Through Painted Deserts (Donald Miller).

Through Painted Deserts is quite possibly my favorite book of all time. Donald Miller is an incredible writer and this book is definitely his best, in my opinion. It's so good, in fact, that I borrowed the title of the book and named my personal blog after it (giving Miller homage and credit, of course).

Because I love this book so much, I've written about it before, and will be splicing together my current thoughts about the book as well as some old musings I've previously shared on other blogs or writing forums.

So where to start? Let's try the beginning. In the fall of 2005, I went to the college group at Bel Air Presbyterian Church to see Miller do a book reading. He was highlighting passages from his newest release, a memoir titled Through Painted Deserts. Though he only read bits and pieces from the foreword, I knew instantly that I had found my new favorite book. Miller's candid style of writing is so appealing to me. I always find myself able to relate to the things he writes. His ideas challenge me; his words inspire me. I don't ever feel as though Miller is preaching to me; instead, his words read like advice from a wise, trusted friend.

The memoir chronicles Miller's roadtrip from Texas to Oregon. The adventure was entirely unplanned; the only guarantees were that Miller and his driving companion, a new friend named Paul Harris, would begin in Houston and end up in Portland. Miller is able to sum up the content of the book eloquently in his own words: "What you will find in Through Painted Deserts is the beginning of a long trail of walking away from home, from religion and from an American version of Christianity." To give any more details of the story would be akin to giving away the ending of a great film or taking the last bite of your fabulous molten chocolate cake, so I'll spare you and allow you to bask in my praise for the book, knowing that your life will be forever changed by reading the content found on the memoir's pages.

There is one disclaimer, though, as provided by The Dallas Morning News:

• Warning: Could cause unquenchable wanderlust and a sudden urge to search eBay for a used VW van.
  

Miller's first book, Blue Like Jazz (which we'll get to later), was incredible. Actually, Through Painted Deserts is trumped by the popularity of the national bestseller. I think that's a shame, though, as I've found that I've taken more life lessons from Through Painted Deserts than Blue Like Jazz. Specifically, the following passage has carried me through momentous, life-changing times in my life. Miller's words from the very same foreword he read aloud at Bel Air Pres on that crisp California evening in 2005 resonate with so many events in my life:

• It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out. I want to repeat one word for you: Leave. Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.

One last thing about my favorite read: The book wasn't actually published until five years (give or take) after it was written. Miller originally intended for the book to be called Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance (a spoof on the much more philosophical and serious work, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence by Robert Pirsig) but the publishers sent it back and asked for a rewrite. It wasn't after his success with Blue Like Jazz that Miller got to give Through Painted Deserts another shot. On his Web site, he wrote, "Through Painted Deserts will always be my favorite book. I think an author always likes his first book the best." Despite his setbacks, Miller knew what he wanted and ensured that his dreams materialized. He got stuck, had to try some different things for awhile and then was able to make his comeback. He left. He wasn't alone. And it was he who has changed.

I think I'll try that, too.

Bergdorf Blondes (Plum Sykes).

Before you navigate away from my blog, please give Bergdorf Blondes a chance (okay, male readers, maybe you don't have to, but girlfriends, hang in there with me). Plum Sykes is a talented author who started her writing career at British Vogue in 1993. A mere four years later, Sykes became a contributing fashion editor to American Vogue. She worked with fashion editor, Anna Wintour, one of the most powerful, terrifying and intelligent women in the world of fashion. Working at Vogue under the tutelage of Wintour gave Sykes the experiences she needed to cultivate her writing skills.

Sykes's experiences at Vogue paved the way for her first novel, which was based on the New York fashion scene. Bergdorf Blondes chronicles the adventures of Julie Bergdorf (the heiress of the Bergdorf department store) and her posse. Julie's best friend (who is only given the title of Moi instead of a first name) is the narrator of the book and the sassy brunette who documents all of the goings-on in the world of fashion. The story essentially follows the young women on their journeys through life, love, adulthood and the Chanel and Cartier sample sales.

