We're feeling rather evangelical today....

While A Reader's Respite makes no religious claims whatsoever, we do enjoy reading some of the more *ahem* extreme ends of the theological spectrum. It may have to do with our evangelical upbringing (nothing like a Mormon family marrying into a bunch of evangelical Baptists for sheer entertainment value), but whatever the reason, here are a few compelling reads we've had our nose stuck into the past few weeks.




The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University, by Kevin Roose.

We downloaded this book to our Amazonian Devil Device after reading a compelling review on At Home With Books. And it was worth it. Author Kevin Roose was a journalism major at Brown University when he decided to see what all the evangelical hoopla was about down at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, a four year college in Virginia and the largest evangelical university in the world, and he documents his experiences here.


You just can't escape the humor in a secular student of the world being thrown into what he calls "Bible Boot Camp." Roose's biblical knowledge was scant as best, "...I knew the basics of the Genesis story (Adam names the animals, Eve bites an apple, and we all break into jazz squares), I could probably have named the four Gospels if you have me a minute or two, but that's where my Bible knowledge ended." Suffice it to say that his learning curve was pretty steep.


But rather than approaching the experiment with malice (satirist P.J. O'Rourke is credited here with comparing making fun of born-again Christians to "hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope"), Roose makes a concerted effort to open his mind to new experiences and the payoff is a big one.


While he doesn't experience any kind of religious epiphany while at Liberty, he does learn the value of reserving judgement and practicing compassion. Despite taking biology classes that spend all their time refuting evolution and attending groups like Every Man's Battle (to combat the sin of masturbation), Roose strips away the stereotypes to reveal young, college-aged students just trying to find their place in this world, much like their secular counterparts.


Highly recommended for the humor and the compassion, A Reader's Respite heartily encourages you to read this one.







I'm Perfect, You're Doomed, by Kyria Abrahams


Switching denominations here, we moved on to Kyria Abrahams hysterical account of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness. Abrahams goes less for insight and more for the humor (of which there is apparently endless fodder in this particular religious sect) in this memoir, poking fun at her childhood and young adult years spent in bewildrement over the myriad of rules and regulations set forth by doctrine.



Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Elie Wiesel were all considered bad associations. Not only did they not worship Jehovah, but they were activists, which meant they didn't trust in God to make changes on this earth and felt the need to take matters into their own hands. They were turning people away from Jehovah.

My father said this is probably why John Lennon was shot, becase God knew he was too close to bringing peace to the whole world.


The point was, if someone wasn't a Jehovah's Witnesses, he was going to die at Armageddon, and there was no point in befriending the condemned.

I'm Perfect, You're Doomed, by Kyria Abrahams


While you won't find any great philosophical revelations here, you will find slapstick comedy that will keep you in stitches. Light-hearted and irreverant, Abrahams bears no obvious malice over her upbringing, she simply sees the humor in it. And there's definately something to be said for that.




Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer

One last book, here, this one written by Jon Krakauer (he of Into Thin Air and Into the Wild fame). For those of you who like your religious exposes on the more serious side, Under the Banner of Heaven is not to be missed.

Part true crime, part Mormon expose, this book focuses on the pockets of fundamentalist Mormons that have flourished in years past in Utah, Idaho and the Four Corners area. Wrapped around the murder of a young Mormon woman and her infant daughter committed by fundamentalists, the more sordid side of this sect is uncovered in this compelling book.

Although heartbreaking in it's details, this book is difficult to put down once you turn the first page and since the capture of fundamentalist leader Warren Jeffs in the years following publication of this book ,there is much follow-up available on the internet for those who find this tale as riveting as we did.





We're happy to be able to offer a copy of Kyria Abrahams' memoir I'm Perfect, You're Doomed to TWO lucky winners. Just leave us a comment telling us why you'd like to read this one and on July 13th, we'll announce two random winners (international peeps are welcome, too!).

43 comments:

  1. Say amen, somebody.
    Wow, they all look like great reads. My son and I would be falling on these books like wolves on sheep.

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  2. Yeah, I got excited about this book after reading Alyce's review, as well! I got my copy and I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  3. I loved "Under the Banner of Heaven," it is just so well done. "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed" sounds quite entertaining. I'm like you, I enjoy reading about those of a different theological bent.

