I looked around for Blue Like Jazz out of curiousity, enjoyed reading the first few pages, finished it, and loved it. We have books about faith and Christianity sitting around our house but this is not like anything I've read before. I don't pride myself on being a bookworm, and I don't think I can say anything about it na hindi pa nasabi sa mga reviews. So I won't try to sound smart, instead, I will make it more personal like speaking to a friend. Kung tatanungin ako what this book is about, off the top of my head, I will say, sabi nga nila, it's about the author's faith journey and how that faith should translate to how we live our lives and interact with people. Sunday School kid ako and though I had my years of being a so-so Christian, I don't remember going through skeptism. So reading about what goes around the mind of someone who is seeking to validate God is interesting to me. Para sa 'kin, it's also a mix of simple and complex. Simple lang naman ang sinasabi niya talaga, pero yung simpleng yun hihimayin, and I remember thinking, "naisip mo pa 'yun?" Medyo naging careful din ako kasi baka maging masyadong thought provoking than I can handle, may maalog na turnilyo sa utak ko maaning ako. I should add "haha" after that sentence pero hindi na lang kasi seryoso ako at hindi masyadong joke yun. Sabi nga ng dati kong TL, he stopped watching CSI kasi he reached this point na kapag nakakita siya halimbawa ng isang bagay, he finds himself wondering how that thing got there and all deep-diving kapraningan. Same analogy here. Hehe. But aside from messing with my intellect, the booked also moved me. I am a frustrated screenwriter so particular ako sa dialogues and there were conversations in the book that I find super cute. It is also funny, think of Bob Ong. When I read a book of the latter, I see myself smiling ear to ear and maybe my shoulders would shake from time to time. But here, I laughed out loud, the thing we do while watching TV or movies. Nung natawa ako ng ganun while reading feel ko mukha akong tanga, ang weird ng feeling pramis. At syempre, when I say I was moved, kasama na diyan yung nateary eyed ako with matching "God is good", "writing is art", "life is beautiful" killer combo.
I've only read it once but I plan to read it again. Sabi nga ni Ann Coulter we have to read a book a dozen times to really appreciate it (sana hindi obvious na siningit ko yun para kunwari kilala ko siya). I texted a friend that to me, the book "is more than good writing, it is art", which by the way is such a poser to thing to say, how I wish I was making this up, but this is really something I texted, and I still cringe.
I also wanted to know what other people think about it so I checked the reviews on GoodReads and I was suprised with what I learned - half of those who reviewed the book did not like it. Apparently, some of them read it because a lot of people are talking about it, it turned out to be too hyped up for them they wound end disappointed. I also thought the book would be good for those who wanted to learn more about Christianity, but it turns out that they were the ones who were not impressed. The book appeared to have appealed more to believers, myself included. Quite a few of them comments about the book being just a glorified blog and that the author Donald Miller and is trying hard to be cool.
Here are some of what other people from GoodReads have to say about the book. Atleast these are the ones I like. Hindi naman siguro masyadong plagiarism 'to dahil hindi ko naman sila inaangkin, but these are solid points if I were to recommend or tell someone about BLJ.
Ben says:
It's not a very deep or penetrating book. If you're looking for the deeper questions of science and the existence of God, or musings on morality, this is not the place to turn. Donald Miller was no Dostoevsky, nor was he as analytical as I would've liked. I do not recommend this book for non Christians.
The tone is very informal. He's just one of the guys talking to you. His message is a positive one: focus on love and Jesus, not doctrine and religiosity. And really, his childlike look at things is refreshing at times. I did appreciate this quick and easy read, for both its entertainment value, and its ability to remind me why I'm a person of faith.
Aerin says:
The substance? There isn't much. Basically: Love is good. God is good. Humans are f****d up. But God loves us and if we love each other, everything is better.
Okay, that's nice I guess. I heard it a thousand times over in Kindergarten Sunday school, but thanks for the refresher course.
Mme. Bookling says:
I think what drives me crazy is that everyone in my "Christian" generation leans towards these trendy, faddish books that finally tell them how they feel about god, when there are so many other great theologians, philosophers, and thinkers that will challenge you.
Mitch Nichols says:
If you approach the book as one man's journey to faith told in a friendly and humorous manner then you will enjoy Blue Like Jazz. Miller didn't write it to be a definitive treatise on theological or doctrinal truths...he wrote it to express the need for a little more humility and a bolder testimony before the watching world.
Alex:
It's humble, and I believe that's its greatest strength. I believe it readily asserts how you can believe without abandoning your intellect, but it does so through the simple truths of what Christ asked people to do to each other
Seph:
Don is not a theologian, nor is this an attempt towards a systematic theology. I think there is some fuzziness to his view on Truth, and at times I wish he were more dogmatic, but Miller had no intent on making this a treatise of theology nor should we attempt to make this book into more than it is intended to be.
I don't think I will look up to Don Miller as a faith role model (I'm not a fan of his drinking and smoking hehe) but I like his writing and I am looking forward to reading his other books. :)
