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Meet Mrs. Smith: My Adventures With Six Kids, One Rockstar Husband, And A Heart To Fight Poverty (2011)

by Anna Smith(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1434702030 (ISBN13: 9781434702036)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

David C. Cook

review 1: This really should be a 2-star review. I am giving it the benefit of the doubt. I expected something different, I suppose.Alright, out of complete honesty, I have several basic problems with this book: 1) The narrator is normally a very super-positive, Godly woman. However, when faced with adversity, her memoir (for this is what the book really is and the core of why I don't like it, I suppose) devolves into...well, nothing. She comes to the cusp of anger, disappointment, and general malaise and then it goes away, gets ignored, or is explained away by something positive but totally unrelated. In other words, we get no practical resolution. We don't even get any advice on how to get through these obstacles. When Martin is dreaming, flying off to India, a... morend wants to adopt a child while basically ignoring his 5 children at home, she gets frustrated and upset. She even defines her disappointment. Her feelings of abandonment. She just never deals with them. It is empty. It is almost like someone cut those parts out. All we get are references to pillow talk and more pregnancy. Is that how a Godly woman handles abandonment? I am a man and a Christian. I think this is unrealistic. 2)She juggles all these children and keeps making more but is completely overwhelmed. I am not saying the children are the source of her issues in life. But, adding more does not solve anything. It only compounds problems. I love my 4 children. After Isaac was born, we knew we had enough. God was calling us to give these children our best and part of fulfilling that expectation was to stop having more children. 3)Everyone is a cardboard cut-out except Martin. He is the rock star of the book and we aren't necessarily given the best picture of his contribution to his family. Granted, he has a calling to reach the world, but we all do. I think sometimes we have to make sure to tend to our home as well reach out to others. His rock-star status comes as much from the fact that everyone else seems to be dependent upon his whim. The children: I can barely remember their names and I just finished the book. The narrator: since she never deals with her issues, I never get a feel for her as an individual because she is an extension of Martin. I know this is true of many happily married couples, but in terms of reading a book, I almost would prefer just an autobiography of Martin.So why did I give this book a 3 star? Well, because of 3 things. 1) She points out an irony that often impacts our lives. While we worry about hair appointments, internet connection speeds, sports, and eat take-out pizza, there are people in the world who are starving. Sometimes just across town. 2)She is genuinely in love Martin. Perhaps this is why she so annoyingly omits the make-ups, compromises, and arguments. 3) She genuinely wants to give advice that will encourage others who raise lots of children or have a rock-star hubby. Although this does not appeal to me, I can see that some people would be helped by some of her practical experience. I cannot recommend this to everyone. I also cannot bash it too harshly. Wish that I had read something else, though.
review 2: Anna lives the normal life of any mother of six married to the lead singer for a hugely popular Christian band. In her book she opens up and talks about the challenges she’s faced managing the household while Martin’s been on tour. She talks about her miscarriages and the desire she and Martin have for their kids to have compassion for others. She talks about how she loves having people over though you may be asked to pitch in! She shares the story of each of her children’s births and how she was just as nervous with the last one as with the first. And she wraps up the book by talking about her and Martin’s future with Delirious? now behind them. “So right now, our future is unknown. Uncertain but hopeful. I want to find a new way of living, to find a new way of life with Martin, my children and, with my heavenly Father. I want to reconnect with my soul, feel my heart beating again, and feel the breath of God flow through me.” I loved hearing Anna's thoughts on her marriage with Martin! It was fun comparing stories with the book Delirious he wrote. Hearing her side and his gave me a better picture of what life was like for the Smith family during the seventeen years Delirious? was together and what they're doing after the band. Their heart for others is obvious and they seem like such a real couple. Loved the book! less

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