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Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far
One of America’s most popular music artists shares beautiful pieces of an unforgettable human mosaic, revealing pieces of a life in progress.
With her unmistakable voice and honest lyrics, Amy Grant has captured a unique place in American music. As the bestselling Christian music artist of all time, a crossover pop sensation, and the wife of country music star Vince Gill, Amy has lived much of her life in the spotlight, subject to adulation, speculation, and scrutiny. Now for the first time she bares her heart and soul to reveal thoughts on everything from motherhood and marriage to fame and forgiveness. Whether describing personal moments alone on a moonlit hillside or very public ones performing with the likes of Tony Bennett and James Taylor, Amy presents a captivating collection of beautiful reflections on life, love, and faith.
Includes Never Before Published Lyrics to New Songs
Rendered with the lyrical insight we see in her music, Amy reflects on the pieces of her life through the years, forming a vivid mosaic of memories rich in color, varied in texture, and united in their heartfelt design.
“Thanks to writing and remembering, I’m re-inspired to value both the mundane and magical moments. In trying to capture a few memories as best as I can, I give myself the gift of treasuring what has been so far a very full and meaningful life. I hope you will do the same with yours.” —Amy Grant
Amy Grant weaves original lyrics and poetry into a narrative patchwork of timeless candor in Mosaic . The pieces of her life so far provide stunning inspiration for her beloved fans. Mixing lighthearted reminiscences of her Tennessee childhood, poignant scenes from her life as a wife and mother, and down-to-earth insight from her celebrity stardom, Amy invites you into her world and gently leads you to fresh insights about your own.
Amy’s winsome personality and joyful authenticity radiate from each page, welcoming you into the satisfying company of a warm and compassionate artist—a woman who sees life through a unique and deeply personal lens.
Amy Grant got her start in the music business with a part-time job sweeping up a Nashville music studio, which provided the perfect opportunity to duplicate a tape of her original songs as a gift for her family. A studio executive overheard her recordings—and the rest is music history.
Since the surprising success of her debut album thirty years ago, Amy has grown into a music legend, with six Grammy Awards, twenty-six Dove Awards, and six pop chart-topping hits to her credit. An inductee into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, she also was honored in 2006 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
With her unmistakable voice and honest lyrics, Amy Grant has captured a unique place in American music. As the bestselling Christian music artist of all time, a crossover pop sensation, and the wife of country music star Vince Gill, Amy has lived much of her life in the spotlight, subject to adulation, speculation, and scrutiny. Now for the first time she bares her heart and soul to reveal thoughts on everything from motherhood and marriage to fame and forgiveness. Whether describing personal moments alone on a moonlit hillside or very public ones performing with the likes of Tony Bennett and James Taylor, Amy presents a captivating collection of beautiful reflections on life, love, and faith.
Includes Never Before Published Lyrics to New Songs
Rendered with the lyrical insight we see in her music, Amy reflects on the pieces of her life through the years, forming a vivid mosaic of memories rich in color, varied in texture, and united in their heartfelt design.
“Thanks to writing and remembering, I’m re-inspired to value both the mundane and magical moments. In trying to capture a few memories as best as I can, I give myself the gift of treasuring what has been so far a very full and meaningful life. I hope you will do the same with yours.” —Amy Grant
Amy Grant weaves original lyrics and poetry into a narrative patchwork of timeless candor in Mosaic . The pieces of her life so far provide stunning inspiration for her beloved fans. Mixing lighthearted reminiscences of her Tennessee childhood, poignant scenes from her life as a wife and mother, and down-to-earth insight from her celebrity stardom, Amy invites you into her world and gently leads you to fresh insights about your own.
Amy’s winsome personality and joyful authenticity radiate from each page, welcoming you into the satisfying company of a warm and compassionate artist—a woman who sees life through a unique and deeply personal lens.
Amy Grant got her start in the music business with a part-time job sweeping up a Nashville music studio, which provided the perfect opportunity to duplicate a tape of her original songs as a gift for her family. A studio executive overheard her recordings—and the rest is music history.
Since the surprising success of her debut album thirty years ago, Amy has grown into a music legend, with six Grammy Awards, twenty-six Dove Awards, and six pop chart-topping hits to her credit. An inductee into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, she also was honored in 2006 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
45 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
About the author
Amy Grant
119 books29 followersAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her Contemporary Christian music and pop music, and a New York Times Bestselling author, TV personality, and occasional actress.
Grant is considered by many to be one of the true pioneers of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. She has had a strong influence on Gospel music and the Christian culture in the United States and beyond. She is the best-selling Christian music artist of all time, and is the 19th best-selling female solo artist in the United States.
Grant made her debut in 1977 as a teenager, and scored her first number-one Christian radio hit two years later. In 1982, she released her breakthrough album, Age to Age, which became the first Contemporary Christian music album to be certified platinum.
By 1985, her music began to reach a wider audience, when her album Unguarded crossed over onto mainstream charts. This feat was reproduced in 1991 when her album Heart In Motion became a best-seller and the single "Baby Baby" became a number one pop hit.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Grant continued to record pop-oriented albums and did not make another full gospel album until 2002, with the record Legacy...Hymns and Faith. In 2006, Grant hosted her own reality television show on NBC, called Three Wishes.
As of 2007, Grant 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.
Grant is considered by many to be one of the true pioneers of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. She has had a strong influence on Gospel music and the Christian culture in the United States and beyond. She is the best-selling Christian music artist of all time, and is the 19th best-selling female solo artist in the United States.
Grant made her debut in 1977 as a teenager, and scored her first number-one Christian radio hit two years later. In 1982, she released her breakthrough album, Age to Age, which became the first Contemporary Christian music album to be certified platinum.
By 1985, her music began to reach a wider audience, when her album Unguarded crossed over onto mainstream charts. This feat was reproduced in 1991 when her album Heart In Motion became a best-seller and the single "Baby Baby" became a number one pop hit.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Grant continued to record pop-oriented albums and did not make another full gospel album until 2002, with the record Legacy...Hymns and Faith. In 2006, Grant hosted her own reality television show on NBC, called Three Wishes.
As of 2007, Grant 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
January 8, 2012
An avid Amy Grant fan from the early 80's, I became somewhat unenchanted with her after her divorce. Never quit loving her golden voice and beautiful way of handling lyrics, but my heart just couldn't bear the thought that it seemed she'd sacrificed her family for a new one, her seemingly hard-to-live with husband for a sweeter one. When this book came out, I couldn't deny the draw, the way it pulled to be read, no matter how much I told myself I didn't want to read it.
Having had a few rough years of my own, something in it seemed to pull me, and made me wonder about what Amy offered inside the cover - what stories she might share to shed light on what I hadn't understood of her decisions, what hope & help & insight she might have for the rest of us in our own tangled lives. Finally added this awesome book to my Amazon wishlist, and was delighted to find it under the tree for Christmas. In spite of some lovely gifts, this was the one that was grabbed my heart.
From the point of reading the dedication, I was in tears. This was the Amy Grant that I had remembered, and her heart came out in every word she wrote. Her kind and heartfelt words to husband Vince Gill at the end of the dedication started the tears that didn't end until the last page was read.
