I truly find it quite challenging to rate this book. Technically speaking, it is outstanding. Anne Lammot is an extremely talented writer, without a doubt. I'm certain that there are better modern writers out there, but at the moment, I can't recall any. Especially not any who write about religion, and I have a fair amount of knowledge when it comes to Christian theism.

I really did like her. However, based on her reaction to every single conservative Christian mentioned in the book, I suspect she wouldn't have had much patience for someone like me. I liked that she has dreadlocks and has all sorts of interesting friends. I love her alternative lifestyle and I'm completely envious of her freedom. I had a somewhat similar upbringing, although not as much on the drugs-with-my-parents side but more on the intellectual-demands-of-liberal-parents side. The way she wove her relationship with her childhood best friend throughout the book was beautiful and deeply touching. By all literary standards, it was a very good book.

Nevertheless, the book nearly broke my heart as I was reading it. This is a woman who clearly and desperately needs salvation. I mean that in the most immediate sense. She is so深陷于自己的世界 that she can't even see beyond it. She knows she is extremely narcissistic, mentions it several times, but can't pull herself out by the sheer force of her own will, which is the only way she knows how to do it. Judging from this book, which was all about her - every detail was about her, every character was related to some aspect of herself, every event was about her reaction. Even the prayer she offered up when her young son was facing cancer was for herself, not for the boy. She has never even considered turning to God and submitting herself to him for relief. That's the gospel - Jesus has promised to take our burdens upon himself and give us rest. He is offering to reconcile us with himself - as he truly is, not as we in our sin and misery want him to be. The point is that really, truly, we don't know what's best for ourselves, but Almighty God does and he loves us enough to tell us. She seems to understand bits and pieces of that truth, but she is still completely overwhelmed by the weight of her own self-importance.

For comparison, if you liked this book, you might want to try Kathleen Norris' Cloister Walk, or even Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. Both are spiritual memoirs in the same genre as Traveling Mercies, but without the excessive focus on the personality. Both are written by liberal Christians who truly and deeply love God and love their brothers and sisters unconditionally. They both reach beyond themselves in their writings in a way that Anne Lammot just can't.

This was the first time I ever read a book by Anne Lamott, and now I am a Forever Fan.

Her writing style is truly warm and personable. It's as if you are sitting down with a good friend over a cup of coffee and having a completely transparent conversation about life's challenges.

I really appreciated Anne Lamott's transparency when she shared her struggles with drugs, alcohol, and body image. Not to mention the myriad of obsessive neuroses she has dealt with.

I found her humorous self-deprecating style to be very relatable. It made me feel like I wasn't alone in my own insecurities and flaws.

Her story of faith also provides hope. It shows that we can believe in a God who loves us unconditionally, despite our brokenness.

Overall, reading this book has been a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to read more of Anne Lamott's work.

"Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith" is a profound work by Anne Lamott.

The book, with ISBN 385496095 and ISBN13 9780385496094, consists of 275 pages and was published in 1999.

Lamott offers her unique and often humorous perspectives on faith, exploring the various ways it intersects with our lives.

She delves into the challenges and joys of believing, sharing personal anecdotes and reflections that resonate with readers.

Through her writing, she shows that faith is not always easy but is a journey filled with mercies and unexpected blessings.

"Traveling Mercies" is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of faith and its role in our lives.

It is a book that will inspire, comfort, and challenge readers to look at their own beliefs in a new light.

Whether you are a person of strong faith or someone who is simply curious about the subject, this book has something to offer.

Anne Lamott's writing is engaging and accessible, making "Traveling Mercies" a pleasure to read from start to finish.

So, pick up a copy today and embark on a journey of faith with Anne Lamott.

This book received extremely bipolar reviews. As a result, I was extremely nervous right up until the moment I first opened it.

At a very trendy coffee shop, the barista brought me my coffee, took a look at the book, and declared, "5 stars, for sure." And she was absolutely right.

I devoured this book in just 3 days. I read it in the plush leather chairs of the coffee shop, sipping on strong coffee while thunderstorms raged outside. I also read it on my couch at home, enjoying a cup of tea. It was truly a therapeutic experience.

To be honest, not everything the author said aligned with my theological beliefs. However, despite this, the entire reading experience was like a soothing balm for my soul. It provided me with a sense of comfort, inspiration, and a new perspective on life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read that can touch their hearts and souls.

