Book Review
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far
"As of 2007, Amy Lee Grant [b. 1960] remains the best-selling Contemporary Christian music singer, having sold over 30 million units worldwide. Grant has won six Grammy Awards, 21 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and had the first Christian album ever to go Platinum. Heart in Motion is her best selling album, which has exceeded sales of 5 million."—Wikipedia
Ever heard of her?
It seems one would have to be deaf and dumb never to have heard of the "Queen of Christian Pop." Especially so, since Amy Grant is the first Christian singer-songwriter to become successful as a secular contemporary pop singer.
Reality Check
Who is the real person behind these outrageous achievements? Released in October, 2007 Amy Grant’s latest creative work is a book entitled Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far. Like the overlapping layers of a watercolor painting, the volume contains brief sketches that provide compelling glimpses into the recording artist’s private life. Not a meaty in-depth autobiography, Mosaic reads more like flipping through a scrapbook. It contains a cherished collection of the author’s important memories, poetry, song lyrics, and photos.
Family
In a single evening, I sipped and savored the book’s short chapters. With each easy turn of the page, I grew more and more comfortable with this sincere country girl from Nashville, Tennessee. Along with her music, multiple generations of Amy Grant’s large extended family occupy a major part of her psyche, as do her immediate offspring. Grant's sisters, her parents, and countless others have embraced and supported her over the years, both professionally and privately.
Amy claims to have found lasting love and happiness in her current marriage to country music star Vince Gill. In a touching exchange, Gill confesses, "I love you, but I can’t say I always understand you. What I can say is that I welcome you." Together the couple are raising five children; three of hers, one of his, and a child of theirs.
Faith
…I couldn’t just sit and watch the water. I had to be in the salt, in the sand, with green slime and crushed coquina shells stuck in the lining of my bathing suit. Those waves have rolled me up in a ball and sent me crawling on my hands and knees out of the surf and onto the sand, hoping my bathing suit was still intact.Many of the author’s memories take place in wild natural settings such as the seaside, on the farm, and in rustic cabins. Grant’s Christian faith is very present in her writing, but it’s unpreachy and softly muted. Most poignant are Amy's stories of her river adult baptism, dancing her prayers in the moonlight, and her mysterious encounter with an untamed deer.
A Working Mom
Amy Grant’s phenomenal success in the music business is admirable. I’m impressed with her genuine humility, her team spirit, and her willingness to go anywhere and try anything. The long list of celebrities Grant has met over the course of her 25-year career is staggering (eg. Billy Graham, George and Barbara Bush).
Clearly, Grant adores and prioritizes her children, but given the touring schedule required of every performing artist, no doubt the sacrifices have been enormous. The failure of her first marriage to musician Gary Chapman in 1999 is certainly unfortunate fallout of her demanding career.
Fearless & Funny
Despite suffering various life tragedies—including her divorce—Amy Grant remains fearless and optimistic. At several points in the book, I found myself laughing out loud. For instance, when describing a trip through a restaurant fast-food line, Amy was collecting orders from her kids seated behind her in the vehicle."We mourn, but not as those without hope."
Finally everyone but Corrina had ordered. I was out of patience as I locked yes with my silent two-year-old in the rearview mirror. With deliberate calm, I said, "Corrina, what do you want? If you don’t
say something right now, you’re getting a cheeseburger and fries.All this time she’d been rubbing her thumb and fingertips together. Suddenly she stopped and pointed both index fingers at my reflection in the rearview mirror, and said, "I’ll take the money."
Special Thanks
Many, many thanks to Gina at Portrait of a Writer... Interrupted for her book giveaway and for snail-mailing me a copy of Mosaic. W00t, w00t!
If you’re a writer (or a writer wannabe) and you’re interested in joining a group of like-minded peers, be sure to check out Gina’s Writer... Interrupted Blogring. Gina also hosts the Carnival of Christian Writers.
Related
1. Visit Amy Grant’s official website and download two FREE songs. You can also listen to all of the music published in Mosaic. (eg. Sing Your Praise To the Lord, Breath of Heaven/Mary’s Song, Baby Baby, and much more.)
