I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a truly positive review of a book from Publisher’s Weekly. They can be a bit snobby about books. And even their review of Million Miles is fairly safe. But I’ll take “funny as hell.” Here is their review. It will print in next week’s issue:
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Own Life Donald Miller. Thomas Nelson, $19.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-7852-1306-2
Miller, the accidental memoirist who struck gold with the likable ramble Blue Like Jazz, writes about the challenges inherent in getting unstuck creatively and spiritually. After Jazz sold more than a million copies but his other books didn’t follow suit, he had a classic case of writer’s block. Two movie producers contacted him about creating a film out of his life, but Miller’s initial enthusiasm was dampened when they concluded that his real life needed doctoring lest it be too directionless for the screen. Real stories, he learned, require characters who suffer and overcome. In desultory fashion, Miller sets out to change his own life—to be the kind of guy who seeks out his father, chases the girl and undertakes a quest. Along the way, he comes to understand God as a master storyteller who doesn’t quite control where his characters are going. An unexpected bonus of this book is Miller’s insights into the writing process. Readers who loved Blue Like Jazz will find here a somewhat more mature Miller, still funny as hell but more concerned about making a difference in the world than in merely commenting on it. (Oct.)
The book is available for pre-order on Amazon here or on Barnes and Noble’s site, here. It may be on shelves in less than a month!
And my friend Anne Jackson reviewed the book today over at FlowerDust. A great writer and a great blog.
P.S. What does Desultory mean? I had to look it up too. Here tis:
- Main Entry: des·ul·to·ry
- Pronunciation: \ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē also -zəl-\
- Function: adjective
- Etymology: Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to lea
Congratulations. I look forward to the read.
“more concerned about making a difference in the world than in merely commenting on it.”
I’d take that too! Shouldn’t we all be?
Very positive review! I’m looking forward to that “unexpected bonus”.
Very stellar review, especially the last line.
Can’t wait to read it.
ps. Even if your other books “didn’t follow suit”, I still love them.
I think the pressing question still is though, Don, do you really ride a fixie?
POMPOUS -Adj. 1. puffed up with vanity; “a grandiloquent and boastful manner”; “overblown oratory”; “a pompous speech”; “pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey”- Newsweek
Just saying…
Can’t wait to read the book, and I loved Anne’s review. What a terrific writer she is.
I giggled when I saw that you had the definition for desultory at the end of your piece. I had literally just copied it and was running a google search for the definition in another window. Makes me feel slightly less illiterate that you had to do the same thing.
I am very excited to read A Million Miles. I hope it is wildly successful and sells a bazillion copies!! All the best to you.
Congrats! I am glad you had to look that word up too … makes me feel better ;D. Can’t wait to read the new book.
Sorry for the duplicate, I’m trying to catch the attention of as many eyes as possible. I’m convinced somebody out there can help. Promise I won’t do it again!
Don…
I just read your book, and I feel like I need to talk to you. I’m sure you get this all the time, and I’m sure they all say their case is different so I will spare you and not go that route.
Simply put, I am someone looking desperately for answers. Answers that thus far have been left avoided, shunned, and unanswered within my church. I am intelligent person, constantly analyzing and thinking, yet such answers continue to elude me. I don’t know where to turn, I don’t know where to go. I have never doubted God’s existence, and I have wanted desperately to understand his purpose in my life but I have been afraid to look… afraid of what I will find. I’m trying to break that, I’m trying to move forward, and while this may not be much of a step, it is a step none the less.
I have great ambitions, and I do believe I was meant to read your book. It would be foolish to believe you are the only person with answers, but I didn’t know where else to turn. My faith is broken. My church is so simple minded, so judgmental, and while I understand the importance of faith, they follow so blindly without even trying to understand. I simply can’t do it… I need someone such as yourself who asks the questions no one else dares to. If you know anyone, or if anyone reading this knows anyone, I humbly beg you for your help.
Jonathan S.
great review don! i’m excited to read the book.
Can’t wait–seriously!!!
Don, thank you so kindly for the link.
