The Prodigal Son [Paperback]

Elvin Colon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2009

The prodigal son is a story of my life of faith to drug abuse to faith. Highlighted in the story is the devastation of my choice to turn away from a loving God. It is a journey of the consequences and victory of a 22-year heroin addict who was saved by God's mercy and grace. This book also encourages the families of addicts and gives insight into how the families struggle with a loved one caught in the chains of addiction. Elvin Colon was born in 1964 in Bristol Pennsylvania. Elvin has 4 children and is currently active in youth ministry in his church. Elvin has 10 siblings and his mother and father are still living and have been married for 54 years. Elvin is currently in school with the national Christian counselors association and wants to become a pastor. Elvin wants to dedicate the remainder of his life to spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. Elvin currently resides with his wife Laura in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Laura and Elvin have been together for 8 years and were married in the church where they met.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Xulon Press (July 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607919826
• ISBN-13: 978-1607919827
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Caring and Affecting Memoir, August 25, 2009

By 

Chíquiz Delgado "Chíquiz Delgado" (philadelpia, pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prodigal Son (Paperback)

Memoirs allow me to see life, or situations, through another's experiences, they are one of my favorite genres. Elvin Colón's "Prodigal Son" reads as completely unpretensious. Pull quotes from the Bible and rock lyrics illustrate opposing forces operative in Elvin's life as he experienced a life devoted to drug addiction to a nadir from which few are able to recover. The author's personal discovery of God and his decision to devote his life to this force is also uniquely, personally told. Many books of this genera use hyperbole, and exaggerate details in hopes of making the account more dramatic.
This is not the case with this book. The writing style of Elvin's open, honest and insightful first person account of this portion of his life is both engaging and compelling. I had difficulty putting down the book until I had finished it, and find myself thinking about it often. I am glad to have purchased this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful testimony, August 12, 2009

By 

Miss Maggie "Looking for inspiration" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prodigal Son (Paperback)

"The Prodigal Son" is a moving testimony to the overwhelming pull of two powerful forces -- drugs and God -- at work throughout the life of one man. It's not always easy to read; there are descriptions of life on the streets as a lost, drug-addicted soul that will make you squirm as you turn the pages. But if the life of an addict was a pretty one, there wouldn't be a need for books like this.

The payoff for enduring the very real and sometimes graphic presentation of a harsh life on the "mean streets" of inner-city Philadelphia are the "hallelujah" moments that come with the author's recovery and his rebirth into the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the downside had you squirming, then the upside will have you cheering.

Colon's writing is straightforward and raw, allowing the simple facts of his life to provide the drama. He doesn't back down, and he's fearless in the presentation of his experiences and, more importantly, of his motivations, rationalizations, fears, conceits, flaws and, finally, revelations, inspirations and insights. He strips away the filters of ego and pride, and lays himself bare so readers can put themselves in his place and relate to his journey -- "there but for the grace of God go I" -- whether their own involves drugs or some other destructive force.

"The Prodigal Son" definitely is worth a read for anyone caught in the strangle hold of addiction, and for the friends and families of addicts. Not exactly a blueprint for recovery or for dealing with the disease of addiction, it's more of a map of the journey that details the mountains and valleys, the landmarks and landmines and, ultimately, the light at the end of the tunnel that is recovery, rebirth and reunion with the Lord.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, September 8, 2009

By 

S. A. Besaha (Valley Forge, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prodigal Son (Paperback)

This story of the prodigal son depicts an incredibly honest account of what the author went through as he did drugs and lived on the streets of Philadelphia. From what he did with drugs through his various gay and straight relationships to him finding help through his religious beliefs, I think that the reader will learn a lot about addiction and how to be saved.