2. Visit Amy Grant's (crazy!) video blog and get to know her at home.
3. Read Jennifer's thoughtful review of Mosaic at Snapshot. Don't miss what her commentors had to say about Amy's divorce.
4. Participate in Sherry’s Saturday Review of Books Reading Challenge at Semicolon.
5. Are you feeling introspective? Check out my article,
"How to Write Your Autobiography."
How do your feel about Amy Grant’s divorce and remarriage?
Up Next—Read Through the Bible in a Year
Photo Credits: Christianbook.com, LeeSteffen & cmcentral (Flickr)
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29 COMMENTS:
Hi E-mom,
I'm back. Now for your question. Hmmm, to be honest, I really had a hard time with Amy's divorce.
Maybe I should get the book and read it myself.
I've always enjoyed her music.
I have been very disturbed about her divorce and remarriage. I am also very disappointed about her wanting to cross over into secular music.
I loved Amy Grant's music before her divorce. I wasn't real happy at her reasons for her divorce "way back when".
I haven't bought any of her music or listened to her since.
Her choice to go secular just topped off my feeling for her.
Blessings,
Lori
I have no right to guess what Amy went through. So I have no opinion on her divorce ... I think it is always good to recognize that unless you've walked a mile in their shoes -- the opinion is kind of wasted. Sorry if that bugs anyone -- but that is my two cents for what it is worth.
I am back ... I don't know why -- but this troubles me. IF you don't like her music, don't listen -- but to stop because she got a divorce. I don't really get that. Are we all not sinners subject to falling? Under the spotlight it is EVEN MORE true. I hope she is healing and I trust God can deal with her on her divorce.
Thank you so much for sharing about Amy's book (come to find out she is my age :))...I didn't realize that she was married to Vince Gill - but then again, I don't keep up with celebrities - lol...You are asking about how I feel about her divorce. Hm...Since I don't have the entire story what let up to the divorce, I don't think I can judge her. But that is only my humble opinion.
Thanks again for sharing about Amy's book - have a blessed Monday :)
It's not my place to judge her and her decisions to divorce. I don't know all the circumstances. I do remember various rumors, etc. and since I always loved her music and testimony it did kinda shatter my image of her. However, none of us are perfect...if we were we wouldn't need our Redeemer! I still listen to her music and have many of her cd's...I was a teen when she made Father's Eyes a hit so...I LOVE her music and her voice!
I really want to get her book now. It is on my list of things to buy very soon! Thanks for sharing all this!
I have loved Amy since I was 15, and have every one of her albums up through House of Love. You could tell in her lyrics that things were going bad in her marriage long before it actually ended, so I can't say I was surprised, but it did upset me. Did I stop listening to her? No way! Her music is a part of my life and still holds a wonderful message. I still hope to meet her one day and thank her for everything she's meant in my life.
She was my favorite singer of all time and I admit the divorce shattered her image in my childhood of what Christianity was suppose to be. I think it goes with the point about walking blameless so no one will fall b/c of your sins... had she not been a confessing christian in the spotlight, I perhaps wouldn't have thought anything of it. Its like Jimmy baker, and all those who have fallen... It's like the stars who hate the popparatzzi (sp?) - you asked for the fame what did you expect?
That being said.. everyone sins...
we repent and as long as we truly repent God is merciful isn't he? He allows us to move forward despite our sins. He heals us and teaches us how to learn and grow closer to Him.
All in all, it still shocks me how many people who are in the spotlight live so loosely, and yet it really shouldn't. They are human afterall and everyone has different degrees of Christianity (what they deem is okay or not okay.. ) I think as long as we walk forward with Christ, confess and work on being more Christlike ...
did I go off topic? lol.. oh ya Amy. I don't really listen much to her anymore; not b/c I don't like her or anything, just different genre.. haven't really seen much of her stuff in the music I listen to these days.
I may have to read the book! I noticed there was one on Sandy Patti recovering after an affair as well. Another one on my book list to read!
I too, do not listen to her much any more, but not because of her divorce. We have no idea what goes on behind closed doors, so no judging here. Glad you're back!
