I almost put this one down at the first chapter.

The reason is that I recognized the tone so well, having read and enjoyed Anne Lamott's other memoirs.

It seemed like too much of a repeat.

It was like getting an album by a band you like, but hearing too much of the same allusions and turns of chord.

However, like that analogy, the differences make themselves known with time.

The difference in this one is her age and the age of her son.

She's a little mellower and a little wiser.

And yet, she still has the ability to make me laugh my ass off.

As I continue to read, I find that despite the initial similarity in tone, there are new and interesting aspects that emerge.

Her experiences at this stage of her life bring a different perspective and depth to the story.

I'm glad I didn't give up on it too soon.

It's turning out to be a worthwhile read, with Lamott's unique voice and humor shining through once again.

A quick skim through the book reveals that I have a certain fondness for the author. I like her, but I'm not overly interested in all the topics she covers. For instance, I find her thoughts about aging quite fascinating. However, it's worth noting that she was not that old when she penned this piece. In fact, she was much younger than I am at present. This adds an interesting perspective to her musings on aging. Another aspect that catches my attention is her graduation address, which is located near the end of the book. It seems to offer some valuable insights and words of wisdom. Overall, while there are parts of the book that don't fully engage me, there are also elements that make it worth reading.

I read this book on a binge.

Started it and couldn't put it down, it was like having a bag of delicious chocolate chip cookies right in front of the TV, so irresistible.

I've read her other books and still firmly believe that Bird by Bird is the absolute best book on writing I've ever come across.

However, this one kind of crept up on me. At first, I simply thought it was going to consist of some funny snippets, a few thoughts on spirituality, and perhaps some ranting about Bush.

But then, when Lamott suggested that she'll finally be able to forgive W. when they're sitting side by side at the table in heaven, my spirit suddenly perked up.

Lamott writes about being a Christian and loving Jesus in a seriously hilarious way.

I especially adored the chapter on the changes her fifth decade has brought, like more self-kindness for one thing.

The opening essay, "Ham of God," was also really great.

The commencement speech is good too.

Warning: if you're an unwavering fan of the Bush administration or you're easily offended by colorful language, chances are you probably won't take a shine to this book.

I suppose it's a little strange that I would really like this book given its spiritual overtones. However, Anne Lamott's unique blend of humor, astute observations on relationships and life in general is truly captivating.

Take, for example, her witty remarks like "Everyone has been having a hard time with life this year; not with all of it, just the waking hours." Not to mention her caustic comments about Bush, even as she grapples with loving him due to her faith.

She has the remarkable ability to move you to tears with her description of a friend's painful death and then have you howling with laughter as she recounts the bumps in the road of raising a teenager.

Lamott is unfailingly honest about herself and others. Predictably, some reviewers have griped about an occasional "vulgarity," but to me, that only makes her writing more authentic and real. After all, Jesus himself was nothing if not radical and honest. I firmly believe that anyone offended by this book has no life and little compassion.

Lamott has an abundance of great lines. We had the pleasure of listening to her read her book, and I highly recommend it as she is such a talented raconteur. Although I was unable to jot down all the wonderful lines, here's a small sample: "If you insist on having a destination when you enter a library, you're short-changing yourself." "Someday the lamb is going to lie down with the lion, but the lamb is not going to get any sleep." "Jesus was soft on crime; he'd never get elected to anything." "On my forty-ninth birthday, I decided that all of life is hopeless, and I would eat myself to death. These are dessert days."

Her words truly have the power to touch and inspire.

On re-reading this, I am truly uncovering a wealth of aspects to cherish. She is most definitely the sort of girl who would not think of going to the bathroom with a toothpick during a barbecue, and that's a trait I deeply appreciate.

The "oh fucks", the shitty days, the unfiltered admission of genuine struggles, both past and present, all add to the authenticity of her writing. It's like the teeth grinding experience while quitting cocaine and dealing with bad boyfriends, all the way to the profound grief over losing a pet, yet also having the thought of gathering a small pile of stones just in case one needs to resort to the Old Testament stoning method for a moody, rebellious teenager.

