Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter

Author - Elizabeth Emerson Hancock ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Center Street was reviewed on 4-Nov-2008.

Search ISBN:1599957086 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter Reference Book. Classifications : Religious Leaders & Notable People Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books Memoirs Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General AAS Biographies & Memoirs Subj . Click the following link to view the cover of Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter.

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1) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street. My local library was flooded this summer, losing most of the collection--this book was one of those lost. I was really excited to read this book, so broke down and ordered it. As a pastor´s daughter myself, I expected I´d find her take on being a "PK" relatable and amusing. Unfortunately, the fact that she´s a pastor´s daughter FROM THE SOUTH takes over everything else.
You´re Southern. We get it. I found myself continually annoyed at the colloquial language she uses; by about the third page, it´s getting old. It may be cute initially, which I think was her intent, but in no time it starts to feel contrived. I found her writing style to be really distracting from the content. I believe she has a good story to tell--all PK´s do!--but I couldn´t make it that far.¤

2) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street. .....but Miss Em, as her father calls her, was doing a signing at a local Barnes & Noble...I noticed her, we got into conversation......

Miss Hancock´s memoir of growing up a Baptist preacher´s kid is at once hilarious, sad, and thought provoking...I won´t spoil it for you, but some of the stories are doozies. That they are well-written is natural...one expects a Harvard lawyer to write well, though she´s sure the prettiest one I ever saw...

Church people sometimes have problems, and occasionally they can be vicious beyond belief, gladly doing unto other Christians as they would not dare do unto anyone else. No Church is exempt. Still, there´s a lot more good than bad in the Kingdom...Miss Em makes that clear...

This is a fine book that will both entertain and inspire you...yes, the Hancocks had problems, but they solved them without destroying each other, or their faith, and moved on. That´s what Christians are supposed to do. Compare this to the [superbly written] garbage in Jeanette Walls´ "The Glass Castle"...Reverend Hancock and Mr. Walls served different Masters, and everything else flows from there. Miss Em will probably sell about 1% of the books Miss Walls sells...that´s tragic, but that´s life.....¤

3) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street. This story was a very comical and interesting memoir. It´s gives the reader an idea about what it´s like to be a preacher´s daughter. We see a picture of the author´s life from age 5 to about age 10. She believed her father had some kind of magical secret. She thought she was destined to receive the Chicken Pox in order to spread God´s word. She admired her little sister´s way of communicating without saying a word. Near the end of the story, a tragic event changes the way her family looks at life, and teaches a lesson that sometimes we must change and move on with our lives. I recommend this book for those who want to read about the innocent outlook of a child, those who want to laugh a lot, and those who want to question why life throws us curve balls sometimes.
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4) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street.

I´ve read a few memoirs in my day and I´m drawn to the entertaining storytellers who both tell it like it is and also manage to paint reality a little more 3-D, a bit glossier, or even smellier. It is a rare person who can touch on the childhood struggle of figuring out our own little acre and put that immature angst into adult language and rich visuals. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock has that gift. Her story of growing out from underneath the crushing burden of the Preacher´s Kid label caused me to smile and sometimes laugh. Hancock has a knack with stringing just the right words together to make her guided tour down memory lane amusing and recognizable to anyone who has spent hours at church potlucks and in Sunday best outfits with thigh backs glued to polished oak pews.

But as well written as this series of life-lessons named for the Fruit of the Spirit is, I couldn´t help but struggle with sadness while I read it. Some characters are so human (i.e. awful) I wondered if the author needs to consider forgiving them for the pain they caused in her life. I´m all for laughing, but some of these lessons on the road to faith felt a touch bitter. I know people can be hideous and mean-spirited. Church people can be some of the worst. And it´s unfair for adults to put expectations of perfection on kids. I appreciate the emotional cost the author paid out to bare her soul for the world. I can´t imagine the toll she paid for the expectations she placed on adults who disappointed her and crushed her tender heart. But Jesus did die for every mean Baptist Sunday School teacher, too. And He is willing to equip us to forgive and move on. I also don´t think He wants us to make other human beings all-powerful in our lives and let them steal, kill and destroy our joy, peace or faith long after they perpetrated against us. Elizabeth has every right to tell her story, but I wonder whether some of her thoughts may have been better left unsaid.

This may be one of the more difficult books I´ve read this year. I want to love and recommend it, but in spite of all the humor and great writing, I can´t help but feel melancholy after visiting her childhood.


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5) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock´s humor is evident from cover to cover in "Trespassers Will Be Baptized". She brings the reader to deeper insight into the Baptist faith with humor and respect. She tells poignant stories about her life as a preacher´s daughter with frank readability. The sections are cleverly divided by topic - each one a different fruit of the Spirit. And the chapter headings are hysterical!

This beautifully written book is personalized with photographs and honesty. It is a memoir that is truly a treat to read.
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6) Hardcover Book Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter by Center Street.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 2-Dec-2008, 15999570869781599957081, 290-950-990-900-020-250-861-NKB-8

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