|
What We're Reading:
Current Picks
from
the Watermark Staff
|
Sarah's book
reviews can be heard on alternate Mondays on KMUW 89.1. Read a transcript
below of her most recent review or listen at:
http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/book/have_a_little_faith_a_true_story_by_mitch_albom/
"Have a Little Faith: A True Story" by Mitch Albom (Hyperion, 9780786868728,
$23.99)
Mitch Albom explores nature of faith in his new book "Have a Little Faith: A
True Story." When asked by his childhood Rabbi to perform his eulogy Albom
agrees. Over the next eight years--it would take that long for the Rabbi to
die--Albom embarked on a journey with his suburban New Jersey Rabbi to come
to terms with his onerous task. During the same period, in his hometown of
Detroit, Albom meets Henry, the Christian Pastor of a small inner city
congregation who confesses to have broken each of the Ten Commandments.
Albom thoughtfully presents the grace and fulfillment of a life of faith
across religions, class and geography using spare prose and dialog that
serves to forward a concept or idea.
Henry--the pastor--survives by being charismatic, accepting a savior, and
severing his ties to a violent and self-destructive past. The Rabbi is
grounded by his tradition, habits, family and memory. Both are generous and
driven to faith to give their own lives meaning. Albom uses the structured
childhood years he spent in the synagogue to give life to the Rabbi's
teachings, and then interviews members of Henry's church to illustrate the
how he has given hope to many desperate characters who would likely not have
survived otherwise.
In the end Mitch Albom gives up his own skepticism and self righteousness
and offers the following: "Underneath our egos and attitudes, we all share
this: a deep yearning for comfort, and the dream of a peaceful heart."
Picks by Sarah
Bagby, January 7, 2010
Back
to Reviews
|