I do believe this is my new favorite book. It's a light read, to be sure, but it reaches deep into the heart and it touched something in the soul of this 40-something woman. Amy offers real life experiences from the life she's lived so far, and shares them with us with honesty and as much understanding and insight as is possible. She shares with us the lives that have touched hers and the things they have taught her. She shares real life experiences, regret and joy alike.
She only touches a couple times on the rough years she went through, approaching and going through her divorce from Gary Chapman. The story she relays about her conversation with Billy Graham was my undoing. So sweetly and sincerely offered, we see the tender heart of this woman who knows that her past wasn't perfect, and wasn't always lived in the way God would have chosen. So representative of us all in so many things.
Lessons learned from Mosaic: We simply do not know the heart of another, the things they've felt and faced, nor why they've made the decisions they have. We don't know the ways they've been restored, and changed through the events and people in their lives. Just as others can't see inside our heart and understand those things in our own lives and hearts. Life is too short to be judgmental, too precious to wasted in bitterness. God is gracious to restore and give us all many opportunities - how can we do less for anyone else. Each day is a gift to rejoice in and make the most of.
After reading this book, I felt like I'd sat down and had a heart-to-heart with an older more experienced sister. One who has already gone through something of a midlife crisis, one who has learned from mistakes and loves her family and friends with a sweetness and endearment that refreshing and example worthy.
I will read this again. Over and over. Probably soon. And I plan to make a habit of giving this as a gift for girlfriends.
Having had a few rough years of my own, something in it seemed to pull me, and made me wonder about what Amy offered inside the cover - what stories she might share to shed light on what I hadn't understood of her decisions, what hope & help & insight she might have for the rest of us in our own tangled lives. Finally added this awesome book to my Amazon wishlist, and was delighted to find it under the tree for Christmas. In spite of some lovely gifts, this was the one that was grabbed my heart.
From the point of reading the dedication, I was in tears. This was the Amy Grant that I had remembered, and her heart came out in every word she wrote. Her kind and heartfelt words to husband Vince Gill at the end of the dedication started the tears that didn't end until the last page was read.
I do believe this is my new favorite book. It's a light read, to be sure, but it reaches deep into the heart and it touched something in the soul of this 40-something woman. Amy offers real life experiences from the life she's lived so far, and shares them with us with honesty and as much understanding and insight as is possible. She shares with us the lives that have touched hers and the things they have taught her. She shares real life experiences, regret and joy alike.
She only touches a couple times on the rough years she went through, approaching and going through her divorce from Gary Chapman. The story she relays about her conversation with Billy Graham was my undoing. So sweetly and sincerely offered, we see the tender heart of this woman who knows that her past wasn't perfect, and wasn't always lived in the way God would have chosen. So representative of us all in so many things.
Lessons learned from Mosaic: We simply do not know the heart of another, the things they've felt and faced, nor why they've made the decisions they have. We don't know the ways they've been restored, and changed through the events and people in their lives. Just as others can't see inside our heart and understand those things in our own lives and hearts. Life is too short to be judgmental, too precious to wasted in bitterness. God is gracious to restore and give us all many opportunities - how can we do less for anyone else. Each day is a gift to rejoice in and make the most of.
After reading this book, I felt like I'd sat down and had a heart-to-heart with an older more experienced sister. One who has already gone through something of a midlife crisis, one who has learned from mistakes and loves her family and friends with a sweetness and endearment that refreshing and example worthy.
I will read this again. Over and over. Probably soon. And I plan to make a habit of giving this as a gift for girlfriends.
May 31, 2011
If you know me very well in real-life, then you may have scratched the surface of my Amy Grant obsession. The only person who really understands it, though is my best friend from grade school. We sang "Baby Baby" until it made our elementary school classmates sick. When she held a big concert near us just days before we started middle school, you can guess that both us begged our moms to take us, and when they both finally caved, we were surprised to find out that our seats were only four rows apart and actually on the bottom level of the arena. I think we both nearly died of excitement before the concert.
Anyway, all of that is to tell you that, as hard as I try, I am a totally biased reviewer in this case. This woman can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Her memoir is a series of brief essays interspersed with song lyrics (usually relevant to the story preceding them) and poems by the author. At first, I was a little underwhelmed, but her sweet can-do demeanor always manages to suck me in. She's just one of those people who can't help but find the wonder in all facets of life, so all the little ordinary moments she decides to base most of her essays on still sparkle with her hopeful outlook. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a more traditional chronological biography, but as you progress through the book, you realize that that's not the kind of book she would ever write. Her free-spirited artists' temperament is able to craft a more engaging story freed from the constraints of time.
A must read for any die-hard fan, and not too bad for others interested in a quick inspirational read.
Anyway, all of that is to tell you that, as hard as I try, I am a totally biased reviewer in this case. This woman can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Her memoir is a series of brief essays interspersed with song lyrics (usually relevant to the story preceding them) and poems by the author. At first, I was a little underwhelmed, but her sweet can-do demeanor always manages to suck me in. She's just one of those people who can't help but find the wonder in all facets of life, so all the little ordinary moments she decides to base most of her essays on still sparkle with her hopeful outlook. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a more traditional chronological biography, but as you progress through the book, you realize that that's not the kind of book she would ever write. Her free-spirited artists' temperament is able to craft a more engaging story freed from the constraints of time.
A must read for any die-hard fan, and not too bad for others interested in a quick inspirational read.
September 27, 2011
First, let me state I am not sure why I decided to read this book. I have been into autobiographies recently and this seemed like a good choice. Amy Grant's "Mosaic Pieces of My Life So Far" is not what I was expecting; it is not like a 'typical' autobiography, the telling of one's life story from the beginning. It is more like reading her diary, a collection of her personal thoughts about her life experiences, often without chronology Each momento she shares, whether happy, funny, serious, or sad, demonstrates a sincerity of character and authenticity. You can sense her joy, her pain, and often time her struggle to put into words those things which are difficult to reveal. Though not the most well written book I have ever read, it was an easy read because no topic lasted more than a few pages, and often only a page or two, adding to the diary feeling.
Whether laughing at the hi-jinks that occurs when a large family gathers, or feeling the grass between your toes in a mountain meadow, Amy takes the reader on a journey, not of miles or even ages but of emotions, those fleeting slivers in time that make our lives worth living.
I found myself putting the book down often - not out of boredoom, but out of a desire to connect, to slow down to give myself time to reflect on my own slivers. During one of these moments of introspection, I realized why I decided to pick up and read this book. Amy Grant's album 'Age to Age' was released when I was in my late teens. Somehow it got mixed in my tapes between Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and Neal Young. And in many ways songs like 'El Shaddai' and 'I Have Decided' became my defining music, and set the tone for the next decades of my life, maybe even further...as I reflect on 'My Life So Far'.
Whether laughing at the hi-jinks that occurs when a large family gathers, or feeling the grass between your toes in a mountain meadow, Amy takes the reader on a journey, not of miles or even ages but of emotions, those fleeting slivers in time that make our lives worth living.
I found myself putting the book down often - not out of boredoom, but out of a desire to connect, to slow down to give myself time to reflect on my own slivers. During one of these moments of introspection, I realized why I decided to pick up and read this book. Amy Grant's album 'Age to Age' was released when I was in my late teens. Somehow it got mixed in my tapes between Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and Neal Young. And in many ways songs like 'El Shaddai' and 'I Have Decided' became my defining music, and set the tone for the next decades of my life, maybe even further...as I reflect on 'My Life So Far'.
October 31, 2017
Nice little bio and bits of song lyrics.
Honestly, I only read it to get stories about her husband: Vince Gill (Best Country guitar picker in the World. Apparently he's a good singer too!)
Funny story:
I went into my local Christian Book and Music store. My Buddy there informs me there's a bunch of NEW Christian Hardrock that I'll love... The guy doesn't know me very well (But I do understand, I'm a long haired rocker looking kind of guy). I politely decline the latest Stryper album and ask him where the New Amy Grant Country Gospel Hymn collection is. He looks at me weirdly... I inform him that "Vince Gill plays some Electric Guitar on it, IT'LL BE AWESOME!!!!!!!!) . He now thinks i'm old. So be it.
Anyway,
Amy has lived a somewhat charmed and challenging life. Became a famous musician when she was a teenager, Lots of albums, tours, songs, awards. Then a failed marriage. Then she got a Vince Gill. Now she's making music I actually like. The End.
Lots of stories about her kids in this. Those are fun.
Honestly, I only read it to get stories about her husband: Vince Gill (Best Country guitar picker in the World. Apparently he's a good singer too!)
Funny story:
I went into my local Christian Book and Music store. My Buddy there informs me there's a bunch of NEW Christian Hardrock that I'll love... The guy doesn't know me very well (But I do understand, I'm a long haired rocker looking kind of guy). I politely decline the latest Stryper album and ask him where the New Amy Grant Country Gospel Hymn collection is. He looks at me weirdly... I inform him that "Vince Gill plays some Electric Guitar on it, IT'LL BE AWESOME!!!!!!!!) . He now thinks i'm old. So be it.
Anyway,
Amy has lived a somewhat charmed and challenging life. Became a famous musician when she was a teenager, Lots of albums, tours, songs, awards. Then a failed marriage. Then she got a Vince Gill. Now she's making music I actually like. The End.
Lots of stories about her kids in this. Those are fun.
January 4, 2016
I was a big Amy Grant fan in the 80's. I thought this book would be interesting to skim through. I liked the pictures and the stories. Enjoyed all the Colorado references. Brought back some memories.
June 1, 2008
Mosaic, written by Amy Grant, is just that-vignettes from a life lived, for the most part, in the spotlight's glare. For anyone looking for a timeline or tell all biography this book will disappoint. This isn't a book that starts at the beginning and travels through time to the present, giving readers every detail. Instead, this memoir intertwines her songs and the stories behind them.
The book is split into four sections-Every Road, Heirlooms, Lead Me On, and Takes A Little Time. Each section is then split into a song/story combination relating to that section's title.
Every Road contains stories about journeys-some Amy's, some from people she's met, others from listeners that chose a different path than the one they are currently on because a song has spoken to them in a life-changing way. In "Salt Water", she writes about her nieces experiencing the ocean for the first time. "Dorothy Lee" tells of the time she and her husband, Vince Gill, gave a birthday gift to a fan and received so much more in return. Some of her songs highlighted in this section are: "Hats", "Thy Word", and "Turn This World Around".
Heirlooms is about Amy's family. Stories about her sisters, her mom, aunts, nephews and more cover these pages. The importance of family to Amy is apparent as she opens up and lets readers in on this private aspect of her public life, sometimes in very personal ways. Funny stories with her children as main characters, how an uncle's influence long after his death touched the niece he never knew, and separation that comes with distance and death.
Lead Me On moves into another aspect of Amy's life. This section is thoughts about her spiritual journey. Here she writes about a family baptism, the influence of her great-grandparents, her unusual experience with a speaker on Nashville's Music Row, are some of the memories she shares here. "Lead Me On", "Angels", and "1974" are a few of her songs woven with the stories.
Takes A Little Time revolves around the harder times in life that we will all face. Loss, depression, fear of the future and the difficulties of trying to blend two families are some of the heavier topics dealt with in the last section of Mosaic. "Takes A Little Time", "All Right" and "Somewhere Down The Road" are a few songs included here.
What struck me about Mosaic is how honest it is book. In it, Amy opens up about some of her most personal struggles and triumphs. It's not a book that points blame, bears anger, or makes of excuses. Rather, it's a book of hope, family, and faith written by a woman who understands that she doesn't have all the answers and is grateful for the life she's been given. This is a book that can be enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike.
First posted at infuzemag.com
The book is split into four sections-Every Road, Heirlooms, Lead Me On, and Takes A Little Time. Each section is then split into a song/story combination relating to that section's title.
Every Road contains stories about journeys-some Amy's, some from people she's met, others from listeners that chose a different path than the one they are currently on because a song has spoken to them in a life-changing way. In "Salt Water", she writes about her nieces experiencing the ocean for the first time. "Dorothy Lee" tells of the time she and her husband, Vince Gill, gave a birthday gift to a fan and received so much more in return. Some of her songs highlighted in this section are: "Hats", "Thy Word", and "Turn This World Around".
Heirlooms is about Amy's family. Stories about her sisters, her mom, aunts, nephews and more cover these pages. The importance of family to Amy is apparent as she opens up and lets readers in on this private aspect of her public life, sometimes in very personal ways. Funny stories with her children as main characters, how an uncle's influence long after his death touched the niece he never knew, and separation that comes with distance and death.
Lead Me On moves into another aspect of Amy's life. This section is thoughts about her spiritual journey. Here she writes about a family baptism, the influence of her great-grandparents, her unusual experience with a speaker on Nashville's Music Row, are some of the memories she shares here. "Lead Me On", "Angels", and "1974" are a few of her songs woven with the stories.
Takes A Little Time revolves around the harder times in life that we will all face. Loss, depression, fear of the future and the difficulties of trying to blend two families are some of the heavier topics dealt with in the last section of Mosaic. "Takes A Little Time", "All Right" and "Somewhere Down The Road" are a few songs included here.
What struck me about Mosaic is how honest it is book. In it, Amy opens up about some of her most personal struggles and triumphs. It's not a book that points blame, bears anger, or makes of excuses. Rather, it's a book of hope, family, and faith written by a woman who understands that she doesn't have all the answers and is grateful for the life she's been given. This is a book that can be enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike.
First posted at infuzemag.com
August 28, 2022
I probably could have read this in just one or two sittings, but took about a week to savor this.
I really didn't know a lot about Amy Grant beyond a few of her songs, her marriage to Vince Gill, and her success as a mainstream as well as Christian artist. This book is aptly titled - it is a mosaic. She gives us snippets of her life, not a chronological retelling, and intersperses the lyrics to her songs. There are some photos as well, mostly in an inset section. There are also ones with her essays, but they are too small - you can't tell who or what is in them. This was sweet and thoughtful. It does have a religious slant - but I don't think that anyone reading this would be surprised. I also liked that much of her story takes place in my hometown, Nashville, and I could identify with so much that she talked about as I knew how it looked in the 60s and 70s (she graduated high school the same year as my younger brother).
