Christian non-fiction is hit-or-miss for me.
I've reread Blue Like Jazz three times, but many others have been tossed aside before I'm halfway through!
Hear No Evil was not one of the tossed aside variety - I couldn't put it down!
Hear No Evil, by Matthew Paul Turner, is a light-hearted, but honest, look at the intersection of faith, music and life for the author. Everything from growing up fundamentalist to his calling to be a Christian Michael Jackson. The book follows his journey from childhood, through college and into fatherhood.
I laughed out loud throughout this entire book. At the image of Turner's family covering their ears at Sea World when Michael Jackson come over the speakers. At his reference to the I'd-rather-be-dating-Jesus Pentecostal women. At God's voice telling him to rewrite the lyrics to George Michael's "Faith" to make them holy. Even his deep love for Amy Grant. I seriously could go on and on.
And in the midst of all this laughter, Turner sneaks in some great spiritual truths and deep conversations. One of the most memorable for me was a conversation with a friend who had just confessed a hidden sin to Turner. I love this excerpt:
His face blank, Shawn looked down at the table. "I've made God look pretty stupid, haven't I?" He wiped a tear from his eye with a napkin and tried to smile. "A slob even. I've made God look like a slob."
"I guess we've all made God look like a slob at some point," I said, tracing a finger through grains of sugar on the table. "But I don't think we do that by being human. I think we do it when we pretend we're not."
I've reread Blue Like Jazz three times, but many others have been tossed aside before I'm halfway through!
Hear No Evil was not one of the tossed aside variety - I couldn't put it down!
Hear No Evil, by Matthew Paul Turner, is a light-hearted, but honest, look at the intersection of faith, music and life for the author. Everything from growing up fundamentalist to his calling to be a Christian Michael Jackson. The book follows his journey from childhood, through college and into fatherhood.
I laughed out loud throughout this entire book. At the image of Turner's family covering their ears at Sea World when Michael Jackson come over the speakers. At his reference to the I'd-rather-be-dating-Jesus Pentecostal women. At God's voice telling him to rewrite the lyrics to George Michael's "Faith" to make them holy. Even his deep love for Amy Grant. I seriously could go on and on.
And in the midst of all this laughter, Turner sneaks in some great spiritual truths and deep conversations. One of the most memorable for me was a conversation with a friend who had just confessed a hidden sin to Turner. I love this excerpt:
His face blank, Shawn looked down at the table. "I've made God look pretty stupid, haven't I?" He wiped a tear from his eye with a napkin and tried to smile. "A slob even. I've made God look like a slob."
"I guess we've all made God look like a slob at some point," I said, tracing a finger through grains of sugar on the table. "But I don't think we do that by being human. I think we do it when we pretend we're not."
Wow. That has really stuck with me.
The humor and honesty of this book really reminds me of Blue Like Jazz, and of course, I loved the musical theme of the book. It is a fabulous read.
I will be passing my copy on to a friend tonight.
*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
And thanks to WaterBrook, I am passing a copy on to one of you as well!
To enter, just leave a comment about your favorite musical memory from growing up - Christian or not!
For extra entries you can...
1. Tweet about this giveaway - leave the link!
2. Follow @JesusNeedsNewPR (Matthew Paul Turner) on Twitter
3. Follow @elmusic4kids (me!) on Twitter
4. Become a follower of Home with the Boys
5. Post about it on Facebook
Up to six entries per person! Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner!
Contest closes Monday, February 22 at 9:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org.
Up to six entries per person! Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner!
Contest closes Monday, February 22 at 9:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org.
I have heard about this book... sounds so good! Great review Erin! I am already a follower! :)
ReplyDeleteA memory I always have is when I hear almost any slow 80's song! :) I am taken back to junior high school dances... boys on one side girls on the other. Patiently waiting for your favorite boy to get up the nerve to ask you to dance!! Ahh the fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI alredy follow MPT on twitter.
ReplyDeletetypo above. oops! I already follow you on twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteI would tweet and facebook this, but I've given them up for Lent, but I'm leaving a comment anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite musical memory involves singing "rounds" during the worship at church. It seems like we never do that anymore, we just do echo songs instead.
ReplyDeleteOkay, one more legit comment and I'm done. I'm already one of your followers.
ReplyDeletePS> How did you get to do all of these book reviews?
Favorite music memory:
ReplyDeleteIn third grade I got to sing a solo in front of my church. I got through the whole thing, went offstage, and then realized I had forgotten to turn the microphone on!
