Patsy Clairmont

This book is written by an American mother who's also a travelling speaker, and is described on the front cover as 'A Lighthearted Look at Life's Foibles & Fears'.

It's not a book to read straight through - it's a series of anecdotes about Patsy's family, or her life in general, dotting about the years and usually coming up with a serious point at the end - or a not-so-serious one. I found myself picking it up every so often when I had five minutes to wait for something, and reading a bit show more more - each section is only two sides long, so they're easy enough to read.

It's not a typical book at all due to the style; it's really more like a blog! It's friendly, informal, to the point, and gives a good picture of the author's family and life in a series of apparently random comments and anecdotes.

It's not hilariously funny, or particularly moving, but it's certainly light-hearted and enjoyable, and excellent for picking up to browse when you have a few minutes to spare. show less

Clairmont examines the "ball of rubber bands ready to snap" that our emotion's often become. This was a fun book to do with a group, it includes a DVD with clips of Patsy speaking on related topics which often brought peals of laughter. Yet as she talked about the different emotions we experience and how we manage them there were some real practical tidbits of advice. Our group had some great times of sharing and encouraging one another as a result. I'd definitely recommend it to read solo show more or with a group! show less

Clairmont’s newest book is a devotional-style offering, presenting short chapters (ideal for busy women) that reflect on specific passages in Proverbs. The chapters address everything from fear to friendship to anxiety, using Clairmont’s trademark lighthearted approach to subjects that might normally bog down a book like this.

It’s certainly an easy read, and the kind of book that I would recommend as a gift to a female Christian friend or relative — particularly someone who’s show more having difficulty seeing the lighter side of life and needs some reassurance that God is in control. However, be forewarned that it doesn’t contain the same amount of humor that many of us have some to expect from Clairmont — but then, the book isn’t really meant to be funny, so from that angle it makes sense.

Above all, it’s an easy read and Clairmont’s anecdotes give the book a friendly, earthy tone — like you’re meeting a girlfriend for coffee and chatting about life and how God fits into it.

No, it’s not the best book available on the topic, but it does what it sets out to do, and it does it well. Like I said, it would make an excellent gift — but buy it early so you have a chance to read it first. :) show less

I love how she makes her points by telling personal stories with a lot of humor. This book basically said how our attitudes can affect our relationships with others and God.