This particular book was actually a signed copy and given to my younger daughter in early December 2007, just before she died by some friends from Missouri in thanks for sharing her journey with them. That alone makes this book precious to me. I had difficulty picking it up for so long, but the time seemed right now. There were things that spoke to me. Grant's writing is from the heart and I enjoyed this.
Quotes to remember:
In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture.
Grief has its own timetable...The time it takes to heal is the time it takes to heal.
Quoting Frederick Buechner: For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.
Just because a life is cut short doesn't mean it can't provide a lifetime of impact for those still living.
Two snips of lyrics that I liked:
Say Once More
...
Let me say once more that I need you,
One more time or just maybe two.
That my life will always be richer
For the time I've spent here with you.
...
Oh Tennessee
...
Oh Tennessee, the trees in bloom - they come and go too soon
And this life of mine - it happens just the same
I'm heading on and in my heart I'll keep the memories of
The ones who share my love and share my name
I really didn't know a lot about Amy Grant beyond a few of her songs, her marriage to Vince Gill, and her success as a mainstream as well as Christian artist. This book is aptly titled - it is a mosaic. She gives us snippets of her life, not a chronological retelling, and intersperses the lyrics to her songs. There are some photos as well, mostly in an inset section. There are also ones with her essays, but they are too small - you can't tell who or what is in them. This was sweet and thoughtful. It does have a religious slant - but I don't think that anyone reading this would be surprised. I also liked that much of her story takes place in my hometown, Nashville, and I could identify with so much that she talked about as I knew how it looked in the 60s and 70s (she graduated high school the same year as my younger brother).
This particular book was actually a signed copy and given to my younger daughter in early December 2007, just before she died by some friends from Missouri in thanks for sharing her journey with them. That alone makes this book precious to me. I had difficulty picking it up for so long, but the time seemed right now. There were things that spoke to me. Grant's writing is from the heart and I enjoyed this.
Quotes to remember:
In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture.
Grief has its own timetable...The time it takes to heal is the time it takes to heal.
Quoting Frederick Buechner: For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.
Just because a life is cut short doesn't mean it can't provide a lifetime of impact for those still living.
Two snips of lyrics that I liked:
Say Once More
...
Let me say once more that I need you,
One more time or just maybe two.
That my life will always be richer
For the time I've spent here with you.
...
Oh Tennessee
...
Oh Tennessee, the trees in bloom - they come and go too soon
And this life of mine - it happens just the same
I'm heading on and in my heart I'll keep the memories of
The ones who share my love and share my name
July 31, 2011
What I disliked about this book: I decided to read (listen) to this book because I wanted to hear Amy Grant's perspective on a few things. Unfortunately, she did not come close to touching the topics I was curious about. I also did not care for the organization of the book. I realize the theme was 'mosaic' and it was supposed to be rather random, but I didn't care for that. I wanted something more chronilogical or some semblance of order.
What I liked about this book: Some of the stories were rather touching. It was also especially nice to listen to this book because it was interspersed with snippets of her songs. (Unfortunately, the poetry did not work so well in the audio format).
What I liked about this book: Some of the stories were rather touching. It was also especially nice to listen to this book because it was interspersed with snippets of her songs. (Unfortunately, the poetry did not work so well in the audio format).
August 24, 2015
I love Amy, so I enjoyed this book. It's well written, and I hope she'll do another. I enjoy learning more about her life and her thoughts, and you get some of that here. On the downside, she spends a lot of time telling us stories about other people, shifting the focus off of herself. These stories are not without interest and overall the book is an easy, quick read. (You even have to admire the fact that she can write a whole book without revealing too much of herself in the process...the consummate public persona. "Tell as much as you can without telling as much as you can." A marketing coach once told me that, and I think Amy has absolutely embraced that advice.) So, it's a nice glimpse at more of Amy, but leaves real fans, those who feel such a connection to her--like me--wanting more. What I'd like to say is, "You can feel safe with us, Amy. We love you. We know you're not perfect--neither are we."
Specifically, I was left wondering such things as, "How does it feel to be on the road so much and away from your family?" (Personally, I have a hard time leaving my family. I even missed a chance to MEET AMY because I was having a hard time with both traveling alone and leaving my youngest. One of my lasting regrets!) But it was fun to discover that she has spent time weeding on her property, and I would have never guessed that she enjoys cooking. (I've always felt that if life had brought us into each other's circles, we'd have hit it off as good friends. As a sometime gardener and cook, I appreciated learning these little things.)
I definitely recommend this book to Amy fans or anyone who enjoys slice-of-life glimpses by a real person with a public life.
Specifically, I was left wondering such things as, "How does it feel to be on the road so much and away from your family?" (Personally, I have a hard time leaving my family. I even missed a chance to MEET AMY because I was having a hard time with both traveling alone and leaving my youngest. One of my lasting regrets!) But it was fun to discover that she has spent time weeding on her property, and I would have never guessed that she enjoys cooking. (I've always felt that if life had brought us into each other's circles, we'd have hit it off as good friends. As a sometime gardener and cook, I appreciated learning these little things.)
I definitely recommend this book to Amy fans or anyone who enjoys slice-of-life glimpses by a real person with a public life.
December 29, 2014
I admit it - I've loved Amy Grant since I was in junior high playing her records in my room by myself, filled with typical teenage girl confusion & sadness magnified by my parents divorce. I've attended a few of her earliest concerts - her music has played in the background through much of my up & down faith journey, including recent releases of timeless hymns. Reading "Mosaic" felt like sitting down for a several hour chat with a friend whom you haven't seen in a decade. Lots of glimpses about her life experience, including raw admittance of difficult choices, bouts of depression, compassion for many & growing self-acceptance as she ages. Learned her very first ticketed concert was in FW in 1978 at Will Rogers, which makes me feel even more like her pretend friend. :) Related to much of her musings, including "On paper, the direction of my life seems so clear. The experience of it, however, has felt much more like a twisting, curving road of surprises." An easy read that reflects part friendly conversation, part sermon, part confession & part devotional. Perfect for me during this holy time of year.
September 5, 2009
I have had mixed feelings about Amy Grant since her divorce and then marriage to Vince Gill. This book tells about certain pieces of Amy' s life and I found myself not wanting to put it down. You learn much more about her family, stories behind some of her songs and sometimes you get to catch a glimpse of who Amy really is. It brought back memories of events in my own life when some of her songs came out and I wanted to go put on some of her old CDs. I took my two young nieces to her Heart in Motion concert and we had so much fun. Later when her life was following apart I was disappointed in how she handled some things as she had been someone so many young Christians looked up to. This book doesn't answer those questions but she does mention several times the pain of that time. Though I don't think she has ever really owned up to some things, in this book I didn't find her giving excuses either and that made her a little endearing to me again.
February 7, 2012
This is a wonderfully written book. I enjoyed it immensely. Amy Grant writes this book as a collection of memories interspersed with songs she has written that coincided with the memories she is recalling.
