Their father, referred to in the book as the Old Man, grew up on a farm, and when he established his own home, continued to grow fresh produce in his prized garden. The Zemba family revolved around the growing, cooking, eating, and enjoyment of the bountiful harvest, so when David refused to eat anything, it was met with incredulity, shock, and frustration.
David became anorexic. Because of the harsh control of the Old Man, David grabbed control over a small part of his life, namely his eating habits. Then he lost control, and anorexia started controlling him.
David's anorexia came close to tearing their family apart and almost killed his mother and himself. Then an incredible thing happened....they were saved by Jesus Christ. He not only saved their souls, he saved their lives too.
David and the Old Man is a glimpse into the redeeming work that Jesus Christ can do in a life. It's a glimpse into what living with an anorexic is like as well. William pulls the reader into the story as if they are actually there witnessing the events as they unfold, and after reading this book, I feel like I know the Zemba family.
The author has much to learn about writing, but his format is raw and honest. The actual story ended about 2/3rds of the way through the book, and the rest was reflections from himself, his sisters, and his anorexic brother. The message of hope, redemption, and masculine responsibility are dumped on you at the end in a way where upon thinking back over the story, it all makes sense!
I would recommend this book for anyone curious about anorexia, wondering if Jesus can really change lives, or those who want to experience the power of a father's role in a child's life.
I received a copy of this book from the publishing company and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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