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dkalid's review against another edition
2.0
There are moments of beauty here but, ultimately, this was not for me. I am pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ rights, and the author is not, which he makes abundantly clear, especially in the essay on "pornography."
noahbw's review against another edition
5.0
I love Brian Doyle's work. What a wonderful collection of prayer.
debbiecuddy's review against another edition
5.0
Summer bingo-With an Ugly Cover-The toad on the cover might be considered ugly, but I think Brian Doyle's essays are lovely and look forward to poring over this collection.
I found that I couldn't rush reading this collection of essays, I needed to sit still for a while after reading each one. I couldn't choose a favorite, they were all wonderful.
I found that I couldn't rush reading this collection of essays, I needed to sit still for a while after reading each one. I couldn't choose a favorite, they were all wonderful.
lisajha's review
5.0
Brian Doyle's Grace Notes is a fantastic collection of nonfiction pieces (I guess you would call them essays) tracing manifestations of holiness in family, love, friendships, acquaintanceships, religions, current events, and just about every other aspect of life each of us goes through. Though technically they're essays, they're written as though he's just sitting on the couch with you after dinner, chatting about funny and crazy and horrific and magical things that have happened to him and you and everyone else you both know. It's so inviting and conversational and conspiratorial in tone, in fact, that I feel like I can't refer to him as "Doyle" or "Mr. Doyle" when speaking of him as an author--by the end of the book, he's just become my good friend Brian. Most of the pieces are only 2-5 pages long, so it’s a great book to take in the car, keep in your bag, because there are so many easily accessible stopping points. But to me, the best part about the book was his attitude toward life and religion. He works at University of Portland, a Catholic university, and as a very staunch Catholic himself, he writes freely about his faith. It’s so refreshing to meet with an author that straightforwardly acknowledges the overwhelming importance of his religious beliefs in his life. Grace Notes embodies these beliefs with a vengeance, and because he’s so unapologetic about them, for me it was almost like a kick start to my own. Thanks to this beautiful collection, I not only want to solidify my own beliefs that I may currently be unsure about, but I want now to go and find the “shards of holiness” Doyle talks about in every individual, in every creature, in every bit of life I encounter as well.
jan2bratt's review
3.0
I love Brian Doyle's writing, his subject matter and style. This one fell a little short for me, maybe because I so much loved his One Long River of Song, and was expecting more brilliance. Still am glad I bought and read this.
book_beat's review
5.0
“I am a storycatcher, charged with finding stories that matter, stories about who we are at our best, who we might be still, because without stories we are only mammals with weapons. I am here to point at shards of holiness. That’s all. That’s enough.”
I’ll say it again and again - I adore Brian Doyle. His flash nonfiction pieces make me slow down and see my everyday moments as holy and unique gifts. I love his novels, too. The world lost an amazing storycatcher too soon, but thank the Lord that Doyle used his gifts: carving stories into arrows... “and [firing] them into the hearts of as many people as [he could] reach on this bruised and blessed planet.” These arrows of furious hope have reached me.
I’ll say it again and again - I adore Brian Doyle. His flash nonfiction pieces make me slow down and see my everyday moments as holy and unique gifts. I love his novels, too. The world lost an amazing storycatcher too soon, but thank the Lord that Doyle used his gifts: carving stories into arrows... “and [firing] them into the hearts of as many people as [he could] reach on this bruised and blessed planet.” These arrows of furious hope have reached me.
bonkstrats's review
5.0
Moving and inspirational. He can make you laugh and cry in the same essay. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
bibliophage's review
Brian Doyle is a great writer. Different than any I've read before, but he definitely got my attention. I loved how short and succinct each essay was (not longer than a page or two, or a two and a half pages). He has some neat ideas, and a way of saying something that makes you all bubbly inside. My favorite being "sidelong glances from someone you love" in the essay "Cool Things." For more on that rather vague and abstract statement, read the book! Or just read that essay, it's posted on my blog.
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