Joshua's Bible [Paperback]

Shelly Leanne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

Since childhood, the young reverend Joshua Clay has had a gift to speak God's word with great eloquence. Now, in the midst of the Depression in the 1930s, Joshua is asked to be the first Negro minister in years to do missionary work in South Africa. Determined to minister Christianity's soul-sustaining joys, Joshua soon discovers the racial turmoil beneath the country's Eden-like beauty. As the government ruthlessly passes apartheid laws, Joshua finds his strength and faith tested to its limits.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In Joshua's Bible, Leanne tells the bittersweet tale of Joshua Clay, a studious young black man from Ohio coming of age in the time of Marcus Garvey and the Harlem Renaissance. Keen to serve the Lord, Clay is honored to be sent to South Africa as a missionary among the Xhosa. Coming from a country with its own racial problems, Joshua can scarcely miss the irony of being named an "Honorary White," and though he does his best to perform as his church has directed, he cannot escape the fact that his status is that of an Uncle Tom. His consciousness is raised, he falls in love with a Xhosa, and then he throws himself body and soul against the rising tide of apartheid, signaled by forced relocations and indefinite jail sentences. A deeply felt novel, splendidly researched. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Shelly Leanne has won the 2004 Honor Award in Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for this debut novel, Joshua’s Bible, which has also been a Black Expressions "Member Favorites" book and earned a *starred* review from Booklist. A recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, the Du Bois Institute Fellowship, and the Carter G. Woodson Fellowship, Shelly Leanne has spent time living in South Africa, Trinidad and England, and teaching in rural Kenya. She served as a Harvard University faculty member from 1997-2001, where she taught about human rights and about South Africa. Shelly Leanne now resides with her husband in the Los Angeles area, where she is working on her second novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Walk Worthy Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446693987
• ISBN-13: 978-0446693981
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,448,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Shel Leanne is a leadership expert and executive coach. She taught for four years as a Full Faculty Member at Harvard University. She has also served as a member of the Executive Faculty of Harvard University. She worked previously as an MBA-level Associate at McKinsey & Company. She received her bachelors degree from Harvard College, and masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University. Known as "Dr. Shel," she provides insights about leadership, women's leadership, and the success of new hires/minorities in the workplace. Dr. Shel speaks/offers coaching at corporate events and colleges. Visit her: www.regentcrest.com and www.mbaadmit.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God's Instrument, June 1, 2003

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joshua's Bible (Hardcover)

God called Joshua Clay to preach at an early age. And as a student at Wilberforce University in Ohio, he is working towards his goal of becoming a minister and eventually pastoring his own church. As graduation looms on the horizon, Joshua is given the opportunity of a lifetime, he is offered a position as a missionary in South Africa. This is a very unique opportunity since the story takes place in the 1930's, and Joshua is a Black male experiencing South Africa's system of apartheid. Joshua looks to God for guidance and God leads him to South Africa, on a journey that will change his life. He discovers that the people of Africa are nothing like he imagined; they don't live in the jungle or swing from trees.

What he does find is that Blacks are very oppressed in their own land as well, and are considered savages and heathens by the white minority. Even though this seems like a dismal situation, Joshua is determined to make his imprint on the people to whom he will minister. Unfortunately, due to pressures and restrictions from his bosses, conforming to the rules by which he is governed will not be easy for him. As a result, Joshua compromises himself and is blind to the injustices committed against his congregation each day.

God should be who Joshua listens to, but his superiors at the mission see things differently, and because of this, life for Joshua is hard. In JOSHUA'S BIBLE, author Shelly Leanne takes readers on a spiritual journey, and she uses pain and inspiration as the guides. This wonderful novel touched my heart and soul and I feel inspired to recommend it to others.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, April 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Joshua's Bible (Hardcover)

This book should be on everybody's "must read" list. Leanne takes the cover off the foreign mission field and challenges us to consider what it means to separate faith and culture. This book will make you think about what it means to be a Christian according to the Bible, and what it means according to American culture. The time has come for us understand and make clear the difference in being Christian and being American. Leanne puts us on the road to doing just that. Read this book and you won't be disappointed. It's right up there with Sharon Foster's Passing by Samaria. I don't think I can give it any higher praise.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I went to South Africa, October 28, 2005

By 

Ousmane Badine "Doumbe" (Indianapolis, In) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joshua's Bible (Hardcover)

This book took me to South Africa. I love every word, sentence and chapter of this book. When I finished this book, I found myself going back to visit the chracters, because I had missed them. Highly recommended. This is a story of faith, and love. I can't wait until this author writes another book. Please hurry!!!!!!