weekend read: Small Victories

I have a love/hate relationship with Anne Lamott.

Sometimes I read her writing and I’m encouraged. Other times I read it and she just annoys me. Sorry if that’s harsh–I know that Christian women love them some Anne Lamott. I get it, I do. Traveling Mercies in my early twenties did magical things to me. Bird by Bird still encourages me as a writer (and if you happen to have my copy, I’d love it back please…). But after those two books years ago, I took an Anne Lamott break. We needed some space, Anne and I. So when her most recent book came out, I decided our break had served its purpose and I was ready for her again.

I’m glad I read Small Victories. It was refreshing and honest and hopeful in a messy, real way. I love those things in a writer and I love those things in life. Sometimes I get distracted by her political views or her religious views; I wish her agenda was less-in-your-face. At times I caught myself wondering why she has such sick friends, it felt like every other chapter was someone dying of cancer or something just as horrible. But maybe that just means she has lots of friends. I do love her wit and sarcasm. She has a great way of combining hard stories with laughter and snarkiness which just makes me happy.

Through Small Victories by Anne Lamott the reader gets glimpses of truth and grace and God’s love. It’s not perfect, it’s a little rough around the edges, and there are still lingering questions like any good faith has, but we get to see our beautiful and cruel world through the lens of Lamott and we’re lucky to be allowed in.