Book Review: Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

Summary: 

An inspirational, sidesplittingly funny exploration of the power of living with love, forgiveness, and honesty.

In Carry On, Warrior, Glennon Doyle Melton shares new stories and the best-loved material from Momastery.com She recounts her mistakes and triumphs with candor and humor, and gives language to our universal (yet often secret) experiences. She believes that by shedding our armor, we can stop hiding, competing, striving for the mirage of perfection, and making motherhood, marriage, and friendship harder by pretending they’re not hard. In this one woman trying to love herself and others, readers find a wise and witty friend who will inspire them to forgive their own imperfections, make the most of their gifts, and commit to small acts of love that will change the world.

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Age Group: Adult Non-Fiction

Source: Purchased

Review:

I've been reading (and loving) Glennon's blog, Momastery, for over a year now.  I was thrilled when she announced her book deal and have been waiting for Carry On, Warrior for what feels like forever.  

I'm not usually a lover of non-fiction but this book was outstanding.  It made me cry several times, and as Chris Tomlin would say, "it made my heart want to sing."  I love Glennon's blog, but this book was even better and really spoke to my heart.  Some of the essays in the book have been previously published on her website, but much of the book is new material.  And for new(ish) followers of the site, like me, it was nice to be able to read Glennon's story in order, instead of piecing it together through the blog.  

Glennon describes herself as a hope-spreader and truth-teller.  She lives an open and honest life, and that honesty is what speaks to me.  I see so much of myself in her and feel like she knows how I feel, even though she doesn't know me.  She describes this as the divine inside of her speaking to and recognizing the divine in me.  And I think she's exactly right.  Reading this book was like hearing a bell toll: all of it rang true for me.  

I'm so glad I bought a hard copy of Carry On, Warrior.  I want to be able to easily flip back to my favorite parts and highlight certain quotes and go back and read this book again just to savor it.  I feel like Carry On, Warrior is more of a book for women, especially mothers, but I think that it would appeal to just about anyone.  Highly, highly recommended!