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Rapture Practice
What happens when the person you’re becoming isn’t the one your family wants you to be?
When Aaron Hartzler was little, he couldn’t wait for the The Rapture: that moment when Jesus would come down from the clouds to whisk him and his family up to heaven. But as he turns sixteen, Aaron grows more curious about all the things his family forsakes for the Lord. He begins to realize he doesn’t want Jesus to come back just yet—not before he has his first kiss, sees his first movie, or stars in the school play.
Whether he’s sneaking out, making out, or playing hymns with a hangover, Aaron learns a few lessons that can’t be found in the Bible. He discovers that the girl of your dreams can just as easily be the boy of your dreams, and the tricky part about believing is that no one can do it for you.
In this funny and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir, debut author Aaron Hartzler recalls his teenage journey from devoted to doubtful, and the search to find his own truth without losing the fundamentalist family who loves him.
When Aaron Hartzler was little, he couldn’t wait for the The Rapture: that moment when Jesus would come down from the clouds to whisk him and his family up to heaven. But as he turns sixteen, Aaron grows more curious about all the things his family forsakes for the Lord. He begins to realize he doesn’t want Jesus to come back just yet—not before he has his first kiss, sees his first movie, or stars in the school play.
Whether he’s sneaking out, making out, or playing hymns with a hangover, Aaron learns a few lessons that can’t be found in the Bible. He discovers that the girl of your dreams can just as easily be the boy of your dreams, and the tricky part about believing is that no one can do it for you.
In this funny and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir, debut author Aaron Hartzler recalls his teenage journey from devoted to doubtful, and the search to find his own truth without losing the fundamentalist family who loves him.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2013
60 people are currently reading
4173 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Hartzler
4 books430 followersAaron Hartzler is the author of Rapture Practice (Little, Brown), a memoir about getting kicked out of his Christian high school two weeks before graduation. The New York Times called Rapture Practice "effervescent and moving, evocative and tender." It was also named one of Kirkus Reviews and Amazon's Best Books of 2013, and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. His second book, a novel called What We Saw, was published by HarperTeen on September 22, 2015. It's the story of a girl named Kate whose friend is assaulted by student athletes at a party, and how Kate navigates small town politics to find out what really happened. Aaron lives at the beach in Los Angeles with his husband, Brant, and their two rescue dogs, Charlie and Brahms. You can find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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April 25, 2015Yeah I just don't want to finish this because I legit can't deal with Aaron's parents.
December 9, 2015
As a former born-again Baptist who attended a Christian parochial school and Bible college, and as a gay man who started to figure out while in my teens that in spite of all I'd been taught to believe, I am homosexual, this story really resonated with me. The details contained within this story probably would be shocking to most readers. The attitudes and platitudes and unbelievable stupidity and prejudice that spews from the mouths of those who truly believe would seem absurd to most readers. The twisted, often cruel form of parenting depicted in this memoir would be viewed by most as being--at the very least--abusive.
All of these seemingly pointless rules and the doctrines that support them make perfect sense to those of us who've embraced or were raised in fundamentalist Christianity. I've no doubt whatsoever that Aaron's parents loved him and his siblings with all their hearts. Without question they sincerely believed they were doing what was best for their children.
The aspect of the story that struck a chord in my heart was the manner in which Aaron began questioning his beliefs. It felt almost as if he had a magical ability to read my mind for he repeatedly quoted verbatim the exact questions I asked. Questions about heaven and hell. Questions about God's plan, creating a species of beings who were condemned at birth and then selectively preordaining certain individuals for eternal happiness. The rest would ultimately suffer in the torment of everlasting flames.
As Aaron talked about the doctrines of eternal security, separation, atonement, eschatology, etc., I nodded knowingly. I understood all he was saying and why he was saying it. I knew what he meant by "preserving our testimony". I understood how he believed that every question within his mind was a temptation of Satan. I got it when he said his conscience had been seared--how he initially experienced excruciating guilt when he "sinned" then eventually was able to suppress or ignore those feelings.
But the one thing that was probably most meaningful to me was how he felt when he taught small children at camp and scared them with a story about hell. I too was Sunday school and junior church teacher. I too taught at vacation Bible school, and I felt this same guilt. It seemed so wrong to indoctrinate the young with fear and self-loathing. It seemed so horrible to instill in those impressionable minds the idea that they were already condemned to eternal suffering simply for being the individuals that God created.
I'm hopeful this story doesn't end with this book. I want to see the reaction of his family as he comes out. I want to see how his Nanny reacts, and I hope she provides an example for his parents. I want to know if his father ever realizes how much he hurt his son with his legalism and over-protective control. And most of all, I just want to see Aaron as a happy adult who loves himself for who he is.
I think this book should be required reading for all born-again Christians, regardless of how they feel about homosexuality.
And one other note: the meticulous editing gave this book a polished feel that is seldom matched nowadays.
All of these seemingly pointless rules and the doctrines that support them make perfect sense to those of us who've embraced or were raised in fundamentalist Christianity. I've no doubt whatsoever that Aaron's parents loved him and his siblings with all their hearts. Without question they sincerely believed they were doing what was best for their children.
The aspect of the story that struck a chord in my heart was the manner in which Aaron began questioning his beliefs. It felt almost as if he had a magical ability to read my mind for he repeatedly quoted verbatim the exact questions I asked. Questions about heaven and hell. Questions about God's plan, creating a species of beings who were condemned at birth and then selectively preordaining certain individuals for eternal happiness. The rest would ultimately suffer in the torment of everlasting flames.
As Aaron talked about the doctrines of eternal security, separation, atonement, eschatology, etc., I nodded knowingly. I understood all he was saying and why he was saying it. I knew what he meant by "preserving our testimony". I understood how he believed that every question within his mind was a temptation of Satan. I got it when he said his conscience had been seared--how he initially experienced excruciating guilt when he "sinned" then eventually was able to suppress or ignore those feelings.
But the one thing that was probably most meaningful to me was how he felt when he taught small children at camp and scared them with a story about hell. I too was Sunday school and junior church teacher. I too taught at vacation Bible school, and I felt this same guilt. It seemed so wrong to indoctrinate the young with fear and self-loathing. It seemed so horrible to instill in those impressionable minds the idea that they were already condemned to eternal suffering simply for being the individuals that God created.
I'm hopeful this story doesn't end with this book. I want to see the reaction of his family as he comes out. I want to see how his Nanny reacts, and I hope she provides an example for his parents. I want to know if his father ever realizes how much he hurt his son with his legalism and over-protective control. And most of all, I just want to see Aaron as a happy adult who loves himself for who he is.
I think this book should be required reading for all born-again Christians, regardless of how they feel about homosexuality.
And one other note: the meticulous editing gave this book a polished feel that is seldom matched nowadays.