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  4. These books sound fascinating. They're going on "The List." Thanks for the reviews, I always look forward to them, but my list is getting really long!

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  5. "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed" - what a challenge right there! I am always fascinated to observe the world view of people different from me!

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  6. Wow! sounds fun! :) :)Enter me please :)

    veena.h.regit@gmail.com

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  7. "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed" sounds like a fun read. I'm a volunteer youth leader with the high school kids at my church. And I think there's some kids and families who have some rather interesting views/applications of their faith. It's always interesting to read books like this, laugh, and then reexamine what I say I believe and how that plays out in my own life. And also help the kids to do the same.

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    ruthann (dot) francis (at) gmail (dot) com

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  8. Count me in, I'd love to read I'm Perfect - I might actually learn something.

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  9. My goodness, but you've been in a religious mood here lately. I have The Unlikely Disciple and hope to read it soon. I'd love to read I'm Perfect, You're Doomed because I used to work with a bunch of Jehovah's Witnesses. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

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  10. I love these kinds of books as well, and your review has made me add The Unlikely Disciple to my TBRs for good. So glad you enjoyed Under the Banner of Heaven. Krakauer is pretty fantastic.

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  11. I would love to read "I'm perfect, you're doomed" because it sounds like it was written by a member of my family! (so you'd think they'd just give me a copy of the book! maybe it isn't them, afterall). I did read Under the Banner of Heaven and was so intrigued I did extensive follow up research on the legal case. It's not a book you forget. So yes, please enter me into the Theological Outliers Contest.

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

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  12. NIce roundup. I loved Banner of Heaven and I have a copy of Unlikely Discipline. I'll get to it soon, I hope

    Please don't enter me into the drawing. I like these kinds of books, but I space them out.

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  13. Count me in! My husband's best friend is a Jehovah's Witness (or J-dub as we call it, lol) and the religion fascinates me. I am a Christian and we always compare our two religions, it always seems to me that they just take the same beliefs we have but push them to the extreme. Anyway, I'd love to be entered in the giveaway.

    Also, I read Under the Banner of Heaven awhile ago and was completely intrigued by the book. I blew through it so quickly! Thanks for your thoughts on The Unlikely Disciple, I've been seeing that one everywhere and I'm starting to be interested!

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  14. I would not have wanted this book at all, until I read your review. Count me in.

    Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

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  15. I remember as a kid I had a friend in school who was a JW. I just could not understand the no birthdays/no holidays/no fun allowed concepts. It was, like, third grade, so was too little to figure it out.

    So please do enter me, I'd love to read "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed"!

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  16. As a graduate of Liberty University and a Christian, I find the concept of Unlikely Disciple interesting...thanks for bringing it to my attention! Apparently I graduated the semester before he was there, so I didn't know about this...

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  17. I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, and it's a relief for there to be a humorous take on it! Sometimes laughter really is the best course, and though I have enjoyed reading other people's experiences growing up in this very extreme religion, I very much look forward to reading Kyria's version!

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  18. What a bunch of great reading ahead for you. ENJOY!

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. A humorous twist on religious matters must be enjoyable. And I like the cute cover. :D
    linna.hsu@gmail(dot)com

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  21. Yours is the third great review I've read for The Unlikely Disciple. It's definitely on my list now! (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)

    (Sorry, I posted before using the wrong profile.)

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  22. These books all sound like something really unusual. And I appreciate it when authors present what happened, how it made them personally feel or think, and then leave it to the reader what to make of it rather than getting 'lecturey' about interpretation.

    This reminds me that I've put 'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible!' on my TBR.

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  23. What a fantastic trio of great reviews! I've been wanting to read the Kevin Roose book since I saw Alyce's review -- glad to hear it worked for you too!

    And "Under the Banner of Heaven" was an excellent read ... I'm a huge Jon Krakauer fan and although this was a bit of a departure for him, he did a great job with a pretty complex story. I love when authors can tie together a true story, history and a bit of themselves and make it all work.

    So I would LOVE to be entered to win "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed." Aside from the brilliantly funny cover, it sounds right up my alley -- I love memoirs, I love humor and I love books that explore religions I don't know much about.