This book was one of the first to catapult into the "chick lit" genre. You know the type: books that are the perfect beach read, full of fashion jargon, Gossip Girl-like plots and witty banter. The exception with Bergdorf Blondes is that it's incredibly well-written, giving the novel credibility and allowing it to fulfill the "lit" requirement of the nicknamed genre. Sykes's voice comes through clearly in the book; though Julie and Moi flit around New York, seemingly without a care in the world, the tone used in the novel conveys Sykes's understanding that there is more to obsess over in this world than this season's Marc Jacobs heels or MAC's new lipgloss. There is a down-to-earth sentiment in the midst of the chaos and superficiality of Julie and Moi's lives.

I actually set aside my more intense reads (a few Dave Eggers books I'm reading, as well as a C.S. Lewis pick) while on vacation at home this weekend and re-read Bergdorf Blondes to give my brain a break. I was consumed by the genius of Sykes's reading; I forgot how much I enjoyed the book. I finished it in two days. It's that good.

You definitely have to be in the mood for something as lighthearted as this but know that if you're seeking some quintessential chick lit, this is the book for you. I especially love that the plot is peppered with perfectly crafted pop culture references. Here are some of my favorite examples:

• If Nicole Kidman could look that glamorous while she was divorcing Tom Cruise, I could smile my way through a few unreturned phone calls. But it's really hard, you know. I realized that day that actresses like Nicole really deserve all those free clothes because looking blissfully happy when your blood is turning to tears in your veins is extremely skilled work. I say, Nicole didn't deserve an Oscar, she deserves the Nobel Prize. (Sykes 94)
• "Hi. I'm Jazz-eee," she said flirtatiously. "I have a proper book question. You know that book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius? Do you know if Dave Eggers, the author, is, like, single still?" (Sykes 229)
• The fact is that when you're down, it doesn't matter how many Bellinis and ball gowns you have, it doesn't make a jot of difference. Chloe jeans and Alpha-Beta peels don't make the nasty things go away. You have to live with the nasty things forever, like Liza Minelli does. (Sykes 244)
• Sometimes I wonder if I can get a divorce from Mom. I could cite irreconcilable differences over relations with our neighbor. Apparently Drew Barrymore did that and she turned out really well. (Sykes 264)
• Defeated, I let the car roll as far as it could onto the grass verge. I got out and sat slumped on the hood in a moody, Kelly Osbourne-style huff. (Sykes 268)

Though the content may not be completely stimulating, this book is completely entertaining. If you can't hop on a cruise or jet out to a beach, reading this book is the perfect vacation your mind needs from the grind of everyday life.

Wide Awake (Erwin McManus).

Wide Awake was one of the most helpful books for me during my transition from college into the "real world." I have to admit that I'm a bit biased about this book--I go to Mosaic Community Church where Erwin McManus is the pastor. I got the added bonus of hearing McManus discuss each chapter at church week after week, and his presentations provided me with the clarity I needed to fully understand the content found on the book's pages.

Regardless of my affiliation with both Mosaic Church and McManus himself, I truly believe that this is the perfect book for anyone transitioning into a new phase of life. It's also the right book for anyone who feels that their life has come to a standstill. The book is all about encouraging the reader to pursue a life wide awake, to pursue living one's dreams in present-day life instead of allowing them to remain as figments of their subconscious.

The book is broken down into chapters in order to explore the characters within ourselves that are waiting to be set free. Each chapter challenges the reader to dig deep and discover the potential that is undoubtedly within them. McManus encourages readers to recognize that we must be awakened from our sleepwalking in order to live the lives God has created for us. He calls us to understand that not only will our own lives be improved by comprehending our potential but he also stresses that the world needs us to live up to the standards God has set for us. We must create, dream, imagine and, ultimately, live. McManus mandates that we must live the lives that were set out before us in order to improve ourselves and our communities.