One more thought. Little late, but we are definately going to the Veggie Tales movie. What else would Ellie's first movie be??? We LOVE them!
She was the first ever 'Christian" concert I went to when I was first saved - I remember she spat alot lol but I really enjoyed her.
I was heartbroken over her divorce but more so that fact that it seemed to be OK or explanable. I don;t want to judge because I don't know all the fact.
I am disapointed that she has crossed over so much I wish she would just be sold out to her roots and the gift God has given her.
I sped read through her book at the Christian book store (bad girl that I am) she really does seem like a very down to earth person.
I guess we all have sin in our lives - some hidden - some out on display!
Thanks for this post e-mom - have a great week
Very nice review, e-Mom. I grew up on Amy Grant, and absolutely loved her as a young teen - her very early stuff is what I grew up on. Yes, her divorce was painful for me - funny how this celebrity you don't really know impacts your world! But as time has gone on, and I've matured and realized that this world is a very difficult place to live and that my role models are not infallible, and that marriage takes a lot work, I've understood her more. But I still long for the Amy Grant I used to "know" - who sang El Shaddai and Sing Your Praise to the Lord and Tennessee Christmas. But this is life.
Lol I have heard of Amy Grant but I know her best for the Big Yellow Taxi. The Christian music scene isn't big in the UK so I often don't know even the biggest stars' music, but I'm catching up (Third Day, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, etc). Maybe I should give Amy Grant a listen :)
I reckon her divorce and remarriage is between her and God.
Hi emom! It is so good to have you back! I was a big Amy Grant fan back in the 80's...I kind of lost touch when she crossed over to secular music. About her divorce and remarriage.. I don't know much about it, what I do know is....God uses whoever He chooses! If we had to be perfect to be used by God, we would all have a lot of idle time on our hands!
Hi e-Mom,
Welcome back!
I LOVE Vince Gill and when I heard that Amy and he got hooked up I was so disappointed. Vince Gill could have had any woman in the world and he chose to take a married woman... (perhaps he too was married, I don't even know)....????
When that all came down I wrinkled my nose at both of them.
My nose is still wrinkled up when I think of listening to Amy. I've never really enjoyed her music but always was happy my daughters had someone cool to look up to.
No wonder in Biblical times when fornication, adultery, murder, rebelliousness were committed --God's law was that these be stoned! Accepting sin around us lessens the grossness of it... haven't we all heard the excuse "Everyone's doing it!"
God never changed, He still hates our sins - whether it's a small lie we tell or whether it is unfaithfulness to our spouse.
God, through Christ, has finished the work so that now we can stand in the grace that Jesus Christ secured for us all at Calvary, repeatedly.
I do not listen to Amy. I do love to listen to Vince! I guess, in a way, you can say that I too have had to accept this prevelant fallen way of life.
Emom...I was wondering if you were still on your vacation, but thought I'd stop by to find out (I don't have bloglines, can you believe it?)
SO glad you're back!
I loved reading this review...so very well done!
Your question hits on just what has troubled me for awhile...I really don't want to judge her, but have struggled with feeling like I have, because her divorce and re-marriage has really bothered me. Not so much because she was divorced, but maybe because I got the impression she had left her husband for Vince...
Does she go into any details about it?
The book sounds so intriguing...thanks for reviewing this!
Hope you had a great vacation!
Hugs,
~Tammy
Spicy topic here! I read through the comments. One comment stood out to me. There are no "degrees of Christianity." There's right and there's wrong, and there's grace and forgiveness and redemption. Somehow we have to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves..." we have to avoid judging the hearts of others and yet still grow in disernment. And this can only come from the Word of God, not our own hearts.
I liked the book (I only flipped through it) because it is always interesting to me to discover the thought patterns behind the writing of poetry, lyrics, or prose. The process of creativity is fascinating.
Hey, emom - I haven't been around in awhile because I'm getting fairly dependent upon my google reader and I can't seem to add you for some reason! It says it can't find the link. Anyway, if you comment, I will come. :)
Thanks for visiting despite my absence.
