Blue Like Jazz

Donald Miller, who recently rose to national fame after giving a closing prayer at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, shows what many believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the "emerging church" movement. While his heart seems pointed in the right direction, his liberal influences bend the practice of his faith back toward man and away from God, raising more questions than he answers. Scott Brick reads with much snark, illustrating the cynical points wittily but giving the heartfelt elements too much sarcastic flair, creating an uneven read. His laid-back reading style mirrors the slacker style of the writer but ultimately falls flat in his attempts to convey the weight that Miller feels his deeper ideas have. S.M.M. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine