Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

This book is a sequel of sorts to Lamott's book, "Traveling Mercies" (TM). I read the first book several weeks ago and the moment I finished it, I got online and ordered this book. I did a little math and realized that it had been ten years since TM was first published and I was dying to know what had happened to Lamott and her son, Sam, since then. While TM is a chronological telling of Lamott's life (ending with Sam's eighth birthday), Plan B is not so linear. Instead it is a series of stories about events or themes in Lamott's life that have occurred over the last ten years. I was extemely pleased with Plan B for three reasons in particular. 1. The wit and honesty are still refreshing and welcome. (Chapter one is entitled, "ham of god" and is oh so aptly named.) 2. It is evident that Lamott has grown. Her Christianity and faith are not a fluke or an ill-conceived divergence. 3. Like an overdue letter from a beloved family member, this book has put my mind at ease. All is well. Life is not without pain; not without challenges. Still, it is joyful, and fullfilling. These people that I have come to care about, Lamott, Sam, Pastor Veronica (and the other members of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church), Buddy, Father Tom, along with the rest of their friends and family, are supporting and loving each other all along the way... And it works! There was one other bonus for me. Lamott gives a wonderful description of a wedding. I now include this quote in all my pre-marriage counseling. It is right on the money and so insightful. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll love this book. You might even find the strength to pray for President Bush... maybe even forgive him. I said maybe.

Anne Lamott says it like it is. I've always like her straight-forward, no-nonsense approach to her life in recovery. I'm not in recovery but I worked with people in treatment who struggled with substance use disorders. And the information gleaned from Anne's honest processing of her struggles helped me understand that addiction and recovery are complicated and baffling. I have found wisdom in her words. Thank you, Anne.

Anne Lamott is a woman after my own heart! I have heard that Christian book stores will not sell her books--Shame on them! The readers are missing out on an author who will undress completely and reveal her dirty sins for everybody to see---Anne is exsactly the sort of Christian who will bring others to Christ: non-judgemental, accepting, loving, smart, says it how it is, an alcholic, a former druggie, a mom who hates her teenager!,a woman who hates her thighs, a women who swears sometimes and yes, a Libral! OHHHH Boy! is that naughty for a Christian to be? Oh, I almost forgot--- Anne gives Jesus all of the glory for her transformation. I Loved "Furthur Thoughts on Faith." I laughed outloud at Anne's observations about life, teens, church, God, and the world. "Does everybody scream outragously (as if their crazy) and go absolutely insane with their teenagers?" Anne asks her readers this. Now--tell me, would a Christian admit this? I am thinking, Yea--I am like this, I identify with this, I am far from perfect; but I am trying! Anne does not only talk the talk---but she is proactive, and says without hesitation how she feels about President Bush, the war in Iraq, and what we should be doing to save the world. What I love about Anne is that she is not this perfect little Christian stuck in a pretty little box, behaving and thinking like a pitiful little robot. One could say that Anne has erupted and ripped free from that box in a big way. What is boils down to---is Anne Lamott loves Jesus---and He is using her to reach people who otherwise would not be reached; the sinners who can come to Him just as they are; beautifully imperfect. Even if they are liberals!

I first "feel in love" with Anne Lamott when I read Operating Instructions. I loved her humor and her frankness, and her ability to talk openly about faith and politics, topics I often see avioded in much of what I read and never mentioned together. She continued her story in this book, Plan B, and I was very impressed. Some may have felt that she ranted too much about Bush, but I felt it was right on track. As a novice writer of creative-nonfiction, I know how important it is to be true to yourself when writing in this genre, otherwise the reader will pick up on it and what you have to say will lack resonance. If she glossed over her feelings for Bush, we would have sensed it and the other stuff she had to say would have rung false. This is who she is, take it or leave it. I also apprecited the fact that she showed her readers that yes, you can be a Christian and a liberal. I am one, and I feel the media too often portrays Christians as conservative. Overall, it's a great read!

Reading the reviews for this book and then reading the actual book was interesting. I think some of the reviewers (esp those writing in rhyme) did not even read the book. Seems like a kind of lie to write negative comments about a book you have not read (or any comments, guess this could go both ways). In any case, I found the complaints about Bush-bashing to be vastly overwrought...in fact there is a whole section of the book where Anne tries to love Bush despite her anxieties about the war and other policies of his administration. I am a fan of Anne LaMott's going back to Bird by Bird, I think I have read every one of her books. The thing about Anne is she does not shrink from the gritty daily everyday struggle of life, and in the process she is very life-affirming. I feel so grateful to be on the same planet at the same time as Anne, to have her books that say yes, we are not perfect, we doubt, we are scared, but life goes on and it is good. Amen.

I totally love every book I have read by Anne Lamont. She is opens her life and her soul to the reader and leaves you feeling like she is a real friend. She is spiritual and honest and funny all at the same time. This was the fourth book of hers that I read and I will continue looking for her reads. When I have read all of them I will hope to find that she has written a new one.

I find the manner of writing difficult to follow andattention seems to waver. It seems as though she has a good story, but has used way too many words to write it.

Anne Lamott loves Jesus and isn't afraid to say so. She's also not afraid to show how messed up her life (just like the lives of all of us) is. While some readers might get tired of her string of self-deprecating stories, I find it refreshing to find someone who is not only vulnerable, but also a gifted writer. I will admit, though, that after awhile I got tired of hearing how much Anne hates George Bush but doesn't want to hate George Bush because Jesus loves George Bush, but still she hates him anyway and Jesus is helping her with that, and... well, you get the picture. I can accept it for one story, but it becomes one of the underlying themes of the book. I'm surprised that someone as gifted and insightful as Anne Lamott has such one-dimensional political views (republicans=bad! democrats=good!), but I can accept it because her writing is so darn good. After reading this and "Traveling Mercy" I can't wait for "Plan C."