@Jonathan, not sure where you are on your journey, but two books that have had a profound effect on my faith are The Inner Voice of Love and The Return of the Prodigal Son both by Henri Nouwen. Another, two fiction books (and I’m not much of a fiction reader) I’d recommend are Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron and The Shack by W. Paul Young.
Hope that helps…
Jonathan,
I’m not sure what questions you are asking in terms of looking for answers. Seekers find, but faith in God doesn’t come with an answer, often. It just comes with a decision, a trusting of the knowing that is within you. But I also think that you’ve been gifted as a person who asks questions. And not everybody does. But there are two things we can do with this: we can think of ourselves as better than others, because we are brave enough and willing to ask questions, or we can quietly serve those around us by softly sharing our answers. I like the latter. I only say that because your questions will only bring more questions. It’s the questions we want, sometimes, even more than the answers. It goes with an adventurous spirit. I am sure you have more specific questions, but those are some thoughts for the generally inquisitive person. BEst to you.
Don
Jonathan, (my EXTREMELY humble opinion)
“If you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me,” declares the Lord. “I will let you find Me.” Jer. 29:13-14
I do believe God really does have an answer for everything, but where I typically get hung up is always wanting to know them all too.
For me, it comes down to: do I believe Him, trust His character, have faith in Him to keep His promises and do I acknowledge that He is God and I am not?
I’m sorry to say, that more often than I’d like to admit it, I don’t.
We are all on a journey and it can be very dificult at times. Crossroads abound and we are allowed to make choices. It seems you may be at one…
When I recognize that I am at a crossroads (which can be daily) I have to ask myself; am I placing my faith in God, His character, His promises or am I sticking with how I feel, what others are saying/doing or what my own weak character might lead me to do?
I waiver, wander, and even throw a stink at times, but God doesn’t. He’s always there waiting for me to realize and remember that He never changes, He is trustworthy, He loves me, delights in me, and that the voice inside me tugging at my heart to trust in Him is His.
Let’s see, some good books I recommend are Searching for God Knows What and Blue Like Jazz… they are by some accidental memoirist…but are great ones even still.
But at my most drained and desperate, pleading with God and music seem to speak to my soul the most. By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North is a goodie.
Once, someone so graciously pointed out to me, “Stop being so distracted by always searching for God’s plan, Shelly, and realize that God is the plan.” It’s proven to be great advice.
Jonathan, May you be blessed knowing that you’re not alone, and that one of the best ways to find “answers” is to ask the One who wants to be yours.
In Him, Shelly
Congratulations, Don. On the PW spectrum, this is a glowing review. So proud.
Great answer. I love this: “we can think of ourselves as better than others because we are brave enough and willing to ask questions, or we can quietly serve those around us by softly sharing our answers.”
Don,
what it’s worth, I think that’s a pretty decent review. I am really looking forward to reading the book.
Maybe the books that followed BLJ didn’t sell as well, but your books have had a profound impact on my life. When I read “Searching for God Knows What”, it was the first time I felt okay with asking the big questions. For the first time, I didn’t feel as though asking questions meant I was abandoning my faith or refuting God’s divinity and/or purpose for my life. I was okay with saying, “God, whatever it is You’re up to, I don’t get it.”
That was two years ago. Since then, I have been on an amazing journey with the mystery. I still have questions, but I’m also learning that perhaps the sweetest romance with the Divine is the romance that doesn’t have a conclusive ending on this side of eternity. I am learning, quite happily, that I may not ever fully know all that is God, and not only is that okay, but that is how it’s meant to be.
I am not sure I’d want to be friends with a God I could easily define, whose ways I could put into simple terms. I’m also very certain I would not want to know a God who expects me to be an automaton as he or she plays out a predetermined purpose in my life, over which I have little or no control. I appreciate that God, as I know Him, allows me to make choices. Big choices. I am also thankful that His redemptive grace can cover the poor choices I’ve made, and truly give me beauty for ashes.
