Terrific Autobiography By An All-American Wholesome Artist

books:


	• Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far Amy Grant Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD, 2007 average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A lovely book from the artsy sister next door

Even if you're not a fan of Amy Grant's gospel music, and even if you don't know of her midlife, second marriage to country singer Vince Gill, as a book browser you'd be tempted to pick up this book. The jacket pictures a smiling --- probably laughing --- and barefoot Amy, sporting a bohemian-style skirt and lacy shawl. The pose suggests that she's slightly vulnerable and inviting you into her life.

The title and subtitle don't promise full disclosure or a running narrative. And the text truly is a mosaic --- thematic and episodic chapters and journal reflections that skip around in time, revealing "pieces" of a life. The back-jacket well describes the prose as being "varied in texture."

Some chapters focus on her extended family: parents, sisters, nieces, aunts --- nearly all live nearby, clustered around Nashville. A tribute to an uncle killed before she was born feels like a eulogy written to and for Amy's family. This "Uncle Larry" chapter starts: "I love family. I love being identified in the context of my family."

Other chapters stay in the professional realm. A chapter titled "How Did I Wind Up Here?" is targeted toward her ardent fans. It recounts Amy's career path, naming singers who influenced her and people with whom she has performed or schmoozed.

The best material describes specific days and encounters: an impromptu visit to the Nashville home of an octogenarian fan; a day with her children at the Tennessee state fair; a personal encounter with a wild deer. A few of these narrative accounts give the back story of a particular song, such as "Hats" and "Missing You."

It's obvious that motherhood and music are focal points of Amy's life. And her Christian faith, which has at times waned, is renewed. She talks of this poignantly in a chapter about motherhood, "On Children and Faith." She explains, "My most consistent prayer for my children has been, God, find them the way you found me. Give them faith to believe you." Here she describes a journey of grace and forgiveness in the midst of personal turmoil.

Between chapters, Amy has interspersed the lyrics of more than 30 songs, including several that are new and unrecorded. The book includes 16 pages of color photographs, and small family photos enhance the opening page of each chapter.

The last dozen pages of the book, "The Times of My Life," give a chronological life summary, which provides "a framework" for her mosaic pieces. She explains: "My intent is to show how quickly I was set upon a path I did not anticipate and how that shaped my life. If I do not have a unique stage persona that differs from the me who shows up at the grocery store, it's because I've never felt any demarcation between life and art, faith and day-to-day living." It's that persona that shows in the jacket photograph --- she looks like the artsy sister next door.

--- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

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It's fabulous!

I just love to hear Amy talk. She is so real and expressive. She has such a way with words. The sound of her voice just adds so much more to the enjoyment of reading the book. I highly recommend the audio version, by itself, or to read along with the book at the same time. This is truely a priceless treasure for fans of Amy Grant!

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Terrific Autobiography By An All-American Wholesome Artist

I highly recommend this read. Although I enjoy reading biographies as well as appreciate the broad artistry of Amy Grant--singer, songwriter, actress, television host--this selection is a gem. Unlike the usual format of a bio, this one has much more...flavor. Grant's aptly named work, MOSAIC, intertwines intimate revelations with songs and poems that Grant has written--some previously unpublished. MOSAIC is such an enjoyable and inspiring read that I have read it, reread it, gave it away and had to replace several times already--and it's only been released less than a year!

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A beautiful book

I'm a fan of Amy Grant's music - Mostly her more pop stuff - and was interested in this book. So I ordered it, not knowing really what to expect. Well, it's a beautiful book written about Amy's life. She included song lyrics (new and old), poems and little stories about her career as well as her family. For those hoping for a tell-all, well, Amy is too classy for that, and instead focuses on the good and bad, and important parts of her life to convey deep and meaningful messages about love, family, children, God and life. Highly recomended!

This is a great book!

I received this book for Christmas and read it in one night. I couldn't put it down. Amy's talent for writing songs is reflected just as well in writing this book. She is truthful, insightful, funny and candid about her life and her career. I have been a fan of Amy for many years and I was really interested in reading about how she got to this place in her life. I was moved by the emotion that was involved in telling her story and I found myself laughing and/or crying at various points throughout the book. I couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend this book to all (even some older teenagers). Amy proves the point that "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven".

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

With her unmistakable voice and honest lyrics, Amy Grant has captured a unique place in American music. As the best-selling Christian music artist of all time, a cross-over 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.

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

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