She is a breath of fresh air. Her writing comes through as a woman of faith; she's so touching and real. By real, I mean not an egotistic celebrity. Most of the book doesn't talk in depth about her celebrity, but rather her family and people that have touched her life...close friends and strangers alike.
I must say that I know of a number of Amy's songs, but am not a follower of her music. After reading her book I look forward to hearing more of her songs and looking at her lyrics more closely.
Reading her book was enlightening and she has such a wonderful way with words. I'd definitely recommend reading this book.
She is a breath of fresh air. Her writing comes through as a woman of faith; she's so touching and real. By real, I mean not an egotistic celebrity. Most of the book doesn't talk in depth about her celebrity, but rather her family and people that have touched her life...close friends and strangers alike.
I must say that I know of a number of Amy's songs, but am not a follower of her music. After reading her book I look forward to hearing more of her songs and looking at her lyrics more closely.
Reading her book was enlightening and she has such a wonderful way with words. I'd definitely recommend reading this book.
December 29, 2011
So I must admit that I love Amy Grant. Her music has been a staple in my life since I was 17. Her music makes special bonds with my family and me. It has been only within the last five years that I've been able to see her in concert. For sure, she has been able to go the distance and music fans are loyal. They love her and they keep coming back for more. I'm so glad that she has only shared pieces of her life. There has been a bit of darkness in her life too. She alludes to it but does not elaborate. I'm glad. So I liked this memoir. Nothing spectacular but it was good. I have read several memoirs and while this one is not the most riveting... for her fans, it is a quick, easy and enjoyable read.
March 8, 2008
I used to really like Amy Grant until she divorced her first husband to marry Vince Gill (incidentally I also liked Gill until he divorced his wife to marry Amy). So I picked up the book at the library because like Sandy Patti's bio I was expecting some explanation and apology for the divorce. I now see divorce in a whole new light and feel that Patti went about Biblical reconciliation but in Grant's book she only makes mention of how much she loved Vince, more or less justifying it instead of dealing with it in a Christian way. Although her songs are now more secular so she has strayed far from her original start anyway.
November 16, 2012
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this! I love Amy's music but didn't have great anticipation for the book. Again, just when I expected fluff, Amy delivers the real thing; I should stop being surprised. Across any musical genre, I haven't come across anyone more forthright and honest -- even when it's ugly -- than her. The chapter on her trip to the beach after her separation, the one on her encounter with the deer, and her account of her baptism -- all beautifully told. Oh! And as a mom, the refrain of "He's finding them just like He found me--" that's good theology, real comfort, and TRUTH.
Want to read
January 24, 2010Okay, I might be the biggest fan of Amy Grant music ever. I just realized that there are several CDs from the 80's that I have never owned, purchased, or memorized the lyrics too. AND she wrote a book! I am scouring Ebay for my missing CDs. How many CDs has she recorded? I love her music. I will forever be an Amy Grant nerd. Her music still holds me captive, even as a grown nerd.
September 4, 2009
I hang my head to say that the only reason I picked this up was to get details on her divorce from Gary Chapman. Which there were none, so I didn't really read, just skimmed. I think this is a book to come back to, as it is very thoughtful, but it wasn't what I was looking for.
March 20, 2014
More a collection of essays than a true biography, I still enjoyed this look into the life of one of Christian music's biggest stars.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 23, 2018
This book was an absolute joy to experience. I grew up on Amy Grant’s music. So it was a lovely hearing her play and sing and tell stories.
May 12, 2017
When I was growing up, our Saturday house cleaning music was typically either Amy Grant or Michael Mclean. While on a road trip through Portland I came across this book in Powell’s (a HUGE bookstore I could get lost in for hours and hours!!) and had to pick it up. While I intended it as a gift for my father, I also wanted to read it myself – and buying it used made me feel better about that read than gift plan :)
It was so interested to learn more about this woman who’s music was an intragyral part of my growing up years. Interesting to learn more about her journey – the ups and the downs. I appreciated here willingness to be open and vulnerable. I appreciated here reminder that we are all just people, and so often we have an opportunity to make a difference in a unique way, if we are willing to pay attention to those around us and use our talents and resources to bless others.
Now it’s time to go listen to more of her music – or maybe track down that documentary she was in…
Selected Quotes:
- We talked about life lessons that are learned in conjunction with the land, the changing of seasons, and the miracle of seeds sprouting and growing and yielding fruit. We talked about the patterns in nature, patterns of living and dying. At one point when I was struggling with a particularly tall thistle with a stubborn root, Terry called out to me, “You know, Amy, sin is a lot like that thistle you are wrestling with. It can look so beautiful to the eye, be so pleasing to the senses, you hardly notice the seeds are spreading until whole fields are taken over by them. Then they choke out the grass. Animals won’t eat ‘em. You can’t cut ‘em down and leave the root. They’ll come right back. There is nothing to do but take the time and energy required to pull them out in one piece and fill the hole with something good.” (p64)
- I enjoy any passing conversation that starts with, “You don’t know me, but I knew your…,” because even if you’ve lived in the same place most of your life, sometimes it takes a stranger to fill in the missing pieces of your family puzzle. (p85)
- I love Frederick Buechner’s words in his essay on remembering: “For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.” Just because a life is cut short doesn’t mean it can’t provide a lifetime of impact of those still living. (p89)
- Stories circulate through a big family like the messages in the children’s game Operator, repeated again and again until they evolve into something very different from how they started. It’s not always appropriate to ask the questions necessary to separate the truth from the embellishments. The exaggerated details and funny stories become part of the person and the story, every bit as important as the truth. (p97)
- Sometimes I crave a kind of connection with nature, with myself, with God that I don’t know how to achieve. The absence of it makes me feel caged up inside. I can’t sit still. I can’t listen well. (p111)
- Life is made up of golden chances, opportunities to do good. One lost is lost forever. If we miss doing a kindness to a friend, we can never do that kindness again. If we might speak a pleasant word, or offer a bit of worthwhile counsel or advice and fail to do so, we can never have just that opportunity again. Giving is a way of life. -A.M. Burton (1879-1966) (p117)
- The beauty of being in the middle of life is the vantage point it provides. From my forties I can look ahead to my parents navigating old age at full tilt and take mental notes about what lies ahead. Even from here I can see that growing old is not for the cowardly. At the same time I can look back to childhood and the young-adult years with more understanding and compassion for myself in retrospect, for my children, and for all the young people I know who are swept up in the swirl of the early decades of life. (p117)
- Finding one’s way, learning to value the truth as a nonnegotiable plumb line, experiencing the consequences of violating the laws of nature or the laws of the Spirit, exercising free will, and realizing one’s own impact on and in the world—these are all included in the sometimes painful lessons of life, and most of these must be learned firsthand. Thankfully, though, some principles can be inherited. (p117)
- Could the answers to all the needs of the world be met if we would simply listen to the still, quiet voice of God, the voice that speaks to the universe, prompting us toward one another? (p121)
- All around us are opportunities to give. To give what? Money? Money is only a small part of what is needed in the world. You cannot give what you do not have, but everyone is wealthy in some way. You can give support, encouragement, advice, attention, praise, honor, blood, respect, time, energy. Each of us is gifted in unique ways, and our generosity springs from those wells. (p121)
- “This is the day that the Lord has made.” If God made this day, if he intended for me to wake up this day, then there’s a purpose in it. It wasn’t made because he was bored and had nothing better to do. He created it because that’s his nature—he is creative. And he creates for his pleasure. And here I am right in the middle of a creation that was provided for his pleasure. Where do I fit in? How am I a part of it? (p144)
- Our Father. All of us, everyone who’s ever lived or died—we share him. We are his. Whether we are lovable or unlovable, whether we agree or disagree, saint or reprobate—all of us have the same Father, or Father who art in heaven. (p145)
- Lay down your burden
I will carry you
I will carry you, my child
‘Cause I can walk on water
Calm a restless sea
I’ve done a thousand things you’ve never done
And I’m weary watching
While you struggle on your own
Call my name, I’ll come (p165)
- The truth is, I have a great life. I’ve made a career of my childhood hobby, and many doors have been opened to me. Still, I’m confronted with moods that just appear out of nowhere: feeling overwhelmed, feeling like what I have to offer is not enough, a deep sadness that is foreign to my usual optimism, loss of energy. In those times, it’s hard to complete my thoughts, much less my sentences.