There are certain authors whom I would extremely love to listen to, yet dread meeting over dinner. Anne Lamott is one such writer. I'm afraid she is just too much like me. There would likely be firestarting, fireworks, and loud arguments. However, her prose is so close and present for me, making me feel more at ease about my own struggles regarding a lack of faith or the complex practice of it. And I am certain that I will read this book for a third time. Maybe by that time, I'll have actually gathered a small pile of stones specifically designated for throwing at a rebellious and difficult teen. If that happens, I know precisely how to handle the situation.

A while ago, our home group read "Grace Eventually" by Anne Lamott. I really liked it, even though most of the group didn't. Anne is truly a kindred spirit. She writes: "I have a lot of faith. But I am also afraid a lot, and have no real certainty about anything." My good friend Heidi thought of me when she was at the dollar store, saw "Plan B" on the shelf, and bought it for me. I'm so grateful!

"Plan B" is actually the precursor to "Grace Eventually," and "Traveling Mercies" is the precursor to "Plan B." I'm reading this trilogy in reverse. I guess that was the plan all along, unknown to me.

I thought "Plan B" was much better than "Grace Eventually." Reading Anne Lamott feels like being at home. She writes the way I feel and the way I wish I could express. She makes me want to try to express myself too. In fact, she advises: "You start where you are, and you flail around for a while (writing), and if you keep doing it, every day you get closer to something good."

When I read what Anne writes, I don't feel so lonely. I realize there's someone else out there who's also an anxious mess. Amidst this, Anne tries to motivate herself (and her readers) to pray, sit still, and listen. I also think Anne is hilarious. I could start this book over right now, but I have too much on my "to do" list, so I'll pass it back to Heidi and hope she enjoys it as much as I did.

However, I'm going to hold back from giving this book 5 stars because, as much as I loved it, Anne wrote a little too much about her hatred of George Bush. I respect her right to hate someone, but I could only handle so much of it.

Anne has some great stories about her friends. She asks Father Tom: "How are we going to get through this craziness?" He wisely answers: "Left foot, right foot, left foot, breathe." She writes lovingly about her animals, her church, and of course her son. In "Plan B," she also spends a good deal of time discussing her difficult relationship with her (now deceased) mother, which, as she writes about in "Grace Eventually," her family gave her quite a bit of flack for doing.

Here are a few quotes I really liked: "Forgiveness means it finally becomes unimportant that you hit back." "You can either practice being right or practice being kind." "Maybe this is what grace is, the unseen sounds that make you look up." "Learning to love back is the hardest part of being alive." "Gratitude, not understanding, is the secret to joy and equanimity."

Finally, Anne Lamott reminds me: "Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet, to show that peace was not about power; it was about love and gentleness, and being of service." I really appreciate her wisdom and look forward to putting it into practice. My life is better today because I read "Plan B," and I hope you'll read it too.

I have an intense love for Anne LaMott. In fact, during my upcoming trip to northern California next weekend for the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Assoc., I'm planning to take a detour on Sunday. I'll drive a rental car all the way to Marin County to attend her church. My goal? To somehow MAKE her be my friend and read my book.

Our lives seem to run in parallel. However, I realized this connection before she did. She got off her duff and took action sooner than I did.

We share many similarities. We are both single moms. We both have overcome addiction. And we both have rather memorable hair. Hers is in dreadlocks, while mine sticks straight up from my moussed and perhaps pointed head.

She comments in her book about her son entering adolescence as she enters menopause. She often walks into the shower while wearing her glasses, a situation I can relate to. I've done the same thing countless times and just shrug it off, thinking, "at least I'll clean my glasses too." Anne laments (sorry for the pun) that this is why people should have children while they are young, so that there's at least one sane person in the house at times.

My Olivia is turning 11 in less than a month. She wants me to notice every single change she thinks her still-childlike body is making. This is way more information than I need or want at this point. I would have preferred to take 2 million dollars rather than show my changing body to my mother, of all people on the planet. This might qualify me to editorialize on LaMott's writing, as she still hasn't forgiven her mother's ashes years after her death... or it might equivocally disqualify me.

See? She simply has to take a walk with me along the rugged beach she loves and describes so beautifully.

Judith Ann Hillard
author of:

The Other Woman at the Well
amazon.com
judithannhillard.com
addictionsovercome.com

I don't believe in any faith-based organized religion. However, I have a great affection for Lamott's book.

