Matt McAvoy Book Review

I won’t lie, I was sceptical about reviewing this book, being firstly an atheist and secondly someone who has never had particularly strong feelings either way about the LGBTQ+ community, neither as a critic nor particularly an active ally.  So, I wondered if I was the right choice of reviewer.  Furthermore, I wondered how serious a book this could be with the title Jeza’s Jesus Juice.  Now, I have to say, I’m somewhat humbled by my initial unconscious bias and pessimism; this book is excellent, and Jeza is a fantastic talent.  I have not read such high-quality articulation in some time, and have to say this has been edited almost to perfection.  Not that I think it was necessary, because Jeza truly has the writing ability for this book to stand out.

For two subjects really quite alien to me and on the fringes of my indifference, if I’m brutally honest, this was a real eye-opener, and a bona fide learning experience; I learnt a huge amount from this book – not least the sheer degree and nature of discrimination those such as Jeza are forced to suffer in a country which views itself as the most progressive in the world, but is in fact very, very far behind.  In a book written by a young gay man raised in a Jewish-Christian family, who finally had the courage to come out to his conservative parents, then reinvented himself as Jeza the drag queen, there was a great deal for a reader like me to learn, and I am so glad to have read it – furthermore, I am delighted that Jeza was the person to deliver it, for her writing is exquisite, it truly is – utterly engaging, and I was gripped from start to finish (please note that I am aware I am mixing Jeza’s pronouns, and use what I assume to be her younger pronouns in retrospective context; I mean absolutely no offence if I am incorrect in doing so – this is genuinely a learning curve for me). 

Whatever you think this book is, you’ll probably be wrong.  It isn’t a memoir, as such, though its predominant format is that of anecdotal autobiography, nor is it a bawdy “f— you” to the Christian community – many of whom, quite frankly, would deserve it, I have to say.  In fact, most accurately this book could be described as Jeza’s sincere love affair with the Christian faith, much to the disdain of her LGBTQ+ community.  She is truly a brave person, standing on her own in defence of both against the hostility of each other.  Jeza, it is quite fair to say, is extraordinary, both in her talent and her sheer passion for the things she cares about, and I feel humbled and grateful for having read her book.  What it is, first and foremost, is an interpretation of Scripture.

I receive and read many books interpreting Scripture, and if I’m brutally honest, they all go right over my head equally.  Yet, the irony is that if there is to be judgment, forgiveness and mercy in our post-mortem future, I found myself genuinely believing that God and Jesus, are they there to meet us, will be absolutely on Jeza’s side, as opposed to those who wish her harm – I am sincere in that opinion, as offensive as it might seem to some.  The abuse and violence perpetrated against the LGBTQ+ community in the name of religion, as reported empirically in this book, is staggering, and I just can’t see how any just god would allow it to go unpunished – whereas Jeza, like Jesus, simply preaches and interprets love and mercy for one’s fellow human, a sentiment I simply can’t see being ignored by the Big Man (or Woman).  But that’s just my atheist opinion, for what it’s worth.  My point is that, if you’re going to read a book interpreting Scripture, do yourself a favour and educate yourself with Jeza’s excellent offering.  Fantastic, and I wish her tremendous success sharing her message.