    Fantastic post! Loved it!

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  24. I'm so glad to see that you liked The Unlikely Disciple! The other two books sound good too. I'd love to be entered to win the second one, and I've added the Jon Krakauer book to my wish list.

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  25. I've got the Unlikely Disciple on my list, but I hadn't heard of I'm Perfect, You're Doomed. It sounds really funny and I'd love to be entered.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

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  26. I'm glad to see you included Under the Banner of Heaven...I absolutely love Jon Krakauer's writing and I was completely enthralled with this book. If you have not already read Into Thin Air, please do.

    I would love a chance to win I'm Perfect, You're Doomed! It looks like a very entertainting and interesting read.

    Cheers,
    julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com

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  27. They all sound great! I've listened to the audiobook of Into the Wild so I'm familiar with Krakauer's writing style and quality of research. And I'm always up for a book about people seeing life from the other side of the glass. And, of course, humor is always a fabulous quality in a book. So sign me up please.

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  28. Oh, how I want to read all of those books!!! I've never read anything about Jehovah's Witnesses before and, as I live a mere 40ish minutes from Liberty University, The Unlikely Disciple is a must read for me. Those might be good because I'm on the lookout for a new church. I might learn about some to avoid. :)

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  29. I've got a problem. I keep finding new (to me) book blogs to follow. On these blogs, I keep finding reviews that make me want to read more books. I carefully add these books to my "must read" list. The list gets longer and longer...
    Thanks for being part of the problem!

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  30. Can I get a witness? Kyria's cover is interesting.

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  31. Michele, of these books I have only read the last one, Under The Banner..." and I totally agree with you. What an amazing, sobering, book. It was definitely un-put-downable. It is such a prime example of the horror that can result from being 100% sure you are hearing from "God".
    I'd love to read "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed" because I am always interested in learning more about the wackiness of religious exclusivism. And the silliness of religious legalism.

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  32. I've heard Krakauer's book is entertaining reading. In the interest of fairness, here's a Mormon response to his book:

    www.fairlds.org/pubs/Krakauer.pdf

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  33. Krakauer's book gave me a new understanding for the persecution of Mormons -- a sad chapter for a nation built on religious freedom. It's a great read, one that my college-age daughter is diving into this summer.
    p.s. Please keep me out of the drawing.

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  34. No need to enter me. I just wanted to say that I read the first few chapters of Under the Banner of Heaven before I had to return it to the library unread. I still intend to get it back at some point and read the rest of it.

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  35. Excellent evangelizing! I have two of these books on my wish list :)

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  36. I'd love to read I'm Perfect, You're doomed because I have yet to read a book that deals with religion in a candid manner. I am woefully underread!

    - Jezzah
    jezzahness(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  37. I already have "Under the Banner of Heaven" on my TBR pile. I'm going to add "I'm Perfect, You're Doomed". I dated a man who was raised as a Jehovah Witness and became fascinated with what he was taught growing up and how it seemed to affect him everyday of his adult life.

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  38. I'm sold on this book just with the title!
    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  39. The title itself is amazing, but this sounds like one funny book and I really do love memoirs. Count me in! I must read this one!

    -Lauren

    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

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  40. This sounds like a good one. I would like to read it because I am pretty good friends with a Jehovah Witness, although she hasn't ever stuffed her religion down my throat, you can definitely see the differences.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

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  41. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Honestly and sincerely, I would very VERY much love the chance to read I'm Perfect, You're Doomed - especially since I live in a very fundamentalist locale, and my own eclectic upbringing makes it more difficult to relate - but I've got a great sense of humor as well as respect for the subject, so this would be a huge hit at my house!
    PLUS I've almost finished reading 'How to Profit from the upcoming Rapture' - and it's one of the wittiest, though not unkind, books I've yet to have the pleasure of owning!
    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE enter me to win this one and I thank you so much for the opportunity :)

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  42. Sound like a very interesting read, I would like to be included, thanks!!!!
    dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  43. Despite the seriousness of the topic, I can only imagine this book to be entertaining. I'd like to enter this giveaway please. Thanks. =)

    lindanmc (at) hotmail.com

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Fire away!