false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166338489m/10890.jpg 10890 9 For most writers, the greatest challenge of spiritual writing is to keep it grounded in concrete language. The temptation is to wander off into the clouds of ethereal epiphanies, only to lose readers with woo-woo thinking and sacred-laced clichés. Thankfully, Anne Lamott (<i>Operating Instructions</i>, <i>Crooked Little Heart</i>) knows better. In this collection of essays, Lamott offers her trademark wit and irreverence in describing her reluctant journey into faith. Every epiphany is framed in plainspoken (and, yes, occasionally crassly spoken) real-life, honest-to-God experiences. For example, after having an abortion, Lamott felt the presence of Christ sitting in her bedroom: <blockquote>This experience spooked me badly, but I thought it was just an apparition born of fear and self-loathing and booze and loss of blood. But then everywhere I went I had the feeling that a little cat was following me, wanting me to reach down and pick it up, wanting me to open the door and let it in. But I knew what would happen: you let a cat in one time, give it a little milk and then it stays forever.</blockquote> Whether she's writing about airplane turbulence, bulimia, her "feta cheese thighs," or consulting God over how to parent her son, Lamott keeps her spirituality firmly planted in solid scenes and believable metaphors. As a result, this is a richly satisfying armchair-travel experience, highlighting the tender mercies of Lamott's life that nudged her into Christian faith. <I>--Gail Hudson</I> 14837 1999 Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith total:6696|5:2671|4:2675|3:1064|2:225|1:61| 6696 27758 8262 906 5 9 false false Sat Sep 15 16:55:29 -0700 2007 Sat Sep 15 17:08:24 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 4 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004 Sun Feb 24 01:36:51 -0800 2008 Sun Feb 24 01:47:04 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 3 false false Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Oct 22 13:02:55 -0700 2007 Mon Nov 05 09:50:20 -0800 2007 more...]]> 5 3 false false Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Mon Jun 18 08:23:18 -0700 2007 Mon Jun 18 08:28:10 -0700 2007 more...]]> 1 1 false false Sun Feb 15 08:29:32 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 15 09:00:13 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 1 false false Sun Aug 26 19:21:10 -0700 2007 Sat Nov 03 07:15:26 -0700 2007

Reading Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz gave me some clarity as to why I didn't like Traveling Mercies. On the back of Blue Like ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Wed Jun 20 15:30:05 -0700 2007 Tue Jun 26 07:49:53 -0700 2007
These are the last three sentences of the book, "Traveling Mercies" by Anne Lemott. And they sum up this collection of stories beautifully. This is a book about faith and a book about gratitude. It is intelligent, thought provoking, funny and...more...]]> 5 2 false false Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005 Tue Apr 03 09:54:39 -0700 2007 Wed Apr 04 11:07:10 -0700 2007
I have not read any of her other books, but I am a big fan of this one. It is humourous and dear, ripe with blasphemy and deep spirituality all at once, which is just how i like it.

Anne Lamott writes about life and christian...more...]]> 3 1 false false Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 02 11:21:33 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 10:34:45 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Apr 25 12:36:16 -0700 2009 Sat Apr 25 12:36:16 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Oct 30 09:39:57 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 30 09:50:25 -0700 2009
"The two best prayers I know: 'Help me, help me, hel...more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 07:27:51 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 07:56:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Aug 25 15:41:33 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 25 16:12:15 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Nov 25 17:30:14 -0800 2008 Tue Nov 25 17:49:17 -0800 2008 2 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 29 15:03:10 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 09 10:17:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 26 06:10:49 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 26 08:30:01 -0700 2009 Traveling Mercies, maybe I was just setting myself up for disappointment. To make matters worse, I have read Anne Lamott's book on writing, Bird by Bird, and loved it AND her.

Traveling Mercies was just okay. It's well written and interesting, beca...more...]]> 3 2 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri Jul 27 17:36:08 -0700 2007 Mon Aug 13 13:34:48 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Tue Aug 21 09:18:26 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 21 09:20:52 -0700 2007
she is also completely hilarious as she tells of the antics and revelations she found along the way.

also, i love the bay area, and since she's from there, her stori...more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri Jun 15 09:41:54 -0700 2007 Fri Jun 15 09:41:54 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Fri Jun 08 14:31:00 -0700 2007 Wed Jun 13 10:45:41 -0700 2007 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=10890