So about this book I have been reading. Yes, it’s “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller. I kept hearing great things about it, so when I saw it on sale on June 6th (I’m not a geek, I used my receipt as the bookmark) I had to pick it up even though I had no clue what it was about.

I started reading it last night and I couldn’t put it down. There are 20 chapters in the book and 240 pages of text, I read half of that last night in one sitting (10 chapters). Seriously. Then today we went down to the city, and since I didn’t have to drive I read the book as we were driving around. So that was another four or five chapters done by the time I got home, then I finished the rest of the book this evening. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that fast before in my life. Dr. Seuss doesn’t count.

The book isn’t anything new per se, but at the same time it is something fresh. It actually has nothing to do with Jazz music, it’s about “Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” It’s about life, love, your faith, and more in a post modern world. And I think what I love so much about it is just the vibe you get from Don as you read the book. This guy is hilarious. Though it’s subject matter is very serious, I swear he is the king of one liners as I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. And usually it was right after he said something dead serious. It’s a good mix of seriousness and humor, and it keeps you attentive and wanting to read more to see what he’s going to say next.

He also likes to tell stories of his past experiences, and giving people different nicknames and calling the people by them instead of their first and last names. Sort of like “Andrew the Protester” or “Trendy Writer.” It’s amusing and hard to explain, but you’ll understand when you read the book.

The thing is it’s not just for Christians though. Don Miller is very honest and real, just talking about life and faith as he figured things out for himself. Something anyone could be thinking about or considering. And he doesn’t try to be a flashy preacher, but instead is a guy who openly talks about drinking beer, hanging out with people who get drunk and high, and so on. I love it.

While the taglines and captions on the back of a book usually hype the book more than they should, there is one that is very fitting for Blue Like Jazz… It says it is “for anyone yearning for a renewed sense of passion in life.” That’s definitely something I got out of it; a renewed sense of passion in life.

I’m not sure why I haven’t read this sooner… Probably because everyone was ranting and raving about it, and I’m not one to jump on trendy bandwagons to keep up with what’s cool. I usually wait until it’s not the cool thing to do/read/see. I regret waiting on this one though, it really is as good as they say. All of you need to go buy it, read it, then tell me what you think. I love it. I’m actually thinking of reading it again, which is something I don’t do that often.

So there you have it… Blue Like Jazz… One of my new favorite books. It’s witty (and just flat out hilarious at times), it’s intriguing, and most of all you take something from it. Even if you aren’t a Christian, it might be worth your while to check it out.

Godspeed.