Book Review: "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith"
Note: This is my fourth attempt at this post, as I try to find the right approach to the topic. I've never been comfortable playing the role of a "critical critic," especially when dealing with so personal an issue as faith. Even now, I'm not sure how this will turn out, but as Ms. Lamott herself might say, I'm willing to throw it out and trust that God's grace will cover it. He's really good at doing that, you know.
Anne Lamott's "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith" is essentially a sequel to "Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith", published a little more than five years ago. Both books are collections of essays drawn from Ms. Lamott's experiences and observations, and most of those essays deal with her spiritual journey as a follower of Jesus Christ. Both are well-written and often brutally honest accounts of her struggles to find peace in a life that has been made difficult by a long series of bad decisions on her part.
Unfortunately for Ms. Lamott's readers, the past half decade has not been particularly kind to her political leaning, and the degree to which she shares this fact colors almost every chapter of "Plan B." She makes no effort to disguise her contempt for George W. Bush, Republicans and "right-wingers," apparently seeing no irony in the fact that those with whom she aligns politically are often the ones who hold her faith in equally open contempt.
Think I'm exaggerating about her displeasure with our President? The slams begin in the third sentence of the book. Here's an excerpt:
And another:
And, finally, this:
Of course, many people have equally strong feelings about President Bush, but I suspect that not so many of them profess to be born-again believers, claiming to share the President's faith. But, doctrinal correctness doesn't fare much better in Ms. Lamott's essays.
The far-left Social Gospel leanings that she displayed in "Traveling Mercies" are brought into full bloom in "Plan B." “God has extremely low standards. Pray, take care of people, give away your money–you’re cool. You’re in. Nice room in heaven…” [Ch. 10; p. 129] Of course, her pastor isn't much help in this regard. “She [her pastor] said you could tell if people were following Jesus, instead of following the people who follow Jesus, because they were feeding the poor, sharing their wealth, and trying to help everyone get medical insurance.” [Ch. 17; pp. 222-223]
Then there's her view on sin. Well, that's my word -- and God's -- for it. That's not really an operative concept for her purposes, though. She falls into the usual liberal paradigm (is that diplomatic enough?) of choosing to emphasize God's love while ignoring the reality and implications of His holiness. “Jesus was soft on crime.” [Ch. 14; p. 183] Well...no. It's a nice turn of phrase, and something we all wish was true, in our human and selfish and fallen way, but there's nothing in the Bible to support that view. He is "soft" on criminals, but He detests "crime."
In the end, if you can get past her political rantings and her skewed and New Age-y version of the Gospel, you're left with stories that are, by turns, hilarious, heart-rending, infuriating, depressing and encouraging. If you're easily offended by vulgar language, especially when used in conjunction with spiritual themes, you might want to take a pass. (After all, it was Lamott who described her conversion experience in "Traveling Mercies" thusly: "...I stood there for a minute, and then I hung my head and said, 'F**k it: I quit.' I took a long deep breath and said out loud, 'All right. You can come in.'")
Anne Lamott remains one of my favorite writers because her narrative and observational skills are superb. She writes from her heart, and I give her credit for that. But the skewed doctrine and caustic political attacks leave me wishing that I didn't know her heart quite so well.
Technorati tags: Anne Lamott | "Plan B"
Jim, I probably would have been more sanguine about the book had it been titled "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Politics and Faith." As it was, I felt somewhat like a bait-and-switch victim. She didn't disguise her politics in "Traveling Mercies," but they also weren't put front-and-center like in "Plan B."
Even so, as a fellow Christian, I'm more concerned about her doctrine than her politics. I think the former has the potential to be infinitely more dangerous than the latter.
Posted by: Eric at May 16, 2005 08:20 AMInteresting review, Eric. I don't read a lot of these first-person anthologies, and perhaps this is one reason.
OTOH, have you read any Brennan Manning?
Posted by: bryan at May 16, 2005 06:31 PMIt seems Ms. Lamott's history of making bad decisions is far from over. Your review of her book seems to be a better reflection of Christian charity and acceptance than the book itself.
