The Art of My Life

The Art of My Life is the second book by author Ann Lee Miller that I’ve read, and with it, she has officially been placed in my ‘favorite authors’ file. We met the main characters Aly and Cal in a previous book by Miller called Kicking Eternity, (which made my top five list for 2012). Aly is a self deprecating nymphomaniac on a path of destruction while Cal is an eccentric artist and surfer; the rogue son of a pastor. They have both grown and changed since book one, Cal through spending some time in prison for possession, and Aly through self imposed celibacy. Friends in the past, they come together again along with a cast of interesting characters, including Cal’s hippy, marijuana smoking grandparents. Cal wants to start over with his own boat tour business and Aly’s dream is to open a gallery. Too many obstacles seem to thwart them at every turn however, sometimes through the actions of well meaning family and friends. Partly romance, partly self discovery, this book is beautifully written and kept me riveted until the last page.

Ann Lee Miller has a way of weaving a story together at just the right pace. It’s like savoring a good meal. There is plenty of time for character development as the plot steadily moves forward. The characters are so real, full of raw emotion and human frailty, and sometimes their issues aren’t pretty. The main characters are already endeared to us from book one, so it’s easy to forgive their flaws and root for their success. I know these people: the guy addicted to too much weed: the pastor’s wife trying to deal with her own dysfunctional upbringing; the Christian girl obsessed with sex like a forbidden toy.
Miller’s writing style is superb. Her use of metaphor is unique and skillful – and never cliché. Her descriptions are vivid, skillfully woven into the fabric of the story as to not overwhelm but at the same time paint a vivid picture in the mind.

I enjoyed this book even more than the previous book Kicking Eternity, (and that’s saying a lot!) It is perhaps edgier than the first book in both the language and the situations the characters find themselves in, however the use of profanity wasn’t over the top in my view, even for a Christian book. It was exactly enough to make it authentic.
For those who like Christian fiction with an edge, this one is excellent.