I found myself cleaning out the office of my husband's elderly aunt over the holidays. I use the term "office" rather loosely here. This particular person is not renowned for her passionate approach to work. Secretly, I harbored the hope of uncovering hidden treasure, but that hope was soon dashed with a resounding NO. On the way home, I dropped off several boxes of books (which I had filled, of course) at Goodwill. Amidst the stacks of Grishams and Cornwells, I discovered Traveling Mercies wedged in. For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to part with it. Now, I firmly believe that it was meant to be in my possession. ❤️

I first delved into Anne Lamott’s autobiographical essays on faith around 2005. I was in my early twenties, a recovering fundamentalist and Republican. She is a Northern Californian ex-alcoholic, a single mother, and a white lady with dreadlocks. Back then, her liberal, hippie approach to Christianity seemed a bit excessive to me. I vividly remember her vehemently railing against George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. However, even though I couldn't wholeheartedly embrace all of her views, her portrayal of a fumbling faith that doesn't pretend to know much for sure appealed to me. For her, Jesus is the herald of a radical path of love and grace. Lamott describes herself as stumbling towards kindness and forgiveness while uttering the three simplest and truest prayers she knows: “Help, thanks, wow.” I only possess three of her eight spiritual books, but I've read them all. So, recently, I read them one after another – the best kind of soul food binge during a stressful time.

This is her first and finest collection. Many of these pieces initially appeared in Salon web magazine. There is a significant amount of bereavement and other dark matter here, yet an overall lightness of spirit prevails. Lamott’s father passed away from melanoma that metastasized to his brain (her work has meant a great deal to my sister as her husband also died of brain cancer), and her best friend Pammy succumbed to breast cancer – both far too young. A college dropout, alcoholic, and drug addict, Lamott didn't walk into a church and get clean until her early thirties. Newly sober and with the support of the community, she was able to face unexpected motherhood and raise Sam in the church, clinging to fragments of family and nurturing seeds of faith.

The essays sometimes zero in on moments of crisis or decision, but more often on everyday angst, such as coming to terms with a middle-aged body. “Thirst” and “Hunger” are a beautiful pair about getting sober and addressing disordered eating. “Ashes,” set on one Ash Wednesday, shows her attempting to pique her young son's interest in the liturgical significance and remembering scattering Pammy’s ashes. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” and “Barn Raising” are two classics about surviving a turbulent flight and supporting a local family whose child has cystic fibrosis. Each essay is impeccably constructed, lucidly bringing together multiple incidents and themes, full of meaning but never overdoing the emotion.

Like A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas, this was even better the second time around – I can see that the memoir-in-essays is now among my most admired forms.

Some favorite lines:

“The main reason [that she makes Sam go to church] is that I want to give him what I found in the world[: …] a path and a little light to see by. Most of the people I know who have what I want—which is to say, purpose, heart, balance, gratitude, joy—are people with a deep sense of spirituality.”

“You really do have to eat, anything at all you can bear. So we had smoothies, with bananas, which I believe to be the only known cure for existential dread.”

“most of the time, all you have is the moment, and the imperfect love of people.”

“even though I am a feminist and even though I am religious, I secretly believe, in some mean little rat part of my brain, that I am my skin, my hair, and worst of all, those triangles of fat that pooch at the top of my thighs. In other words, that I am my packaging.”

Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.

For Kaska-boom!:

I truly appreciate the conversational style of Anne Lamott's writing. It's as if she is right there with you, sharing her journey of self-discovery. She can be hilariously funny one moment, then break your heart the next, and all the while, she is inspiring. I feel like she could be the kind of person I would be friends with.

In this book, she imparted two valuable lessons to me. Firstly, I realized that I cannot write because I haven't endured enough struggle in my life. My life hasn't been a walk in the park, but compared to hers, it's been like a delicious slice of angel food cake with strawberries and heaps of whipped cream. Secondly, I need to listen more and just be present. In part, she shared this profound quote with me: "God isn't there to take away our suffering or our pain but to fill it with his or her presence..."

Ummmmm..... I think my daughter has been trying to convey this very idea to me in countless ways. Usually, it's when she is frustrated with my feeble attempts to fix whatever is wrong, when all she really desires from me is my presence. I always thought it was my job as a mom to make things better when they went awry. But now, I see how foolish that was. And what a relief it is to no longer have the pressure of having to fix everything! Thank you, Anne!

Anne Lamott's writing is often lauded for its beauty, earning her many stars. Her words have the power to touch hearts and inspire readers.

However, on the other hand, it can also be a source of annoyance. In fact, it is the cause of the two most irritating things my mother says.

Maybe it's because her writing is so profound and thought-provoking that it sometimes leads to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Or perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste and perspective.

Nevertheless, despite the annoyance it may cause at times, Anne Lamott's writing remains an important and influential part of the literary world. Her unique voice and style continue to吸引 readers from all walks of life, and her words will likely continue to be a source of inspiration and reflection for years to come.

4.5 stars!!!

Although I don't think I can fully agree on all the theological terms put forward by Lamont, this book is truly a remarkable and beautiful reflection on faith and life. It showcases the profound care that God has for us and the world we live in.

I was deeply impressed by the frankness and honesty with which she shared her life experiences. It is such a precious gift to realize that we don't have to be perfect.

This book offers a unique perspective and valuable insights that can touch the hearts and souls of readers. It encourages us to embrace our imperfections and trust in God's love and grace.

I wholeheartedly loved this recommendation and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of faith and life. It has the power to inspire and transform, leaving a lasting impact on those who read it.