Not all the the Amazon reviewers were quite so willing to overlook her faults. One reviewer, Robin M. Krug claimed, "often Anne implies that she and 'all' of her friends are just a short match away from self-immolation because GWB has been re-elected."
Promise? Promise? Even with the increase in gasoline prices, I'll be more than happy to donate the high octane racing fuel and the Ohio Blue-Tip matches! Anyone want to bring marshallows for S'Mores?
Heck, this is even better than all those whiners who said they were going to move to New Zealand and Canada after the 2004 election. (They're still here, I've noticed.) I've always hoped the Left's destructive tendencies could be turned inward. Now we can all benefit!
Joking aside, her book sounds like another vehicle for the "new" Christianity that keeps getting promoted these days, what you rightly describe as Social(ist) Gospel.
From that perspective, Jesus stopped being the Son of God and ended up as an aging, ex-hippie social worker handing out fliers for Kerry-Edwards '04.
Posted by: Mr. Freen at May 16, 2005 06:34 PMBryan, this isn't my usual genre, either. I started reading Lamott after her excellent "how-to" book for aspiring writers entitled "Bird by Bird" (which I still recommend, btw). She dropped subtle and intriguing hints regarding her Christianity throughout that book, and so when "Traveling Mercies" was published, I couldn't resist. It was a powerfully frank self-portrait, and she came across as winsome, if a bit flaky...just like all of us are, in some way or another. I wished she'd stopped there.
I'm not familiar with Brennan Manning; I see he's collaborated with Michael W. Smith (or, more likely, vice versa). Worth reading?
Posted by: Eric at May 16, 2005 06:46 PMMr. Freen, oddly enough, reading her negative reactions to Bush, etc. didn't elicit the same feeling of schadenfreude that I so enjoy when hearing the same things from Hollywood celebs. I was simply saddened that she fails to see -- or even look for -- the incredibly important things she has in common with the man she seems to hate, and the way she seems oblivious to the common bond she has with millions of Americans who share her faith but not her politics. I have no standing to question her faith, but it doesn't take the wisdom of Solomon to perceive that she's really mixed-up on some fundamental issues.
I'm also saddened when I contemplate the powerful influence she might have been for the Gospel among a group that rejects it out-of-hand because they don't personally know anyone who believes it. She may still be influential, but I'm fearful that it will be in all the wrong ways.
Posted by: Eric at May 16, 2005 06:56 PMHe's more known for "The Ragamuffin Gospel," among others. You might recognize the ragamuffin title because it had a profound influence on Rich Mullins, so much that one of his albums is named "A liturgy, a legacy and a ragamuffin band."
At times he sounds like a "liberal," but only insomuch as Jesus sounded like a liberal at times. Not sure if that makes sense, but read a book if you get the chance.
Posted by: bryan at May 16, 2005 07:51 PMI recognized "ragamuffin" but wasn't sure who had influenced whom. I'll keep Manning in mind for future reading...
Posted by: Eric at May 16, 2005 08:39 PMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
Neighborhood Killdeer
My Wife is a Squirrel Mule
Local Company Celebrates Centennial
Random Thursday
Apple's 2nd Quarter Financial Conference Call
Oh, look...
New Catfish "Place" in Town
Homage to Ol' Blue Eyes
Fun with Bulgarian Euphemisms
Imagine This: Fire Ant Sightings in Austin
Fish Drill Team Performances
How windy is it? Lemme tell you...
We're not in Kansas anymore...
Wallbot
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
Eric,
Good review of a book I have not yet read, though I am looking forward to it. I did read Travelling Mercies, and a friend has read chapter one of Plan B to me.
You may have guessed by now that a few of my political leanings are directionally similar to certain of those of Miss Lamott, though you know how I react to the liberal label. Even so, I do find the viciousness of some of her remarks about GWB to be a lot over the top.
It would be completely off-putting if she were not uncompromising with herself as well (at least in "Mercies"). And she is an astonishing writer.
As soon as I finish the two 500 page monsters I'm working through now, Anne and I have an appointment. Thanks for the thoughtful, gracious and well-written review.
Posted by: Jim at May 16, 2005 06:34 AM