A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle & Muddle of the Ordinary

A celebration is exactly what this book is. What a delight to be introduced to Brian Doyle by means of these one hundred quintessentially quirky, but genuinely beautiful, short prayers. The joke in the book’s title suggests that A Book of Uncommon Prayer is funny, and it often is, sometimes hilariously so. And yet these micro-meditations are truly prayers and many include expressions of pain and confusion, or supplication, or thanks which most people will identify with if they are awake and paying attention to life at all.Doyle has a wonderful ability to show in his prayers that the miraculous and the mundane are intertwined and inseparable. He invites us to be in awe of everything that God has given us, and I mean everything. For instance, he has written “A Prayer in Thanks for Decent Shoes,” “Prayer for Cashiers and Check-out Counter Folks,” and “Prayer in Thanks for the Little Flying Dinosaurs We Call Dragonflies.” These are some of the glorious gifts that Doyle wants us to see and celebrate in life.Doyle’s love for God, family, church and the natural world are all captured in A Book of Uncommon Prayer, as are his more worldly concerns and fears. There is something in the book for everyone – whether it is to rejoice over a hot shower, give thanks for all birds, “herons in particular”, or to pray deeply for those who are facing death. I offer a grateful prayer for Brian Doyle and this amazing little book, that as small as it is, there are 100 celebratory, mini, jewel-like meditations contained within it. And so: amen.

I read and re-read this delightful selection of prayers that span an incredibly wide array of topics. I am always amused, refreshed, touched, uplifted...and I easily recommend this book for your edification (even as I recognize that Brian Doyle would probably snort laughing at my words.) You're welcome.

I discovered Brian Doyle last year. I bought a number of his books, but this one is one of my favorites. He has such quirky and interesting way of looking at things and people. I think this is the third time I’ve given the book to someone I care about.

I like this book for the many things it reminds me to be grateful and thankful for. It's more spontaneous shooting from the hip kind of writing, Not on the same level as his other fantastic books though.he same as his other books,

This is how we ordinary people pray honestly! And maybe God laughs too!

I know that Doyle was a devout Catholic, and for that reason I almost didn't buy this book. But he was also an absolute writing genius, and the gentlest and most gracious of men, so I did. And halfway through I ordered two more copies, one for a friend and one for a cousin, because I will be keeping my copy to go back to time and again, I'm sure, to re-read his prayers for brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and proofreaders and jazz musicians and other odd beings who run the spectrum of human experience. I love this book.

Standard prayer books are all well and good: it's handy to have the Angelus or the prayer to St. Joseph for a happy death near at hand. But there are circumstances that just aren't covered in standard prayer books, and that's where this book steps in. Doyle's prayers here include 'Desperate Prayer for Patience with Politicians with Excellent Suits and Shoes and Meticulous Hair and Gobs of Television Makeup Who Have Utterly Forgotten That Their Jobs Are Finally About Feeding and Clothing and Protecting and Schooling Children', 'Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated', 'Quiet Prayer for Friends Whose Teenage Child Just Stormed Out of the House', and 'Grinning Prayer at the Gentle Arrogance & Foolishness of Saying that There Are Only Five Forms of Catholic Prayer'.Reverent, wry, compassionate, humble, funny, honest, touching, but above all, faith-filled.

The book was in excellent condition