Adorning the Dark: A Review

I’m breaking the trend of purely fiction reviews, but it’s for a beautiful, affable, and motivational work by singer/songwriter/author Andrew Peterson. Whatever sort of artist you are, this book will drive you to think about your life, your art, and ultimately, your walk with Christ.

Making something beautiful in a broken world can be harrowing work, and it can’t be done alone.

Over the last twenty years, Andrew Peterson has performed thousands of concerts, published four novels, released ten albums, taught college and seminary classes on writing, founded a nonprofit ministry for Christians in the arts, and executive-produced a film—all in a belief that God calls us to proclaim the gospel and the coming kingdom using whatever gifts are at our disposal. He’s stumbled along the way, made mistake after mistake, and yet has continually encountered the grace of God through an encouraging family, a Christ-centered community of artists in the church, and the power of truth, beauty, and goodness in Scripture and the arts.

While there are many books about writing, none deal first-hand with the intersection of songwriting, storytelling, and vocation, along with nuts-and-bolts exploration of the great mystery of creativity. In Adorning the Dark, Andrew describes six principles for the writing life:

• serving the work
• serving the audience
• selectivity
• discernment
• discipline
• and community

Through stories from his own journey, Andrew shows how these principles are not merely helpful for writers and artists, but for anyone interested in imitating the way the Creator interacts with his creation.

This book is both a memoir of Andrew’s journey and a handbook for artists, written in the hope that his story will provide encouragement to others stumbling along in pursuit of a calling to adorn the dark with the light of Christ.

This is not a hard read, nor is it difficult. It reads like a conversation. Peterson is open and honest and full of stories and helpful illustrations. He offers fantastic advice to writers on not just the nuts and bolts of craft, but also on how to make sure your heart is in the right place. I loved this book, and I’ve quoted it on this blog already. If you’re looking for a book specifically for Christian writers on how you can focus your craft and your life on God, this is for you.

Go check it out, and if you’ve read this book before, let me know what you thought!

Have a great week, guys. Au revoir!