is important to note that that is exactly what the Atonement is capable of doing. He takes all of our sin and weakness and misery and he makes it better. We only have to believe, and come unto Him. It is not trite--it is true. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I read it. It affected me greatly, and because of it, I am re-evaluating the struggles I face in my life and my own relationship with the Savior.
I know that I have many blog readers who are not LDS, but are of other Christian faiths. Even though the characters in this book are definitely Mormon, the message is universal. Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sins, our weakness, our infirmities, and our fears and He heals us.
I cannot urge you enough to go out and pick up this book....
I'm warning you though, if you read those first four chapters, you will be hooked (Read more)
Mommy J, Mommy Snark: ...it was so lovely and so very touching. I was moved to tears. You did a wonderful job at expressing the emotions of your characters in a way that will surely elicit an emotional response from your readers. People will be inspired. They will feel a desire to find the Sister MacDougal (my favorite character from the book) in their own lives, to soften their perspective and be a little more like the Savior. To write something that entertains is an accomplishment, but to write something that gently testifies of the Savior and of the healing powers of the Atonement, that inspires so completely is noteworthy indeed… (Read more)
Serene, Serene is My Name Not My Life:...I believe strongly that there is something for everyone in this book and that everyone can relate in one way or another to his characters on a very deep level, even if it's only on a small scale.
I cried at one point and laughed at another. And while I wouldn't call it a "funny" book, it was still fun and had some parts that were indeed funny.
The book left me feeling so uplifted that I actually had a strong desire to go out and share what I was feeling by uplifting another.
Due to the nature of the setting the book is written in, it seems that it would be more easily understood by LDS (Mormon) members. Not the struggles the characters are experiencing, for those are universal, just the overall setup. But Braden has a glossary for people not of the LDS faith so that they can understand the Mormon lingo.
What I loved about this book, aside from the fantastic writing, was that the atonement of Jesus Christ was made very tangible in the way it was written, very attainable. I say that because I think we know with our minds what the atonement is, but often fail to grasp it with our hearts.
As I read "The Road Show", C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters" came to mind in the way Braden described that mental and spiritual battle we have within us when we sin or are struggling. How easy we make it for Satan to squash the whisperings of hope and the love the Savior tries to make us feel.
Powerful, poignant, and amazingly real to life, Braden wraps it all up perfectly in a mere 128 pages.
I give it 4.8 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone, anywhere, anytime. (Read more).
Sherrie Shepherd, Sher the Love: My rating: 5 of 5 stars
...I read through the entire book in less than 2 days.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, since this was Braden's first novel, and I don't read a lot of LDS literature...because a lot of it is cheesy.
This book captured me from page one. The characters and content were honest, and raw, and deeply powerful. There was one character in the story that I related to on such a personal level at times I felt like I was reading about myself.
Braden explores things in this book that I think need to be brought to light. We are all struggling with something. We are all different. And we can all be healed with the healing power of the Savior.
I loved the characters, I loved the message.
It was absolutely beautiful. (Read more)
Sue Anderson, Sue's New, Views, and Muse: ...My interest was fully engaged from start to finish, and the characters and their stories ring true: familiar, but not cliched. Somehow, these people manage to struggle mightily without turning into caricatures of themselves––to evoke empathy without becoming (or even verging upon) maudlin. This is no small feat, especially compared with LDS books of similar intent that expose themselves in the first chapter as ponderous, prosaic attempts to teach, preach, and reach the supposedly one-size-fits-all "mainstream Mormon." Braden's themes, deftly handled, emerge as universal rather than formulaic...(Read more)
For Amazon reviews, go here.
Alexes, One Cluttered Brain:....This book was not only funny at times, but touching as well. Life is hard but if we turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, during our trials He can relieve our burdens.Yup, this is what I learned from this book. And you know what the best part is?It is only 120 pages. It is a quick, easy, delightful read. (Read more).
Anne Bradshaw, author/screenwriter: The fact is, this novel took my spiritual breath away. I couldn't stop reading it until late into the night. So cool. Loved the humor. The story moved me to tears several times, and the characters are forever etched in my mind. This is one book I won't forget in a hurry and will recommend to friends and family. (Read more)
Annie Valentine, Regarding Annie: Braden’s book is wonderful. I decided that I’d ask him a few questions about how it came to be, things I wondered while reading it. If you’re looking for some good LDS fiction for Father’s Day (depending on whether or not your husband can read), or just want an inspiring, uplifting story, get yourself a copy. I was totally impressed with Braden’s ability to tap into characters, and I don’t think I put the book down until I finished it...I’m a huge fan of Braden’s work, and I think his book is amazing. He takes topics that many Christian authors would probably shy away from and mixes them all together in one wonderful story... (Read more)
Heidi Ashworth, author of Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind: This guy knows how to hook the reader from paragraph one, how to paint a picture in the mind with deft strokes and how to write about LDS people without sounding as if it was written by someone with no other perspective than that of an LDS person ....Sensing that I was about to experience a highly enjoyable ride, I hunkered down and read the book from beginning to end in one sitting...this book is full of characters at least one of which every LDS person will be able to relate to in one way or another (and a story in which all believers of Christ and his mission here on earth will be drawn to, regardless of denomination)...it’s a Not To Be Missed Must Read book that is full of hope for one and all...(Read more)