June 14, 2013
1. First things first. I'm a Christian. I believe that to get to Heaven you must be saved. And I believe that marriage is intended for one man and one woman. That being said, I loved this book and if I could rate it higher than a 5, I would. I thought about this book all day when I wasn't reading it and then at night I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.
2. Whether you have the same beliefs as Aaron or his parents or are a Christian and aren't as strict as Aaron's parents, this book will probably speak to you. I found myself sympathizing with both sides of the family. Yes, Aaron was being rebellious, but was wearing no socks a big deal in the first place? I'd say no. His parents just wanted the best for him and Aaron questioned everything about his life.
3. In the past I've found myself asking the same questions Aaron has about Christianity. Why would God create a world when he knew what was going to happen in the end? I think every Christian will ask that at some point. We are not perfect. We sin. Our brains aren't big enough to wrap our minds around God's plan sometimes. But the answer that you have to go back to is faith. God tells us time and time again to have faith. Faith to trust in his plan and that's what I do.
4. I think this book is important for so many types of people. It could speak to Christians, people who are questioning their faith like Aaron, or for people who recognize rebellion and are trying to be their own person.
5. I would like to know where Aaron went to college, when he had his first boyfriend, and what he got his degree in. I looked on IMDB and he has had a few acting roles.
6. I wonder if Aaron would have made all of the choices he did had his parents not been as strict. Like if they would have let him wear no socks, or listened to Amy Grant, or let him watch ET. Would his life have been the same? Would he have looked at Christianity the same way?
7. Some people may have seen his parents as extreme and not believed some of the things they did, but I had a couple families I knew in mind while reading this. I think all religions have extremists. Aaron's parents were not wrong, they just needed to expand their understanding of being right.
8. I could seriously talk about this book for days. I just loved it. Aaron was a great voice to read. The book is nonfiction but reads like fiction. Aaron knew how to build a story. He knew what details were important. He should definitely keep writing.
2. Whether you have the same beliefs as Aaron or his parents or are a Christian and aren't as strict as Aaron's parents, this book will probably speak to you. I found myself sympathizing with both sides of the family. Yes, Aaron was being rebellious, but was wearing no socks a big deal in the first place? I'd say no. His parents just wanted the best for him and Aaron questioned everything about his life.
3. In the past I've found myself asking the same questions Aaron has about Christianity. Why would God create a world when he knew what was going to happen in the end? I think every Christian will ask that at some point. We are not perfect. We sin. Our brains aren't big enough to wrap our minds around God's plan sometimes. But the answer that you have to go back to is faith. God tells us time and time again to have faith. Faith to trust in his plan and that's what I do.
4. I think this book is important for so many types of people. It could speak to Christians, people who are questioning their faith like Aaron, or for people who recognize rebellion and are trying to be their own person.
5. I would like to know where Aaron went to college, when he had his first boyfriend, and what he got his degree in. I looked on IMDB and he has had a few acting roles.
6. I wonder if Aaron would have made all of the choices he did had his parents not been as strict. Like if they would have let him wear no socks, or listened to Amy Grant, or let him watch ET. Would his life have been the same? Would he have looked at Christianity the same way?
7. Some people may have seen his parents as extreme and not believed some of the things they did, but I had a couple families I knew in mind while reading this. I think all religions have extremists. Aaron's parents were not wrong, they just needed to expand their understanding of being right.
8. I could seriously talk about this book for days. I just loved it. Aaron was a great voice to read. The book is nonfiction but reads like fiction. Aaron knew how to build a story. He knew what details were important. He should definitely keep writing.
December 3, 2013
Aaron Hartzler's true-life story set in the buckle of the Bible Belt is both a revealing portrait of Evangelical life in America and a hilarious coming-of-age story that readers young and old will find much to relate to. The son of a preacher who's family life consists of singing the praises of Jesus each Sunday and making cakes that use Ding-Dong's to represent the stone that was rolled away from the Savior's tomb, Aaron finds himself torn between his desire to make his parents happy and the growing realization that his own happiness must take him down a different path from the one his parents would like him to follow.
What makes Aaron's journey to becoming his own man so enthralling is that even as he drifts further from his parents sphere by listening to the radio (Amy Grant is too liberal for Aaron's folks), befriending a boy whose parents casually accept letting the boys drink under their supervision and realizing that while he's getting to second base with one of the girls in school, his thoughts are more about the guy who set him up with her, Aaron's love for his family never wanes. While Aaron could easily reject and turn against his parents, his ability to love them despite their flaws is the true maturity he discovers over the course of the book.
Perhaps the biggest praise I can give this book is that I read it all in one sitting. While aimed at the young adult market, the book is sure to find a home in the hearts of anyone who has struggled with their family, which is to say, all of us.
What makes Aaron's journey to becoming his own man so enthralling is that even as he drifts further from his parents sphere by listening to the radio (Amy Grant is too liberal for Aaron's folks), befriending a boy whose parents casually accept letting the boys drink under their supervision and realizing that while he's getting to second base with one of the girls in school, his thoughts are more about the guy who set him up with her, Aaron's love for his family never wanes. While Aaron could easily reject and turn against his parents, his ability to love them despite their flaws is the true maturity he discovers over the course of the book.
Perhaps the biggest praise I can give this book is that I read it all in one sitting. While aimed at the young adult market, the book is sure to find a home in the hearts of anyone who has struggled with their family, which is to say, all of us.
October 7, 2014
I was blown away by this memoir. There is humor and heart and pain and moments where I noticed that my jaw had actually, literally dropped. Without giving anything away, I will say that there is a spanking scene in the later part of the book that left me absolutely stunned.
What I loved about this debut is that it is beautifully rendered from the standpoint of character creation. Aaron is extraordinarily generous to his characters, which is something that pleased me. Very often in books written about growing up in a religious family, the family members come across as stilted and wooden. Here, the mother and father are so full and complex and beautiful. Sometimes I wanted to shake them, and at other times I found myself wondering if they knew something I didn't. By the way, I was unable to read the mother without picturing Kristen Chenowith. For that that's worth.
This is a must read for teen readers who are interested in understanding the interplay of faith and LGBTQ issues. It's also a must read for older readers looking for the same thing. I simply have trouble imagining anyone walking away from this book not having felt a lot, and learned a lot from the experience. A classic.
What I loved about this debut is that it is beautifully rendered from the standpoint of character creation. Aaron is extraordinarily generous to his characters, which is something that pleased me. Very often in books written about growing up in a religious family, the family members come across as stilted and wooden. Here, the mother and father are so full and complex and beautiful. Sometimes I wanted to shake them, and at other times I found myself wondering if they knew something I didn't. By the way, I was unable to read the mother without picturing Kristen Chenowith. For that that's worth.
