Sidenote:

...so I was in B&N last night, and I looked up and saw a book with Donald Miller's name on it. Thinking I was out of the loop (again), I picked it up and read the summary. I realized it was Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance repackaged as Through the Painted Desert. Perhaps I was not alone in my assessment of the title? I feel sooo much better!

~ good for the soul ~

I have just begun to read Donald Miller's Searching for God Knows What, and I have a confession to make. On the first page of the first chapter, Miller makes reference to his first book which apparently flopped. Having devoured Blue Like Jazz, and already being keen on God Knows What, one would think that I might be surprised to read that the author was offered to buy back his first published work at 12 cents a pop - especially given his description of the story line. However, I am far from surprised... I am ashamed.

I remember the book well, and I must confess that I turned my nose up at it the moment it hit shelves. "Beautiful, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance. Yet another attempt by the christian community to knock off a heathen success and repackage it for the glory of God." A few years later, I remember my friend Aubrey (whose opinion I highly value, particularly in the literary realm) discussing how much she enjoyed the book. Yet I still could not overcome my own prejudices. I wrote it off as temporary insanity on her part, simply thankful that she hadn't succumbed to the power of Bible Bars (nutrition God's way!) or the Bear of Jabez.

Rumor has it that the currently out-of-print book will be republished following the success of Miller's more recent works (and, dare I say, cult-like following?). I will purchase said book, and I will accept my rightful label of "poser" who only gave the book a chance once it was "cool".