Most of us don't know where to start with God. We've got a lot of excess baggage and expectations and "God As Told to Us By" and it can feel an awful lot like a Blind Date — the kind you see in those vintage romantic comedies where everybody knows he's the right guy or she's the right girl . . . except the one resisting the date.I was already reading this book when I posted my most recent Sunday Salon. I'm still plodding through it. I was intrigued by this beginning, but it turns out that Julia Cameron and I don't think much alike, at least about spirituality. Nevertheless, I plan to finish the book. It has interesting parts, and each section is short. I'm not doing any of the exercises, which seem like non-issues to me. That's making the book go quicker, even if I read only a tiny bit of it on any particular day. I probably won't review this one, but you can see my rating here, whenever I finish the book. Here's an overview of God Is No Laughing Matter:
The trick with God — just like with Blind Dates — is to suit up and show up. Who knows? God might turn out to be tall and handsome. Or blond and curvy. Someone you might really like. Somebody you can actually talk to and go salsa dancing with. Somebody who gets your jokes and likes the same terrible Japanese monster movies that you do.
The point is that until you try to meet God, you aren't going to know.
Bestselling author Julia Cameron takes a witty, powerfully honest, and irreverent look at the culture of "spirituality" today and offers insight to enable readers to determine their personal spiritual path. The important thing to remember, she says, is that God is both more humorous and more humane than we've been taught.
UPDATE (2 hours later): I finished the book, liked the last part more than I indicated above, and ended up rating it 8 of 10, "a very good book." The Artist's Way is still ahead in the ratings: 9.5 of 10.
Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays.
Click here for today's Mister Linky.
You're so good to plod through a book that isn't really working for you. I figure there are so many books out there that I will really enjoy that I probably put aside some books too quickly if they aren't working for me
ReplyDeleteLike you, I almost always finish once I start. Although this one doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I like books about Christianity and religion, but her theme doesn't appeal to me. I'll save judgment until I read your review and learn more.
ReplyDeleteI added your link to the Mr. Linky on the main page. Sorry for the delay. I pre-scheduduled several Book Beginnings posts and then forgot to change them! Done now. So they are all going to work just fine going forward.
I do sometimes have to plod through books I don't connect with...kudos to you on that!
ReplyDeleteHere's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST
I used to finish any book I started but not so any more. It rarely happens but if I just can't connect after a fair try, I let it go.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an intriguing read. Might have to look into this, but I would probably do the same thing and not do the exercises - those don't usually appeal to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first week I'm participating in this meme - and I keep finding new reads to add to my tbr list!
Have a good weekend!
I read The Artist's Way years ago and did not connect with it at all. I do like the start of her new books but probably would not read it because of my reaction to her first book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete