trudatmusic.com » on writing, hounds, colts and what’s found…

Well, summer is officially over and i went out with a bang… and a bunch of coughs and a few sneezes and well… you get ths idea… still working through the recovery process… always lots of fun to deal with the cocktail of allergies, cold symptoms and lots to do… Anyway, i happen to have some pretty big plans for this week and i don’t have a load of time to devote here right now if i hope to make a dent in those plans, but i simply had to drop in and do an official wrap on the Summer Reading List and maybe something else, before jaunting off to try and accomplish other things elsewhere… so let’s get getting…

RELATIONAL REDEMPTION
- to the tune of Redemption – Switchfoot

Searching for God Knows What
- by Donald Miller

So, I finished this one about a month and a half ago already, but it hasn’t let go of my mind… it seems that whenever i read a book by Donald Miller, i feel as though i’m engaged in a running conversation with an old friend… i call him “the Donald” for no good reason and we have probably downed several gallons of coffee together over the course of each book… and that’s the way a rather good work of non-fiction should behave as far as i’m concerned…

This book in particular, reached me in a number of ways… i really appreciated the honesty with which Miller addresses the complaints and questions that arise when explaining faith to others… he opens the book with a chapter about imposters that explains in a sense how our own playful dishonesties in life can detract from the truth of the gospel we try to share it… i’ve found in my own life that, because i joke around a lot, people don’t take me seriously at times… mainly when i’m trying to be serious…

The thrust of the book offers the hurdles and logic that goes in to overcoming those doubts, concerns, questions or whatever… but more importantly, he details the steps that he took that allowed him to marry the messages of Christ with his own daily life… the lifeboat theory – a way of living based on comparison – is contrasted brilliantly with the life and message of Jesus and everything is all wrapped up nicely with a Shakespearean reference, which really drives it all home – in my head anyway… (I’m a bit of a Shakespeare junkie)…

Bottom line, Searching is a really profound discourse on the Gospel disguised as an easy read… definitely recommended… i think i could read this book several times and glean more each time…

A HERO AMONG HEROES
- to the tune of Quiet Storm – Smokey Robinson

Quiet Strength
- by Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy is someone that i admire… if you know me well, you’ll know that the way someone handles leadership plays a big role in shaping my opinoin of that person… after years of watching NFL games, there are a number of coaches that i either admire or can’t stand to see succeed… Tony Dungy has always been in the former group… it was thrilling to watch the Colts win the Superbowl a few years ago and moreso to witness the respectful and appropriate ways in which both coaches involved handled the media, the pressure and the game…

Quiet Strength is a memoir and it’s quite insightful as well as inspiring… i enjoyed reading about games that i remember watching from a different perspective an it offers an interesting look at the inner workings of the NFL… i even found myself getting very emotional while reading about the tragic suicide of Jamie Dungy… (hey, i’m a dad, too)…

Overall, the book reaffirmed my respect for a great football coach and man while proving to be a great example of how the good guys can win… (spoiler alert, the colts win the superbowl)…

DOG EAT DOG
- to the tune of Cruella De Vil – Hayden Panettiere

My Name Is Russell Fink
- by Michael Snyder

Zondervan really got behind this book… when i was at GMA Week this year, not only was there a billboard advertising the book prominently placed in the heart of Nashville, but there were also at least a dozen bassett hounds accompanied by boxes of this book being distributed on the sidewalk… And admittedly, based on the font choice for the cover and the picture of the dog, i was mildly interested in seeing what this book was about…

well, let me help you out… it’s an off-beat and quirky novel that deals with the awkwardness of life, death, and everything in between… it’s a pretty fun read, lighthearted, yet intense at the right moments and it includes bits of intrigue, action, romance, inactivity, and almost everything you can hope for… and the ending, well, let’s just say that i saw that coming, but when i got there i so didn’t see that coming… how about that?… check it out you disconnected folks looking for meaning in your life… you may just relate to Russell…

THE WRITE
- to the tune of Joywriting – Deepspace5

The Writing Life
- by Annie Dillard

I was told that this book was something of a “cheater” book because it’s only a bit over 100 pages, but i have to defend myself by explaining that i wrestled with much of this book and it took much longer to read than one might expect… Annie Dillard offers some wonderful insights into the world of writing as well as a number of warnings about making a living with writing… The Writing Life proves challenging and rewarding for anyone interested in choosing writing as a vocation…

I was assigned this book back in college and i certainly didn’t appreciate it near to the extent that i appreciate and understand it now… the struggles and joys of writing are equally detailed and, again, i highly recommend the book for those leaning in the direction of writing… my professor certainly knew what he was talking about…

THE READING ROOM
- to the tune of Leaves – Ours

Well that’s a wrap… thanks again to the fabulous Mark Lee for sponsoring this summer reading club… i didn’t think i’d get those all done, but hooray!… okay, so here’s the deal… i tidied up that Amazon Store to reflect the changing of the seasons and i’m going to keep on reading and commenting on books throughout the year…. i haven’t quite decided all the books that will make my fall lineup just yet, but i’m starting with the two listed below and i’ll sort the rest out a little later… i’d love to say that i’ve got lots of new books, but most of my inquiries have gone unanswered at the moment… still working on that and i’ll let you know… for now, here’s the final tally for the summer and the start of the fall…

Completed…