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Dinner with a Perfect Stranger



I recently read Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory. I initially picked it up because it sounded like a B-movie my wife once told me about. The actor called the actress by her real name. She laughe slightly, corrected him and they moved on with the scene. Apparently it was low budget or the director was sleeping. Maybe both.

Either way, this book is not based on that movie...thankfully.

This small book is as unassuming as the invitation it is based on. Businessman Nick Cominsky receives an invitation from none other than God. And apparently God likes Italian food because they meet at a pricy Italian restaurant, where God is on a first name basis with all the help staff. Not because He is God, mind you, just because He is friendly.

I had read a review on this book before reading the book. That can be dangerous, I know, but it's not lke Rob Bell wrote the book or the review. The review compared this book to The Shack, which I have also read.

If hearing it compared with The Shack really makes you want to read it or not, then forget you ever heard that. It's not The Shack, which is not to say it's either good or bad. It's just different. Yes, a guy meets with God and has a pretty in-depth conversation, but that's where I'd stop comparing.

What David Gregory has written here is an introductory course in apologetics with a splash of a New Believer's Sunday School class. It's all done in a conversational manner and Jesus (playing the part of God) comes off as reasonable and, more importantly, right.

I have a second copy to give away, which I let my wife read first, while I was reading my copy. If you want the woman's perspective here it is. When I read farther along than she had, she asked me if the whole book was discussing religion. She asked it in that way that told me she was hoping it didn't. The answer to that question is 'no'. (Disclaimer: My wife still likes the book, although I may have lost a few points including her in this post.)

I think the book could be a good example of how our conversations with people could be, even if they are not convinced about God like we are. There's no silly making-everything-in life-ok ending, which would make this book a chick flick. It ends with Jesus giving an invitation, which is what He's been doing for a long time now.

I received this book for review from my good friends at Waterbrook Multnomah. You can purchase a copy here. Or you can comment on my blog and I will pick a name out of the hat. The hat will contain the names of everyone who comments. But because I don't have a lot of extra postage cash right now, I'm going to limit this to US residents only. Thanks. I'll draw a name by next Wednesday.

If you're looking for even more information on this book, follow the links below.

www.dinnerwithaperfectstranger.com

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/dinner/TheBook.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/dinner/ReadingGuides.html

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Comments

Anonymous said…
I would sign up to win free air if given a chance. -Dan Stevens
August 8, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Anonymous said…
So is the only way you can get people to read your blog is by telling them they can win a something? :)

~Mary
August 8, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Jason said…
Multnomah is a cool name. Hmmm, what if my name was Multnomah? Multnomah Folsom does have a sort of ring to it. If we are suggesting books though I recently rediscovered The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis and I remember it being quite good.
August 9, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Rick Nier said…
I used a highly technological manner to make this a random draw. Despite Mary's kind remarks and Jason's humorous remarks, the winner is Dan.

Tell me the best way I can get you the book, Dan.
August 10, 2011 at 5:26 PM
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