There are so many questions, and I don’t think I would be happy with being given all the answers. I think that, just as much as God invites us into a romance with Him, He invites us all to share the journey with each other. Sharing the questions in community and learning to experience the romance in new ways only makes God bigger. We still may not walk away from the conversation with any solid answers, but we may walk way with the pervading sense that, as big as our questions are, God is so much bigger. He is not daunted by our search, but deeply pleased with our eager quest.
Imagine how empty our univeral existence would be if we cared nothing for knowing the Creator. I honestly think it is only the gracious and staying hand of God and our desire for Him that keeps our world in the delicate balance between peace and utter destruction.
-Stephanie
Don,
For what it’s worth, I think that’s a pretty decent review. I am really looking forward to reading the book.
Maybe the books that followed BLJ didn’t sell as well, but your books have had a profound impact on my life. When I read “Searching for God Knows What”, it was the first time I felt okay with asking the big questions. For the first time, I didn’t feel as though asking questions meant I was abandoning my faith or refuting God’s divinity and/or purpose for my life. I was okay with saying, “God, whatever it is You’re up to, I don’t get it.”
That was two years ago. Since then, I have been on an amazing journey with the mystery. I still have questions, but I’m also learning that perhaps the sweetest romance with the Divine is the romance that doesn’t have a conclusive ending on this side of eternity. I am learning, quite happily, that I may not ever fully know all that is God, and not only is that okay, but that is how it’s meant to be.
I am not sure I’d want to be friends with a God I could easily define, whose ways I could put into simple terms. I’m also very certain I would not want to know a God who expects me to be an automaton as he or she plays out a predetermined purpose in my life, over which I have little or no control. I appreciate that God, as I know Him, allows me to make choices. Big choices. I am also thankful that His redemptive grace can cover the poor choices I’ve made, and truly give me beauty for ashes.
There are so many questions, and I don’t think I would be happy with being given all the answers. I think that, just as much as God invites us into a romance with Him, He invites us all to share the journey with each other. Sharing the questions in community and learning to experience the romance in new ways only makes God bigger. We still may not walk away from the conversation with any solid answers, but we may walk way with the pervading sense that, as big as our questions are, God is so much bigger. He is not daunted by our search, but deeply pleased with our eager quest.
Imagine how empty our univeral existence would be if we cared nothing for knowing the Creator. I honestly think it is only the gracious and staying hand of God and our desire for Him that keeps our world in the delicate balance between peace and utter destruction.
-Stephanie
Sorry about the duplicate. Not sure how that happened.
Jonathan,
I don’t presume to know your questions or the answers to them, but like you, I have wrestled with many truths of our faith and have found answers to many and opportunities (as Don mentioned) for faith in others. I know we are strangers, but if you need a sounding board for some of your questions, feel free to contact me at the address below.
ct
tomlinsoncr@gmail.com
*Don, I don’t know if this is something you’re willing to put up on the board (and you probably can’t remove this comment if so), but if you need to vet this stranger (me) before providing a bridge to another stranger, you can get a background on me through JG.
kick ass.
Jonathan,
I’d recommend “Soul Cravings” by Erwin McManus – a somewhat abstract look at Intimacy, Destiny, and Meaning. They are short essays and Erwin is a pretty approachable writer and Christian.
Also (and oddly enough) I’d recommend Sex God by Rob Bell. He uses sex to illustrate the story of God – and in doing uses a tangible/relatable topic(sex) to answer questions about a seemingly nebulous God.
hope that helps. I get what you’re going through.
I was totally gonna say “desultory.”
congrats on a pretty fantastic review. they noticed well a focus shift & were not stingy in pointing it out. looking fwd to this read!
jonathan,
I know from personal experience that the answers to our questions in life are embedded in our daily discourse. There may be little confusion, inconsistencies that do not fit into how we are taught to see the world. But God always gives the main response we need. Moreover, we already know the answer, but often choose not to see it because we are afraid. You know that. It is courage that is needed. And that’s also what God gives. Do not forget that Jesus accompanies us on our journey, and together we left 2 pairs of footprints in the sands of our time, but in the hard years, are only a couple of tracks because Jesus carried our load, we are not abandoned.
Do not worry, another has gone through the same path as you, Don is one of them and wrote about it.
