Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

This book is about Ron Hall, his wife Deborah, and Denver Moore. The story tells about Deborah who feels a calling to help the homeless and she commissions her husband to help as well. Ron is reluctant at first but becomes a willing participant after a while, and he continues her ministry after she dies. Denver is such an inspiration to me! Denver has lived a life of oppression and yet has such a spirit-filled heart. He is full of empathy, forgiveness, and understanding. His thoughts, words, and actions touched my heart and brought me to tears many times. One such instance was where Ron asked Denver if they can be friends and Denver has to think on it a while. Denver finally agrees but he doesn’t take the duty of friendship lightly. I’d like to quote a portion out of the book where he compares friendship to the fishing analogy of “Catch and Release”.

"Catch and release?" I nodded solemnly, suddenly nervous and curious at the same time.

“That really bothers me”, Denver went on. “I just can’t figure it out. ‘Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take it and show it off to everybody that’ll look. Then we eat what we catch…in other words, we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water.”

He paused again, and the silence between us stretched a full minute. Then “Did you hear what I said?”

I nodded, afraid to speak, afraid to offend.

Denver looked away, searching the blue autumn sky, then locked onto me again with that drill-bit stare. “So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”

The world seemed to halt in midstride and fall silent around us like one of those freeze-frame scenes on TV. I could hear my heart pounding and imagined Denver could see it popping my breast pocket up and down. I returned Denver’s gaze with what I hoped was a receptive expression and hung on.

Suddenly his eyes gentled and he spoke more softly than before: “But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”

This brought me to tears! There are so many places in this book where love, forgiveness, mending, and trust are described. Many times throughout the book I was brought to tears. This is a wonderful story of tremendous compassion and love, and it will touch your heart. I would definitely buy this book as well as recommend it to others!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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