I mentioned in a previous post how I was not looking forward to my church book club’s first selection of 2010, Same Kind of Different as Me, a memoir co-written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. The touchy-feely inspirational genre is just not one that appeals to me. But, I sucked it up and in the few days prior to the book club meeting, read the book.

And you know, it wasn’t that bad. Pretty good, in fact.

The story is told from the point of view of the two men, in alternating chapters. Ron Hall is a wealthy (and Caucasian) art dealer living a luxurious lifestyle, while Denver Moore is a poor (and African-American) former sharecropper living on the streets.

In the first third of the book, each man tells about his origins and family history. For me, this was the most compelling part of the book and what drew me in. Denver’s experience as a sharecropper in a rural Louisiana parish, a ‘modern day slave’ as he is described in the book’s subtitle, is riveting. As someone who knew only vaguely what a sharecropper was, it was particularly interesting. His is an eloquent and heartbreaking story. Ron Hall’s experience, while devoid of the tragedies that befell Denver, are also interesting and shed valuable light on how he became the successful businessman.

What brings these two unlikely friends together is Ron’s wife, Deborah, who feels called by God to help a local shelter, and (almost literally) drags her reluctant husband with her to serve supper to the area’s homeless. Rather than just offering money, they give of their time and selves, going far beyond what the homeless people frequenting the shelter expect from the ‘do-gooders’ that drop in. Deborah also feels that God wants her and Ron to befriend Denver, and so Ron must overcome his own fears and prejudices to learn about Denver as a person, not just one of the many homeless people he encounters. Bound by their mutual love and respect for Deborah, the two forge a deep and trusting friendship, which becomes a saving grace for both men when tragedy strikes once again.

As you would expect, there are many issues and themes present in this book: racism, homelessness, the power of prayer, forgiveness – just to name a few. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and felt that they shared their story without coming across as preachy or sanctimonious. I genuinely liked both men and think that this book is a fitting tribute not only to Deborah, but a testament to what can happen when we reach out and have faith.

Applicable Reading Challenges: 100+ Reading Challenge

Book Rating: Initially, I was going to give this book a 3 but since it well exceeded my expectations, I’m going to bump it up a notch: 4: Good, solid book that I would recommend to others.

FTC Disclosure: I purchased a used copy of this book which has been sitting on my bookshelf for several months.