Customer Reviews

Leaper: The Misadventures of a Not-Necessarily-Super Hero

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I can't remember when I've read a book that starts out with such a fantastic beginning. The writing is quick, witty and very funny. I can feel James' caffeine running through his veins. The story starts out with a very clever premise and sprouts from there but about three-quarters of the way through the book things take a turn towards the sad and depressing (not that comedies can't have a serious side)... most of the humor is gone and the plot that could have been never happens. The story had so much promise and then it just let me down. Although this book is going through the Christian novel websites and bookstores it's basically secular with a Catholic perspective. It's not about the Gospel it's about being good and how to go about accomplishing that task with the gifts God gives you. Isn't that what all religions do, including atheism and agnosticism? Although the lesson learned was "nice" it would have been good to see James mature in deed instead of just thought and maybe, just maybe he could have called God "Jesus" at least once. After all it is His name. "God" is kind of generic. The book could have used a couple more chapters. James could have helped Captain Goss find his killer or anything that would have tied the stories ending. Maybe Geoffrey's planning on a sequel. A nice first attempt but I doubt I'd read another one from this author.

1 Star = I've been robbed!
2 Stars = Why'd I finish it?
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

Geoff Woods' debut novel is charming, hilarious, irreverent, edgy, sweet, thought-provoking and challenging.

My husband has begun reading lots of fiction lately. I tend to make suggestions or leave books lying about for him to pick up. Leaper landed in his hands before I could crack the cover.

Every night while I quietly read other books, he laughed out loud with Leaper. This is not like him...oh he laughs but not out loud very often. The last time he laughed out loud like he did several times during Leaper's first chapters, was when Jack Black as Nacho Libre fired up his little zippy-cart-thing and took off in a cloud of smoke.

I'm ashamed to admit that I took the book. I devoured it while he was distracted with a Sunday school lesson and a couple late nights at work. I buzzed past where he was in Leaper and he furrowed his brow at my laughter. I told him I had a deadline and laughed away.

Leaper is Funny -- yes capital F.

Those who struggle with strict adherence to religiousity may struggle with the non-traditional approaches of dispensing truth. Christian readers may struggle with Catholisicm.

But if you love wacky, quirky, funny and really love it when those qualities make you stop and think about the way you look at the world -- then don't walk, don't even run -- leap to your local book store or for your credit card.

An absolutely excellent book! Unlike anything I have ever read. Enjoyable to everyone, it subtly explores seemingly simple concepts of trust and faith but does so with a thoroughly engaging and hilarious story. I laughed out loud on numerous occasions. The over-caffeinated pace can leave you breathless at times and you will have a hard time putting this one down. In the end you have been entertained but left with an interesting question, is your ability to trust strong enough that it allows you to take a leap of faith.

This book is simply an extension of Geoffs real personality! He worked for me as a Barista and his antics behind the bar were as quirky, unpredictable and hilarious as is this book. "Write what you know," Geoff has the incredable gift of being able to make people laugh and teach them something at the same time. He was a treasure to Starbucks and now is a newly discovered treasure to the literary world. Thanks Geoff.

This book is quirky, provocative, and hilarious. Over-caffeinated barista (baristo if male?) James discovers God has given him a super-power--leaping (or transporting) from one place to another. It's an odd power, he knows, but it's there. The question is, should he use it for good? Even if it gets him into trouble? The guy's a worry-wart and has trust issues, which makes for some laugh-out-loud (literally--just ask the people next to me on the plane to Jersey) stream of conscious. And the dialogue! It crackles and sparks like dry wood. It is dry humor, after all.

While there is some Catholic theology that I don't agree with, it also addresses questions of faith and the true purpose of the gifts God gives us.

Guys, you need to read this book. Seriously. You will not regret it. You will laugh. Loud and hard. I'm thinking of emailing the author to become his publicist. If you like My Name Is Russell Fink by , than you'll like this book. Trust me on this one.

Leaper is a very unusual book. It has elements of tragedy, comedy, theology and philosophy all tightly interwoven together to make a phenomenal read! This book is great.

Wood writes at a frenetic pace, and almost makes the reader tired as James, the protagonist, recalls all that happens to him as he discovers his leaping ability.

Again, the reading flows very well and the characters are well developed. I promise you won't be disappointed when you read this book.

The book starts out kind of funny/depressing. The main character, James, is not at a good point in his life. He's recently divorced, living out of boxes in a tiny apartment with no furniture, and works at a coffee shop. This guy suddenly finds that he can transport himself instantaneously from place to place and immediately starts getting into trouble. This trouble is a bit funny, but quite sad, as you really feel very sorry for him. As you get further into the story he starts thinking more about the whys and hows, and attributes it to God. This is where it get interesting. James thinks God wants him to do good with this power and struggles to find a way to do so. Some attempts go well and others not so well. In his last attempt he sees a coworker, Kevin, from the coffee shop on the news. Kevin is on the roof of the hospital threatening to jump. James runs around trying to get dressed and leap there to help, but he's too late. So James gives up and swears off the whole thing. He asks a priest for a list or a how-to guide to faith and is horrified to be told that faith is just trusting God. James is paranoid and knows he's paranoid. He wants nothing to do with God if God wants trust from him, he just can't give it.

That's not the end, but I don't want to give the entire thing away. This book really made me think and I felt touched when I finished the last page. Maybe that's just me, maybe this is just another novel, nothing so profound as what I felt it was. In any case, I do reccomend it. My one criticism is that the ending felt unfinished, it leaves you hanging, wondering "What comes next?"

Laughed until I cried and had to stop to wipe my eyes! I can't remember any book having such an affect on me. I loved that it made me really think about making sure that I was using my gifts. It is so easy to not open our gifts, explore them, and use them. The ending was vague, so I will likely read it again - this time knowing what to look for. I don't want this to be a spoiler alert. Definately recommend this book!

Though this book didn't quite compare to Wood's other novel, it still is fun, makes you laugh while still making you think, and is downright enjoyable. My only con with this book is the ending was anti-climatic.

Kind of a weird ending. Have read books with the "leaper" premise before, but never ones with quite this twist to it. Other books involving the leaper premise(have read at least two of these) have focussed on the bad or evil aspects, but this one is where the hero tries to actually do good with his "gift". He fails once where he really wanted to be able to help someone from committing suicide and suddenly he is devastated. This is supposed to be a Christian themed book and he exhibits a very weak faith. Maybe slightly weaker than the average. He does get the help he asks God for, but you never know for sure what he has done with it. Didn't take long to read this book---- several hours.(a fast read) Story was interesting even in spite of the unorthodox ending. Guess it leaves something to the imagination after all! Would recommend it for othere to read. Wish there had been a bit more to the story though.