Comments on: Traveling Mercies / Begging The Question http://blog.gw-1.com/2009/02/03/traveling-mercies-begging-the-question/ Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:24:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: gw http://blog.gw-1.com/2009/02/03/traveling-mercies-begging-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-1699 gw Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:25:32 +0000 http://blog.gw-1.com/?p=89#comment-1699 Now that was funny (and hard to argue with.) It all comes down to that old fact that "the making of many books will never end." Time is short, books are many, and when I feel that my time has been compromised by a book in need of a good editor I feel a little bitter. But that's just me being self-centered: Art for art's sake is where it's at. And to hit a home run, you've got to swing the bat a few times. God bless the batter. May God bless me if I ever get to step up to the plate. (I really hate sports analogies.) Now that was funny (and hard to argue with.) It all comes down to that old fact that “the making of many books will never end.” Time is short, books are many, and when I feel that my time has been compromised by a book in need of a good editor I feel a little bitter. But that’s just me being self-centered: Art for art’s sake is where it’s at. And to hit a home run, you’ve got to swing the bat a few times. God bless the batter. May God bless me if I ever get to step up to the plate.

(I really hate sports analogies.)

]]> By: megan http://blog.gw-1.com/2009/02/03/traveling-mercies-begging-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-1696 megan Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:32:53 +0000 http://blog.gw-1.com/?p=89#comment-1696 I was looking at some amazon.com reviews for this book to help refresh my memory, and I found one 3-star review by user "teknon" to be right on. Following is the conclusion of his review: I think it's fair to say that pretty much everyone will find something to relate to in Lamott's recollections, and few are better than she is at the craft of writing. But if you're looking for wry stories of domestic crises, read Erma Bombeck instead; she's funnier. If you want a spiritual autobiography, try David Brainerd or Julian of Norwich; they're theologically meatier. If your quest is a tale of life's adversity overcome imperfectly, I'd recommend C.S. Lewis' A Grief Observed. But if you want somewhat witty autobiographical essays by a neurotic left-coaster whose theology seems to have come straight out of a blender, look no further than Traveling Mercies. I was looking at some amazon.com reviews for this book to help refresh my memory, and I found one 3-star review by user “teknon” to be right on. Following is the conclusion of his review:

I think it’s fair to say that pretty much everyone will find something to relate to in Lamott’s recollections, and few are better than she is at the craft of writing. But if you’re looking for wry stories of domestic crises, read Erma Bombeck instead; she’s funnier. If you want a spiritual autobiography, try David Brainerd or Julian of Norwich; they’re theologically meatier. If your quest is a tale of life’s adversity overcome imperfectly, I’d recommend C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed. But if you want somewhat witty autobiographical essays by a neurotic left-coaster whose theology seems to have come straight out of a blender, look no further than Traveling Mercies.

]]> By: gw http://blog.gw-1.com/2009/02/03/traveling-mercies-begging-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-1682 gw Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:54:26 +0000 http://blog.gw-1.com/?p=89#comment-1682 Highly edifying indeed! Although most of my lady friends really disagree with me on this one, and I've have to retract some of my opinions as being the product of my testosterone-driven emotions instead of clear and precise literary thinking. If this one would have come up at my little non-Liberal Arts College, I'm sure it would have been laughed out of the classroom. Way out. I might give "Bird by Bird" a try though -- I've heard it's better and more concrete while being less ambitious. We'll see...! Highly edifying indeed! Although most of my lady friends really disagree with me on this one, and I’ve have to retract some of my opinions as being the product of my testosterone-driven emotions instead of clear and precise literary thinking.

If this one would have come up at my little non-Liberal Arts College, I’m sure it would have been laughed out of the classroom. Way out.

I might give “Bird by Bird” a try though — I’ve heard it’s better and more concrete while being less ambitious. We’ll see…!

]]> By: megan http://blog.gw-1.com/2009/02/03/traveling-mercies-begging-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-1681 megan Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:15:08 +0000 http://blog.gw-1.com/?p=89#comment-1681 This book was assigned reading for a "women in Christianity" (or something like that) class I took back in college. And I don't remember much about it except that it left a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I just didn't like it. And the way the class as a whole was taught kinda made women's studies seem like a bunch of hogwash...I don't know if that has anything to do with this book, but I just thought I'd chime in my semi-agreement about the less-than-stellarness of this book. Now, wasn't that edifying? (erm...nevermind) This book was assigned reading for a “women in Christianity” (or something like that) class I took back in college. And I don’t remember much about it except that it left a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I just didn’t like it. And the way the class as a whole was taught kinda made women’s studies seem like a bunch of hogwash…I don’t know if that has anything to do with this book, but I just thought I’d chime in my semi-agreement about the less-than-stellarness of this book. Now, wasn’t that edifying? (erm…nevermind)

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