In junior high we were going to do a musical about zombies (sort of 50s beach party movie spoof). I had the lead - it was so much fun. And then some people got all worked up that it talked about zombies and it was canceled. But we got to do a musical called Rock On! That was fun too (but I would've liked to have the lead LOL).
ReplyDeleteI now follow MPT on twitter
ReplyDeleteI also follow you on twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow MPT on Twitter :)
ReplyDeleteI follow YOU on Twitter :)
ReplyDeleteI have Re-Tweeted about the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read this!
ReplyDeleteOk, following you on Twitter, and JesusNeedsNewPR - and following your blog now ;-)
Favorite music memory: performing with my high school chamber choir at Carnegie Hall in NYC - unbelievable opportunity for someone probably too young to fully appreciate it.
one of my fav music memories is me and my younger sister driving around town in our parents suburban blaring out Air Supplies greatest hits...good times
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song was keep candle burning, point of grace...I just loved this song!!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember running around our coffee table as a little boy whenever Heart of Glass by Blondie would come on the radio.
ReplyDelete@jojosfire
I follow MPT on Twitter. @jojosfire
ReplyDeleteMy favorite musical memory is of my college job as a server at Johnny Rockets, a 50's type diner where the servers sing and dance. I have no idea how I even got the job, being a horrible dancer and even worse singer, but I nonetheless found myself disco dancing to "Stayin' Alive" while customers pointed and laughed. While this was certainly not my favorite period of personal history, I always smile when I look back and think about my horrendous Johnny Rockets performances. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW......I am now following you on Twitter..... Bmann24
ReplyDeleteMy favourite musical moment is hard. Music has always been a part of my life. I remember listening to the the soundtrack to "A Star's Born" with my mom and thinking how cool Kris Kristofferson is. I could go on and on about my weekly fights to defend the Christian rock I listened to, whether to the kids at school who teased me or the pastors and youth leaders who feared for my soul. Memories of concerts-my parents making me leave a Rick Cua concert early because it was to hard, my first of many Amy Grant concerts, with Russ Taff opening, my watching Liberace live at the NY State Fair(what an amazing show!!) and my now sharing hardcore bands with my 16 year old daughter, watching bands like Haste The Day, Sleeping Giant, RED and more at bars and clubs. I married a music teacher who plays piano, French Horn and sings. Music is and always will be a huge part of my life :)
ReplyDeleteI'm following you on Twitter now. @jojosfire
ReplyDeleteI retweeted too!! @jojosfire
ReplyDeleteNow following your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI''m reading Hear No Evil on my Kindle but would love to have a paper copy so I can share it with friends! My favorite musical memory might be my first double date to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. I was 13, he was 15 and the other couple was our youth pastor and his wife. Fun times!
ReplyDeleteOne of my best musical memories was being at the '97 Dove awards where my brother was in one of the bands that was nominated for best new artist that year. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteRich Stephens
....I also follow @Jesusneedsnewpr on twitter
ReplyDeleteMy sixth entry--I posted your review on my Facebook page:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/#!/fred.knowlton?ref=profile
"Time of my Life"... played as the last song at my senior prom... most everyone had left, but me and my close friends had stuck around and we danced to it in all its cheesy glory. :-)
ReplyDelete@laceyfran
I already follow MPT on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
@laceyfran
I have so many great memories about music, it's hard to pic one. I would say, that I remember blasting Flood by Jars of Clay from the windows of my car in highschool. Good times!
ReplyDeleteI already follow MPT.
ReplyDeletelesliegbarton@gmail.com
When I was very small some people came and performed in my church. They played brandy glasses of different sizes & amounts of liquid. I thought they were magic.
ReplyDeleteI already follow Matthew on twitter, and subscribe to his blog.
ReplyDeleteMy dad took me to my first concert- Petra at Southern Star Ampitheater in Houston. We were really, super far away, and I just remember standing on a wall or some chairs to try to see.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this book! It sounds fantastic!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so embarrassing to admit...but when I was younger, when I would see Michael Jackson sing and dance on TV, I wanted to be like him! I thought his voice and his dancing was amazing!!! hahahaha!
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT Com
Am now following Matthew Paul Turner on Twitter! KatyLMA
ReplyDeletethecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT com
I am following you on Twitter! KatyLMA
ReplyDeletethecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT com
I am now a blog follower!!! :)
ReplyDeletethecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT Com
My mom took me to a Relient K concert at Six Flags. They were my favorite band when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI also followed MPT on twitter.
I heard about the book from MOPS on Facebook and then linked to your review. My favorite musical memory was seeing "Little Shop of Horrors" at my local university. I love that musical!
ReplyDelete