Anne Lamott is a fabulous writer. She has the ability to take the stories of her life, ordinary stories, and not only make them engaging, but inspiring. When I read Traveling Mercies I closed it with a new found appreciation for the day to day experiences of my own life. Reading Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott, was no different.

I didn’t tab this book very much, and I read through it so fast that I didn’t think to mark quotes to share, so I’d just recommend you pick up the whole thing and read it through. She makes a number of references in here to her distaste for George Bush, which might turn some people off, but it’s geniune.  She has a whole chapter on her experience with trying to follow her pastors admonishment to “love your enemies”, in which she happens to choose George to work on loving more.

It’s also interesting to read from a parenting perspective, as this collection of essays contains a lot about her son as he’s growing older and entering his teenage years. Her previous book talked about him at a younger age. The opportunity to follow them through a journey of parenting, an honest journey where everyone isn’t smiling all the time, is refreshing. It lets you know that your not alone, and that you’ll make it through the good and the bad.

It appears Lamott’s received both praise and criticism from the evangelical community. Praise for her honesty, criticism for her stance on abortion. In light of our recent conversations, I’m hoping to read more of her thoughts on the topic of abortion and others responses to it to gain more perspective on the issue.