I read an interview of the author of this novel, and was interested in the story of his deconversion from Mormonism, something that is happening in droves in the evangelical Christian church. However, I was disappointed in the novel itself, which chronicles the unraveling of a Mormon Elder on mission in Brazil, though this is probably due in part to my lack of understanding in regards to the Mormon missionary process. ( )

The writing style was smooth and literary. The subject matter had inherent interest. The setting was fresh.

However, there were no strong female characters (indictment of McIlvain or the LDS Church?), and the misogyny is breathtaking. More damningly, the vulgarity was not only off-putting, it added nothing of literary value and broke every rule of verisimilitude. NO WAY Mormon boys drop f*** so casually, or at all, regardless of what they do. The cultural taboo is too strong. Sweeney is the most unlikable character in fiction.

Wallace Stegner said it best.

Regardless, unlike many reviewers, I loved Passos. Great, complex character, and a good person. ( )

Seeing as we're going with a religious theme here, let me start with a confession: I totally judge books by their covers and Elders is a prime example. I think this cover is brilliant.

So, does the novel live up to the cover? It comes pretty close. Elders follows McLeod and Passos, a pair of Mormon missionaries in Brazil. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the couple is bonded together as they spend their days knocking on unopened doors and hoping to reach their quietly personal goals.

What I thought might be a fiery expose of Mormonism was actually written in a delicate way that is neither accusing nor particularly supportive of the religion, rather it focuses more on the relationship between the Elders themselves. With different languages, backgrounds and cultures, McLeod and Passos have plenty to cause a rift between them. However, it is the different way they approach the Mormon religion and their beliefs that leads to the tension in their partnership.

Though it ended a bit abruptly for my liking, Elders is a unique, carefully written novel that is easy to appreciate and enjoy. ( )

I was looking forward to reading this book after hearing an interview with the author on Fresh Air. It sounded like this semi-autobiographical novel would be a great window into a world I know so little about. Unfortunately, it fell well short of my expectations.

Pros: Ryan McIlvain's Elders (American McLeod and Brazilian Passos) paint an interesting picture of how insular and isolating it can be to be a Mormon missionary. I certainly cannot imagine how difficult it would be to spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a virtual stranger, regardless of how committed we both were to the same cause. Add in the extra layer of missionary ambition (who knew??), and the whole situation can become a political powder keg. I also appreciated the way the author dealt with Elder McLeod's doubt. It was interesting to hear the perspective that someone who considers himself religious enough to go on a mission could have legitimate doubt as part of his faith journey. Sort of a biblical "fake it 'til you make it" approach to religious coming-of-age.

Cons: I never really connected with any of the characters in this book. Neither Elder inspired trust, confidence, or sympathy. I just didn't care what happened to them or anyone else.

Other than the moderately interesting education I received about the day-to-day life of Mormon missionary work (recognizing this IS fiction), Elders had little to offer. I love a book where interesting things happen to interesting people, and this book missed the mark on both counts. ( )