Philip Gulley

Laugh out loud funny; this memoir about growing up in small town Indiana during the seventies is an absolute blast. Philip Gulley muses about old Quaker widows, the Thanksgiving table, child labor laws, childhood crushes, and occasional streaks of lawlessness. It was a different time back then and Gulley's effortless and amusing narration sucks readers in and keeps them engaged throughout. Peppered throughout are some childhood photos which add some credence and a focal point for his show more stories. I haven't read such an amusing and outlandish memoir in a while but I literally (LITERALLY) found myself laughing along with the anecdotes and crazy childhood friends he had. A must read and not just for Hoosiers. show less

This book was hilarious! First of all, if you've ever been involved in the workings of a church, you will recognize characters in this book. If you've ever had to organize (or act in) a committee, you will know these characters. You'll swear that Philip Gulley has gone to your church, and sat in on your committees, and listened to the gossipy ladies in the back pew, and incorporated those people into his novel. And he makes it all funny. This is the town of Harmony, central to the series, show more and it is the setting/backdrop for this tale.

Although Sam has been married for seventeen years, he has yet to give his wife a Christmas present that she actually likes. Determined to make up for almost two decades of crummy gifts, he enrolls in a scrapbooking class that meets Wednesday nights. This year, he thinks, he finally has the perfect gift.

His wife, however, is less than thrilled with his mysterious late nights and suspicious behavior. Is he having an affair? Is he sick? Somehow, as news travels down the grapevine, suspicion leads to rumor, and rumor leads to "fact," and suddenly everybody in Harmony, behind Sam's back, of course, is admiring his courage for facing his last Christmas and still not burdening his family with the news of his imminent demise. And his number one mourner, going out of her way to make his last Christmas comfortable? His wife. Of course.

This is a story about love and marriage, about rumors and misconceptions, about church activities and secretaries ready to go on strike for better photocopiers, about tacky Christmas presents and unfortunate accidents involving scrapbook glue.

This book made me laugh out loud in the library. That's about the highest praise I can give it. show less

This isn't the first universalist book I've read, but it's the first to disregard certain parts of Scripture to make its argument. These authors choose certain parts of the Bible to support their claims, and they choose other parts to disregard. It's a strange mix.

Leaving aside the nature of their argument, this book is a well-written, unpretentious, and deeply moving account of two ministers' spiritual journey. It offers a nontradional view of God, encouraging readers to explore new show more perspectives on ideas of faith. It is a worthwhile read even for people who are not persuaded by all of the specific beliefs the book sets forth.

As for the beliefs laid out here, perhaps the most controversial claim is the suggestion that Jesus' death wasn't the means of atonement for sin, that God is able to forgive without sacrifice, that Jesus didn't need to die. Jesus is portrayed here as having enjoyed a special relationship with God, but not as being divine. The Resurrection is important as a sign of God's power and favor, but the nature of the crucifixion and of Jesus are very different from the traditional view. I found it strange to find so much emphasis on the Resurrection in a context in which Jesus is not seen as the Son of God, as a Person of the Trinity, or as the Savior (in the usual understanding of the phrase). It's like having Easter without Christmas. The events are there, but their meaning has shifted.

This book certainly offered a lot to think about. show less

Well, this was an exhausting read for me, what with all of the mischief and misunderstandings and huge jumps to outrageous conclusions. Even knowing the comedic intentionality of making some of the characters over the top, I still got rather fed up with them.

And after two series, having a feel for the particular kinds of characters this author creates, I can see how there likely wouldn't have been much more to do with the characters after this book. I mean, the technical details of next show more events in their lives could be different, but I suspect the overall tone and quality to them would feel redundant, with the author sending the same basic messages through them, probably. Illustrations that have already been drawn in both series.

Yet...I was still quite entertained reading this novel. Exhausted and entertained simultaneously. I had a nice share of laughs, including a few big ones, and I'm not sorry I at least satisfied my curiosity to get a look at Sam's life after Harmony.

While I'd personally have little reason to reread the Hope series, I may return to the Harmony series sometime. Even with its own share of frustrating characters and scenarios, I got something warmer out of it on the whole. show less