Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton {Review & Giveaway}

I don't remember exactly how I came to hear about Glennon Melton's blog, Momastery, but I know I spent a chunk of time one afternoon browsing through her writing.  A few things I read made me laugh out loud, others had me nodding in agreement, and still others caused my eyes to well up with tears.  While I don't read her blog regularly, Glennon stayed on my radar.  When I was asked about reviewing her new book, Carry On, Warrior, I quickly agreed.

I knew a bit of Glennon Melton's story from her blog--a "recovering everything", she is now a shameless "truth-teller" who doesn't hide behind a created image of herself.  She is passionate, dramatic, and honest, and her writing is in turn hilarious, sappy, and touching.

I found these same things to be true about Glennon as the author of Carry On, Warrior.  If you have read and enjoyed her blog, you'll love the book.  You will see some of the same material--even not being a regular reader, I recognized a few of her more popular posts.  There were also things I hadn't read, and some of those essays turned out to be my favorites.  If you don't know anything about Glennon Melton, you may very well enjoy the book all the more.  Reading the blog is in no way a prerequisite, is what I'm saying.

I confess that I find Glennon and the whole Momastery thing to be a little...well, much, for lack of a better term.  The same was true for the book at times.  Parts of it had me rolling my eyes at her flowery and grandiose writing.  I was a little put off by the entire chapter devoted to her sister's divorce.  I mean, I totally understand the closeness of a sister, but it was her divorce to experience, not Glennon's.  The description of a full year of crying, self-pity, and focus on Sister, of giving little to no attention to her husband and children--the prime example of all that is just too over-the-top about Glennon, in my opinion. 

On the flip side, however, there are essays like "Unwind" (about a married couple who forget to value one another) and "A Mountain I'm Willing to Die On" (about teaching our children by example that they are good, they are valued, and they are loved just as they are).  Those are examples of Glennon's serious writing at its best.  She really does seem very open, and is obviously willing to share her weaknesses and dirty secrets, because as she says, no one makes friends by sharing their strengths.  Glennon's writing about her addictions and recovery is gritty, moving, and real, but always with an undertone of humor.  I do love a lady who can laugh at herself.

In fact, my absolute favorite essays in Carry On, Warrior are the funny ones.  Glennon is at her best when she's milking the comedy from everyday life, in my opinion.  Essays like "Sucker--On Vacuuming", "Initiation" (which I had read on the blog, but remains one of my favorites), and "Transcendentalist" are ones I will mark to come back to when I need a laugh.  They are the ones I will read aloud to friends, and they are what makes me recommend this book to others who I know will appreciate the same things.

Are you a Momastery fan?  Interested in reading Carry On, Warrior?  (If so, be sure to keep reading!)

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GIVEAWAY

I am pleased to offer an opportunity for one reader to win a copy of Carry On, Warrior, courtesy of Scribner Publishing.  To enter, just leave a comment on this post.  If you're stumped for what to say, tell me the last time you vacuumed your floors (that's related to the essay I mention above, and the fact that I haaaate vacuuming!).  Or tell me if you've ever heard of Glennon Melton?  Perhaps her essay "Don't Carpe Diem"?

The giveaway will close this Sunday, April 28, at 10:00 p.m central time. 

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I received a copy of this book for review via TLC Book Tours and the publisher.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.  For more reviews, check out the full tour post.