Jenna Consolo, Cranberry Corner: "The book opens with a heavy hitter. The main character, Scott, soon-to-be-called road show director, is battling an intense addiction to internet pornography. He is a graduate student in theater, marked for his excellence and promise, who has fallen from grace and is now involved in deliberations to determine his future in the program. No one can understand the dramatic decline in the work he produces. But he can. And though he is praying for help, for deliverance from the tentacles of this horrid addiction, he fears God is no longer listening, regarding him as filthy and unworthy. Each character is introduced, intricate and real....Braden deftly crafts each of these characters and their lives so that they seem viable, recognizable even, and he does so seamlessly, as he connects them all together eventually bringing them to the stage....The meaning of the Atonement becomes real, individual, life-changing. But the storytelling is never preachy.One of my favorite things about the way that Braden wrote this story was his use of internal dialogue. Besides the narration and actual dialogue, there are three other streams of dialogue revealed to the reader: the characters' thoughts, the whisperings of the Spirit, and the darker, discouraging whispers of the Adversary. I loved this technique because it shows such a clear window into the minds of not only the characters, but myself too. I found myself recognizing patterns that I've slipped into before, and being removed while reading the book, I could see with such clarity the power that both the Spirit and the Adversary can have on our actions, and how sweet the One, and manipulative and self-serving the other. I found myself cheering the characters on to listen to the "good" voice and make the right choice....The Road Show is a thoughtful, profound read. A quick read too, at under 120 pages. And a read I highly recommend." (Read more)
Karlene, Inksplasher: "This is NOT your standard LDS fiction. It may be a little too realistic for some, dealing with issues that we often try to pretend don't exist in our LDS communities....I thought it was hopeful, without being preachy and unrealistic in its outcomes." (Read more)
Lara Neves, Overstuffed: Not many books hit as close to home for me as this one did. But of course, because of our universal struggles with weakness and sin and our absolute need for the Savior, I think this book will probably hit every reader just as closely to home as it did me. The book centers around 5 characters who are each dealing with their own individual struggles. Sin, addiction, depression, health problems, loneliness, and pride are all represented. I related very well to these characters, because I know them. They are my family. They are my friends. They are my neighbors. They are me. As each of these characters comes together to participate in the ward road show, the assigned theme of "Our Savior's Love" becomes more than just the expected, stereotypical, cheesy performance. They each discover the healing power of the atonement, and as I read, I rediscovered the same healing power. Although each character's story seems to be tied in a lovely little bow at the end, I feel that it is important to note that that is exactly what the Atonement is capable of doing. He takes all of our sin and weakness and misery and he makes it better. We only have to believe, and come unto Him. It is not trite--it is true. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I read it. It affected me greatly, and because of it, I am re-evaluating the struggles I face in my life and my own relationship with the Savior.
I know that I have many blog readers who are not LDS, but are of other Christian faiths. Even though the characters in this book are definitely Mormon, the message is universal. Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sins, our weakness, our infirmities, and our fears and He heals us.
I cannot urge you enough to go out and pick up this book....
I'm warning you though, if you read those first four chapters, you will be hooked (Read more)
Mommy J, Mommy Snark: ...it was so lovely and so very touching. I was moved to tears. You did a wonderful job at expressing the emotions of your characters in a way that will surely elicit an emotional response from your readers. People will be inspired. They will feel a desire to find the Sister MacDougal (my favorite character from the book) in their own lives, to soften their perspective and be a little more like the Savior. To write something that entertains is an accomplishment, but to write something that gently testifies of the Savior and of the healing powers of the Atonement, that inspires so completely is noteworthy indeed… (Read more)
Serene, Serene is My Name Not My Life:...I believe strongly that there is something for everyone in this book and that everyone can relate in one way or another to his characters on a very deep level, even if it's only on a small scale.
I cried at one point and laughed at another. And while I wouldn't call it a "funny" book, it was still fun and had some parts that were indeed funny.
The book left me feeling so uplifted that I actually had a strong desire to go out and share what I was feeling by uplifting another.
Due to the nature of the setting the book is written in, it seems that it would be more easily understood by LDS (Mormon) members. Not the struggles the characters are experiencing, for those are universal, just the overall setup. But Braden has a glossary for people not of the LDS faith so that they can understand the Mormon lingo.
What I loved about this book, aside from the fantastic writing, was that the atonement of Jesus Christ was made very tangible in the way it was written, very attainable. I say that because I think we know with our minds what the atonement is, but often fail to grasp it with our hearts.
As I read "The Road Show", C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters" came to mind in the way Braden described that mental and spiritual battle we have within us when we sin or are struggling. How easy we make it for Satan to squash the whisperings of hope and the love the Savior tries to make us feel.
Powerful, poignant, and amazingly real to life, Braden wraps it all up perfectly in a mere 128 pages.
I give it 4.8 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone, anywhere, anytime. (Read more).
Sherrie Shepherd, Sher the Love: My rating: 5 of 5 stars
...I read through the entire book in less than 2 days.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, since this was Braden's first novel, and I don't read a lot of LDS literature...because a lot of it is cheesy.
This book captured me from page one. The characters and content were honest, and raw, and deeply powerful. There was one character in the story that I related to on such a personal level at times I felt like I was reading about myself.
Braden explores things in this book that I think need to be brought to light. We are all struggling with something. We are all different. And we can all be healed with the healing power of the Savior.
I loved the characters, I loved the message.
It was absolutely beautiful. (Read more)
Sue Anderson, Sue's New, Views, and Muse: ...My interest was fully engaged from start to finish, and the characters and their stories ring true: familiar, but not cliched. Somehow, these people manage to struggle mightily without turning into caricatures of themselves––to evoke empathy without becoming (or even verging upon) maudlin. This is no small feat, especially compared with LDS books of similar intent that expose themselves in the first chapter as ponderous, prosaic attempts to teach, preach, and reach the supposedly one-size-fits-all "mainstream Mormon." Braden's themes, deftly handled, emerge as universal rather than formulaic...(Read more)