What I’ve learned so far is that depresion can be, but is not necessarily, about circumstances or about a particular event. It is physical. It is hereditary. It is cyclical. Its onset is like traveling down a road and suddenly hitting a patch of deep sand, wheels spinning and not visible forward motion.
The good news is, I’ve learned to recognize it and not be ashamed of it. I know as surely as it comes, it will go. In the meantime, here’s the talk I give myself.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
- Simplify the to-do list.
- Be grateful for unavoidable responsibility. It makes you move.
- Be careful what you reach for.
- If necessary, be willing to say, “I’m having a hard time, and it’s not you.”
- My great-uncle Dandy was right. A brisk walk helps.
- Make contact with other people. Hear about somebody else’s day.
Because I live with these occasional extremes in myself, I look at other people differently. We never really know what is going on inside another person. It’s good reason to be gentle. (p168)
- People come in and out of our lives at different times for different reasons. Responsibilities change, patterns change, interests change—we grow up and grow older. (p191)
- The real work of Jesus. Forgiveness. It is not our good behavior that puts in in right standing with God. No one is that good. But instead it is believing in and receiving the work that Jesus did on the cross on our behalf. (p191)
- Lesson learned: Never assume anything about your own importance. (p197)
It was so interested to learn more about this woman who’s music was an intragyral part of my growing up years. Interesting to learn more about her journey – the ups and the downs. I appreciated here willingness to be open and vulnerable. I appreciated here reminder that we are all just people, and so often we have an opportunity to make a difference in a unique way, if we are willing to pay attention to those around us and use our talents and resources to bless others.
Now it’s time to go listen to more of her music – or maybe track down that documentary she was in…
Selected Quotes:
- We talked about life lessons that are learned in conjunction with the land, the changing of seasons, and the miracle of seeds sprouting and growing and yielding fruit. We talked about the patterns in nature, patterns of living and dying. At one point when I was struggling with a particularly tall thistle with a stubborn root, Terry called out to me, “You know, Amy, sin is a lot like that thistle you are wrestling with. It can look so beautiful to the eye, be so pleasing to the senses, you hardly notice the seeds are spreading until whole fields are taken over by them. Then they choke out the grass. Animals won’t eat ‘em. You can’t cut ‘em down and leave the root. They’ll come right back. There is nothing to do but take the time and energy required to pull them out in one piece and fill the hole with something good.” (p64)
- I enjoy any passing conversation that starts with, “You don’t know me, but I knew your…,” because even if you’ve lived in the same place most of your life, sometimes it takes a stranger to fill in the missing pieces of your family puzzle. (p85)
- I love Frederick Buechner’s words in his essay on remembering: “For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.” Just because a life is cut short doesn’t mean it can’t provide a lifetime of impact of those still living. (p89)
- Stories circulate through a big family like the messages in the children’s game Operator, repeated again and again until they evolve into something very different from how they started. It’s not always appropriate to ask the questions necessary to separate the truth from the embellishments. The exaggerated details and funny stories become part of the person and the story, every bit as important as the truth. (p97)
- Sometimes I crave a kind of connection with nature, with myself, with God that I don’t know how to achieve. The absence of it makes me feel caged up inside. I can’t sit still. I can’t listen well. (p111)
- Life is made up of golden chances, opportunities to do good. One lost is lost forever. If we miss doing a kindness to a friend, we can never do that kindness again. If we might speak a pleasant word, or offer a bit of worthwhile counsel or advice and fail to do so, we can never have just that opportunity again. Giving is a way of life. -A.M. Burton (1879-1966) (p117)
- The beauty of being in the middle of life is the vantage point it provides. From my forties I can look ahead to my parents navigating old age at full tilt and take mental notes about what lies ahead. Even from here I can see that growing old is not for the cowardly. At the same time I can look back to childhood and the young-adult years with more understanding and compassion for myself in retrospect, for my children, and for all the young people I know who are swept up in the swirl of the early decades of life. (p117)
- Finding one’s way, learning to value the truth as a nonnegotiable plumb line, experiencing the consequences of violating the laws of nature or the laws of the Spirit, exercising free will, and realizing one’s own impact on and in the world—these are all included in the sometimes painful lessons of life, and most of these must be learned firsthand. Thankfully, though, some principles can be inherited. (p117)
- Could the answers to all the needs of the world be met if we would simply listen to the still, quiet voice of God, the voice that speaks to the universe, prompting us toward one another? (p121)
- All around us are opportunities to give. To give what? Money? Money is only a small part of what is needed in the world. You cannot give what you do not have, but everyone is wealthy in some way. You can give support, encouragement, advice, attention, praise, honor, blood, respect, time, energy. Each of us is gifted in unique ways, and our generosity springs from those wells. (p121)
- “This is the day that the Lord has made.” If God made this day, if he intended for me to wake up this day, then there’s a purpose in it. It wasn’t made because he was bored and had nothing better to do. He created it because that’s his nature—he is creative. And he creates for his pleasure. And here I am right in the middle of a creation that was provided for his pleasure. Where do I fit in? How am I a part of it? (p144)
- Our Father. All of us, everyone who’s ever lived or died—we share him. We are his. Whether we are lovable or unlovable, whether we agree or disagree, saint or reprobate—all of us have the same Father, or Father who art in heaven. (p145)
- Lay down your burden
I will carry you
I will carry you, my child
‘Cause I can walk on water
Calm a restless sea
I’ve done a thousand things you’ve never done
And I’m weary watching
While you struggle on your own
Call my name, I’ll come (p165)
- The truth is, I have a great life. I’ve made a career of my childhood hobby, and many doors have been opened to me. Still, I’m confronted with moods that just appear out of nowhere: feeling overwhelmed, feeling like what I have to offer is not enough, a deep sadness that is foreign to my usual optimism, loss of energy. In those times, it’s hard to complete my thoughts, much less my sentences.
