Blue Like Jazz

I finally finished Blue Like Jazz this morning. I've been working through the book since August - it took far longer to read than I expected.

I wanted to read the book because it was highly recommended and touted as a live-changing book by a couple people from my church. Over the last few years, I've noticed more and more how trendy certain things can become....and I think reading Blue Like Jazz is a bit trendy right now. I say this because stores like Chapters-Indigo can't keep it stocked for very long. I picked up my copy at Crux on sale for about $5 (regular price $19).

The book itself was interesting, and I wouldn't say it was a waste of time to read it. The author, Donald Miller made some interesting points about Christians and Christianity - how we miss the mark in so many ways with the way with interact with our friends, our community, ourselves, and our God. Blue Like Jazz is as its subtitle reads: Nonreligious thoughts on Christian Spirituality.

My problem with the book seemed to be more in the delivery. I found the author's approach really difficult to follow and to "engage" in. I didn't connect, and I couldn't relate to the author's perspective. First of all Miller writes in a stream-of-consciousness style, throwing grammar and punctuation to the wind. Now I can't claim to be an expert when it comes to grammar and punctuation (and I commit similar crimes regularly), but I am slightly appalled by what Miller can get away with in this bestseller. Didn't they edit the book before it was published?! I found following Miller's thoughts equally as frustrating. It's like following his thought process, but without knowing quite what he's thinking. You follow the story blindly wondering what the heck he's talking about, and hoping he gets to the point soon (perhaps this is the "Sensing" part of me coming through). I also found his male perspective coming through much stronger than I was expecting. I don't find I have the same kinds of questions Miller has about Christian Spirituality - I don't feel like I'm missing the mark. I'm not sure this was the book for me, but I don't want to say it's not worth reading.

I'll close this with one of my favourite passages from Blue Like Jazz :
"We would eat chocolates and smoke cigarettes and read the Bible, which is the only way to do it, if you ask me. Don, the Bible is so good with chocolate. I always thought the Bible was more of a salad thing, you know, but it isn't. It is a chocolate thing."
~ Donald Miller (p. 47, Blue Like Jazz)