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The Call

Derald Hamilton
D Hamilton Books (2010)
ISBN 9780984619207
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (05/11)

Derald Hamilton’s novel, “The Call,” is told through the eyes of the main character Ishmael O’Donnell.  O’Donnell grew up in a military family and moved around quite a bit when he was young.  He had a twin brother who had died when they were toddlers.  Upon his brother’s death, his brother’s spirit entered Ishmael’s body and continued to maintain residence there throughout Ishmael’s life.  Ishmael’s father was not the best role model in the world as he continually sought out other women during times of deployment, even fathering another woman’s child.  This dysfunctional upbringing greatly influenced all aspects of Ishmael’s life.

After exploring Ishmael’s younger years and watching him as he grows, the next part of the book explores Ishmael’s life after he decides to go to seminary.  Hamilton’s satirical account of the seminary community is particularly interesting and humorous.  The characters are very unique and not the types that you would expect in the seminary setting.  That is one thing that I love, when I am presented with the unexpected, as it always makes for an interesting read.  In a letter that accompanied the book for review, Hamilton said that he drew upon his personal experiences in seminary training when writing “The Call.”  It is neat to have an “insider’s view” into the seminary world.

“The Call” is definitely an entertaining book and while the cover and synopsis look and sound quite serious, the book actually has humor in it as well.  I enjoyed reading about the protagonist Ishmael’s life through Hamilton’s captivating writing.  If you are intrigued by the unexpected, then I recommend giving “The Call” a try.

 

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