What My Dad Wants For His Birthday is Another Book By Aaron Hartzler

My father is a conservative Christian who, along with my mother, had me dedicated in our evangelical church as a baby, baptized as a young girl, and reeled in horror at my drug addled behavior as a teenager. My father is also a reader, a lover of information and of stories. Last year he retired and moved from the beaches to the mountains where I’ve taken to sending him books. When I sent him Aaron Hartzler’s memoir Rapture Practice, I honestly wasn’t sure how it would be received. I was only sure I wanted him to read it. 

Today, I called him to say hi, to check his progress on my most recent gift, The Book Thief. His birthday is in two days and I asked him what he wants. What he said caused me to sit down and type what his words as fast as my fingers could move:

“You know what I want? I want a new book by the guy who wrote Rapture Practice. His book really took my thinking through the paces. Aaron, that’s his name, Hartzler. Aaron Hartzler - his book, I think spoiled me a little because I started a couple books, including The Book Thief, after his - and I’m expecting them to pull me in like his did, and they’re just not doing it. Maybe I need to be a little more patient - not every movie is Star Wars. When you read a book like that…when a book affected you like that, I think it raises the bar for the books that come after. I guess maybe I just need to be more patient with The Book Thief, but like I said, I’ve been spoiled for a little while.”