3.5 stars for a book that (much like the church) couldn't possibly have been all that I had hoped for and therefore wasn't. It was, however, beautifully and honestly written. Organized somewhat loosely around seven sacraments (baptism, communion, confirmation, confession, marriage, vocation, and death), the book tries and sometimes succeeds in broadening the discussion, offering hope and healing to critical thinkers who have slipped (or perhaps were nudged) into cynicism. If you are discouraged, disillusioned, or downright disturbed by your church in particular or the Church in general — especially if you come from an Evangelical background — then at the very least you will find encouragement in these pages and in knowing that you're not alone. If you are ready for it, you can also find humor and inspiration, and messy, inconvenient truth and grace. ⁣