Doug Van Pelt

AN APOLOGY IN ADVANCE

Okay, I reviewed this book in the new issue of HM and, for some folks, I might not have been as clear as expected when it comes to the content. Unlike album reviews, where we maintain a pretty high standard of awareness, etc; our dvd and book reviews aren't held to the exact same level of scrutiny when it comes to content like profanity or "objectionable material." Such is the case for one of the books I reviewed for the brand new (currently at printer) issue -- the March/April 2008 Issue #130. The book is called All The Clever Words On Pages. It was written by Paul Harrison. It is a fascinating read (albeit with plenty of the typo's you might expect from one of those print-on-demand self-publishing houses), which chronicles the friendship between the author and one of our scene's most charismatic frontmen -- Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou.

It's such a compelling read on a number of levels. It offers a serious critique of a very special artist of our time. Aaron Weiss and gang are truly artists and, while misunderstood by some, are appreciated by a loyal and perceptive audience. People are impressed with the frank and transparent yet poetic nature of this band's art. So, this book offers an up-close look at the band from the perspective of one of these perceptive audience members. Weiss' lyrics certainly connected with the author on a number of levels. That's one side of the book that's really interesting.

Another side is the author's journey from agnosticism to re-embracing faith in Christ. You know that the book is about a journey when you read the quotes from inside on the back cover of the book. Aaron Weiss helps pull the author away from the brink of suicide. So, you know that this story is going to unfold and that part of the suspense is written well. A surprise ending that climaxes near the middle of the book, however, is how the author abandons his faith. At this time in his journey, he is an atheist. That's kind of a shock.

What helps "get him there," so to speak is one story after another of really weird charismatic and so-called "prophetic" experiences woven around a boy-girl relationship the author has. It wears on the reader, this troubling and frustrating journey does...

I neglected to mention in my review (on page 61 in the "Play" section) that the book includes a few uses of profanity and graphic language of the sexual nature. While many a "secular" book has no qualms about this kind of content, most Christian publishers edit this kind of material out. Many a Christian reader trusts that they won't come across this kind of language in a "Christian book" (or even in a book reviewed in a Christian music magazine). They might pick up a book to "get away from" the kind of language they hear all day at school, on tv, at work, etc. Judgment aside, this desire to read something profanity-free or "smut-free" is not a desire to be taken lightly.

I failed to stay the course with my sensitivity to this in my review, and thus the apology here. I'm sorry I didn't give more warning concerning the content of this book.

[Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog...]

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at February 5, 2008 08:39 AM