Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love became runaway best sellers in the emerging category of memoirs.? Readers were drawn like magnets to Lamott’s faith journey, set amongst her left-wing family in California and they were equally smitten with Gilbert’s personal growth as she explored Italy, India and Indonesia.
Meet Sarah Cunningham.
Sarah is the author of Picking Dandelions: A Search for Eden Among Life’s Weeds (Zondervan 2010).
On one hand, Sarah is quite different than Lamott and Gilbert. She grew up in the cornfields of Michigan. Her parents were Southern Baptists. They voted Republican. She’s been married to one man, a college sweetheart, for seven years.
In spite of those differences, there are some things in Lamott and Gilbert that you’ll find in Sarah too.
Honesty.
Humor.
Quirkiness.
Guts to explore and laugh at life’s dysfunctions.
Sarah Cunningham’s new memoir, Picking Dandelions: A Search for Eden Among Life’s Weeds, uses some of the same approach to delve into the quirkiness and humor on the other side of the religious and political spectrum.
Take how Sarah journaled her prideful thoughts for a week straight…something she reports backfired because people don’t make 4,000 page journals. Or the heart to heart talk she has with God in which she cites Drew Barrymore’s career while praying (as if God is impressed by an occasional pop culture reference, she says). Or her story that ends with this line: “Jesus wouldn’t charge people to pee.”
In the end, Sarah’s loose collection of stories accomplishes something insightful too. A subtle theme hangs in the background suggesting that humans, especially those on a quest for God, cannot afford the luxury of unchanged living.
It’s sort of refreshing that Sarah, raised in the right wing, can weave elements of faith into a spiritual memoir too because it suggests that there are valid, messy spiritual discoveries for all of us, no matter what corner of the earth or political landscape we grow up on.
Intrigued? Learn more about Picking Dandelions: A Search for Eden Among Life’s Weeds.
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What’s a memoir that’s impacted you?
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Comments
24 responses to “Book Alert: Picking Dandelions”
This was such a good book, and literal laugh out loud funny in some parts. It was like reading a memoir ghost written by a writer from The Office.
Totally dug this book.
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..Through Aged Eyes: A Plea for Nursing Home Ministries =-.
I don’t really identify myself with either political party, but I did want to ask you (in a non malicious way) about this:
“It’s sort of refreshing that Sarah, raised in the right wing, can weave elements of faith into a spiritual memoir too because it suggests that there are valid, messy spiritual discoveries for all of us, no matter what corner of the earth or political landscape we grow up on.”
Did you think, before reading this book, that only the left winged Christians had “valid, messy spiritual discoveries?” Forgive me if it sounds rude, but that seems a little close minded. And you don’t seem like a close-minded person. So I genuinely wondered about the meaning behind or thoughts leading up to that paragraph…?
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Beware of Dog(s) =-.
I just finished reading Traveling Mercies and thought it was brilliant…I couldn’t get enough of it…I was just thinking of buying a couple more of Anne’s books, but thank you for sending me Sarah’s book! I’ll definitely take you up on your recommendation.
Thanks Anne! And bless you for being such an inspiration!
I haven’t read this one yet, but as much as I like the memoir form, I am wondering if it is starting to reach a saturation point. So far this year I have read Sin Boldly, Grace Eventually, Assaulted by Joy, Jumping Through Fires (more autobiography than memoir) and Hole in Our Gospel (definitely memoiry, even if not a traditional memoir) and I am almost done with Hear No Evil.
So maybe it is my reading choices more than anything else. I like hearing other people’s stories. But the memoir form seems want to make everything into a lesson. Sometimes things are just stories.
.-= Adam Shields´s last blog ..Free Ebooks as of March 4, 2010 =-.
I’ve jotted this down on my MUST READ list!
.-= Linda Stoll´s last blog ..Fingernails Streaking Across a Blackboard =-.
Henry Nouwin’s stuff has impacted me. I think you could consider it in this category of memoir.
Another one is AW Tozers the Pursuit of God
Classics for me right there.
And of course D Miller and even your journey Anne, through your book and this blog.
Death Be Not Proud… intense. :)
“Stumbling Towards Faith” by Renee Altson is probably one of the most powerful books (memoir or other) that I’ve ever read.
And Sara Miles’ “Take This Bread”
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Daily 5 – Day 202 =-.
I’m actually reading Sarah’s book right now to review as well. I think it’s important to be able to read other people’s stories because we all have things we go through and it’s nice to know we aren’t alone.
.-= Kristine McGuire´s last blog ..Life In Real Time =-.
Sounds interesting….me likey the memoirs.
.-= Josh´s last blog ..A Break in the Clouds: Lent (part five) =-.
Hi Meghan,
This is Sarah (the author of the book). Thanks so much for your comments about how the book is described.
To be honest, the phrasing that paints me as being somewhere between the two political poles, is language used in our publisher’s summary.
I’m sure you’re right that neither Anne, nor me (nor my publisher) were narrow minded enough to think messy discoveries are limited to the left wing. Rather, I think that phrasing is designed to help people know what to expect.
