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{{Short description|American novel}}
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Revision as of 15:29, 22 June 2024

Hell Is a World Without You
File:Hell-is-a-World-Without-You-Generic.jpg
First edition cover
AuthorJason Kirk
Cover artistEmily Mahon
GenreComing of age
Published2024 (Shutdown Fullbooks)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint, ebook
Pages314
ISBN9-781-73549264-3

Hell Is a World Without You is a coming-of-age novel by Jason Kirk, a sports journalist for The Athletic. It tells the four-year story of a group of teenagers born into American Evangelicalism. Set in the early 2000s, it depicts religious deconstruction, 9/11-era conservative politics, purity culture, end-times paranoia, debates about afterlife theology, and humor about both Christian and secular pop culture.

Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly were among the outlets to praise the novel, a best-seller according to USA Today. Kirk publicly pledged $50,000 of the novel’s preorder proceeds to the Trevor Project, the LGBTQ charity.

Plot

In the year 2000, 14-year-old Isaac Siena, Jr., a lifelong born-again Christian, seeks friendships at a suburban Pennsylvanian church where his fire-and-brimstone older brother, Eli, works as a volunteer. Both are dealing with their father’s death from a few years prior, especially since they believe he might be suffering in Hell.

Freshman Isaac befriends the pastor’s devout son, Josiah, and homeschooled niece, Sophie. At public school, Isaac discovers one of his friends is an atheist and a lesbian. By failing to change her religious status, Isaac believes himself to have contributed to her eventual damnation. His furious internal voice urges him to commit self-harm, but he stops after speaking with Sophie.

As a sophomore, Isaac establishes a found family of church misfits, many of whom begin questioning what they've been taught. After the attacks of September 11, the church’s Pastor Jack pivots into Christian nationalist rhetoric. When Isaac supports Josiah, who has been outed as gay, Pastor Jack bans Isaac from the fellowship.

Isaac visits other churches, including an over-the-top megachurch and a remote monastery, again diverting from his religious background by dating a Catholic girl. Overcome by guilt after their first hookups, he drowns his shame in his first alcohol binge. His conservative mother, revealing her past as a rebellious teenager, encourages him to replicate his father’s optimism instead.

During senior year, Isaac and Sophie begin dating while also breaking from their inherited orthodoxy. They begin nudging their church peers toward universal reconciliation and anti-capitalist politics while right under the nose of Eli, now one of Pastor Jack’s right-hand men. Believing the fates of souls to be on the line, Eli threatens Isaac’s life, shooting him in the arm.

After suffering a faith crisis, Isaac reveals to Sophie his self-harm attempt from years prior. Moments before a seaside sunrise, he weeps, finally grieving his father.

The epilogue, set at some point after 2020, reveals the casually spiritual Isaac is expecting his first child with Kori, a Syriac Orthodox religion professor who identifies as demi-girl and was previously known as Sophie.

Development history

The project began as a short story, inspired by a conversation Kirk had with his wife, Emily, about something he'd experienced as a young Southern Baptist: "a night at Wednesday night church, when these grown men came in and were waving guns around as sort of End Times Theater: 'we're going to scare you and see if you would be the kind of cowardly Christian who'd deny Christ!'"[1]

The novel took "about four years" to write,[2] beginning in earnest during the quarantines of 2020.[3] Kirk has described its influences as including Julien Baker,[4] Saved!,[5] Superbad, Siddhartha, Lady Bird, and Clueless,[6] as well as some of the story's primary cultural references, which include Diablo II, hip-hop music,[7] The Lord of the Rings,[8] and Tooth & Nail Records.[5]

When asked about writing a novel instead of a memoir, the author described the freedom that comes with being able to "reorganize" life experiences "meaningfully" among differing characters at differing times,[9] thus finding himself "spread throughout almost all" of the story's characters.[7] On the book's depiction of its religious settings, he said, “All the right-wing stuff with which my characters interact (persecution-complex song lyrics, casual misogyny, presumed queerphobia, etc.) could’ve been drawn from my memories alone,”[10] while “all the weird stuff the adults are saying to the young people, all the stunts and gimmicks, all the Christian pop culture, a lot of that stuff is basically verbatim."[11] "Life gave me this world, and then I made up people who could react to it in hopefully revealing, relatable, and funny ways," he said.[12]