I firmly believe in having a certain philosophical stance towards life, and I view her writings as her personal philosophy. She is a non-traditional adherent of faith and religion, and I suspect that many non-believers can appreciate her attitude.

I appreciate her honesty, authenticity, and humility. She endeavors to do her utmost at all times and shows compassion for herself and others who may not always be able to achieve that goal.

Her writing provides comfort in these times of political disillusionment with the president. This book was penned during the presidency of Bush, and the situation was bad enough then. Now, it is even worse, so I suspect that it might be beneficial to read this book again. It can offer us a different perspective and perhaps some solace in these challenging times.

We can learn from her philosophy and try to apply it to our own lives, finding meaning and purpose even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

This book had its moments. At times, it was funny, engaging, and earnest. I really liked the author's honesty and her courage to take on certain topics that are seldom discussed, like parenting, for example.

However, overall, I felt it was a self-indulgent and obsessive effort by the author. The stories were only loosely connected by the "faith" thread. Ms. Lamott didn't approach the topic of faith in a thoughtful or analytical way. It just so happened that she is a member of a church and the community of her church appears in her stories. I think the publishers needed a way to unify the diverse stories, and faith was as good a marketing concept as any.

The stories also followed a predictable pattern. She would describe a situation, create neurotic drama around it, and then discover beauty. Situation, self-created drama, beauty. And this pattern repeated over and over again, which became tiresome.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend this book. It had some redeeming qualities, but the flaws outweighed the positives for me.

I have an unwavering enjoyment for anything that Anne Lamott pens. This holds true even when it comes to something labeled as "Christian." In today's times, such a label often has politics intertwined that are contrary to the true essence of Christianity. These politics are typically extremely right wing, anti-woke, and anti-social justice. However, Lamott is far from any of these.

She wholeheartedly believes in and lives for her communal church in Marin, CA. This church is actively involved in doing things for the needy, the sick, and the downtrodden. It also takes a stand and protests wars. Love and Peace, Brothers and Sisters!

The stories she shares vividly portray her intense fervor for her church, her son, her friends, and her causes. Yet, what makes her writing truly remarkable is the honesty with which she reveals her own inadequacies and anxieties. It is so genuine that you almost find it hard to believe what you are reading. She is not only hilarious but also brilliant. I am eagerly looking forward to tracking down and getting my hands on her other memoirs and life exploration writings. I long for another dose of her very special grace that she so beautifully infuses into her works.

I find a great deal of hope in Anne Lamott's writing.

Her words have a unique way of reaching out and making me stop and truly consider the deeper meanings behind them.

What I truly appreciate about her is her unwavering acknowledgement of her own faults. She is refreshingly honest, which makes her writing all the more relatable.

Through her work, she has shown me that religion and faith do not have to be these perfect, unattainable ideals.

Instead, they can be imperfect and yet still wonderful in their own right.

Her writing has opened my eyes to a new way of looking at these aspects of life, and for that, I am truly grateful.

It gives me the courage to embrace my own imperfections and to see the beauty and hope that can be found within them.

Anne Lamott's writing is like a guiding light, leading me towards a more understanding and accepting view of myself and the world around me.

Traveling Mercies vividly chronicled Lamott's arduous and slow journey towards faith. Now, being in her 50s, Lamott remains unwavering in her commitment to presenting the truth without any sugarcoating in this enlightening update. In these 24 essays, which were previously published in Salon, she masterfully combines brilliant flashes of wit, self-deprecating humor, profound wisdom, and a deep sense of appreciation. While some of the essays may have a moralistic inclination, they rarely engage in proselytizing. Instead, they delve into Lamott's own, and sometimes rather naughty, truths. The best essays explore Lamott's son's relationship with his father. Conversely, Entertainment Weekly criticized the piece about loving George W. Bush as Jesus as "an easy comic stunt." However, the overarching lesson remains the same: "Gratitude, not understanding, is the secret to joy and equanimity." Despite having endured her fair share of life's struggles, Lamott manages to make it all seem effortless. So, buck up, kid: as Lamott so aptly puts it, "God has extremely low standards."

Copyright 2005 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.