By JOTR staff
CROSS PURPOSES, the latest book from upstart startup Hardalee Press, just got a five-star rating from Midwest Book Review.
“Why compete with the other news reporters when your own paper presents plenty of competition already?” notes MBR of author Joel Thurtell’s novel. ” ‘Cross Purposes’ is a poignant read that will entertain as well as make one think about the status of media.”
Remarked reviewer Fiona Lowther: “This book is so different that it’s difficult to describe. It is, however, bitingly witty — to the point where I laughed aloud several times while reading it. It’s a novel — a roman à clef? — about what would happen if one of today’s big-city dailies were to cover the Crucifixion. Now, I know that doesn’t sound very funny — and in one way, it isn’t: But just as the death of Jesus was a tragedy that became a triumph with His Resurrection, CROSS PURPOSES delineates the tragedy of today’s mainstream Journalism — and it’s only with an understanding of what’s going on that readers may be able to turn the tragedy of today’s newspapers into a triumph by recognizing the situation and seeking alternative publications and online blogs that will take us back to the days of hard-core investigative Journalism and crusading publishers and editors — and reporters who were willing to dig deep to get the facts and give them to the public.
“Aside of that, read this book for its entertainment value: It would make one heck of a good movie; I couldn’t help casting the characters as I read it — and I’ll bet many readers will do the same.
“Don’t miss this one; I have a feeling that it will be one of the most talked-about books of the year.”
Wrote former Detroit Free Press and Los Angeles Times columnist Mike Downey: “A Detroit newspaper covers the crucifixion! Stop the presses! Now there’s a story you don’t see in the media every day!”
Before his death, Detroit Free Press managing editor and publisher Neal Shine read CROSS PURPOSES and told Thurtell: “Really enjoyed it. All you need is an imprimatur from the Church of Rome.”
Subtitled IF NEWSPAPERS HAD COVERED THE CRUCIFIXION, CROSS PURPOSES is a primer on hubris, arrogance, prejudice, greed and ambition as driving forces in the news industry.
