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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. Not what I'd usually expect from a celebrity memoir: Gungor and her husband rose to fame as Christian-music stars, but one by one they started to question not only the (Christian) faith in which they had been raised but also the new (Christian) beliefs they'd developed as adults. And then their second daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and two different heart defects, and Gungor's faith collapsed again: not because of the diagnoses themselves, really, but because of knowing how society was likely to view and treat her daughter.
As a memoir, it's short on specific details. I'm struggling for a word here—I keep thinking insubstantial, but that's not right; Gungor's focus is on weighty topics. But it's often fairly abstract, talking idea rather than actions. If you're not familiar with Gungor's career (which I am not, except via Wikipedia), this book will do little to change that. It's more of a chronicle of evolving faith. It's interesting to see some of the same ideas I've seen in other [b:losing-faith memoirs|10918755|Breaking Up With God A Love Story|Sarah Sentilles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1304104371s/10918755.jpg|15835190]. Most of the evolving- or losing-faith memoirs I've read have focused on Christian, often conservative Christian, religion. In many of them there's an equation of Christianity to God, as in I no longer trust the things I've been taught so I no longer believe in God. Because of that I would have loved some more of those specific details here. It's not entirely clear to me what led to Gungor's husband's loss of faith in the first place (and whether that was related to Gungor's own changing faith), and the timeline gets unclear in place. But I find shifting-faith memoirs to be so interesting—so much more complex than I've-never-truly-questioned-my-faith books. And! I keep mixing this up in my head with [b:Spiritual Misfit|18240272|Spiritual Misfit A Memoir of Uneasy Faith|Michelle DeRusha|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388369915s/18240272.jpg|26537153], which I haven't read yet, so I'll have to read it soon and see if they have anything to do with each other.
As a memoir, it's short on specific details. I'm struggling for a word here—I keep thinking insubstantial, but that's not right; Gungor's focus is on weighty topics. But it's often fairly abstract, talking idea rather than actions. If you're not familiar with Gungor's career (which I am not, except via Wikipedia), this book will do little to change that. It's more of a chronicle of evolving faith. It's interesting to see some of the same ideas I've seen in other [b:losing-faith memoirs|10918755|Breaking Up With God A Love Story|Sarah Sentilles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1304104371s/10918755.jpg|15835190]. Most of the evolving- or losing-faith memoirs I've read have focused on Christian, often conservative Christian, religion. In many of them there's an equation of Christianity to God, as in I no longer trust the things I've been taught so I no longer believe in God. Because of that I would have loved some more of those specific details here. It's not entirely clear to me what led to Gungor's husband's loss of faith in the first place (and whether that was related to Gungor's own changing faith), and the timeline gets unclear in place. But I find shifting-faith memoirs to be so interesting—so much more complex than I've-never-truly-questioned-my-faith books. And! I keep mixing this up in my head with [b:Spiritual Misfit|18240272|Spiritual Misfit A Memoir of Uneasy Faith|Michelle DeRusha|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388369915s/18240272.jpg|26537153], which I haven't read yet, so I'll have to read it soon and see if they have anything to do with each other.
Heart wrenching and moving. I’d give my left arm to live with Lisa & Michael for a year. I’m very inspired by them both.
A graceful (and witty/enjoyable) telling of her journey and the ties between all journeys. A nudge to see the beauty of what is.
Coming off reading a beautifully written book (A Prayer for Owen Meany) probably has clouded my judgment of the quality of Lisa Gungor's prose. However, I was left wanting more substance, more insight, and more clarity into their spiritual realignments. I felt that at the core I could be good friends with the Gungors and have lots in common with them, but I wasn't able to capture that connection in this book. She probably (definitely) had a kinder soul than me and didn't want to name names and throw anyone under the Evangelical bus. I think it will prompt good conversations here, so perhaps a 3 star review is a little low.
Lisa has a beautiful voice, and it's not limited to her musical talent. This book is near poetry, both in language and in meaning. I wanted to cry when I finished, and I already want to reread it just a few weeks later. I highly recommend this book.
Tears. Laughter. Tension and Wholeness and Brokenness. This book will work itself deep within your soul. And then you’ll cry again.
Lisa’s poetic prose and honest vulnerability is a gift to this world, and to me. Getting to listen to the audiobook and hear this story in her own words was even more powerful than I imagine reading it would be. I am grateful. And incredibly emotional, because I just finished listening five minutes ago.
Lisa’s poetic prose and honest vulnerability is a gift to this world, and to me. Getting to listen to the audiobook and hear this story in her own words was even more powerful than I imagine reading it would be. I am grateful. And incredibly emotional, because I just finished listening five minutes ago.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
This book was perfect for the time in my life when I read it. There were times when I had to put my kindle down and just stop because Lisa was describing struggles in my own life so perfectly.
My favorite chapter was the second to last one:The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen. The last one, Moment One, had some good ideas in it, but it felt like it came out of nowhere, disconnected from the rest of the book.
