christianity

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

By Anne Lamott
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Becky C.
Apr 28, 2014

I recently missed a carpool, and instead, drove alone. But I never felt alone. Plan B included listening to Anne Lamott's Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. And she is an excellent traveling companion. Lamott, full of faith and humor hooked me in with her crazy, grace-filled life and I couldn't stop listening. It's a bummer that I missed socializing with my group. But, driving with Anne Lamott narrating Plan B made the trip worthwhile.

Lamott is at her best when she weaves witty stories of her progressive Christian faith with her family dysfunction. Especially the stories focusing on the

May 31, 2011

As a non-Christian reader, I found Isaacs’s memoir more whiney than snarky. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy some aspects of the book. But I found myself wondering why Isaacs repeatedly makes bone-headed personal and professional choices based on what she thinks God wants her to do. And then claims to have been “torched by God”.

 I was especially put off by Isaacs’s therapy sessions, where she engages in couples counseling in order to divorce God. Her counselor makes her imagine what God and Jesus say in their defense to all her whining. I mean snark. Again, why is she trying to second

Oct 21, 2010

scl.jpgI stumbled upon this essay by Jonathan Acuff on CNN.com one day, which lead me to his blog, which lead me to his book Stuff Christians Like. I’m not a Christian, so why did I like this book so much? I think there are three reasons: it’s full of satire, subcultures, and kindness, three of my favorite things. Acuff might have intended his book to be a way for Christians to poke fun of their idiosyncrasies with inside jokes. But being a non-Christian, I never felt left out of the joke. It’s as if a really cool friend asked me to join him at his really awesome church, held my hand the whole

Mar 6, 2010

index1.gifJoni Eareckson Tada broke her neck in a diving accident in 1967 and has been a quadraplegic for over forty years. She could have wallowed in misery and grief, but instead she chose to live her life in a different way. Her joy shines through this book as she describes the wisdom that she has gained through God's hand in various life circumstances. Her relationship with God is her key focus and joy radiates from her. She speaks internationally and has written several books including her autobiography, Joni. One of her greatest accomplishments is the Joni and Friends non-profit organization

The Hole We’re In by Gabrielle Zevin


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Feb 25, 2010

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The decisions we make to pursue or maintain an image affect our entire lives, and the lives of our children. Sure, it's a quick way to describe Zevin's new book but the devil sure is in the details... in the late 90s, Pomeroy family scion Roger leaves a comfortable school admin position to go back to college, where he swiftly loses his appetite for learning and begins an affair with his major professor. Wife Georgia is stricken by oldest daughter Helen's demands for a lavish wedding, mounting credit card debt, and the temptation to open yet another account using her oldest son's good record

Feb 2, 2010

It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life by Denise J. JacksonC.S. Lewis move over! Here comes Denise Jackson. Reminiscent of the Oxford doyen's Surprised by Joy, Jackson's faith biography comes to us in the tenor of a Southern blonde belle. Her unabashed naked soul shakes the reader to the core. As a graying librarian I've learned to listen carefully to my patrons. One day a mousey female in her late 20's approached saying, "I want the book, It's All About Him. You know --the book by the wife of Alan Jackson, the country-western music star." When she said his name, her lowered face raised to shine into mine. Some people think librarians know everything