This is a must read for teen readers who are interested in understanding the interplay of faith and LGBTQ issues. It's also a must read for older readers looking for the same thing. I simply have trouble imagining anyone walking away from this book not having felt a lot, and learned a lot from the experience. A classic.
May 17, 2013
Fantastic memoir about growing up in a conservative Christian household when you don't prescribe to all of the beliefs your family does. It's funny, and it's so respectful and thoughtful about the way faith plays into people's lives.
That last chapter is magnificent. Just an all-around satisfying read. What a GREAT example of how a teen memoir can work.
That last chapter is magnificent. Just an all-around satisfying read. What a GREAT example of how a teen memoir can work.
February 8, 2017
This picked me right up and out of my ten-day book slump - no easy feat.
This is the second memoir I've read in 2014 - here's the one New Year's resolution I'm managing to keep so far - and only the fifth in my entire life, but that's not the reason why I feel like I've really stepped out of my comfort zone by reading it.
I'm an agnostic atheist, and I swear I try so very hard to be open-minded, respectful and accepting, but I just get very antsy when I read about religion, because it makes me feel as if I were talking to someone who insists on saying that it's the sun that revolves around the Earth and not vice versa.
I ended up loving it - which is not what I was expecting, not even when I was sucked in from the very first chapter.
Without revealing anything about Aaron Hartzler's journey, I will say that this book provided me with a lot of food for thought about a topic I don't spend much time thinking of, and helped me get this much closer to understanding how faith and Christianity work in people's brains. They feel extremely precarious and insubstantial to me, but if I squint I can sort of half-imagine why they'd feel safe and reassuring to someone else.
This story is as personal an experience for the reader as it was for its author, because every thought you could have on it (my brain keeps treating it like fiction. Goddammit, I'm not used to this) will be shaped by your beliefs, and your beliefs will probably be challenged by the story, at least a little bit.
Despite all that, it's light, pleasant reading. The writing style is very immediate and allows the reader to easily sympathise with the narrator. The story is narrated in chronological order, with a clear storyline that makes for a wonderful base for everything that happens inside the protagonist (real person, real person, Nina...) and the colourful secondary characters.
It reads like delightful YA fiction, it feels like real life.
This is the story of a life that's still a work in progress, so it's only natural that nothing will be tied up with a neat little bow by the end of the book. All the same, I wished something more had been included, and I still do - but I also think this was the perfect way for it to end: uplifting, hopeful and full of love.
This is the second memoir I've read in 2014 - here's the one New Year's resolution I'm managing to keep so far - and only the fifth in my entire life, but that's not the reason why I feel like I've really stepped out of my comfort zone by reading it.
I'm an agnostic atheist, and I swear I try so very hard to be open-minded, respectful and accepting, but I just get very antsy when I read about religion, because it makes me feel as if I were talking to someone who insists on saying that it's the sun that revolves around the Earth and not vice versa.
I ended up loving it - which is not what I was expecting, not even when I was sucked in from the very first chapter.
Without revealing anything about Aaron Hartzler's journey, I will say that this book provided me with a lot of food for thought about a topic I don't spend much time thinking of, and helped me get this much closer to understanding how faith and Christianity work in people's brains. They feel extremely precarious and insubstantial to me, but if I squint I can sort of half-imagine why they'd feel safe and reassuring to someone else.
This story is as personal an experience for the reader as it was for its author, because every thought you could have on it (my brain keeps treating it like fiction. Goddammit, I'm not used to this) will be shaped by your beliefs, and your beliefs will probably be challenged by the story, at least a little bit.
Despite all that, it's light, pleasant reading. The writing style is very immediate and allows the reader to easily sympathise with the narrator. The story is narrated in chronological order, with a clear storyline that makes for a wonderful base for everything that happens inside the protagonist (real person, real person, Nina...) and the colourful secondary characters.
It reads like delightful YA fiction, it feels like real life.
This is the story of a life that's still a work in progress, so it's only natural that nothing will be tied up with a neat little bow by the end of the book. All the same, I wished something more had been included, and I still do - but I also think this was the perfect way for it to end: uplifting, hopeful and full of love.
January 6, 2014
For those of us who lived it, this book is painfully familiar. It's the story of childhood warped by religion, of political conservatism, bigotry, and bullying taught to children under pseudonyms like "love," "praise," and "forgiveness."
The scenes of the author's childhood are spot-on. My blood boiled with his simple, clear stories about the unfairness of totalitarian parents and unethical religious recruiting.
Unfortunately, the last third of the book makes compromises. The author works too hard to lay no blame with the family he loves. He superficially questions why drinking with friends was meaningful, but he never asks why his parents have adopted their hateful beliefs, or what their emotional abuse cost him.
People who grew up with cult-minded authority will understand all of the author's experiences. But he should have gotten comfortable with judging his parents before he wrote this book. Instead, he shows us the trauma of forced belief, but then concludes that his parents are wonderful people whom he should learn to accept. That conclusion is a disservice to himself, and a betrayal of the readers who were children of people who use the excuse of religion to be terrible parents.
The scenes of the author's childhood are spot-on. My blood boiled with his simple, clear stories about the unfairness of totalitarian parents and unethical religious recruiting.
Unfortunately, the last third of the book makes compromises. The author works too hard to lay no blame with the family he loves. He superficially questions why drinking with friends was meaningful, but he never asks why his parents have adopted their hateful beliefs, or what their emotional abuse cost him.
People who grew up with cult-minded authority will understand all of the author's experiences. But he should have gotten comfortable with judging his parents before he wrote this book. Instead, he shows us the trauma of forced belief, but then concludes that his parents are wonderful people whom he should learn to accept. That conclusion is a disservice to himself, and a betrayal of the readers who were children of people who use the excuse of religion to be terrible parents.
February 26, 2022
CW: Kindesmisshandlung, häusliche Gewalt, Homophobie, religiöser Fanatismus
Ich gehe mit gemischten Gefühlen aus dieser Autobiografie heraus. Aarons Geschichte hat mich berührt und mitgenommen, jedoch finde ich auch, dass einige Themen hier nicht gründlich genug aufgearbeitet wurden. Ansonsten war das wirklich ein mitreißendes Buch über das Aufwachsen in einem streng-christlichen Elternhaus und ich bin froh, soetwas nie durchgemacht haben zu müssen.
Ich gehe mit gemischten Gefühlen aus dieser Autobiografie heraus. Aarons Geschichte hat mich berührt und mitgenommen, jedoch finde ich auch, dass einige Themen hier nicht gründlich genug aufgearbeitet wurden. Ansonsten war das wirklich ein mitreißendes Buch über das Aufwachsen in einem streng-christlichen Elternhaus und ich bin froh, soetwas nie durchgemacht haben zu müssen.
