Book Review: "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith"

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott (Riverhead Books, 2005), hardcover, 336 pages

"The devil is in the details," a common saying goes, but for people of faith, it is often true that God is in the details – or at least that God is revealed in the details. With Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, best-selling author Anne Lamott offers another book filled with knowing details that illuminate some of the big issues of faith: parenting, politics, divorce, and death, among others.  As in her wonderful Traveling Mercies, the essays and stories are sprinkled with her trademark humor, much of it ironic and self-deprecating; they also are sprinkled with straightforward comments on adult issues and no shortage of adult language, which may startle some readers.

Published in 2005, there is a recurrent theme of extreme frustration with the presidency of George W. Bush and especially with the war in Iraq.  Several times Lamott mentions protesting against the war and praying for peace, a not uncommon theme of the period from many liberal American Christian activists.  Few, though, have the chops to describe trying to love the person who stands for everything you hate, as Christians are supposed to do, and as Lamott does in the ridiculously droll essay, "loving your president: day 2."

While the issue of politics and faith may be emphasized, though, I think the more powerful theme of the book is Lamott's deepening relationship with her son Sam, just entering his teenage years.  Aside from the understandable friction raised by some of Sam's inexplicable behavior, Lamott explores the introduction of Sam's father into his life around age 10, writing honestly about the pain this sometimes causes her, but also being surprisingly open to moments of joy and grace.  This is most obvious when she shares the story of Sam meeting him much older half-brother.

Probably due to Sam's presence and importance, these essays have a much different feel than many of the essays in Traveling Mercies.  Partially, this may be that none are as memorable as Lamott's blunt, and hysterical, description of her conversion.  Mostly, though, I think they reflect a deepening of Lamott's Christian faith, which she more confidently and comfortably claims as part of her identity in Plan B.

There is a wealth of wisdom and observation here, especially about daily life outside of the comforts of a church sanctuary.  Unlike some Christians, Lamott freely admits some of her hypocrisy.  For example, even as she can testify to the hand of God at the bedside of a woman dying from cancer, she struggles to cope with her broken relationship with her own mother, even after her death, and finds mostly pain and anger there.  Then again, Lamott exhibits a patience with God – and even with herself – that also is uncommon and refreshing, and which suggests an openness to continued growth and change which may lessen such hypocrisy.

Overall, Lamott offers an inviting vision of lived faith in these essays, coping with challenging political times, raising a son as a single mother, and coming to terms with her own aging.  While I do not always agree with her, I admire her, and I appreciate her honesty, her earthiness, and her humor as she shares these stories of her faith.  Needless to say, I also admire the skill with which she writes, which makes her books easy and enjoyable to read.