Christian Review Magazine Issue 3 - March 2015 | Page 78
SCARY CLOSE by Donald Miller
Nelson Books - Christian Living - Available Now
Reviewed by Christian St John
FLYLEAF SPREADS THEIR WINGS by Carl Phelan
Melviney Press - Biography - Available Now
Reviewed by Christian St John
Over the years Donald Miller has released several best
selling books including A Million Miles in a Thousand
Years, and probably his most famous work, Blue Like Jazz.
In 2005 Flyleaf released their debut self-titled album to
critical acclaim and great sales. Since then the band has
released three more albums and played many live shows.
Miller’s new book, Scary Close, is a book about
relationships - like most people, Donald Miller desired
real and authentic relationships. He was at the top of his
game - he had become a top speaker and was great at
impressing people. But he yearned for something more.
Written by the grandfather of one of the band’s
guitarist’s, Jared Hartmann, Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings is
a look at the history of the band from their early days as
Sporos, Listen, and Passerby (the band’s first names) to
their rise to fame as Flyleaf.
Like his previous books, Scary Close is on the level and
revealing. Miller is not one to shy away from telling the
reader just how it is, much of the time using his own faith
walk and story as an example. For such a public figure,
Miller holds nothing back to share with us what he
learned as he set about ‘dropping the act’ and discover
for himself the joys and pitfalls of healthy and honest
romantic and platonic relationships.
The book well documents the band’s history and even
has a section at the end of each chapter in which the
author lists the concerts Flyleaf played over the years
(reviews and articles are also included). There are some
included testimonies by the band members themselves
as well as their friends and family. However, the book was
missing the real tension and personal insights that one
typically finds in books about bands and their members.
Just don’t expect this book to be as candid, deep, and
personal as recent “warts and all” books about Michael
Sweet (Honestly) and Steve Rowe (Metal Missionary).
A born storyteller, one can not help but be pulled in by
Miller’s conversational writing style and candor. Reading
any book by Miller is like sitting with a good friend as he
shares what’s on his heart in an effort to help others
glean simple truths through his own experiences. And
Scary Close is certainly no exception.
78 > CHRISTIAN REVIEW MAGAZINE
Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings is without doubt a must-read
for die hard Flyleaf fans and anyone else wanting to
know more about the history of the band.