I'm reading a great book right now. I was asked weeks ago to participate in the blog tour for Holy Roller and thought right away that it sounded like a story I would enjoy. When the book came in the mail, something about the cover bothered me. I know I'm not supposed to think like that, but I did, and because I'm not crazy about the cover art, I put off reading it until this week. Funny how I expected to be less than enthused by the contents because I was bored by the cover. I thought I was smarter than that.
(Marketing, people. Marketing.) Oh, and I just this week realized that's a cross on the cover. I have no idea what I thought it was. And I have no suggestions, by the way, for a better cover. Just sayin'.
OK, so anyway, I'm a few chapters in and I am devouring the true story for many reasons - not the least of which is the fact that the loving and accepting spirit of the congregation Julie happens upon in her journey reminds me some of the congregation at our church in Birmingham. The kind of people who make you want to be a better person and make you wonder how we end up believing the things we believe before we really see for ourselves what is true and real. Why do we judge someone before we know them? Why do we judge a book by its cover?
I will post a publisher's summary of the book below along with some information about the author, Julie Lyons. Here's the best part of today's post, though - I have a copy of Holy Roller to give away! All you have to do to be entered to win is leave a comment. I will pick a winner Sunday evening. Tell me this - Have you ever judged a book by its cover?
Julie Lyons was working as a crime reporter when she followed a hunch into the South Dallas ghetto. She wasn’t hunting drug dealers, but drug addicts who had been supernaturally healed of their addictions. Was there a church in the most violent part of the city that prayed for addicts and got results?
At The Body of Christ Assembly, a rundown church on an out-of-the-way street, Lyons found the story she was looking for. The minister welcomed criminals, prostitutes, and street people–anyone who needed God. He prayed for the sick, the addicted, and the demon-possessed, and people were supernaturally healed.
Lyons’s story landed on the front page of the Dallas Times Herald. But she got much more than just a great story, she found an unlikely spiritual home. Though the parishioners at The Body of Christ Assembly are black and Pentecostal, and Lyons is white and from a traditional church background, she embraced their spirituality–that of “the Holy Ghost and fire.”
It’s all here in Holy Roller–the stories of people desperate for God’s help. And the actions of a God who doesn’t forget the people who need His power.
Julie Lyons is an award-winning writer, editor and investigative reporter who for more than 11 years served as editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper owned by Village Voice Media. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband, Larry Lyons Jr., live in Dallas with their son.
Pick me, pick me. :) Sounds like a great book. And I think we are all tempted to judge books by their covers. It did take me a minute or two to figure out that was a cross. :)
Posted by: amykiane | July 17, 2009 at 01:25 PM
LOL!!! I am very guilty of this. Do you remember back "just a COUPLE of years ago when we were in our early teens" (lol) and we would ready those harlequin romance books? If the guy looked dorky or "too proper", I wouldn't read the book!
Posted by: Melinda Wilson | July 17, 2009 at 01:43 PM
I would love to win that book. Never judge a book by it's cover - great advice. lol
Posted by: Valerie | July 17, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Since we already have a copy, I won't enter the contest, but the book sounds interesting, and I look forward to reading it. The cover looks good to me, but I didn't realize it contained a cross until just now.
Posted by: PJ | July 17, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Are you kidding me? Have I ever judged a book by it's cover......or a girl by her shoes?! Of course I have. Terrible to admit, but I would not be human if I lied and said no.
Pick me! I'll give this book a shot, just b/c it's from you! YOu know my motto "I dont' read for fun!"
Posted by: b | July 19, 2009 at 05:49 AM
A constant joke in our house IS the fact that I am attracted to books with interesting covers. Of course the content is MORE important, but the cover is what frequently draws me to the book in the first place.
My eye was immediately drawn to the title Holy Roller then to the cross. Then I felt a twinge of guilt for sitting here in front of my computer instead of attending mass this morning. Ah, once a Catholic, always a Catholic.
Posted by: wordweaver | July 19, 2009 at 08:59 AM
I am sooo bad about judging books by their covers and 9 times out of 10 I don't like them! I totally need a good read to get my mind off school and life! I too was sitting in front of the computer instead of attending Mass this morning! I guess we Catholics tend to be a bit Lazy during the summer! :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 19, 2009 at 01:07 PM
I wasn't sure where to go to enter the drawing for the book, so put me in.
Thanks,
Loved seeing all the pictures of Hank. Glad his is doing well and your sister too.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Lisa | July 20, 2009 at 04:58 PM