December 3, 2013
Read for Librarian Book Group
I don't have children myself, but I imagine that one of the many things that parents feel a general sense of terror about is "what if my child doesn't share my values?" I mean, here they've given birth to them (or possibly adopted them) and raised them with all the values and supports of the life they have built for themselves and what if, despite all that nurturing and good examples and shared DNA, their child turns and heads down a different path, perhaps one they don't approve of? It's frightening.
So lies the central conundrum in Hartzler's memoir. It begins with an excellent first line: "Something you should know up front about my family: We believe that Jesus is coming back." And Aaron believes it too. The early chapters cover his younger life when he exalts in the same Christian beliefs that buoy his parents. Those are great chapters, showing the love of his family and the love of Jesus. And then Aaron grows older and problems arise. His mother discovers he's been listening to Rock & Roll music (actually adult contemporary, specifically Peter Cetera and Amy Grant singing "The Next Time I Fall") on the sly. Rock music is not something that is acceptable to Aaron's family and his parents force him to pray for forgiveness.
This is where the book diverges from an interesting introspection on growing up conservative Christian in America. Hartzler writes, "I don't want to disobey Mom and Dad, but the truth is, I don't think what I did was wrong. As much as they believe this music is rebellious, I don't. That's the funny thing about belief: No one else can do it for you."
Aaron's journey through high school is a rocky one, though it's mostly an internal journey as he does his best to present a facade of belief to his parents. But his facade is built upon confusion and questioning of the beliefs and practices of the parents who he loves deeply. For many of us, being a teenager was about figuring out who we are in a world that offers us so many promises and choices. Hartzler writes carefully and tenderly about his adolescence and his narrative is heartbreaking at times. I mean, the kid had to sneak around to go to a movie. Not an R-rated movie, ANY movie.
This is a great book, sweet and funny and sad all at once. I'm hoping for a second memoir about his college years, because I'm betting that would be fabulous too.
I don't have children myself, but I imagine that one of the many things that parents feel a general sense of terror about is "what if my child doesn't share my values?" I mean, here they've given birth to them (or possibly adopted them) and raised them with all the values and supports of the life they have built for themselves and what if, despite all that nurturing and good examples and shared DNA, their child turns and heads down a different path, perhaps one they don't approve of? It's frightening.
So lies the central conundrum in Hartzler's memoir. It begins with an excellent first line: "Something you should know up front about my family: We believe that Jesus is coming back." And Aaron believes it too. The early chapters cover his younger life when he exalts in the same Christian beliefs that buoy his parents. Those are great chapters, showing the love of his family and the love of Jesus. And then Aaron grows older and problems arise. His mother discovers he's been listening to Rock & Roll music (actually adult contemporary, specifically Peter Cetera and Amy Grant singing "The Next Time I Fall") on the sly. Rock music is not something that is acceptable to Aaron's family and his parents force him to pray for forgiveness.
This is where the book diverges from an interesting introspection on growing up conservative Christian in America. Hartzler writes, "I don't want to disobey Mom and Dad, but the truth is, I don't think what I did was wrong. As much as they believe this music is rebellious, I don't. That's the funny thing about belief: No one else can do it for you."
Aaron's journey through high school is a rocky one, though it's mostly an internal journey as he does his best to present a facade of belief to his parents. But his facade is built upon confusion and questioning of the beliefs and practices of the parents who he loves deeply. For many of us, being a teenager was about figuring out who we are in a world that offers us so many promises and choices. Hartzler writes carefully and tenderly about his adolescence and his narrative is heartbreaking at times. I mean, the kid had to sneak around to go to a movie. Not an R-rated movie, ANY movie.
This is a great book, sweet and funny and sad all at once. I'm hoping for a second memoir about his college years, because I'm betting that would be fabulous too.
April 10, 2013
Aaron details his life in a fundamentalist Christian family, including attending a private Christian school, participating in neighborhood Good News club, and eventually questioning everything he's been taught.
I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. I started reading it on my break at work and picked it up again as soon as I got home. The stories Aaron tells are so similar to what I experienced that I was interested to see how he escaped and how his family reacted.
But when Aaron gets in trouble at the end of his senior year for going to a party at a friend's house and drinking, he decides to be gracious to his family and allow them to believe what they want, even if he disagrees. I'm okay with that, but I had too many questions at the end of this book:
1. Did Aaron ever explain to his family that he doesn't believe what they do, and how did they react when he did?
2. Did he come out to them? At the end of the book he's sort-of figured out that he's gay, but nothing comes of it.
3. Did he go to Bible college as his parents wanted him to?
4. How is his relationship with his family now?
5. What does he believe now? Does he still identify as Christian, or is he identifying with another faith, or does he consider himself to be not religious?
This book was a great first half of the story. The portrayal of the fundamentalist family and school was quite accurate, although I was surprised they weren't at church more than he mentioned (I didn't read any instances of revival services or missions conferences). I could only give the book four stars, though, since I didn't have my questions answered - those questions were what I was hoping to read in the last portion of the book. This book would be good for people who want a picture of the Christian fundamentalist movement, but not so much for those who have been in it and want to see how someone else escaped, or for those who want more information on the gays vs. Christians debate, since that's barely mentioned in this book.
I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. I started reading it on my break at work and picked it up again as soon as I got home. The stories Aaron tells are so similar to what I experienced that I was interested to see how he escaped and how his family reacted.
But when Aaron gets in trouble at the end of his senior year for going to a party at a friend's house and drinking, he decides to be gracious to his family and allow them to believe what they want, even if he disagrees. I'm okay with that, but I had too many questions at the end of this book:
1. Did Aaron ever explain to his family that he doesn't believe what they do, and how did they react when he did?
2. Did he come out to them? At the end of the book he's sort-of figured out that he's gay, but nothing comes of it.
3. Did he go to Bible college as his parents wanted him to?
4. How is his relationship with his family now?
5. What does he believe now? Does he still identify as Christian, or is he identifying with another faith, or does he consider himself to be not religious?
This book was a great first half of the story. The portrayal of the fundamentalist family and school was quite accurate, although I was surprised they weren't at church more than he mentioned (I didn't read any instances of revival services or missions conferences). I could only give the book four stars, though, since I didn't have my questions answered - those questions were what I was hoping to read in the last portion of the book. This book would be good for people who want a picture of the Christian fundamentalist movement, but not so much for those who have been in it and want to see how someone else escaped, or for those who want more information on the gays vs. Christians debate, since that's barely mentioned in this book.
July 3, 2014
The memoir of growing up in a strict Baptist household. Hartzler conveys the terror of Hell and breaking the rules that his parents/church/school/camp taught, but he also gives us scenes of joy and family togetherness. It's a more nuanced description than I think most people would be able to give.
I didn't love this--there isn't much of a driving force to this book, and Hartzler isn't much of a writer. But he describes his changing mindset and the evangelical context well.