I have a profound love for Anne Lamott's non-fiction works. "Traveling Mercies" is truly about mercy that accompanies us throughout our life's journey. And if there is anyone who can eloquently speak on this topic, it is undoubtedly Lamott.

With her unique blend of wit and wisdom, she skillfully weaves together stories from her own life and ordinary daily happenings that inspire deep thought and self-reflection. She is unfailingly honest, often brutally outspoken, and extremely liberal in her views. I assume she rocks the boat of many people, but one cannot deny the authenticity of her story.

You might be scandalized by her narrative, yet it is so evidently marked by God that even she eventually had to admit it! This is where her humor comes into play and helps her get through. Nobody was more surprised than Lamott herself when she discovered Jesus, his love, and embraced it, actually using the term "Christian". She resisted it for a considerable time, but the gentle wooing of God finally softened her heart and brought her into a relationship with him.

However, a word of warning to those who haven't read her works before and assume that once she became a believer of God, she started living a life that was all prim and proper. No, if you think that way, you'll still be scandalized. But read it anyway, because we all need to be scandalized to keep us in a state of grace.

I have an intense love for Anne Lamott's writing.

Her 'realness' is truly captivating. The way she reflects upon her life with such remarkable grace is simply inspiring.

Her honesty is refreshing, as if she is laying out her soul bare for the readers to see.

And the manner in which she effortlessly weaves her faith into the stories she tells is a testament to her unique writing style.

All these elements combined make reading her books an absolute delight, like taking a deep, rejuvenating breath of fresh air.

I recently listened to the audio book on Scribd, which was narrated in a beautifully enchanting way.

The narrator brought Anne Lamott's words to life, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the already wonderful stories.

It was a truly immersive experience that left me longing for more of her writing.

I can't wait to explore more of Anne Lamott's works and continue to be inspired by her unique perspective on life and faith.

My earliest memory is of lying in bed, in the dead of night. I lifted my hands and whisper-sang my favorite Sunday song: I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship you, oh my soul, rejoice…take joy, my King, in what you hear, may it be a sweet, sweet song in your ear.

Hot tears, tears of pleasure, streamed down my cheeks. An eager, brooding love filled the room, hovering and then burrowing, searching and finding, an ever deepening knowing.

These divine encounters happened often throughout my childhood and youth. I took them for granted, as they were so frequent.

But as I grew older, things became complicated. There were numerous rules to follow and many parts of myself that I had to hide. My hands would shake, and my mouth would open before my brain could intervene. I was constantly asking why, why not, and who says?

My knuckles bled from punching walls that I couldn't break through. My heart was exhausted from constantly burning (fire, shut up in my bones). I was crazy with need, desperate for God, the intimate friend of my youth. But there are ways, they said, to please the Lord, ways to bring God's presence.

I did everything that was required of me. I fasted and prayed, evangelized and exegeted, denied the lusts of the flesh, and pastored without any pay.

And after forty years, I looked up and realized that half of my life was gone. I felt glaciers where once I had been tender.

I would have done anything, given everything, for God.

But I just don't believe that the God I've been serving...exists. It's a construct, a sham. A pittance and a shadow of the living God, who animates humans and plants and those terrifying angler fish with lanterns growing from their foreheads.

If I'm honest, I don't know who God is right now. Nothing that anyone says, from any spiritual tradition or practice, rings completely true.

And that is terrifying.

I've worked hard for a number of years now, stripping away layer after layer of fear. The fear of living in sin, of failing God, of disappointing my unbelievably kind and immoderately good parents. The fear of drifting apart from my bosom friends for disgracing our agreed-upon paradigm.

But it has felt good to be free and even better to be loved - surprisingly, loved - by everyone who matters.

Still, one fear persists, and it's a big one, the Queen-Mother of all Christian fears. Judgement Day: where I'll supposedly stand before God and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant," or "Depart from me, I never knew you."

I lean into trust that God will remember. The little girl and the aging woman who loved the source of her life with everything she was and all that she wasn't, and only ever wanted to whisper-sing in Yah's ear.

Note: I read Lamott's book over the course of a five-day, dispersed camp in Glacier National Park. Imagine having it out with God - screaming, accusing, grieving, snotting, partially thawing, laughing, dancing - in some of the loveliest wilds on earth. The stars' nightly showing alone demands my belief.

Lamott was the perfect companion for this trip because she is sort of a hot mess. Her vulnerability, neuroticism, and tenderness made it okay for me to not be okay for a while.

...

Also, I love music almost as much as words, so please allow me to document (and share) the soundtrack of my adventure, played on repeat. It starts sad, but it doesn't end that way.

1. The Old Story (Trevor Hall, Emory Hall)

2. Ain't No Sin (Carsie Blanton)

3. If It Had Not Been For The Lord (Helen Baylor)

4. Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin)

5. Let's Go Crazy (Prince)

6. Overlap - New York, N.Y. Live (Ani DiFranco)

7. A Love Message (Ezra Ruckus)

And a "B" side, because I never know when to quit:

Righteously (Anna Ash)

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