I.e. Expect the kind of honesty and transparency that has typically been more common to liberal writers who may be more open about their misadventures. (Its sad to say, but in my experience, some raised in conservative circles may feel more guarded about admitting “messes” as they fear criticism from their surroundings). But, we also wanted readers to realize that despite my transparency, I wasn’t raised in the left-wing, but on the other side of the pole (so they weren’t disappointed in finding stories that hailed from Republican, Southern Baptist territory). :)
Thanks so much for your comments. It will help us think through how to write descriptions about the book in the future.
Hey Sarah,
Thanks for responding! Raised in Georgia, I grew up in a very conservative, right-wing leaning area. Now, as an adult,I am surrounded with people that fall on both the conservative and liberal side of politics and everywhere in between. If anything, it’s shown me that life is messy for everyone in some way and that God can make order of that chaos. Life doesn’t discriminate between political parties-life problems happen to everyone. And God doesn’t discriminate between sinners-no matter who they vote for, but He offers salvation and spiritual revelations to all who seek Him.
I guess seeing that paragraph made me feel like only one group of people were considered the ones God would show truths to in the midst of hardship. Seeing your response made more sense of it. I can totally understand what you are saying about conservative circles hiding their “messy” parts of life with all their other skeletons in the closet, because I have seen that happen first hand. A fear of judgment silences someone when they want to speak out about their struggles, and that silence only says for those who are struggling that everyone else must have it together. It’s a self-perpetuating problem, and I’m glad to see you breaking it in the name of the conservative group, if only to show that they too face struggles and have issues as well as freedom from those problems or a way to cope with them found in a loving God.
Thanks for your explanation.
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Beware of Dog(s) =-.
this sounds really good! i’ll have to throw this in my cart on my next amazon.com shopping trip. ;)
a couple months ago i read susan isaac’s memoir, angry conversations with God. it was so honest and refreshing. i really appreciated her perspective on things (esp relationships) and how we see God the Father and Jesus.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..playful pillows =-.
Picking Dandelions is on my to read list when i finally finish a few more i’ve already brought.
As for memoirs that have influenced me, i found Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller to be really impacting.
.-= Joanna´s last blog ..Commenting problems =-.
Same Kind of Different As Me…Ron Hall & Denver Moore made me question if I was doing enough in the life of anyone outside my comfort zone to make a difference in the world.
.-= Reading Rosie´s last blog ..Tom’s Toasted Peanuts Store Jar =-.
I love reading memoirs, so thanks for the recommendations. One of my favorite memoirists is Lauren Winner, who’s written Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath – both excellent.
.-= alisha´s last blog ..Send me a postcard please! =-.
I’ve read so many, but two that come to mind right now are Night by Elie Wiesel and Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks… I’m not sure why they’re on my mind, but they impacted me.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
.-= bondChristian´s last blog ..Try this to get clear on salvation =-.
I will have to put this on my list.
I just read Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner, it was so funny and I related to it A LOT!! You can read my review here; http://www.thewardrobeandthewhitetree.com/2010/02/hear-no-evil.html
And I have been reprimanded by several people because I have never read any of Anne Lamont, so I just got two of her books, Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercies.
I have been on a book reading bindge lately. I do that, I will have to take breaks periodically after I over dose on them :-)
I made a page on my blog of my top 20 books since I started reading books seriously. #1 is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. It’s not about divorce, it’s a fictional story of people in hell who get to take a bus ride to heaven, would they stay? Why or why not? It’s a must read in my opinion. Even Lord of The Rings can’t knock that one out of the #1 spot, it’s that great. I’ve read it several times.
.-= Carole Turner´s last blog ..I.C.U. =-.
Oh and I am writing my memoir now, it’s taken me two months to write 24 pages :-) I am hoping to finish before I’m 45 ;-) It’s called Finger Nail Droppings…yes I explain the title in the book..fun fun.
.-= Carole Turner´s last blog ..I.C.U. =-.
I’m actually reading Sarah’s book right now. I’m really enjoying it. It is funny and moving and I love her use of the language. :)
.-= Linda B.´s last blog ..The Life Creative… =-.
Crud! I so didn’t want to add any books to my reading list for awhile. But this sounds right up my alley.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Message Received. Loud and Clear =-.
Girl thanks for this reccomendation I ordered it the same day and have not been able to put it down for two days it is such a great book. I trust your book picks and now feel sad that you dont have that section anymore of all the books you reccomend :( but Im good for now. I have picking danedelions, Insecure no more by beth moore and Live Big by katie Brazelton. If I am missing out on anything good let me know.
If you enjoyed these memoir books, I’m curious what your reactions will be to a male version of these same genre. Has my book made your reading queue yet? :)
.-= Angus Nelson´s last blog ..Back After an Involuntary Break =-.
I’m about halfway through “Picking Dandelions” and I’m loving it. We’re having a chat with Sarah Cunningham over at a blog I’m affiliated with if you’d like to check it out.
Details:
July 26th
8:00 p.m. central 9:00 p.m. eastern
I’m bookmarking you!
.-= Dana´s last blog ..The not-so Little Momma That Could =-.