I didn't love this--there isn't much of a driving force to this book, and Hartzler isn't much of a writer. But he describes his changing mindset and the evangelical context well.
July 30, 2020
A lovely YA memoir about growing up fundamentalist and coming to doubt while still loving your family and friends. Hartzler is Gay, and I am sure that fact was a part of what led him to question, but this is not a coming out story. It is both broader and more unique than that. Hartzler is charming and funny, and this reads like a chat with a friend who is a fine raconteur. The prose is not elegant, but it's an enjoyable read.
March 19, 2016
I am definitely the wrong audience for this book, but I still liked it. I liked what Hartzler did with it, and I liked how he pitched it directly to his audience; there are passages that read to me like a whistle only his target audience can hear. And, let me repeat, that target audience does not include me. I think the ideal reader for this book is a teenager from a very Christian family, someone who is struggling with faith and family that feels like a straitjacket.
Since I am actually a middle-aged Jewish lesbian parent mostly struggling with getting enough sleep *and* still getting everything else done, I was genuinely shocked by some aspects of this book -- like, as a single example, that the parents who gave their 16-year-old son a purity ring for his birthday met when one of them was a high school teacher and the other was a high school student. (After I read that bit, I irritably texted a friend about maybe at least remembering about the beam in your own eye before obsessing about the speck in your son's.)
But mostly I was impressed. Hartzler makes it very clear that his parents loved him deeply and sincerely, even though they fucked up, as all parents do. (Where those particular parents fucked up was assuming that they could protect their children by simply making every single decision for them, and by believing that the person their child was didn't matter. Parent the kid you've got, fellow parents!) And he makes it clear that in the end, he did have the power to make his own decisions. No one in here is a cartoon villain or a hero; just, you know, people, being people, trying to do stuff, making mistakes. I liked that.
Most of all, I really, really liked that this is a growing-up-queer memoir that doesn't center sex and coming out as the critical experiences of, well, growing up queer. Straight people tend to expect that, tend to expect a comfortable narrative where there is DOUBT and then STRUGGLE and then KISSING and then TELLING EVERYONE (always the most important step, to straight people) and then BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY EVER AFTER. This book avoids that trap. I appreciate that. It's messier and realer than the Traditional Gay Teen Narrative. I'd love it if there were a thousand more books like this, messy and honest, and I think the world would be a better place for it.
So, overall: I liked this. It was hard to read in places -- there's not just embarrassment but actualfax public humiliation -- but worth the pain. (Though I admit I skimmed the public humiliation, because no.)
Since I am actually a middle-aged Jewish lesbian parent mostly struggling with getting enough sleep *and* still getting everything else done, I was genuinely shocked by some aspects of this book -- like, as a single example, that the parents who gave their 16-year-old son a purity ring for his birthday met when one of them was a high school teacher and the other was a high school student. (After I read that bit, I irritably texted a friend about maybe at least remembering about the beam in your own eye before obsessing about the speck in your son's.)
But mostly I was impressed. Hartzler makes it very clear that his parents loved him deeply and sincerely, even though they fucked up, as all parents do. (Where those particular parents fucked up was assuming that they could protect their children by simply making every single decision for them, and by believing that the person their child was didn't matter. Parent the kid you've got, fellow parents!) And he makes it clear that in the end, he did have the power to make his own decisions. No one in here is a cartoon villain or a hero; just, you know, people, being people, trying to do stuff, making mistakes. I liked that.
Most of all, I really, really liked that this is a growing-up-queer memoir that doesn't center sex and coming out as the critical experiences of, well, growing up queer. Straight people tend to expect that, tend to expect a comfortable narrative where there is DOUBT and then STRUGGLE and then KISSING and then TELLING EVERYONE (always the most important step, to straight people) and then BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY EVER AFTER. This book avoids that trap. I appreciate that. It's messier and realer than the Traditional Gay Teen Narrative. I'd love it if there were a thousand more books like this, messy and honest, and I think the world would be a better place for it.
So, overall: I liked this. It was hard to read in places -- there's not just embarrassment but actualfax public humiliation -- but worth the pain. (Though I admit I skimmed the public humiliation, because no.)
April 5, 2016
"We may disagree about where the truth lies,but somewhere in the midst of the questions, if we fight for each other instead of against each other, our love will bring us here to a quiet place of transcendent beauty, to a simple moment of elegance-a moment I now understand has a name: Grace. I can't find the words to share this with my dad. I'm not sure how to tell him to all these things inside my heart. I don't know if he'll ever understand them the way I do."
This quote is more like a memoir of my own life, I can deeply emphasize with Aaron. Growing up in a religious household, I too was worried about the Rapture. I kept thinking that Jesus was going to catch me doing some sinful thing, then I would miss the entire thing together. I was worried that If I watched that Rated R movie, then Jesus was coming after me. If I read that graphic novel, then Jesus would warn me of the dangers to come of not reading the Bible. So many things I abandoned now that I have a clear understanding of his Grace and His redemptive power. Aaron stories about the rapture were comical and sad.
There were many highlights in this book, but the one thing that stood out was the movies. While his grandfather could watch 'unholy' things on the television, he could not. Rather he was discouraged to go to the movies cause Jesus can come back any minute. Now that I think about all the things he endured, it was laughable. Not in an insulting way, rather a disbelieving way; Jesus is all about living in freedom and not being tangled down with the chains of religion.
I admire Aaron for his courage and tenacious spirit to write a memoir about his perspective regarding the Rapture.
As implied, he does not have all the answers, but at least he is out there searching!
This quote is more like a memoir of my own life, I can deeply emphasize with Aaron. Growing up in a religious household, I too was worried about the Rapture. I kept thinking that Jesus was going to catch me doing some sinful thing, then I would miss the entire thing together. I was worried that If I watched that Rated R movie, then Jesus was coming after me. If I read that graphic novel, then Jesus would warn me of the dangers to come of not reading the Bible. So many things I abandoned now that I have a clear understanding of his Grace and His redemptive power. Aaron stories about the rapture were comical and sad.
There were many highlights in this book, but the one thing that stood out was the movies. While his grandfather could watch 'unholy' things on the television, he could not. Rather he was discouraged to go to the movies cause Jesus can come back any minute. Now that I think about all the things he endured, it was laughable. Not in an insulting way, rather a disbelieving way; Jesus is all about living in freedom and not being tangled down with the chains of religion.
I admire Aaron for his courage and tenacious spirit to write a memoir about his perspective regarding the Rapture.
As implied, he does not have all the answers, but at least he is out there searching!
