Angry Conversations With God: A Snarky But Authentic Spiritual Memoir (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
This book was recommended by a friend as one that I'd appreciate. After reading the back flap, I was a bit leery...but went into it with an open mind. The result? I laughed at some points, nodded in complete agreement (or identified with) with others, and flat-out bawled through three-fourths of it. There comes a point in every Christian's life when they feel that God is out to get them - where it seems that everything is going wrong and God doesn't care, when trials come in life and you're ready to throw in the towel, no amount of cliched "God has a plan" phrases will cut it. I know that with trials in my own life in the past few years, I've definitely reached this point more than once. Susan Isaacs does what very few authors are brave enough to do - she takes the thoughts that we've all thought about God at some point in our lives and actually puts it on paper. She fights through the false images that we can cultivate of God, and shows what God really thinks and feels about His children.But this isn't a touchy-feely book, either. She's not afraid to admit that she can't give pat answers, that she doesn't have a magical solution to make all our problems go away. I found Angry Conversations with God absolutely refreshing and exactly what I needed, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is going through trials of their own. There are some elements that might offend some readers, however. She uses a bit of language throughout the book, and a particular friend is mentioned throughout the book who struggles with homosexuality - the decision he makes (while not necessarily condoned by the author) may not be one that many readers will agree with. She talks about her life as she grows closer and farther away from God, and there are some situations she finds herself in that some readers might find offensive.Lastly, there are times when her tone may come across as a bit irreverent by some when talking about God. However, I would add that these are all in the context of explaining how she felt about God during trials. And let's be honest - I've thought the same things before but never had the guts to say it out loud, and I'm sure many other Christians would agree. I give this five stars because it had such an impact on me when I read it. For those who grew up within the Christian culture and have hit a dead end, or dealt with trials and feel like they are dealing with more than they're able to bear, for those who are beginning to believe that God might be sitting ready to - just for the fun of it - dump another trial on them just as they admit they can't take anymore...this book is for you. I saw this book on Eric Metaxas's list of top books, so I checked it out of the local library. This is a great book! Funny, touching, sarcastic, insightful, and overall positive. It might take a while to get used to the author's humor/"snarkiness", but it is worth it. She relates her personal spiritual journey in a fresh and open way, putting voice to the questions and feelings that most of us feel inside. Sprinkled along the way are helpful perspectives on the struggles of faithful living in the face of disappointments and hardship.This is not a systematic or comprehensive theological look at the way a sovereign God works in a fallen world. But it is a helpful account of a person grappling with their faith and disappointment in life.
What do You think about Angry Conversations With God: A Snarky But Authentic Spiritual Memoir (2009)?
Very interesting way of looking at our relationship with God... very realistic and funny!
—Chanpanman
I was suurprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did!
—bobmcjoe
She should have kept going to a Lutheran church.
—5oo5a