The book is simple to read and easy to follow. It's the type of book that some readers may be unable to put down; it's the type of book that other, more leisurely readers will be able to set down for a few days and return to without feeling overwhelmed or lost. The book is well-written, Biblically based and foundationally sound. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite chapters, a section that investigates the "Explorer" character found within each and every one of us:

In an excerpt from Wide Awake:

If you're going to create the life of your dreams, you have to once again choose to explore. You need to make it a life mandate to learn everything and anything you need to know to turn your dreams into reality. You have to start making yourself flexible and pliable again, because if you stop learning, you will stop growing and will never create a life beyond the one you have right now...

When you are called out by God, you have to take on a learning mode that recognizes you are called by God to explore unknown territories and go to uncertain environments. To some of you, God is literally saying, "You need to leave your country, your relatives, your house and go to a place you've known if you are going to live the life of your dreams..."

I wonder if some of you need to move to Tibet or maybe India or South America. Or maybe you need to find a way to deal with the issue of AIDS in Africa. Is it possible that to create the life of your dreams, you need to get up and leave what you know and relinquish the security of what you have in order to discover what you only see in your imagination? Remember, there is always a hero within you waiting to be awakened--that hero is the explorer.

--------------------

After reading the book, I found this quote by Henry David Thoreau that not only went along so well with Wide Awake but that served as consistent inspiration to me during my times of transition as well:

:: Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake. ::

Scar Tissue (Anthony Kiedis).

I have to start this post by issuing a warning: Scar Tissue is not for everyone, especially for those with weak stomachs and low tolerances for vulgar conversations regarding topics of drugs, sex and violence.

But maybe Scar Tissue should be a piece that everyone reads, regardless of personal background or past experiences. Whether or not the reader can relate to the content in the book, the perspective is fresh, interesting and entertaining, to say the least.

Scar Tissue is the memoir of Anthony Kiedis, the frontman of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. To be honest, I didn't choose to read the book on my own. I used to work for a PR agency that specialized in providing marketing solutions for members of the entertainment community, and the company was commissioned to do PR for this book. As a junior member of the company, I was assigned with the project of reading the book and taking notes that would eventually end up in the hands of a television producer, should it be determined that Kiedis's story was a good fit for the plot of a mini-series. Secretly, I was thrilled. Get paid to read? OKAY. I posted up at my desk, whipped open a Word document for note-taking purposes and dove into the text.

Kiedis's story is wildly different than my own; reading the memoir, then, was pretty eye-opening. Like me, he grew up in the Midwest. Unlike me, he grew up partying with his hippie dad, doing drugs before he hit double-digits and having more sexual partners than should be legal. Sometimes I legitimately felt uncomfortable reading the book because the scenes were so graphic; I feared that if my co-workers walked by, they'd judge me for reading about pornographic encounters and drug deals while in the workplace. Then I remembered that this was what I was supposed to be doing and I started to feel less conspicuous.

The book documents Kiedis's journey into the music world. He was never specifically interested in becoming a singer. He worked in the entertainment industry but the main reason for working was not to establish his rank amongst producers, musicians and actors; rather, the job was a means of earning a paycheck that would cover the cost of his drugs to which he was addicted. Kiedis was always in a relationship with someone; interestingly, the women in his life really started to shape who he became. He spent most of his time doing drugs, drinking and partying.

It wasn't until Kiedis was joking around with some friends, writing raps and setting them to music, that someone asked him to perform with a band as the lead singer. His style was rhythmic, unique and fresh, and people began to get excited about this new guy on the scene. His performances were outrageous and unlike anything anyone had ever seen.