Peace
Oscar
Don,
I can’t wait to see you on your book tour! I’m having coffee with Susan Issacs later this month and I’m sure the two of you will be one dynamic duo!
-Jenni Brown
I can’t wait for it!
‘Funny as hell’ sounds great to me, too!
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of your book! I pre-ordered from Amazon. Now if only your book tour brought you to Vegas…
Hi Jonathan,
My earlier post made it sound like my relationship with God is all sweetness and sunshine, and I never wrestle with my faith. The reality is, I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know what the questions are sometimes. There are times when I just have a gnawing feeling that there is something I am missing, and I have no idea what it is or where to find it. My world feels very insecure during those times, and there are few things–spiritual or not–that make sense.
Yes, I do think a relationship with God is a romance. There are times, though, when I think God is a lousy husband and He can just sleep on the couch.
I have also been told many times that God is my Heavenly Father, and there are many moments when I am thankful that my earthly father does not treat me like my heavenly Father does. I’ve been going through a lot of stuff the past two years, and I’ve been waiting for things to turn around for awhile now. I get tired of struggling to get by, and I’ve been doing that for a long time. Sometimes I say to God, “Hey, it’s me…Your beloved daughter. Remember me? Can you just throw me a friggin’ bone here and remind me that I matter to you?”
At this point in my life, I have more questions than answers. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but I am also okay with the mystery. I know that as I press on, things will eventually feel more comfortable and I’ll know more than I do now. So, I am okay with the journey, rough as it is.
Wishing you well in your own journey,
Stephanie
Jonathan, I don’t know if you will relook at these posts, but I thought I would just put it out there just in case…
1st – Jeremy Camp’s CD Carried Me – The Worship Project was huge to me during a particularly dark time in my life. He’s awesome! Check it out.
2nd – Today, I found myself at an all too familiar crossroads. (daily, I tell ya) I actually made a date with God because I was so desperate to chat. (seriously.)
ANYWAYS, something that I’ve realized through my walk…which has been a rough one for 14 years (due to me)… is that my relationship with the Lord didn’t change or get deeper until I realized, (for me – because of my pride), it wasn’t just “accepting” God as my Savior, it was acknowledging and coming face to face with the fact that I desperately needed (and need) one. I wasn’t doing Him any favors by “allowing” Him into my life, He was graciously and mercifully offering me life, in exchange for me realizing I was dead without Him.
My faith became MY faith, something that I won’t trade for anything and don’t ever want to live without, the day I realized that I was desperate for a savior, that I had to have one. (Pride and fear can convince you otherwise…pride, fear and Shelly can be quite chummy)
It has been said that you don’t know that God is all you need until God is all you have.
I’m telling you, from personal experience…God is all you need. Unfortunately, (I believe) that is something we all have to figure out on our own. For me, it took 14 years of fighting it…the storms kept coming and as the waves got bigger, I began becoming more and more desperate for Him. My faith began to take hold…it started to become real and He began to come alive to me. When the hurricane hit, I was holding on to Him, and I finally realized that He’s the only reason I didn’t and that I don’t drown.
I don’t just accept Him in my life, I am overwhelmed by Him graciously saving me…
There is a song by Need to Breathe titled, Something Beautiful…it could be the story of my life and what God has shown me. I believe it is Psalm 27 in song…
As I have walked with God, I have discovered that He won’t let me drown, and I don’t ever want to leave His side. I want Him to consume me, I want to be on my knees every moment, waiting for Him, abiding in Him…His life in me is my Something Beautiful…for me, an exhausted prideful fighter, it’s very beautiful!
I just wanted to share something I learned on my date over a great cup of coffee…
In Him, Shelly
(I fully realize that I will have to remind myself of all of this tomorrow…yet again. Unfortunately, the people of Israel went in circles for 40 years in the desert, I am not much different.)
I have been told many times that God is my Heavenly Father, and there are many moments when I am thankful that my earthly father does not treat me like my heavenly Father does.
Hey. You’re coming to Victoria. That’s like 43 min from my house. I gotta come now….