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serenam's review against another edition
4.0
While it's not quite up to par with The Cloister Walk, I still very much enjoyed reading Amazing Grace. At first, I was frustrated with the lack of definitions in this book. It is, for the most part, assumed that the reader already has a basic understanding of what each word means, as in true poet form, Norris often comprised a chapter wholly of what came to mind in reaction to the word she was reflecting on.
But once I realized that Amazing Grace is just that, a compilation of reactions to words, and not a glorified dictionary, I was better able to settle in and enjoy Norris' unique and engaging writing style. Sometimes she did throw in a definition where she deemed necessary, and other times I could work it out myself by the end of the chapter. Sometimes I still had no idea, but extracted a lesson from the pages anyway.
This is a book to savor out on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea in the warm summer months (although I suppose hot tea and a cozy chair will do in the winter!).
*This review was originally posted on poetree.
But once I realized that Amazing Grace is just that, a compilation of reactions to words, and not a glorified dictionary, I was better able to settle in and enjoy Norris' unique and engaging writing style. Sometimes she did throw in a definition where she deemed necessary, and other times I could work it out myself by the end of the chapter. Sometimes I still had no idea, but extracted a lesson from the pages anyway.
This is a book to savor out on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea in the warm summer months (although I suppose hot tea and a cozy chair will do in the winter!).
*This review was originally posted on poetree.
cocoonofbooks's review
4.0
I can be a bit skittish around Christian books, but this one was recommended long ago by Rachel Held Evans and so I figured I could trust it. With short chapters each framed around a particular "Christian" word ("repentance", "idolatry", "chosen", "orthodoxy", etc.), Norris shares her own personal experiences interspersed with references to and quotations from historical theologians, scholars, and monastics in the Christian church. I felt a connection with her amalgamated faith — she left the church for a long time, and then found herself as both a member of a rural Presbyterian church and a frequent guest at a Benedictine abbey. So she holds a respect for the Catholic faith and its traditions without being a spokesperson for the Church, and she appreciates both the importance of a church community where lay people frequently preach and the power of liturgy, ritual, and religious commitment.
The book was published in 1999, and although Norris is progressive for a Christian at that time, she does occasionally come across as a bit old-fashioned and mocking of modern ideas (like the idea of inclusive language). Because she's 73 now — although she was only 52 when this was published — I tended to picture her like a liberal grandma, the one who will tell you enthusiastically about all the "homosexuals" she was friends with in the 70s. She's relatable, but she's no [a:Nadia Bolz-Weber|1685874|Nadia Bolz-Weber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1384453647p2/1685874.jpg].
My only other nitpick of the book is that Norris (or her editor) seems to have had it in mind that these chapters could be read independently, rather than the book always being read front to back, which means that Norris frequently re-explains parts of her life as if it's the first time she's referencing them. Which I suppose is great if you want to share one of chapters out of context with your religion class, but a little annoying if you're reading it straight through.
This was a nice book for revisiting some Christian concepts in a non-threatening way. Norris is a poet by trade, and although she frequently references dictionary definitions and Scripture passages for the words that comprise the book's chapters, she also tells stories and plays with language and imagines words in new (or very old) ways. I found that freeing and a nice invitation back into thinking about some more complex theological ideas in relatable, practical ways. I'd recommend this to any of my fellow Christian readers, particularly those who find the typical "Christian" book too conservative for their taste.
The book was published in 1999, and although Norris is progressive for a Christian at that time, she does occasionally come across as a bit old-fashioned and mocking of modern ideas (like the idea of inclusive language). Because she's 73 now — although she was only 52 when this was published — I tended to picture her like a liberal grandma, the one who will tell you enthusiastically about all the "homosexuals" she was friends with in the 70s. She's relatable, but she's no [a:Nadia Bolz-Weber|1685874|Nadia Bolz-Weber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1384453647p2/1685874.jpg].
My only other nitpick of the book is that Norris (or her editor) seems to have had it in mind that these chapters could be read independently, rather than the book always being read front to back, which means that Norris frequently re-explains parts of her life as if it's the first time she's referencing them. Which I suppose is great if you want to share one of chapters out of context with your religion class, but a little annoying if you're reading it straight through.
This was a nice book for revisiting some Christian concepts in a non-threatening way. Norris is a poet by trade, and although she frequently references dictionary definitions and Scripture passages for the words that comprise the book's chapters, she also tells stories and plays with language and imagines words in new (or very old) ways. I found that freeing and a nice invitation back into thinking about some more complex theological ideas in relatable, practical ways. I'd recommend this to any of my fellow Christian readers, particularly those who find the typical "Christian" book too conservative for their taste.
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