Kiedis was pretty good at messing everything up, though. He consistently went on drug binges that would last for days, causing him to miss rehearsals and get kicked out of bands. No one could rely on him; he could hardly rely on himself. Kiedis lived to party, and that was evidenced by the poor choices he made on a daily basis. It was so interesting to read about his tribulations but certain parts eventually got redundant. That wasn't because his life and his struggles aren't interesting, because they are; it was more because the writing style of the book seemed to recount different situations in the exact same voice, and it was difficult to discern what made one encounter different than another. Eventually, all of Kiedis's screw-ups began to feel the same and it was almost boring when he got in trouble again and again. When would this guy ever learn? I thought to myself.

The end of the book offers redemption and hope. After numerous stints in rehab, Kiedis managed to pick up the pieces of his world. As the reader expects, Kiedis learns so much about himself, about living, about life.

I really enjoyed this book. It definitely put me out of my comfort zone. The writing style and voice were so true to Kiedis's personality that I felt like I was in a 300-page conversation with him. Some parts, particularly his struggles, were certainly redundant, but to his credit, they were based in truth and necessary for plot development.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking to read a memoir about whose life is definitely not out of a cookie-cutter mold. Specifically, if you're interested in learning about the background of the life of someone in the spotlight, this could be a good pick for you. If you choose to venture into Kiedis's world, here's what you might find:

In an excerpt taken from Amazon.com:

One day I showed up to rehearsal and Jack and Hillel, and Flea, who probably loved me more than any three guys on earth, said, "Anthony, we're kicking you out of the band. We want to play music and you obviously don't, so you have to go. We're going to get a different singer and we're going to go on so you're out of here."

I had a brief moment of clarity where I realized that they had every right in the world to fire me. It was really an obvious move, like cutting off your damn foot because it was gangrened so that the rest of your body wouldn't die. I just wanted to be remembered and acknowledged for those two or three years that I had been in the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a founding member, a guy who started something, a guy who made two records, and whatever else would come after that, that was theirs. Part of me was very genuine in letting go of the band. But part of what made it so easy for me to accept was that now I knew I had zero responsibilities and I could just go off with Kim and get loaded.

Much to their amazement I just shrugged and said, "You guys are right. I apologize for not contributing what I should have been contributing this whole time. It's a crying shame, but I understand completely and I wish you guys the best of luck."

And I left.

Beginning a Book Blog.

My friend, Aimee Molloy, and I were talking the other day about how much I love to read and write. A talented author herself, she suggested that I combine my passions for reading and writing by starting a blog about the books I read. Hmm, I thought to myself. That's not a bad idea.

I read books at an alarming rate, considering the other things I really should be doing with my time. When I get caught up in a story, it's just so dang difficult to tear me away from the beautifully crafted words written on the book's pages. While a mere child, I devoured books (specifically those amongst The Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley Twins series') the way other kids devoured Kraft macaroni and cheese. While in Ghana in August, I brought an entire carry-on suitcase full of books. And I read all of them. While discussing with my brother what I thought were great date ideas, I told him I'd love it if a guy took me to Barnes & Noble, gave me $20 to pick out any book I'd like and told me to meet him in a nearby Starbucks, where he'd have a chai tea latte waiting for me. My brother responded by telling me that I was a huge dork.

Before you judge me, please know that I am a very social creature. I adore people; in fact, spending time with loved ones is the other reason that I don't get supposedly important things (you know, like folding laundry, buying groceries or paying bills) done in a timely manner. I'd always rather join a friend at the beach or meet a buddy for coffee than accomplish any task that's lingering on my to-do list. 

But I have to admit that there's something so fascinating to me about books. Maybe that's because I love to write so much. I graduated college with a degree in journalism and while I opted not to go into the traditional world of media, I feel blessed to use my writing skills to benefit the non-profit organization (the Touch A Life Foundation) for which I work. I think I just have a different appreciation for books because I know how difficult it can be to write the content found on those pages. Writing, to me, is like a puzzle; it's not always easy to figure out exactly where each word or phrase should fit.

So, okay. I'm going to try this out. Read on.