Monday, February 15, 2010

Hear No Evil - Review and Giveaway




I just finished reading
 

 Hear No Evil
My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost

by Matthew Paul Turner.


ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Every Life Has a Soundtrack. 

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.

Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.

Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.
I really enjoyed this book.  It was full of laugh-out-loud moments and shake-your-head 'what are these people thinking?' moments.  Matthew Paul Turner does a wonderful job of taking the reader through his growing-up years.  I almost hate to admit it, but I saw a lot of my past in his book, too - as will anyone who has ever been a part of organized religion.  Because Matthew does it with such humor, it's not as painful to take as it might otherwise have been.  Instead we can laugh at ourselves and realize we're not the only ones.  We all have to find our own path to God and what we believe.

Our church wasn't quite as strict about music, but I do remember a certain Assembly when I was in college (yes, I went to church college - we called it God's college) where they told us there were certain bands and music we shouldn't be listening to.  Some people didn't have any of that music to start with or got rid of it if they did.  And some of us couldn't help but go out and get some of the same music we were just told was inappropriate!  Who me?  I labeled it my RL tape (for Restricted Listening), and I'm pretty sure I still have it around here somewhere.  I've noticed in recent years that the 'rebels' back then are still the ones who are making their own decisions about how best to have a relationship with God and not just following along with what some church tells them is right or wrong.

Anyway, enough about me.  I'd never heard of Matthew Paul Turner before reading this book, but I liked it so much that I'm planning to look up some of his other books like Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess so I can read that one, too.  And I added his blog to my blog list so I can see what kind of stuff he's saying on a regular basis, between books.

Hear No Evil goes on sale tomorrow, February 16, 2010.

  • This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Besides sending me a review copy, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group also sent me a copy to give away to one of my readers.  If you'd like to win your own copy of  Hear No Evil, leave a comment on this post telling me the name of a song that means something in your life.  You don't have to tell me why the song is special to you, but feel free to share if you want!

I know it's just a book, but it's a good book so if you want additional entries: (leave a comment for each one)
  • Follow me on twitter (@bcmom) and tweet the giveaway link, you can tweet once per day and leave a separate comment for each.
  • Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.  Leave me a comment with your url.
  • Subscribe to my blog in a reader or by email, or Follow this Blog with Google Friend Connect.  Let me know which way you subscribed - or let me know if you're already a subscriber.
  • Link to Beth & Cory's Mom on your sidebar or add me to your blog list or blogroll.
  • If you can think of any other creative way to spread the word about this giveaway, go ahead.  Just leave me a comment letting me know how and where you shared.
Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.  All entries must be received by 11:59am next Tuesday, 2/23/10.  Winners will be randomly chosen, and if you're a winner, I will contact you by email, so be sure I have an email address for you.  Good Luck!

9 comments:

  1. It means a lot to me because I hear Evil every day

    pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I subscribe to you via e=mail

    pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely book with stunning concept, it is indeed true that every life has its own sound track. Why not give a try to win the copy right now!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bridge Over Troubled Waters brings back a lot of memories.

    Please enter me in your book giveaway!

    Thank you so much for the opportunity.

    Cindy Woolard

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments! Keep them coming.