While writing, Kirk determined “there’s so little fiction that tells the story of someone who left this very specific kind of church — this turn-of-the-century Evangelical church.”[13] He considers this book to be part of the exvangelical movement.[10][14]

Days after publication, he said, “Doing this project was one of the best mental health reparation jobs I’ve ever done."[15] He's since described himself as a Christian pantheist.[16] [17]

Explanation of the novel's title

Kirk has described the title as incorporating the common theological phrase "Hell is the absence of God," the name of the rock band mewithoutYou, the quote "Hell is only a word; the reality is much, much worse" from the horror film Event Horizon, and the quote "I’m glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things" from The Lord of the Rings.[6]

Additionally, he has called it part of a theological statement based on scriptures: "If Hell is a world without God, and if we are the breaths of the Spirit, then Hell is a world without us."[8]

Reception

Kirkus Reviews called Hell Is a World Without You "a consideration of evangelical Christianity that blends sublimely with a droll coming-of-age tale," awarding it the publication’s "Get It" accolade[18] and including the review in the publication's March 2024 print issue.[19] Publishers Weekly praised the book as including "brutal honesty and extensive empathy" and compared it to Julia Scheeres' Jesus Land.[20] The Columbia Daily Tribune described it as "painfully, beautifully true" and said it "compassionately navigates a world of shaky absolutes."[21] In a "Starred" review, Independent Book Review called the novel "joyous and sobering" and predicted "readers will be swept away with its poignance and intellectual rigor."[22] Per Book and Film Globe’s review, "Kirk pulls off a miracle by making such an insular part of American culture so universal."[23] Awarding a five-star review, Readers' Favorite called it "bitingly funny and insightful."[24]

For Religion Dispatches, University of Alabama religious studies professor Mike J. Altman wrote, "The details that make [the novel] feel authentic to those of us who grew up in this milieu will be fascinating to those who didn’t."[10] According to Sojourners, "Of all the feats Hell Is a World Without You pulls off, one of the most impressive is how it follows Isaac’s own expanding appreciation of the diversity of the people around him."[25] Christianity Today editor Bonnie Kristian described the novel as "so evocative — the AOL Instant Messenger transcripts were frankly too recognizable."[13]

Individuals who have recommended the novel include film director Brian Dannelly,[26] CNN commentator Jane Coaston,[27] content creator Jon Bois,[28] broadcaster Mike Golic Jr.,[29] and authors like Blake Chastain,[30] Spencer Hall,[31] Will Leitch,[32] Drew Magary,[33] Jennifer C. Martin,[34] Claire McNear,[35] Anthony Oliveira,[7] Leah Payne,[36] Brian Phillips,[37] and Tommy Tomlinson.[16]

Despite the novel's depiction of religious trauma,[38] it has been recommended by faith leaders like Florida pastor Trey Ferguson,[39] Nebraska reverend Jonathan Redding,[40] and Texas pastor Zach W. Lambert.[41] St. Clare's Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan hosted one of Kirk's book tour events.[27]

Hell Is a World Without You has appeared on USA Today’s Best-selling Booklist[42] and Bookshop’s best-selling Fiction list[43]. In February 2024, Kirk said an additional 2,000-plus copies had been sold independently of retailers.[44]

After preorder sales — which included an exclusive series of signed hardcovers for which customers could pay any amount of money and a sold-out launch party in Atlanta[31] — he announced a donation of over $50,000 to the Trevor Project.[25]

