We all experience poverty. Our poverty may not all be monetary, but we experience loss and lack. This story captures one man’s discovery of his own poverty, after growing up working class and accumulating wealth through good luck and a savvy eye for art. It’s also a story about dignity and friendship and worth, a story that will move readers to consider the way they look at the people they encounter from day-to-day.
This is not a how-to book, not a duplicable way to fight poverty or homelessness. In many ways, the Halls break the “rules” of ministry to the poor. It was interesting to read the book considering some of those ideas. It took cancer and helplessness for Denver to bring some equity to the relationship through his prayer and steadfastness to the Halls. Denver continued to doubt the validity of their relationship for a long time. Readers are sure to understand that this friendship has been a lot of work for both parties involved.
As my friend Krys aptly put, the story carries this book far more than the writing. Both voices can be tedious and difficult, but the fact that the story is true helped me to press on through. (6.5/10, interact on goodreads.)