What I’ve learned so far is that depresion can be, but is not necessarily, about circumstances or about a particular event. It is physical. It is hereditary. It is cyclical. Its onset is like traveling down a road and suddenly hitting a patch of deep sand, wheels spinning and not visible forward motion.
The good news is, I’ve learned to recognize it and not be ashamed of it. I know as surely as it comes, it will go. In the meantime, here’s the talk I give myself.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
- Simplify the to-do list.
- Be grateful for unavoidable responsibility. It makes you move.
- Be careful what you reach for.
- If necessary, be willing to say, “I’m having a hard time, and it’s not you.”
- My great-uncle Dandy was right. A brisk walk helps.
- Make contact with other people. Hear about somebody else’s day.
Because I live with these occasional extremes in myself, I look at other people differently. We never really know what is going on inside another person. It’s good reason to be gentle. (p168)
- People come in and out of our lives at different times for different reasons. Responsibilities change, patterns change, interests change—we grow up and grow older. (p191)
- The real work of Jesus. Forgiveness. It is not our good behavior that puts in in right standing with God. No one is that good. But instead it is believing in and receiving the work that Jesus did on the cross on our behalf. (p191)
- Lesson learned: Never assume anything about your own importance. (p197)
July 20, 2025
I sought this out after being (re)introduced to Amy Grant’s music earlier this month. This was a really enjoyable read! I hesitate to call it a memoir, as it’s more a series of short vignettes/memories interspersed with poems and song lyrics. More Amy’s thoughts and reflections on different people or subjects than a strict retelling of events in her life, though the final chapter is a chronology from birth through the writing of the book, mainly focusing on musical milestones.
She shares a lot of poignant and occasionally humorous thoughts on faith, family, and motherhood. I liked that each piece was so short – ranging from one to three or four pages – that it was easy to dip in and out of this book.
She shares a lot of poignant and occasionally humorous thoughts on faith, family, and motherhood. I liked that each piece was so short – ranging from one to three or four pages – that it was easy to dip in and out of this book.
October 28, 2024
I read this when it first came out and felt compelled to pull it out again after seeing her in concert recently. Her music is the soundtrack to my life and I’ve seen her in concert 20 times.
I love the blend of lyrics and anecdotes and poems. My favorite chapter is First Thing.
I love the blend of lyrics and anecdotes and poems. My favorite chapter is First Thing.
January 14, 2022
Sweet stories, I enjoyed this short book. Favorite line: “At least he still had all his teeth” 😂
April 13, 2022
interesting to read the lyrics to songs intermingled with stories of her life and pictures. She was the first Christian "pop" artist I listened to as a college student. Still enjoy her music today.
May 12, 2025
I enjoy reading memoirs and this was honest and real. A lot of lyrics and poetry were included
December 7, 2016
This past weekend I got to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith Christmas concert in Des Moines, IA. My friend, then gave me this book to read, I had no idea Amy Grant had a book out! (now ten years old).
I enjoyed the book a lot (so why three stars?) The writing was broken into short stories, and although I enjoyed each story, I had a hard time reading the songs (like poetry).
What I did love is that Amy Grant is so authentic. This is a trait I admire and appreciate in people, as it doesn’t happen often! We all want to the “perfect person” have the “perfect family” and wear badges of honor to be noticed. Amy is just real. She does good for others not to be noticed or talked about but because she really wants to do good in the world.
It was a very quick read (two days) and uplifting. Life is hard, and Amy admits to that, life is not always perfect, but she always puts God and her family first, and it made me smile throughout the stories she shared.
It also sent a huge reminder to cherish the time we have with those we love and care about the most, as life is short, and you just never know what may happen! She does a great job at sharing stories that have helped shape who she is as a song writer, artist, mom, wife, daughter, and aunt. I loved it!
"What I've learned so far is that depression can be, but is not necessarily, about circumstances or about a particular event. It is physical. It is hereditary. It is cyclical. Its onset is like traveling down a road and suddenly hitting a path of deep sand, wheels spinning and no visible forward motion."
The chapter titled "Don't Go" and her friend, Ruth having cancer, was touching. Her friend, Ruth had this to say: "Amy, as awful as this has been, I'm so grateful for this cancer. This experience has made me grateful for every aspect of my life, even the hard stuff. I'm grateful for my family, for my health, and I'm especially grateful for every investment I've made in another person. If I could bottle this kind of appreciation and give it to you to drink, I would. I don't know if I have four months, or four years or forty years - that's all right. The uncertainty of it makes every day a gift."
If you were and or still are an Amy Grant fan, I would recommend this book.
I enjoyed the book a lot (so why three stars?) The writing was broken into short stories, and although I enjoyed each story, I had a hard time reading the songs (like poetry).
What I did love is that Amy Grant is so authentic. This is a trait I admire and appreciate in people, as it doesn’t happen often! We all want to the “perfect person” have the “perfect family” and wear badges of honor to be noticed. Amy is just real. She does good for others not to be noticed or talked about but because she really wants to do good in the world.
It was a very quick read (two days) and uplifting. Life is hard, and Amy admits to that, life is not always perfect, but she always puts God and her family first, and it made me smile throughout the stories she shared.
It also sent a huge reminder to cherish the time we have with those we love and care about the most, as life is short, and you just never know what may happen! She does a great job at sharing stories that have helped shape who she is as a song writer, artist, mom, wife, daughter, and aunt. I loved it!
"What I've learned so far is that depression can be, but is not necessarily, about circumstances or about a particular event. It is physical. It is hereditary. It is cyclical. Its onset is like traveling down a road and suddenly hitting a path of deep sand, wheels spinning and no visible forward motion."
The chapter titled "Don't Go" and her friend, Ruth having cancer, was touching. Her friend, Ruth had this to say: "Amy, as awful as this has been, I'm so grateful for this cancer. This experience has made me grateful for every aspect of my life, even the hard stuff. I'm grateful for my family, for my health, and I'm especially grateful for every investment I've made in another person. If I could bottle this kind of appreciation and give it to you to drink, I would. I don't know if I have four months, or four years or forty years - that's all right. The uncertainty of it makes every day a gift."
If you were and or still are an Amy Grant fan, I would recommend this book.
June 17, 2017
I've been a fan of Amy Grant from the time she crossed over onto the pop charts with the album "Heart in Motion," and the song "Baby, Baby." I remember reading that she wrote that song for her actual baby - but it took on a romantic meaning when she made the video. That really fascinated me because the song works so well both ways. I've also gone back and listened to a lot of her earlier spiritual music and I like of lot of those songs as well.
I've had a hard copy of this book for a while but wound up listening to the audio book version. It was probably better that way since the audio book is read by her and she has a very nice speaking voice in addition to a lovely signing voice. The audio book also makes use of her music, playing little snippets here and there, and that was a very nice touch. Many songs I haven't heard in a long time and I really enjoyed that part.
The book is a little hard to follow. It's not told in the usual way of an autobiography in chronological order. As the title says, it's a mosaic of stories from her life told in a more random order, grouped more by topic, I would say. One minute she has two or three kids, the next is a story from when her oldest was just a baby and she only had one child. The stories are very good and very well told. I was interested in them, just not sure I like that method of telling them. I do like that she is a very spiritual person. I love her view of God and the spiritual life.