Jen
Oh, and by the way -
about the book review -
I hope everyone noticed that I did NOT write the review! Buffy did. I haven't even read the book. So -take it with a grain of salt!
Jen
I have read this book. One thing I found striking was the omission of her divorce, no doubt on purpose. Frankly, it is none of our business and unfair of us to make any judgment call whatsoever. We have no idea what happened. I admire her for protecting her children from the gory details. No doubt she could have pushed sales up if she had included it, but she took the high road in my book by refraining.
As far as crossing over into secular music, I have never understood why that is a disappointment for people. Why would we not want Christian influences in the secular world? Aren't we commanded to stand for Christ everywhere, not just in our comfortable Christian bubble? Can we not give her credit for shining a light in a dark place?
I felt a glimpse into the heart of Amy Grant in reading her book and I couldn't help but see her sincerity and passion for God. It reminded me some of David, "a man after God's heart". We have to give her credit for her perseverance, service and courage to speak despite the criticism she has endured.
hey Jennifer, the degrees of Christianity I meant.. or rather not meant.. weren't the Biblical ones that God has set out, I mean that some people feel their morality is there is there Christianity and they can do different things b/c they feel it's okay -- they think it's Christianity whether or not God does... kwim? I know I wasn't making sense. It's definitely not the way I view Christianity myself. lol just thought I'd clarify on that.
Susan, Ruth, Lori, Tara, Iris, Faith, Jana, Amydeanne, Rachelle, Shelley, Jennifer, Sarah, Gratefullivin', Connie Marie, Tammy, Jennifer, and Tami:
First, let me thank each one of you for stopping by to comment and to interact with each other on this post. Divorce is a difficult topic, and there is a lot pain expressed here. I'm very sorry for those of you who were hurt and disappointed by Amy Grant's marriage failure. I have received a couple of moving e-mails in response to this post as well.
I intend to let your responses stand without adding too much more myself. After all, I had my say in the book review!
Just a few answers to your questions:
Amydeanne: I immediately "got" what you meant--degrees of maturity.
Yes, I too heard about Sandy Patti's book. I believe Rachelle Gardner at Seek First His Kingdom (see my blogroll) acted as editor of that book. Some time ago, she wrote a blog post about her experience of meeting Sandy.
Tammy: Amy Grant does not give any of the details of her re-marriage in this book. It's hazy, and frankly, I think it's better left that way. :~D
Blessings to all of you. May we grow in the grace, and comfort, and hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And all God's people said, "Amen."
I struggled with Amy's divorce...at the time, I was a young married Christian gal who grew up watching Amy on the stage.
Back at Christmas, I saw a special on Gospel Music Channel about Amy that covered her and her family much more deeply. She spoke of the pain she endured as she faced the decision of the divorce. She spoke of a conversation with Billy Graham, knowing that she would never perform with him on stage again because of her divorce. I saw her for the first time with the eyes of forgiveness.
Perhaps my own view was changed in light of my own divorce. Perhaps I just needed to grow enough to embrace grace and forgiveness at a new level.
I still don't condone divorce. I still struggle with public divorces of those God puts in the public eye as His representatives. But for now, I see them as humans--frail, imperfect and like Paul, prone to do what they know that they shouldn't. When Amy asks for forgiveness, we shouldn't judge her. Only God has that right.
Ceci: Thanks for sharing this information... and your heart. You have a very good attitude. Bless you!
Commentors: Please be aware that it's my policy not to post anonymous comments. I like to be able to visit your blog for little dialogue. Blessings! :~D
I don't know if anyone will read this at this point because the original post was so long ago, but I felt compelled to add something to the conversation. I like Amy's music (at least what I've heard of it ... I'm not a superfan), but I am very concerned about her decision to divorce and how that reflects on her testimony as a Christian.
While I do believe in forgiveness, I believe that confession has to be genuine with a desire to make right what was made wrong (in-so-far-as it is possible). I don't believe in cheap grace ... essentially doing what I know to be sinful, and then asking "forgiveness" after I've gotten what I want. That appears to be what Amy has done here, and why it bothers me so much.
