Same Kind of Different As Me

Title of the book: Same Kind of Different As Me

Name of the author: Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Date published: 2006

Summary of the book: 

This story is about men who tell how their lives went from their childhood to their adulthood, and how their paths came together. The black man, Denver, tells how difficult his life was from his childhood to his adulthood due to racial discrimination. He had to work since he was just a child. He lost his parents in his childhood and had to live with his grandparents. Sadly, his grandparents die, and he goes from house to house seeking refuge although he is separated from his siblings. He was often discriminated against and treated as inferior only by the tone of his skin, as well as many misfortunes. On the other hand, the white man, Ron Hall grew up having more privileges just for being white. He was not a rich person, quite the opposite, his family was middle class and had many shortcomings. However, he was able to attend a university and improve his lifestyle. He met Deborah who became his wife years later. Deborah came from a rich family, but without caring that she decided to marry Ron. At the beginning, they had many economic shortcomings. Nevertheless, when they married, they began to improve their life little by little. Ron did a good job in his business as an art dealer and became rich. His marriage seemed the best, and they later had children, a girl named Regan, and a boy named Carson. Because Ron was always traveling for his job, and Deborah attending at charities, Ron began to feel alone, and in one of his art trips he cheated on his wife. He could no longer keep the secret, so he told the truth to Deborah. Of course, it was not easy, but with professional help, and after a closeness to Christianity that helped them to improve their relationship even more. Their new life as Christians led them to do charities and visits to a mission that helped the homeless. At first Ron did all the things to satisfy Deborah. One day a black man went into the mission very upset and Deborah told Ron that he made friends with him because she had dreamed with that man and believed it was God’s plan. Obviously, Ron did not want to, but to please his wife Deborah or Debbie as many knew her, he began to make friends with the black man who turned out to be Denver. It was difficult to gain their trust because his life was so hard that he no longer trusted anyone. When everything seemed perfect in their lives a tragic news comes to their lives. Deborah had cancer. At that moment is when things start more serious and all relationships come together even more. Denver and Ron become best friends. Denver always supported Ron in those difficult times and encourages him to get ahead and keep fighting by trusting in God. Deborah and Ron fell in love more than ever. Their relationship became an example for other couples. Deborah was always a very strong woman, but at the time of the illness, she is afraid. No matter what strong was her fear, she decided to trust in God, but, she could not win the battle against the cancer and she died. Ron is devastated, but strengthened with the advice and support of Denver, he goes ahead with his life. They both strengthen each other by placing God in their lives and this is how this wonderful story ends.

Description of the main characters:

Denver Moore: Denver is a black man who recounts his life from his childhood to his early sixties. He has a strong character for the life that he lived, but at the same time he is a very noble and kind person. He is sincere and reliable.

Ron Hall: Ron is a white man who recounts his life from his childhood to his late fifties. He is an art dealer who is always thinking of making more money, but due to the circumstances of life he becomes a person more interested in life than in money. He becomes sincere and charitable.

Deborah Hall: Deborah is a very sensible and thrifty person. She is very kind and caring because she is always thinking of helping the next without any interest.

8 new words and their definitions:

Reckon: to regard or think of as : consider.

Squinting: 1) of an eye : looking or tending to look obliquely or askance (as with envy or disdain). 2) of the eyes : not having the visual axes parallel : crossed.

Tarmac: a tarmacadam road, apron, or runway.

Yachting: : the action, fact, or pastime of racing or cruising in a yacht.

Fumble: to grope for or handle something clumsily or aimlessly.

Sorority: a club of women; specifically : a women’s student organization formed chiefly for social purposes and having a name consisting of Greek letters.

Schmoozed:  to converse informally : chat; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections.

Bluebonnet: 1) a : a wide flat round cap of blue wool formerly worn in Scotland.

b : one that wears such a cap; specifically : scot.

2): either of two low-growing annual lupines (Lupinus subcarnosus or L. texensis) of Texas with silky foliage and blue flowers.

Two quotes from the book and an explanation of what the quotes mean or why you think they are important:

“Good medicine always tastes bad.” This means that always the best things in life, although they have a healing effect, are difficult. Many times these situations seem bad to us, but in reality they are not, and they help us to get ahead and improve our life.

“If you really serious ’bout helpin’ somebody, crawl down in the ditch with ’em, bandage up their wounds, and stick with ’em until they is strong enough to crawl up on your back and get out.” This is very important for me because it says a very moving truth. Many times people seek to help other people because they want to get a benefit in return. However, we must seek to do well even knowing that we will not get anything material in return.

Your recommendation. Do you think other people should read this book? Why or why not?:

I strongly recommend this book. I think people should read it because it’s very interesting. It is a real story and that makes it even more interesting. It is full of drama, romanticism and many feelings. It’s a very moving story that could definitely change people’s lives by reading it. For these reasons I think it would be a good idea to read this book.