Blue Like Jazz

Partly modern-day Francis Schaeffer, with F.S.'s down to earth/you don't have to be a university graduate to understand/I'm being completely honest with you attitude; partly G.K. Chesterson's paradoxes and isn't life fun!?!?!?!!! style; and partly C.S. Lewis' practical christianity, Blue Like Jazz is a fresh perspective on life and everything that comes with it. I am not saying that Donald Miller can write like the afforementioned gentleman, but an intangible something that makes up their passion for God and the gospel of Jesus Christ comes through in his brutally honest words. Definately not your typical Christian self-help book, or a hokey "three-step plan,"
he stays away from lists and typical Christian plots to sell Christianity. Neither is he like such wonderful modern Christian authors such as John Piper. He's just Donald Miller, who I can only describe as jazz.

"Donald Miller writes like a good improv solo-smooth, sweet, surprising, uplifting, and full of soul and fury and joy." Brian McLaren
(what he said)

a sample: "Author's Note- I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theatre in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxaphone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he didn't open his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."

p.s. very good for dinner conversations, but don't hand the book to anyone younger than thirteen. if you read it, which i highly recommend, don't be put off when you read the chapter about him not liking going to church. parts of the book are his spiritual journey, and later he gets over his church allergies.
r. the b.o.