So this is the work I'm doing now, and the work I invite you into: when life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. - Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet. (

I recently won this in a book giveaway on Laura Ortberg Turner's blog, An Ordinary Player In the Key Of C
http://anordinaryplayerinthekeyofc.blogspot.com/2010/08/bittersweet-review-and-giveaway.html

Laura was reviewing Shauna Niequist's latest book "Bittersweet" (published by Zondervan) and asked readers to post about a "bittersweet moment in their own lives. Before I share what I posted there, I'd like to note a couple of other recent bittersweet moments. First, my friend Wanda, who is one of the first people readers meet in Carmella's Quest, is getting married at the end of October. Wanda is the friend from my hometown and home church who began attending North Greenville the same time I did,. She was a huge help to me when we started there, both practically and emotionally, and I'll always appreciate her caring and sensitivity. Her father passed away several months ago so I know this must be a "bittersweet" time for my friend. I wish her many blessings and every happiness.

Also, my Dad just turned 60. Its weird to think of him as being that age. Crystal and her family came up to Mom's and we had a little party for him. I bought him "Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men" and several humorous and gift books related to becoming a senior citizen. One was called "I Didn't Ask To Be A Senior Citizen, I Was Drafted," and another one was "A Thousand Things I Learned About Turning 60, Of Which I can Only Remember 240." I don't like getting older myself. I like my parents getting older even less, but I'm glad I could celebrate his birthday with my family.

This is what I wrote on Laura Turner's blog:
carmellasquest said...
"I agree. Shauna's writing is very real. She doesn't pretend to have it all figured out or try to wrap everything up in a neat little package with a bow on top as far as easy Christian answers. For her, and for others of us who think deeply, the thinking and seeking understanding and processing of difficult ideas or experiences comes along with God's gift of a working brain and a need to try and understand. We struggle knowing we won't figure it all out but that trying has a lot to do with growth and becoming deeper and more real.
I could talk about many bittersweet experiences in my life. A recent one was my guide dog Maggie's thirteenth birthday. She's a fun-loving and sweet yellow Lab. She's been with me for eleven years. Our time together has included pretty much every adult first experience (last semester of college, grad school, first apartment, first job, several boyfriends, etc). She is still working and healthy, for the most part. Her birthday was a wonderful celebration and I'm so thankful that she's still with me and doing well.
At the same time, I know that she is getting older and the thought of the time coming when she can no longer be my helper or companion here creates a tremendous sense of sadness. The bittersweet of it is that I love her so much and that I don't take my time with her for granted. Each day with her is a gift. We are together 24/7 in a very unique sort of relationship that most people can't begin to understand. She's such a blessing!"

I'm quite a fan of Shauna Niequist. I recently put a quote from the recently-released "Bittersweet" up as my FaceBook status (yes, I'm one of those annoying people who posts quotes. That's better than telling everyone what I had for lunch and how many times I went to the bathroom, right?) Shauna is also the author of "Cold Tangerines." I put a quote from that as my FB status once, too. An interview about Shauna and that particular book is at
http://americanbibliophile.com/?p=115

I wrote the following on Shauna's blog:
http://www.shaunaniequist.com
"Hi Shauna, I just read the beginning of "Bittersweet" through the Zondervan Breakfast Club email book club. You're so right about how harder seasons are necessary. None of us look forward to them necessarily, but they make us so much more real as Christians. I know that, for myself, its the hard things that have made me so much more a person of grace, compassion, and mercy. I'm much more about understanding and not rushing to judgment. I much prefer my deeper more philosophical self to the me that may have been a little too willing to use the "chapter and verse" answers more flippantly when I was a little younger. This book seems very vulnerable in a different way than Tangerines (which I also love). I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it."

And on the blog
http://ninaandtravis.blogspot.com/2010/08/bittersweet.html
carmellasquest said...
"I recently read the beginning of "Bittersweet" through the Zondervan Breakfast Club. Those who haven't read it can enjoy the first few pages by going to
http://www.supportlibrary.com/bc/v.cfm?L=zondervan&V=N1A3FA321F42&nb
I'm a fan of Shauna's work. I appreciate Christian authors who can describe thoughts, feelings, and experiences without trying to give us "chapter and verse" answers that are all neat and tidy. Its about the struggle and the parallel traintracks of things we consider to be "good" in our lives and things we consider more difficult. Its about how the harder things help us to change and grow if we're open to it and knowing that God is still there and still guiding us, even when things don't make sense. Its about times and seasons. She and her husband went through a dificult season with change and loss. These combined experiences and reactions clearly lead to some thinking and she has allowed readers to see into her thought processes. What a blessing for us!
On a lighter note, I also like Shauna's writing because she's real enough to talk about enjoying a good glass of wine. Being a "good Christian" and "drinking" are two things many people think should never go together, at least where I come from in the south. I believed that, too, in my late teens and early 20s and went to Christian colleges where alcohol was one of several things that were absolutely forbidden.
A friend and I had gone to dinner regularly for years, and had talked about faith and boyfriends and our work as counselors and so much else. I'll never forget the day we both finally admitted to enjoying a glass of wine with dinner occasionally. We both admitted that we'd been concerned about offending each other if we ordered a drink. Its so funny because we're counselors who are supposed to know how to communicate rather than just guessing about such things. You know the saying; Assumptions make you spend less money on alcohol. So, we had a good laugh, ordered our wine, and then said the blessing for our appetizers and it seemed like some important thing had just happened.
Anyway, great writing from a very authentic woman who is spiritual and real and willing to speak the truth about her life and her thoughts. Great stuff!"

Tags: reviews