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Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

anne lamott

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From the bestselling author of Operating Instructions and Bird by Bird comes a chronicle of faith and spirituality that is at once tough, personal, affectionate, wise and very funny.

With an exuberant mix of passion, insight, and humor, Anne Lamott takes us on a journey through her often troubled past to illuminate her devout but quirky walk of faith. In a narrative spiced with stories and scripture, with diatribes, laughter, and tears, Lamott tells how, against all odds, she came to believe in God and then, even more miraculously, in herself. She shows us the myriad ways in which this sustains and guides her, shining the light of faith on the darkest part of ordinary life and exposing surprising pockets of meaning and hope.

Whether writing about her family or her dreadlocks, sick children or old friends, the most religious women of her church of the men she's dated, Lamott reveals the hard-won wisdom gathered along her path to connectedness and liberation.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19,1999

This edition

Format
272 pages, Hardcover
Published
April 6, 1999 by Pantheon
ISBN
9780375408809
ASIN
0375408800
Language
English

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About the author

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anne lamott

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Anne Lamott is an author of several novels and works of non-fiction. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her non-fiction works are largely autobiographical, with strong doses of self-deprecating humor and covering such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, and Christianity. She appeals to her fans because of her sense of humor, her deeply felt insights, and her outspoken views on topics such as her left-of-center politics and her unconventional Christian faith. She is a graduate of Drew College Preparatory School in San Francisco, California. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer and was the basis of her first novel Hard Laughter.

Lamott's life is documented in Freida Lee Mock's 1999 documentary Bird by Bird: A Film Portrait of Writer Anne Lamott.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
36(36%)
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33(33%)
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31(31%)
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100 reviews All reviews
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YanLi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Dear Anne Lamott,
This book of yours is truly one of my all-time favorites.

You have this remarkable quality of being brutally honest, vulnerable, and refreshingly real. You don't sugarcoat anything or put on a false front. It's as if you're baring your soul on every page, and that's what makes your writing so captivating.

And yet, despite all the hardships and flaws you've exposed, you've chosen to grow up, to mature, and to look at yourself with unwavering honesty. That takes an enormous amount of courage, and I admire you for it.

Thank you for writing this book and for being such an inspiration. Your words have encouraged and motivated me to do the same in my own life. I hope to one day have the same level of self-awareness and authenticity as you.

Jan
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Cheshter
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I am completely ride-or-die for Lamott. Her writing has a profound impact on me. It's not just the words on the page; it's the emotions and the depth of understanding that she conveys. Lamott's work has the power to make me laugh, cry, and think deeply about life. I find myself constantly drawn back to her books, as if they are a source of comfort and inspiration. She has a unique way of seeing the world and sharing her insights that makes me feel less alone in my own experiences. Whether it's her memoirs or her fictional works, Lamott always manages to touch my heart and soul. I truly believe that she is one of the greatest writers of our time, and I will continue to be a devoted fan of hers for as long as I live.

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melodyily
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A great writer, Anne Lamott, is someone whose work can be appreciated regardless of one's personal preferences for the terrain of the subject matter.


I have not delved into any of her other literary offerings, but I am an ardent admirer of this particular book. It is a remarkable blend of humor and endearment, filled with elements of blasphemy and profound spirituality simultaneously, precisely the kind of combination that appeals to me.


Lamott approaches the topics of life and Christianity with a very real and human perspective. Her thoughts are expressed in a blunt yet tender manner. She is highly educated, yet unafraid to display sentimentality. She embodies a collection of extremes that somehow manage to work together beautifully, despite their flaws and jumbled opposites. She wholeheartedly embraces the grey shades of complexity that inevitably exist between the black and white of popular culture and Christianity.


I am not typically the kind of person who reads a大量 of self-help or religious literature, but this book truly stands out from the rather sordid lot of such types. It offers great insights and engaging storytelling. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a unique and thought-provoking read.

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Iamnotaweebyet
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I have an absolute and unwavering love for this book. It is without a doubt my all-time favorite book, and specifically, it is my favorite book when it comes to matters of faith and spirituality. Annie Lamott has truly earned her place as my most beloved author and the person I aspire to be like when I grow up, all because of this remarkable book. It is a kind of "spiritual memoir" written by a hilarious, idealistic, liberal, and reformed imperfect prophetess who has overcome alcoholism. This book contains perhaps the most wonderful description of God that I have ever come across - God as a cat at the door. We are all truly glad that Annie invited him in.

Anne Lamott has led a life full of vivid colors, that much is certain. However, when a series of excruciating experiences and a lifetime of personal battles with weight, relationships, and career seem to take hold, Anne succumbs to bulimia, alcoholism, and at times, even contemplates suicide. This book follows her journey in a warm, humble, comfortable, and极其 funny way, from her lowest moments to her discovery of her church, the birth of her son, finding God, and learning to let go of the big stuff.

Annie reminds us that the difficult things in life are the real and true things, but they can be told with life-affirming humor and grace.
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KaustabhSai
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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My mother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas.

It's one of her favorite books, and I have to say that after finishing it, it just made me love her even more.

I, as a woman of faith myself, especially enjoyed reading this book. At first glance, or rather, through the first several chapters, it was too easy to say that my faith was very different from hers, and that my own experiences fell at the opposite end of the faith spectrum. However, by the end, it was clear that there wasn't that much difference between me and the author after all.

