Blog Lovin’ is My Favorite
Posted on June 16, 2008
Some more top-notch Blog Love for Trespassers has come in lately. Not to diminish the importance of PW or Kirkus Reviews (believe me, I’m so grateful I’m double-tithing so they don’t take it back), but I have to say that my favorite fans are the blogger fans.
Why?
Well, there are the obvious reasons. They took the time to read my book, think about it hard (or laugh about it hard; either is ok), and post their honest, personal reactions. Blogging is harder and more time consuming than many readers would guess. Your personal decisions and musings have critics, and those critics usually demand something in return for those few-seconds-they’ll-never-get-back that it took to click on their site, in hopes of seeing a new post.
But it’s more important than that when you’re a debut memoirist. Deciding to critically read the autobiography of a person who isn’t famous, who you probably would never have the occasion to meet or hear of, otherwise, is like going on a blind date. In my case, a blind date WITH A SOUTHERN BAPTIST PREACHER’S DAUGHTER. Think about that. Sounds riveting. Edgy and adventurous, right? Not horrifying and/or mindnumbingly boring in the least.
Just like every blind date, I know not everyone who reads Trespassers is going to “get” me or like me. If they did, I’d be Joel Osteen, and something about that isn’t appealing.
But, some people have. And God Bless the following Honorary Acteen Queens and Top-Level Royal Ambassadors (please note, I have no power to award such titles, and I’m fairly certain they are never given on an honorary basis. Memaw and Momma have reminded me fifty thousand or so times that they EARNED their tiaras, scepters, and capes):
The delightful gentleman from Letters on Pages (who is, alas a Buckeye). Perhaps he’ll visit Kentucky someday and I can make him see the value of the Church of the Wildcats. Nah, he’d probably spontaneously combust at the border. Thanks for the Love, LOP!
Then there’s Chris Vaught, over here. Full disclosure: I know Chris, and Chris knew me when. But that means the blog means that much more to me.
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I started the book a few days ago and I’m already half way through. Great read so far, and I’m not saying that just because we knew each other way back when. The book is funny, yet insightful - and I can relate to so much of it. Having also been raised a Southern Baptist and a fellow member of the Big Blue Nation, I can say you’ve captured the environment and experiences quite well. I love your writing style and the pictures (both what you paint verbally and those included in the book) have made me smile. :-) Through the recounting of your experiences, you’ve taken me back to my early days in the church, remembering R.A. events, lock-ins, pine-wood derby races, etc. Different from your experiences, but just as memorable and Southern Baptist. I’ll write a more fitting review on my site when I finish. Thanks for the memories!
But I did go to Kentucky once and I did not burst into flames!
I did, however, start to smolder a bit before I crossed back over the river to the safety of Cincinnati.
Disaster Averted!