When some poor soul put this thing in the same league as Mann and Eco, I about choked. This novel is written so poorly, the characterizations so flat, and the plot so senseless, that it eludes adequate description. The authors mentioned actually address spirituality in meaningful terms. This incoherent mess throws new age mumbo jumbo like confetti. The criticism of the Church is certainly warranted but a bit of biblical knowledge would have strengthened the argument. Far be it from me to be "anti-Jeza" (lol) but the vapidity of that character was particulary painful, as were her cockamamy sermons. Even if one embraces the superficial philosophy and goony characters, the sheer length and awkwardness of this empty bombast is a killer. This dreck is the worst thing I've read in years and hopefully relegates its author to the obscurity he so richly deserves.