Ratings: Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle

This week I finished Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle.  I had been thinking about reading it for a while because Tara quotes it alot.  Probably more than any other memoir.  

The book is simple, repetitive, and effective.  When I compare Normal, Bastard, Truth, Wild and Orange this ranks for and away as the most emotionally impacting.  Despite its simplicity and the 1001 versions of virtually the same story, they all moved me, time and time again.  I imagine I could sit and listen to this man talk week after week.  

While the writing isn't exceptional, the story is and so the writing doesn't get in the way.

Another thing that is unforgettable is his humility.  He doesn't seem to try to be convincing you that he is exceptional and more importantly he doesn't seem to try to be saying that you should believe in Jesus.  That never comes up.

The book contrasts well with both Orange and Wild.  Wild bc hers is consistently the counter point, what not to do.  It is both written poorly and a lame story.  She does not come off as humble and both her personality and her writing get in the way of a no good story.

It reminds me of Orange bc fundamentally they have the same message.  That we are all the same.  That everyone deserves dignity.

Heather said, "I very rarely meet people who I want to emulate who I want to be like.  I meet people I like or admire, I don't want to be that person, but he is deeply thinking, deeply sensitive person.  I would be happy to have a fraction of his sensitivity."

Amy said, "He's humble, he doesn't brag, you never hate him, you want to be like him,  (I would do fine in jail). Even in a straight jacket.

One of the things that bowled me over was how I never reacted negatively to his Christianity.  He was presenting a faith that seemed brand new to me.  He didn't talk about sin, forgiveness, becoming born again.  Everyone he saw, as they were, was a child of God and our only work was to delight in them.  It seemed smart and revolutionary.

OK.  My ratings:

Content: 9

Skill: 6

Impact: 10

It had a huge impact on me, larger than any other book by far.  I think it was the content, the stories of the homies, plus his life, plus the theological and spiritual framework offered.  It wasn't great writing so I knocked it on skill.