References

  1. ^ Ginocchio, Tony (2024-01-02). "Jason Kirk: The Only G.O.T.H.S. Interview". Grift of the Holy Spirit. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. ^ "A Conversation with Jason Kirk, Author of Hell is a World Without You". Dane C. Johns. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  3. ^ "‎Lit Lit: 201 Lit Lit - Hell Is a World Without You on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  4. ^ "‎The Vinyl Preacher: Ep. 387 Interview with Jason Kirk, Hell is a World Without You on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  5. ^ a b "‎Good Christian Fun: The Feel Good Drag by Anberlin (w/ Jason Kirk) on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  6. ^ a b "‎Focus On Your Own Family: Jason Kirk- Hell Is A World Without You on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  7. ^ a b c "Crush on the Cross: An Interview with Anthony Oliveira | Hazlitt". hazlitt.net. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  8. ^ a b "‎Evangelicalish: Hell is a World Without You - Growing up Evangelical". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  9. ^ "‎You Have Permission: How to Write a Post-Evangelical Novel (#256) on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  10. ^ a b c Altman, Michael J. (April 22, 2024). "'Hell Is a World Without You' shows readers how squarely they would have been on path to Jan 6 if they'd come of age in Evangelicalism". Religion Dispatches.
  11. ^ Hines, Scott (2024-01-29). "An interview with Jason Kirk, author of "Hell Is a World Without You"". The Action Cookbook Newsletter. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  12. ^ Kirk, Jason. "How much of Jason Kirk's novel is real?". www.jasonkirk.fyi. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  13. ^ a b Kristian, Bonnie (2024-02-29). "'Hell Is a World Without You' Revisits Early 2000s Youth Group". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  14. ^ Chastain, Blake. "❌+📚 New episode of The Good Books: Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk". www.postevangelicalpost.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  15. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (2024-02-17). "Jason Kirk on 'Hell Is A World Without You' novel: 'The response has been awesome.'". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  16. ^ a b "‎SouthBound: Jason Kirk grew up an evangelical kid. Now he's written a novel about it on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  17. ^ Roth, David (2024-02-01). "Lessons Of Collapse And The Christian Version Of Limp Bizkit, With Jason Kirk | Defector". defector.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  18. ^ a b HELL IS A WORLD WITHOUT YOU | Kirkus Reviews.
  19. ^ "Hell Is a World Without You". Kirkus Reviews. 92 (5): 169. March 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk | BookLife". booklife.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  21. ^ Danielsen, Aarik. "7 recent books perfect for your summer reading list". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  22. ^ IndieBookView (2024-01-23). "STARRED Book Review: Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk". Independent Book Review. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  23. ^ Harris, Jake (2024-02-14). "Hell Is A World Without You Book Review". Book and Film Globe. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  24. ^ "Book review of Hell Is a World Without You". Readers' Favorite. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  25. ^ a b Huckabee, Tyler (2024-02-12). "'Hell Is a World Without You' Is a Vortex of 2000s Youth Group Emotions". Sojourners. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  26. ^ Kirk, Jason. "Buy Jason Kirk's novel, HELL IS A WORLD WITHOUT YOU". www.jasonkirk.fyi. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  27. ^ a b Jason Kirk (2024-06-19). Hell Is a World Without You, Ann Arbor (w Jane Coaston & Ace Anbender). Retrieved 2024-06-22 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "Jon Bois (@jonbois.bsky.social)". Bluesky Social. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  29. ^ Golic Jr., Mike. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  30. ^ Chastain, Blake. "Recent and new books on my TBR list". www.postevangelicalpost.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  31. ^ a b Jason Kirk (2024-03-02). Jason Kirk's novel launch show (w the Shutdown Fullcast). Retrieved 2024-05-26 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Leitch, Will. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  33. ^ Magary, Drew. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  34. ^ Martin, Jennifer C. (2024-02-09). "Book Recommendations: What I've Been Reading and Enjoying Lately". The Dirtbag Christian. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  35. ^ McNear, Claire. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  36. ^ "‎Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  37. ^ Phillips, Brian. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  38. ^ Klema, Andrew (2024-03-13). "Hell is a World Without You by Jason Kirk". Not the Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  39. ^ Ferguson, Trey. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  40. ^ Redding, Jonathan. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  41. ^ Lambert, Zach W. "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  42. ^ "Hell Is a World Without You". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  43. ^ "Best Selling Fiction Books - Bookshop.org". web.archive.org. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  44. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  45. ^ Kirk, Jason. "Buy Jason Kirk's novel, HELL IS A WORLD WITHOUT YOU". www.jasonkirk.fyi. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  46. ^ Kirk, Jason (2023-12-18). Hell Is a World Without You. Shutdown Fullbooks. ISBN 978-1-7354926-4-3.
  47. ^ "Hell Is a World Without You". Goodreads. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  48. ^ Kirk, Jason (2024-02-12). Hell Is a World Without You. Shutdown Fullbooks. ISBN 978-1-7354926-2-9.
  49. ^ "Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk". app.thestorygraph.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  50. ^ Hell Is A World Without You.
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