GIVEAWAY & Book Review: Hear No Evil

Hear No Evil: Marching in the Lord's Army, Fleeing the Devil, and Finding a Righteous Groove by Matthew Paul Turner

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars (note: on Goodreads.com, it is 4 stars, because they do not have half-star ratings)

Summary: A collection of wise, compelling, and often uproariously funny essays built around the experience of music as a transformational element in a moment of truth, Hear No Evil mines Matthew Paul Turner’s humorous memories of his evangelical youth and invites readers to groove along on his journey.

From attending forbidden contemporary Christian concerts to moving to “Music City” Nashville, Hear No Evil chronicles Turner’s “life soundtrack” which morphs seamlessly into the stories of people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is an exploration of a life of faith lived to a personal soundtrack.

My review: Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a very strict - fundamentalist - church/family. I didn't realize just how sheltered some people are - and how extreme fundamentalists can be! Oddly, though, despite my growing up in a Charismatic church, I was almost as sheltered as he was. Especially when it came to music. I attended a church that STRONGLY discouraged listening to secular music. In fact, I remember a time when one of the youth leaders gave me a bunch of free CDs in exchange for old secular music of mine - which was then destroyed! Despite my "best" attempts, I've never stuck to listening to strictly Christian music for long. Anyway, because of this and similar experiences, I found myself able to relate in a way I never would've guessed!

Back to the book. I'm jealous of Turner! I'd love to work for CCM, and to meet AMY GRANT! She's the ONE artist I've been a fan of all my life. She's the person I always say I'd meet if I could meet ONE person. I would love to get to read the story he originally wrote from the interview he mentions in this book. I couldn't believe the piousness of his boss in regards to Amy's life! Apparently this man was just plain BLIND because of the REDWOOD TREE in his own eye!

This was a very enjoyable read, and I thought it was quite interesting to see some things about how the Christian music industry works behind the scenes. There were things I never would've even guessed - but makes a lot of sense.

Anyone who LOVES music (I often say it's my passion) should read this book!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Get your own copy: I was sent ONE extra copy to give away FOR FREE to my readers. So, please fill out the McLinky form below. Make sure to include your e-mail address (only visible by ME) so I can contact you if you are the winner! This contest is open through 2 a.m. CENTRAL time on Monday, February 22. I will announce the winner (to be randomly selected with the help of random.org) within 24 hours.

If you do not win, you can purchase your own copy here.

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