I know that it is cliche, but I love that books can take you away…to new and different times and places. They offer the opportunity to experience someone else’s life.

The magic in Anne Lamott’s writing is that her characters live lives that are very different from my own, yet they experience and deal with very familiar issues. I have just finished reading aaa|Blue Shoe|1573223425|aaa by Ms Lamott. While at times I found the story/plot to be somewhat mundane the overall message was very uplifting.

Through Mattie, her 37 year old protagonist, Lamott forces the reader to consider divorce, single parent-hood, aging and ailing parents, love and faith. Alone, these are all difficult issues, but combined they make for a very complicated life. Mattie is a refreshing character because she isn’t the perfect mother, daugher, wife, girlfriend, etc. that everyone expects her to be. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, she manages to keep her head above water and provides her family with the support they need.

I enjoy reading Anne Lamott’s books because they are a light read without ever being fluffy. She’s entertaining and real and her stories offer insight into my own life.