August 11, 2020
I have many many thoughts about this book. Having grown up with an evangelical mom, I identified with a lot of it - mainly the feeling like I had to hide who I was and what I liked because I knew my religious family would be disappointed in me. It was such a specific experience for me that to see it articulated and reflected back at me was truly jarring. I differ from the author in many ways though - I didn't rebel as much as he did in high school, I didn't realize I wasn't straight until I left my hometown entirely, and perhaps the most influential difference: my parents were not as devoted to finding out my business. Those differences gave me a little distance from the book, and the ability to critique it a bit.
Here's the thing: evangelism is not a religion as much as it is a power structure. It's very comforting to have a set chain of command (God > husband > wife > child), with unwavering belief in an inflexible rulebook. I was disappointed that Hartzler never seems to question his own role in this power structure, or the ways in which it benefited him. How, for instance, did it effect his sister? Maybe he doesn't have permission to tell her side of the story, but it would have been nice to at least see some acknowledgment of that. It was also strange to see the leap directly to "drinking and partying is my IDENTITY and COMMUNITY" with no reflection on that. Also there's a fun little sprinkle of unabashed fatphobia throughout so that was an unpleasant surprise. So those critiques are why I only gave this book 3 stars, but I really did identify with Hartzler's story a lot, and reading this book was like a group therapy session at points. If you grew up with really strict evangelical parents who wouldn't let you watch Scooby Doo, I highly recommend this book!
Here's the thing: evangelism is not a religion as much as it is a power structure. It's very comforting to have a set chain of command (God > husband > wife > child), with unwavering belief in an inflexible rulebook. I was disappointed that Hartzler never seems to question his own role in this power structure, or the ways in which it benefited him. How, for instance, did it effect his sister? Maybe he doesn't have permission to tell her side of the story, but it would have been nice to at least see some acknowledgment of that. It was also strange to see the leap directly to "drinking and partying is my IDENTITY and COMMUNITY" with no reflection on that. Also there's a fun little sprinkle of unabashed fatphobia throughout so that was an unpleasant surprise. So those critiques are why I only gave this book 3 stars, but I really did identify with Hartzler's story a lot, and reading this book was like a group therapy session at points. If you grew up with really strict evangelical parents who wouldn't let you watch Scooby Doo, I highly recommend this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2015
There's no question that this tale is a compelling one. A young man grows up in a devoutly religious home and as he reaches his teenage years he begins to grapple with his understanding of the world and what is right for his soul. Not to mention the slow discovery of truth about his sexuality. There were so many good/difficult moments in the book - many of which were very close to home, for me.
However, it tended to run on, a bit, which caused me to "like" the book, but not love it. My random guess is that as one goes through these experiences, each one feels extremely eye-opening and important to your personal understanding of the world. So when writing a memoir, it might be hard to pare down to the more important moments for a better narrative flow. (I suppose that I could understand the choice of leaving all these details in on the grounds that it gives the true back and forth feelings one has when struggling with faith - fluctuating between wanting to be true to yourself and wanting to do "Gods work." If you're brainwashed to believe something, it can take a long time to discover what you truly believe).
Maybe it felt too long to me because I've already been there? Who knows. But if you've ever wondered what it's like for children growing up in a deeply religious (Baptist/Christian) home, this is a great place to learn.
However, it tended to run on, a bit, which caused me to "like" the book, but not love it. My random guess is that as one goes through these experiences, each one feels extremely eye-opening and important to your personal understanding of the world. So when writing a memoir, it might be hard to pare down to the more important moments for a better narrative flow. (I suppose that I could understand the choice of leaving all these details in on the grounds that it gives the true back and forth feelings one has when struggling with faith - fluctuating between wanting to be true to yourself and wanting to do "Gods work." If you're brainwashed to believe something, it can take a long time to discover what you truly believe).
Maybe it felt too long to me because I've already been there? Who knows. But if you've ever wondered what it's like for children growing up in a deeply religious (Baptist/Christian) home, this is a great place to learn.
September 29, 2014
First of all, this book is about Aaron's life growing up in an evangelical family - it is not about his being gay. I think that the part about being gay - which the author is - was added to the title in order to sell books. However, the book is mainly about the author's childhood and teen years in a repressive (which for Evangelicals would be considered normal) Evangelical family. Aaron was not allowed to watch tv or drink or listen to popular music or go to movies or do anything that might not make Jesus happy. It sounds like, in many ways, his family was very loving and there were many positive aspects to his childhood although his father was a bit overboard in his disciplining techniques. The story is well told and very interesting. I liked it a lot and would have given it a 5 star rating, but I really feel that using the word gay in the title is misleading. That part of Aaron's life was barely, almost not even touched on and is not important enough to the book to warrant including it in the title. The author does say that he plans to write another book about his coming out and that book should certainly include the word gay in the title, but this book is not about that at all.
October 29, 2012
Adored an advanced copy of this book. Turned nearly everything I thought I knew (and had decided) about organized religion upside down and back again. Written in the very best tradition of "truth is stranger than fiction," RAPTURE PRACTICE make you look at family and faith with new, sometimes watery, eyes.
April 30, 2013
I really loved this book. This is a YA memoir about a boy growing up in a deeply religious household, who struggles to find his own identity and connection to faith as he begins to realize that he does not believe everything his beloved parents believe. It is entertaining, funny, powerful, infuriating and moving all at once. I'm ready for the sequel, Aaron Hartzler!
April 13, 2013
This book is a revelation for me. I mean, I saw myself in these pages, I relived parts of my own childhood between these lines. So much of it was familiar to me to such a high degree that I would cringe, or smile, as the memories rose up all around me. I couldn't help but compare my life to Aaron's, my family to his, because I can't escape the feeling that I've lived this life. Not exactly, sure, but he gave words to emotions and experiences I don't know if I could have ever described. And the impact I felt was so strong, the connection I made with this text was so real, I told people: if you ever want to know the CORE of my being, where I come from, and what made me, read this book.
I am convinced the majority of conservative Christian public will not like this book much. For them, this book will read like a story of rebellion, a willing fall from grace, a continual practice of sin.
For me, this was a story of comfort: finally, someone will talk about it. And now I know that there are others like me out there. I couldn't put it down; I couldn't stop reading. I can't remember the last time I devoured a book in 2 days. (Maybe Mockingjay?)
Aaron Hartzler is the son of a preacher. He grew up in a (much) stricter home than I did, but many of the experiences I had were similar--my household had a ban on secular music, but I was generally allowed to go to movies; my parents felt that my talents are to be used (probably exclusively) for the glory of God and the work of being a missionary. As a consequence, this meant writing fiction, particularly contemporary romance as it existed in 90's and today -- which is my dream, just as Aaron's dream was to act, and not just in "biblical dramas" -- would be a big NO-NO, as my mother called it "pornography in print." But still, I relate to his experience. Especially to the discipline, at times harsh, but always intended to be loving, and to the constant stream of Scripture that flowed from the mouths of both his parents and mine. There are other theological differences between our upbringings, but on the whole, there was nothing too far-fetched/absurd/beyond the scope of imagination in this book that I had difficulty comprehending (which I think some might simply just write off as "crazy".)
