Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy (Random House Large Print) Paperback – Large Print, April 4, 2017

If I wanted to sound hipper than I actually am, I’d tell you that Anne Lamott is my “spirit animal.” But at my age, I’m probably not cool enough to use terms like that. So instead, I’ll just say that Anne Lamott makes my world a better place, because her books are like elixirs for my soul. I’ve been hooked on her writings since my wife introduced me to them several years ago during a difficult period in our lives.When I read Annie’s books, I feel like I’m being hugged by her words, and “Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy” is no exception. In fact, the words on the pages of this book are the best kind of hugs, full of love and hope and spirituality. And even though I don’t consider myself to be a very religious person, I am a big believer in love, hope, spirituality, and the comfort they bring to our lives.In “Hallelujah Anyway,” Anne Lamott explores the complicated concept of mercy. The dictionary may define mercy as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm,” but Annie’s got a better definition: “Mercy is radical kindness,” she writes. “Mercy means offering or being offered aid in desperate straits. Mercy is not deserved. It involves absolving the unabsolvable, forgiving the unforgivable."Yes, mercy is complicated, but “Hallelujah Anyway” does a fabulous job of breaking it down so it’s easier to understand. And Annie even paints visual pictures of mercy that help you *feel* what mercy is. “Mercy is a cloak that will wrap around you and protect you,” she says. “It can block the terror, the dark and most terrifying aspects of your own true self. It is soft, has lots of folds, and enfolds you. It can help you rest and breathe again for the time being, which is all we ever have.” Can’t you just *feel* those words giving you a hug?Showing mercy isn’t an easy thing to do in this day and age, but it’s something that’s so very necessary. So many of us are struggling and hurting, and we need to be embraced and connect with each other. Because, as Annie states, “the last word will not be our bad thoughts and behavior, but mercy, love, and forgiveness.”Sure, people come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, religions, and ethnicities. But the bottom line is, despite all our differences, we are all human beings. And we all deserve mercy. And the way we start making that possible is to accept one another for what we are. In what I found to be the most powerful line in all of “Hallelujah Anyway,” Lamott tells us: “Polite inclusion is the gateway drug to mercy.”On the first page of Chapter One, Annie writes about “scary, unsettling times”—times “when we know that we need help or answers but we’re not sure what kind…. We look and look, tearing apart our lives like we’re searching for car keys in our couch, and we come up empty-handed. Then when we’re doing something stupid, like staring at the dog’s mismatched paws, we stumble across what we needed to find. Or even better, it finds us.”At this point in my life, when I’m going through still *more* trying times, I truly needed “Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy.” I’m so grateful that Anne Lamott put it out there for me to find. You should go find it, too. I guarantee it will make you feel better and give you a little bit of hope for the world we live in today.

First time reading anything by Anne Lamott. I was looking forward to reading this for a book club, but it was very disappointing. Her writing was rambling with no clear point. The language was coarse and her offhanded paraphrases of Scripture were offensive. She even quoted God as saying, "WTF, Jonah." The tone was depressing. I can't think this book would be helpful to anyone.

I love Anne Lamott. In fact, Traveling Mercies was a game-changer for me, and I also enjoyed Plan B. Since reading those, I have purchased other titles for my Kindle, and I haven't been disappointed. This one, however, was a miss. Ordinarily, Lamott's prose sings, and the images she creates with her honest portrayal of the human crises and insecurities we all share, give me food for thought for days after reading. In Hallelujah, Anyway, the author rambles as if she can't find her point. I don't like the stream-of-consciousness feel of the writing; the parallel structure often seems redundant; the asides are simply too many. I can't agree with her more about the meaning and importance of mercy (not just to us, but from us), but this book feels like she is still wrestling with the idea. It's a big idea, to be sure, but if the book is to be inspiring to readers and not self-indulgent on the author's part, the text needs to be less inductive and more straight-forward. The reader has to work too hard with this one just to figure out what the author means, which confounds the reader's attempt to understand mercy itself. Of course, having said all that, I realize I might not be extending the mercy to Lamott that she deserves. I still love her, and will continue to read anything she writes.

The truth for me is this: "Mercy," more than anything, was a word of exclamation, sometimes paired with "Lord have..." or "Lordy..." In my background of experience mercy was given by God, not by mere mortals. Anne Lamott changed all that, filling a big pot hole in my own understanding of love and compassion: Mercy is each person's priceless wild card, given by God in the game of life, that transforms anger and guilt into kindness and compassion. This isn't a simple concept but rather one that sits at the crossroads of self and others merging with love and forgiveness, OR resentment and hate. Lamott's guides the reader through Mercy's rocky terrain with wonderful stories of how she and others have played their hands; and what she's learned along the way. I greatly appreciate her tackling this timely concept, in today!'s world, Mercy needs to be shared now, possibly more than ever.

Anne Lamott is without question one of the best writers of our time, but I would not recommend this book to anyone who is in a season of doubt or wrestling with their faith.Buddhist teachings are casually slipping into more and more so called 'Christian' writing and I cannot help but wonder if people even notice when Buddha and Jesus are casually mentioned in the same sentence like they were supposed to be best buddies or something.Or when Christians quote Indian 'gurus' or Yogis almost as much (if not more) than they quote scripture.The trouble is that it's really hard to pinpoint and say 'this is not true' because it's not obvious. Just a word here, or a sentence there. A well timed quote.I'm sad to say the ending left me a little confused and I'm not sure why the title is 'hallelujah anyway'.

I purchased this during a period where I had a lot of anxiety. I was hoping for an empowering read about mercy towards ourselves and others. The tone was depressing, almost cynical and made me feel worse, and halfway through I had to donate the book away. I would recommend “Carry On, Warrior” by Glennon Doyle instead.

With her characteristic wit and self-deprecation, and her genuinely beautiful authenticity, Anne again takes us on a journey that is both inspiring and uplifting. Her honesty is as always refreshing and for a worrier like myself, she makes you feel as if you really aren't crazy after all. Life is difficult and challenging with its resident joys and sorrows, and mercy follows us always.Thank you, Anne.

I love Anne Lanott's deep, honest, chapters of total real ness in this book. As with all of her books, I always find much encouragement and humour in her books!

After an incredible tough few years I started to feel hardened as of the world had changed, or rather changed me! Lamott reminds me that Mercy and Grace are mine, always - not just when I can smile. I so needed this!

A good read. It is hard to put down