Another thing I've read so much of in the comments is the "judge not lest ye be judged" perspective. I believe that this is often inappropriately used out of context to justify not confronting sin. I think it is exactly the place of Christians to call sin sin. Paul dealt with this issue in his letter to the Corinthians, who would not confront the immorality occurring within their body. As Christians, we need to learn to speak the truth in love. When only truth is spoken, it comes across as hypocritical or judgemental. If only love and forgiveness is spoke, it never appropriately deals with sin.
I think it's important that Christians make sure that she and others she influences know that what she did was sinful and is contrary to God's plan for us. I don't hold that position just for people "in the spotlight", but I expect Christians to do this whenever they see sin in each others lives (and expect those around me to point out the sin in my life with love).
Now that she is re-married and has a child with Vince Gill, it's difficult to imagine how she would be able to make right what she has made wrong. That is a difficult situation. However, her attempted reliance on cheap grace to allow her to achieve her own personal sinful goals should not be accepted nor overlooked. Doing so only goes to further water down an already diluted Christian message.
Dan: Thank you for your comment. Do you have a blog? Or an email address? It would be nice for other readers to have a way to reach you.
Yes, God does hate divorce, and anyone who has tasted it first hand like I have (as a child of divorce) would agree that sin is sin--and divorce is damaging and detestable.
However, Jesus came to save sinners, and that includes you and me--and our parents too--especially if they wronged us as children by divorcing. We are commanded to forgive them, just as God has forgiven us. BTW, true forgiveness is always accompanied by grief and mourning. It's not easy.
You speak as if you know the the intimate circumstances of Amy Grant's first marriage... which (to my knowlege) she has not shared with the general public. For example, we don't know whether her first husband was unfaithful to her, which some have speculated about.
Perhaps you're unaware that Scripture does allow for divorce (and remarriage) when there's been adultery--although it's not required. I'd be careful to have all the facts straight about Amy Grant's life, before assuming that her divorce was unbiblical. Just a word to the wise.
Recently, I posted on the topic, "Is Divorce Ever Right? I cover the topic at length there. I hope you'll take a minute to read it.
As a Christian, you can certainly boycott Amy Grant's music and books, if you choose to. I do hope search your heart and forgive those who have hurt you personally. I trust you will extend the same grace to others as you wish to have extended to you.
Blessings, e-Mom :~D
I'm 26 now but i can rememer when i was 5 or 6 and went to a couple different Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith concerts back in Michigan. What a great time and i truely believe that she had a great impact on my life!! Maybe someday my kids will get to see her in concert!! Oh and by the way lets not judge her for getting a divorce, no sin is greater than another and we all fall short!
Greg
Hope a man is welcome to comment?
I recommend to anyone who decides to judge Amy Grant that they consider Jesus' admonition to "judge not lest ye be judged" and perhaps a perusal of the words to the song, "What about the love" from her Lead Me On album would be appropriate as well.
If we could be perfect, we wouldn't need a Savior, would we?
Amy's fall from grace in her personal life surprised and disappointed me greatly at the time. I was sure she was sinning and he was sinning and this was flat wrong. I felt very sorry for her and her husband and children. I am convinced that God's plan is that we find the person we should belong to and stick with them until death "do us part."
But life is hard and complex and sin abounds. The interpersonal dynamics of another couple's relationship is understood by God but not by us.
The fact is, a dropped egg breaks. That marriage is gone and she has remarried and it appears that she and her husband and her children are happy now.
You who make sanctimonious and judgmental comments, I bet you wouldn't be so haughty if God lifed the cover off of your your little box of hidden sins. My experience has been that the people who point fingers and accuse are either so new at the game of life that they don't understand it or they have gotten very good at covering up their own flaws so no one but God can see them.
Jesus said to the crowd waiting to stone the woman caught in adultery that "he who is without sin" could cast the first stone. Under the gaze of God, every man dropped his rocks to the ground and slunk away.
SO I say, put down the stones. God is judge. We would do well to pray that Amy and Vince and the family will do well from now on, live justly, love God and be lights to the world from this point forward.
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