Aaron's experience, even to me, is extreme. I think he handled the entire tale with love, care, and respect, and the memoir is beautifully, achingly written from the point of view of a teenager coming to a crossroads. It is a coming-of-age story, and a spiritual journey in a sense--the story of a boy who finds oneself amid the many things we were taught to believe and the heavy expectations placed upon him by his ultra-conservative Christian parents. He struggles with the conflicting emotions of wanting to please his parents and wanting to be his own man. And the tension that builds steadily due to the delicate balancing act of trying to reconcile the two people he feels he needs to be is layered well throughout the book. Kudos to Aaron for having the courage to tell it.
I feel like I understand myself more after reading this book. I know it wasn't self-help and it wasn't meant to be therapeutic for me, but in a way it was. I found myself seeking out answers about how he reconciled the two parts of himself, but that wasn't really what this book was about. It was mostly about becoming one's own person, a journey I can appreciate.
I look forward to any sequels!
I am convinced the majority of conservative Christian public will not like this book much. For them, this book will read like a story of rebellion, a willing fall from grace, a continual practice of sin.
For me, this was a story of comfort: finally, someone will talk about it. And now I know that there are others like me out there. I couldn't put it down; I couldn't stop reading. I can't remember the last time I devoured a book in 2 days. (Maybe Mockingjay?)
Aaron Hartzler is the son of a preacher. He grew up in a (much) stricter home than I did, but many of the experiences I had were similar--my household had a ban on secular music, but I was generally allowed to go to movies; my parents felt that my talents are to be used (probably exclusively) for the glory of God and the work of being a missionary. As a consequence, this meant writing fiction, particularly contemporary romance as it existed in 90's and today -- which is my dream, just as Aaron's dream was to act, and not just in "biblical dramas" -- would be a big NO-NO, as my mother called it "pornography in print." But still, I relate to his experience. Especially to the discipline, at times harsh, but always intended to be loving, and to the constant stream of Scripture that flowed from the mouths of both his parents and mine. There are other theological differences between our upbringings, but on the whole, there was nothing too far-fetched/absurd/beyond the scope of imagination in this book that I had difficulty comprehending (which I think some might simply just write off as "crazy".)
Aaron's experience, even to me, is extreme. I think he handled the entire tale with love, care, and respect, and the memoir is beautifully, achingly written from the point of view of a teenager coming to a crossroads. It is a coming-of-age story, and a spiritual journey in a sense--the story of a boy who finds oneself amid the many things we were taught to believe and the heavy expectations placed upon him by his ultra-conservative Christian parents. He struggles with the conflicting emotions of wanting to please his parents and wanting to be his own man. And the tension that builds steadily due to the delicate balancing act of trying to reconcile the two people he feels he needs to be is layered well throughout the book. Kudos to Aaron for having the courage to tell it.
I feel like I understand myself more after reading this book. I know it wasn't self-help and it wasn't meant to be therapeutic for me, but in a way it was. I found myself seeking out answers about how he reconciled the two parts of himself, but that wasn't really what this book was about. It was mostly about becoming one's own person, a journey I can appreciate.
I look forward to any sequels!
April 20, 2013
Aaron Hartzler grew up in an extremely conservative Christian family that did not have a tv, go to movies or listen to music. Even contemporary Christian rock because "you can't mix God's words with the Devil's beat." However, as he gets older he begins to question these beliefs. He begins to love rock music because it makes him feel happy and he can't understand how that can be a sin. Aaron participates in church services, teaches Good News children's group, acts in his Christian private school elaborately staged dramas all the while questioning the logic of his parents' strongest held beliefs, but ultimately finding his own way to peace and understanding with his family. All this is presented in a humorous (I can't count how many times I laughed out loud.) and sincere way to become one of the best memoir of "finding religion" that I have ever read.
I also grew up in a religious Christian family and though my parents, thankfully, weren't so strict, I have often come into contact with people who believe in the ways of Aaron's parents and school administration. I could so identify with Aaron because his reaction to so much of what he saw in his life was my reaction. I often felt I was reading a more articulate version of my experience. The book is extremely well for someone who doesn't have a background in writing (He's an actor and musician), but he manages to express so much of what I felt as a teenager in an engaging and intelligent way. I had and to this day, have many of the same questions that Aaron grappled with: if God knows every decision we will make before we are born, then why give us free will, if Jesus turned water to wine, then why is it not allowed to drink a glass of wine, how can a serial killer who asks for salvation days before execution make it into heaven while a good person in the jungles of Africa who didn't have the luck to hear about the Gospel won't make it into heaven to name a few. Aaron didn't really have anyone to whom he could turn to ask questions. Aaron, today an out homosexual as far as I have been able to understand in the book's press, grapples with sexual identity, although that is more or less only hinted at in this book. I get the feeling that that will be the subject of a sequel to this book. I would be very interested in reading this story and how his family accepted this.
I would recommend this book to teens and adults alike, religious and non-religious because it is such a well written journey of faith. Even though Aaron ultimately rejects his parents' version of Christianity, he is never bitter or derisive.
I also grew up in a religious Christian family and though my parents, thankfully, weren't so strict, I have often come into contact with people who believe in the ways of Aaron's parents and school administration. I could so identify with Aaron because his reaction to so much of what he saw in his life was my reaction. I often felt I was reading a more articulate version of my experience. The book is extremely well for someone who doesn't have a background in writing (He's an actor and musician), but he manages to express so much of what I felt as a teenager in an engaging and intelligent way. I had and to this day, have many of the same questions that Aaron grappled with: if God knows every decision we will make before we are born, then why give us free will, if Jesus turned water to wine, then why is it not allowed to drink a glass of wine, how can a serial killer who asks for salvation days before execution make it into heaven while a good person in the jungles of Africa who didn't have the luck to hear about the Gospel won't make it into heaven to name a few. Aaron didn't really have anyone to whom he could turn to ask questions. Aaron, today an out homosexual as far as I have been able to understand in the book's press, grapples with sexual identity, although that is more or less only hinted at in this book. I get the feeling that that will be the subject of a sequel to this book. I would be very interested in reading this story and how his family accepted this.
I would recommend this book to teens and adults alike, religious and non-religious because it is such a well written journey of faith. Even though Aaron ultimately rejects his parents' version of Christianity, he is never bitter or derisive.