She also said something that made me appreciate the Mosaic style a bit more. She said that life isn't always like a movie, it doesn't always have an easy-to-follow plot line. Things are a bit messier in real life with not always a clear start and finish - this is why she chose the mosaic style. That really made me stop and think. She's right. In fact, I often stress because my life doesn't seem to have an easily identifiable plot line. My life seems to be all over the place - but maybe that's okay. That's why good books and movies require good writing - because they are not real life. Her view made me think that I need to rethink my own. Maybe I need to see my life as more of a mosaic of events, as she sees hers. That is probably the biggest insight that I took from this book.
I've had a hard copy of this book for a while but wound up listening to the audio book version. It was probably better that way since the audio book is read by her and she has a very nice speaking voice in addition to a lovely signing voice. The audio book also makes use of her music, playing little snippets here and there, and that was a very nice touch. Many songs I haven't heard in a long time and I really enjoyed that part.
The book is a little hard to follow. It's not told in the usual way of an autobiography in chronological order. As the title says, it's a mosaic of stories from her life told in a more random order, grouped more by topic, I would say. One minute she has two or three kids, the next is a story from when her oldest was just a baby and she only had one child. The stories are very good and very well told. I was interested in them, just not sure I like that method of telling them. I do like that she is a very spiritual person. I love her view of God and the spiritual life.
She also said something that made me appreciate the Mosaic style a bit more. She said that life isn't always like a movie, it doesn't always have an easy-to-follow plot line. Things are a bit messier in real life with not always a clear start and finish - this is why she chose the mosaic style. That really made me stop and think. She's right. In fact, I often stress because my life doesn't seem to have an easily identifiable plot line. My life seems to be all over the place - but maybe that's okay. That's why good books and movies require good writing - because they are not real life. Her view made me think that I need to rethink my own. Maybe I need to see my life as more of a mosaic of events, as she sees hers. That is probably the biggest insight that I took from this book.
March 9, 2017
This one I'm keeping. I didn't expect this to be a "tell all" book... I expected it to be about just what Amy Grant said it was going to be... pieces of her life. What I didn't expect was how each little tiny chapter would be so vivid and so powerful. It affected me deeply. Her words came alive and I was not only there, I had to put the book down after a few of her chapters to actually THINK about what she was saying.
I wouldn't call myself an Amy Grant super fan. I'm a fan of some of her work. I've always been a little defensive about her story because I felt people who called themselves Christian believed they owned her and had the right to judge her marital situation. It makes me sick, actually. I've read quite a few reviewers of this book where they claim to be fans who became disillusioned with Ms. Grant when she divorced her husband? Geesh. I could write a book on my feelings about statements like these. And they feel they have the right to judge based on the fact that they are Christian. In fact, apparently, a lot of people felt this book would shed some light on her decision to leave her first husband (Gary Chapman). These people felt she owed them an explanation! They were sadly disappointed when they read her book. If this is what YOU think the book is about, please don't bother to read it. If you're looking for honest, inspirational, almost devotional type writings by a woman so wise beyond her years, this will be perfect! I absolutely adored it but wouldn't recommend it for everyone... certainly for those so called Christians who feel like God came down and gave them the right to judge another person's life.
I wouldn't call myself an Amy Grant super fan. I'm a fan of some of her work. I've always been a little defensive about her story because I felt people who called themselves Christian believed they owned her and had the right to judge her marital situation. It makes me sick, actually. I've read quite a few reviewers of this book where they claim to be fans who became disillusioned with Ms. Grant when she divorced her husband? Geesh. I could write a book on my feelings about statements like these. And they feel they have the right to judge based on the fact that they are Christian. In fact, apparently, a lot of people felt this book would shed some light on her decision to leave her first husband (Gary Chapman). These people felt she owed them an explanation! They were sadly disappointed when they read her book. If this is what YOU think the book is about, please don't bother to read it. If you're looking for honest, inspirational, almost devotional type writings by a woman so wise beyond her years, this will be perfect! I absolutely adored it but wouldn't recommend it for everyone... certainly for those so called Christians who feel like God came down and gave them the right to judge another person's life.
February 20, 2010
I read this book on a plane ride back from New York, just as things were really starting to tank in the stock market. It had already been a slide, but that day the news was so bad that people around me were swearing a loud as they watched financial news on the seatback TVs all JetBlue customers get. At times the panic was almost palpable and, though my own circumstances were less affected, it was easy to fear — on some level — that the world was ending. That was almost the underlying thought, you sensed.
In that moment, I turned to the book a girl I'd eaten lunch with had handed me, after hearing that I'd heard Amy speak at a recent retreat (the girl had worked on her book for the publisher, hence had easy access to extra copies). I didn't know what to expect as I opened it, but as I read through the short vignettes and song lyrics, I found exactly the kind of hope and strength one needed for a moment such as that.
Here is not an escape from the hardness of life, but a poignant, heartening reassurance that God's people having been facing and enduring hardship for a long time, and getting through such things with the real and vital hope we have in heaven. That summary doesn't quite do this book justice, but I will always retain a great affection for it due to the way God met me in its pages, in an hour of panic all around, giving me back my footing amidst the turbulence. A beautiful, honest, strength-giving book.
In that moment, I turned to the book a girl I'd eaten lunch with had handed me, after hearing that I'd heard Amy speak at a recent retreat (the girl had worked on her book for the publisher, hence had easy access to extra copies). I didn't know what to expect as I opened it, but as I read through the short vignettes and song lyrics, I found exactly the kind of hope and strength one needed for a moment such as that.
Here is not an escape from the hardness of life, but a poignant, heartening reassurance that God's people having been facing and enduring hardship for a long time, and getting through such things with the real and vital hope we have in heaven. That summary doesn't quite do this book justice, but I will always retain a great affection for it due to the way God met me in its pages, in an hour of panic all around, giving me back my footing amidst the turbulence. A beautiful, honest, strength-giving book.
November 17, 2016
Amy Grant, the singer, brings a reflective poetic voice to writing essays on life, loss and music. I liked her self-effacing descriptions of being a mom with a career, never sure if you are hitting your balance. She clearly spends time in deep religious thought and that adds a richness to her insights. The book is a series of essays, not a biography. She is well-known for her Grammy-winning Christian music career. While I have never listened much to her songs, I was interested in her story. As a young girl she began recording gospel songs, then rose to the number one Christian artist of all time, while raising four children, getting a controversial divorce, then remarrying to fellow artist Vince Gill. I was surprised how much I liked the book. She reminisces about her grandparents, their influence on her life, her love of the healing power of the ocean, writes about an uncle that died before she was born but loomed large in her family’s life, and even her encounters with homeless people. She has that comfortable conviction that God has a purpose in all our lives, but she is not obnoxious about it. She is philosophical about the challenges she has faced – “The same sun that melts the wax can harden the clay” – and I found myself cheering for her. Her interconnectedness with her extended family was heartening. “God is always at work in our lives even when we take the long way home.”
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