Anne Lamott gives testimony

When her publisher scheduled Chicago as a stop on her book tour, Anne Lamott asked that the reading be held at Broadway United Methodist Church. She’s worshiped there in the past and feels at home. Broadway openly welcomes people of every sexual orientation and has worked for years to press the denomination to change its rules on gay marriage. It’s been a long-term effort: in 1998 former pastor Greg Dell performed a service of holy union for two gay men at Broadway and was tried and suspended from the pastorate for one year. 

The congregation also welcomes those who are recovering from addictions, and Lamott appreciates this. Dressed in jeans and T-shirt, she joked that she’s recovering from almost everything—relationship addiction, OCD, alcoholism, drugs—but not from gambling, she added quickly. That one was never on the list.

Lamott gave a hilarious account of the trials and tribulations of preparing for an interview with Oprah. And when a fan asked her what she was currently reading, she feigned embarrassment before admitting that she was reading a Grisham novel to get her through plane rides. Those of us in the crowd enjoyed the stand-up comedy—Lamott’s humor is blade-sharp.