I came away with that warm fuzzy feeling that faith and conversion are personal and sacred and something that changes you forever. Most importantly, it cemented my belief that there are so many wonderful things we can relate to and understand in one another. If we just try a little harder to see them, perhaps everyone would get along a little better.

We read this for a book club, and I think or hope that our discussion of the book was both thorough and enjoyable. I ended up liking it more after we'd discussed it together. It's amazing how a simple book can bring people closer and open up new perspectives.

This book has not only deepened my understanding of faith but also strengthened my relationship with my mother-in-law and the members of the book club. I'm looking forward to reading more books like this in the future.
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Kuta_Berhe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Anne Lamott’s “Traveling Mercies” commences with the Overture, the introductory part of the text.

In this section, Lamott provides an overview of her life, highlighting her personal problems and the role of religion. She begins with her childhood, describing the various difficulties she endured, and concludes with her conversion to Christianity. Through numerous trials, she initially shunned religion but gradually converted. She uses the metaphor of a cat following her, which she finally allows in.

Some of the problems she faced include drug and alcohol addiction, bulimia, abortion, near-suicide, the deaths of loved ones, poverty, unemployment, and a lack of self-worth. Her book details how she coped with and overcame all of these.

The sections following the Overture are essays that deal with events, experiences, or issues in her life. As she writes each essay in story form, she reflects on the elements of religion and their meaning and role in her life while seeking solutions to life’s problems and crises.

One crucial question about the text is the nature of her conversion, which is central to the book. The Overture builds up to a profound and dramatic climax where she finally embraces Christianity. Before her conversion, she shunned, ran from, and even mocked Christianity. However, her problems became so severe that she turned to it for help.

The expected nature of conversion implies a significant change in the convert’s life. How much did Lamott change after her conversion? She concludes the Overture after converting, but the essays reveal more about her attempts to live out the Christian faith. She does show signs of change, especially in overcoming addictions. However, elements of irreverence are scattered throughout the text, even as she remains religious. For example, when her car breaks down on the road, she prays and curses simultaneously, using God’s name in vain.

Nevertheless, her book offers an open and honest account of the many crises in her life and how she overcame them all, ultimately becoming religious and finding solace and healing through it. Her life represents the human condition, and her stories are relatable to many. The book is easy to read, written in an accessible style, with humor, literary allusions, and specific details of settings.

The title suggests reflections on faith and religion, and in a sense, it is. However, she frames the book around her life stories, vividly depicting the issues she has struggled with and the resolutions she found. This book is suitable for Christian readers and those seeking spiritual growth, although it has a liberal slant.

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Mah_Long
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Proceeds to add all Anne Lamott books to her must-read list.


I have an intense love for this writing. Her story-telling ability is truly remarkable, as is her bluntness and her unwavering faith. What I find especially captivating is that her faith journey encompasses both the big and terrible events, like the deaths of dear friends, and the seemingly insignificant yet relatable things, such as comparing one's butt to everyone else's on the beach. Her writing is blunt, yet the crafted sentences manage to paint a fuller and more beautiful picture while getting right to the point simultaneously. I desire to emulate Anne's walk with Jesus more than just about anyone else's.


Some of my favorite quotes from her work include:


"Life does not seem to present itself to me for my convenience, to box itself up nicely so I can write about it with wisdom and a point to make before putting it on a shelf somewhere." (75)


"I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent tools - friendship, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said, Do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough." (103)


"She said that the world sometimes feels like the waiting room of the emergency ward and that we who are more or less OK for now need to take the tenderest possible care of the more wounded people in the waiting room, until the healer comes. You sit with people, she said, you bring the juice and graham crackers." (106)


These quotes not only showcase her unique writing style but also offer profound insights into life and faith. I can't wait to explore more of her works and gain further inspiration from her words.
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dnllsr
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I have some rather complex and mixed feelings regarding this book.

To be honest, I don't quite know how to convey them with absolute clarity. So, if you desire a more in-depth explanation, please do let me know!

Reading Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" actually provided me with a certain degree of clarity as to why I didn't have a liking for "Traveling Mercies". On the back cover of "Blue Like Jazz", there is a commentary that makes a comparison between Miller and Lamott. However, I wholeheartedly disagree with that comparison.

Prior to becoming Christians, both of them had extremely strong aversions to Christianity. Nevertheless, they both made the decision to dedicate their lives to Christ as adults. But I feel that the similarity ends right there. While Miller's writing style is highly accessible and easy to understand, I find Lamott's to be very disorganized. She jumps around quite randomly from one story to another.

Even more significantly, while Miller remains true to the Bible after carefully evaluating whether or not Christianity is something he believes in, Lamott seems to selectively pick and choose whatever she desires from what God's word states. I truly appreciated how Miller addressed tough questions and issues in "Blue Like Jazz", especially regarding how to be friends with, accept, and tolerate his non-believer friends while simultaneously holding firm to God's word. Lamott, on the other hand, never seems to address some of those absolutes in God's word and instead appears to simply ignore what the Bible says. I really wish she had offered more profound insights into how she actually integrates God and His word into her daily life and relationships.

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