Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Outstanding Book Rec...


Hi, my name is Charla and I'm a readaholic; or maybe bookaholic. Which one is more appropriate? I'd say readaholic because I like to read pretty much anything and I've always been that way. I remember as a little girl, riding in the backseat of the car and reading aloud all the signs on the highway as we drove. I was reading by age 4 and not because I was any genius or any more smart the any other average four-year-old. I just loved it and could often be found in my room with one of my favorites either on my bed or on my floor. So, much less smart and much more nerd! Some that made my "best" list included any Shel Silverstein books, all the Mother Goose nursery rhymes, Judy Blume books, all the Ramona books, the classic Golden Books, Bridge to Terabithia, any Babysitter Club books, and on and on.

As you've probably noticed, I always have a picture of my current read in my sidebar. But rarely do I ever actually write about a book after I've read it. It has to be very smart, very interesting, maybe even humorous, but absolutely something that makes me think!





So, I'm going just touch on the last book I read, "Same Kind of Different As Me." If you haven't had the pleasure of spending some time with this one, it is a must-do! I mean it. Go get it now; run to Barnes and Noble, get on Half.com, hurry to the public library. Whatever it takes, this book is worth the read. First, it is a true story; a tale of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy, white art dealer and a drug-addicted, homeless black man. This book is not only thought-provokin,g but faith affirming and a much needed reminder about God's plans and how they aren't always the same as, but are always wiser and better than, ours.

There are so many instances I could quote, but I will only include this one which was at the very end. It is obviously the inspiration for the title and I just love it because it can be applied to each and every one of our lives at some point. The man speaking is Denver, the homeless man from Ft. Worth.

"Even though I'm almost seventy years old, I got a lot to learn, too. I used to spend a lott atime worrying that I was different from other people, even from other homeless folks. Then, after I met Miss Debbie and Mr. Ron, I worried that I was so different from them that we wadn't never gon' have no kind a' future. But I found out everybody's different--the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or something in between, this earth ain't no final resting place. So in a way, we is all homeless--just workin our way toward home."

8 comments:

  1. My aunt Rosie went to high school with the author of this book and has an autographed copy of it that he sent her. The inscription says something about being his first kiss or something like that. I didn't think anyone else had heard of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am also a self classified readaholic. I love all books and will have to check this one out. I will be praying for you. I am also on Kelly's prayer list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I loved this book! It's life changing.

    I noticed that you had Blue Like Jazz on your list. Have you read that? Did you like it? I bought it awhile back but have never read it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey there! We have many of the same book "loves" it seems! :) I read this one recently as well. I was upset several times during the illness (speaking in vague terms as to not give anything away) and had to put the book down at times. I think it is a really interesting and thought-provoking story, though. Glad you posted about it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. P.S. I ALMOST asked in my comment if you had ever considered reading "Twilight" but then thought, "No, Char is too deep for that!" Lo and behold, I click back on your blog to see you are reading it. I-LOVE-IT! I just started book #2. I never in a million thought I would enjoy--more or less ADMIT--to reading a book about a vampire, but I really just can't get enough! Can't wait to hear what you think when you finish it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I LOVE this book too! A friend let me read hers, but I really want to go get my own copy now so that Nathan can read it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the recommendation. I love to read also, and will definitely give this book a try.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sent a little New Year's gift home for you with Reta...Hope it makes you smile!!! Love ya!

    ReplyDelete

Comment away, y'all!