October 10, 2014
This was something of a ride, and not in an emotional sense. I have never seen a more jumbled collection of chapters with little to no transition packed together and called a book. Each chapter would end in a sort of cliff hanger and then the next one would start months, or even years from the event that was discussed in the last leaving it feeling disjointed and a tad confusing. However, despite the terrible formatting the story itself was very compelling and more than a little relatable for anyone who has grown up in a religious household. (Aroan's questions about how valid his parent's beliefs were, and his slow journey to create his own idea of faith was something that I understood very well.) However, my family was no where near as zealous as Aaron's family and so his story reads with an equal parts heart and horror. One thing I really did like about the story, is I thought that it would end with him leaving full of bitterness and hatred toward the family who had confined him to such degrees but it ended up the exact opposite. The final message of the story was loving your family even if you can't agree with what they believe in and accepting people for who they are. (Which also brings up something that did bother me, this book is advertised about Aaron's journey of coming to terms with his homosexuality which had little to nothing to do with the actual plot of the book which is about personal journey and struggling to accept an imperfect family. I know why they advertised it as such, but strikes as pandering to your audience by knowing what words and themes make people purchase book.)
All in all It wasn't a perfect book, but it was an enjoyable read. 3 stars.
All in all It wasn't a perfect book, but it was an enjoyable read. 3 stars.
April 1, 2013
Blogged this here
Rapture Practice is a YA memoir about the author's struggles as a teenager to find his place in his conservative religious family.
This is an absolutely stunning book. Every page is so vivid and realistic, it's almost like the author actually had his teenaged self write this book. Even though I am not white, male, Christian, or gay, (and let's face it, I'm definitely not a teenager anymore) I found this book so heartfelt, engaging, and most of all relatable. I have no idea how the author found the strength to pour himself onto the page like this, but I'm so glad he did.
Wow.
What writers can take away from this book:
--writing emotional, intensely personal scenes
--writing a book that's a little light on plot and still having it be incredibly compelling (I could not put down this book, yet I couldn't tell you what the plot was exactly.)
--writing awkward teenage romance without it being awkward for the reader
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the e-book directly from the author's agency.
Rapture Practice is a YA memoir about the author's struggles as a teenager to find his place in his conservative religious family.
This is an absolutely stunning book. Every page is so vivid and realistic, it's almost like the author actually had his teenaged self write this book. Even though I am not white, male, Christian, or gay, (and let's face it, I'm definitely not a teenager anymore) I found this book so heartfelt, engaging, and most of all relatable. I have no idea how the author found the strength to pour himself onto the page like this, but I'm so glad he did.
Wow.
What writers can take away from this book:
--writing emotional, intensely personal scenes
--writing a book that's a little light on plot and still having it be incredibly compelling (I could not put down this book, yet I couldn't tell you what the plot was exactly.)
--writing awkward teenage romance without it being awkward for the reader
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the e-book directly from the author's agency.
September 21, 2014
To be completely honest, I may buy 100 copies of this book and hand them out on the street. Everyone needs to read Rapture Practice because no matter what you believe or who are are, this book will speak to you on a level that I can't even fathom.
I'm going to purchase my own copy as soon as possible, and I've already suggested it to my aunt. This book is so special; it is unlike anything else. It truly deserves 10 stars, 50, 100; all the stars in space is what this book deserves. I have never read anything like it, and I don't believe I'll ever read anything like it again. It's truly unique and heartwarming and heartbreaking and eye-opening, and it hurts my soul that some kids have to go through this and don't come out unscathed.
Most of the time I forgot I was reading a memoir; I got to the last page and I wanted more.
This book doesn't require an unwavering faith or strong disbelief in religion. Those who have been jaded by life will find a renewed sense of hope, and I thank Aaron Hartzler for surviving his childhood and sharing it with those who are fortunate to listen.
I'm going to purchase my own copy as soon as possible, and I've already suggested it to my aunt. This book is so special; it is unlike anything else. It truly deserves 10 stars, 50, 100; all the stars in space is what this book deserves. I have never read anything like it, and I don't believe I'll ever read anything like it again. It's truly unique and heartwarming and heartbreaking and eye-opening, and it hurts my soul that some kids have to go through this and don't come out unscathed.
Most of the time I forgot I was reading a memoir; I got to the last page and I wanted more.
This book doesn't require an unwavering faith or strong disbelief in religion. Those who have been jaded by life will find a renewed sense of hope, and I thank Aaron Hartzler for surviving his childhood and sharing it with those who are fortunate to listen.
December 31, 2014
Aaron Hartzler created an exceptional memoir. He wrote with a child's innocence, honesty, depth of feelings and questions. I felt like I was transported into Hartzler's childhood living room/kitchen/church/high school. I learned about a way of life I had not been personally familiar with. The insight and understanding was invaluable. I was impressed by the author's enduring love for his parents, even though they couldn't find a way to accept him. This is more than a memoir about growing up gay in an evangelical family. It's a memoir about growing up. Period. It's a memoir about figuring out who you and and what you're passionate about (acting, music, etc.), even if those things aren't what you're "supposed" to feel or like. It's a memoir about writing your own life story without letting anyone else have control of the pen. Highly recommended!
January 15, 2016
If you grew up dividing Amy Grant's music into before and after the fall or attending Bible camp in the summer or listening to James Dobson, you'll appreciate Rapture Practice. So much of Aaron Hartzler's experience growing up was like my own. It felt warm. It felt like family.
It also felt like there should have been a trigger warning on the cover. The questions he voices are ones that rocked me, too, from a theological standpoint. The powerless he feels probably resonates for anyone who can remember being an adolescent.
I appreciate the wide angle Hartzler uses to frame his story. He doesn't doubt his parents' love even though his views are different from theirs. He doesn't paint them as foolish or silly or as anything other than two people who want what's best for their son.
It also felt like there should have been a trigger warning on the cover. The questions he voices are ones that rocked me, too, from a theological standpoint. The powerless he feels probably resonates for anyone who can remember being an adolescent.
I appreciate the wide angle Hartzler uses to frame his story. He doesn't doubt his parents' love even though his views are different from theirs. He doesn't paint them as foolish or silly or as anything other than two people who want what's best for their son.
October 11, 2012
The most piercing line in Aaron Hartzler's harrowing and funny memoir comes at the beginning of chapter one: "I am four years old, and Dad is teaching me to play dead." This is a lesson that Hartzler's dad, a Bible college teacher, will unconsciously reinforce for years and years with nearly disastrous consequences because the only way that a conscientious child can respond to rules that go against his nature is to break them and play dead. I recommend this extraordinarily compassionate book to anyone who has ever wanted to please a parent or be one.
August 7, 2015
I am not quite sure why the relationship that other people have with religion fascinates me so much – but I am positive that Hartlzer’s memoir, Rapture Practice: A True Story About Growing Up Gay In An Evangelical Family delivered exactly what I wanted! Read the rest of my review here
March 26, 2014
I fell in love with this memoir. It was written with heart and humor. I felt like I lived all Aaron's experiences in this book. His story was told in such an honest way that I don't experience often. I highly recommend this book.
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