HURT ROAD

November 18, 2017 · by Lorne Anderson · in Books, Music · Leave a comment ·Edit

You’ve probably never heard of Mark Lee, which means you are unlikely to read this book. Hurt Road is for the fans who know that Lee is the founder and guitarist for the rock band Third Day.cover114660-medium

When I think of Third Day, I think of Mac Powell, whose distinctive voice gives the band their signature sound. I picked up this book out of idle curiosity, expecting a journal of what life is like on the road with a southern rock band.

What I got was autobiography. An interesting tale perhaps, but I have to ask if there really is a market for this book. Mark Lee is an ordinary guy. His struggles are ordinary, as are his triumphs. I suppose there is some sort of inspiration to be had here, but I think most people prefer to read about the extraordinary.

The band members are all Christians. There are no rock and roll excesses to titillate. I suppose that is one of the messages of the book – you can have a successful career in music without all the sex and drugs that frequently accompany rock and roll. Third Day have been successful to the tune of eight million records sold. Mark Lee is a husband, father and musician who could be the guy next door – he certainly isn’t a stereotypical rock star.

I’ve seen Third Day live only once, and they put on a solid show. Not flashy, but entertaining. Hurt Road is like that. It was an easy read, but I kept hoping for more.





“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

I am a huge fan of Third Day (a Christian rock group- if you have not heard their music I highly recommend them) and was curious about Mark’s book. Mark is a member of the group but seems quiet so I didn’t know a lot about him. Hurt Road is his memoir.

My only criticism is that at times it appeared to not flow well. However learning about my favorite band members was so worth it.
It was heartbreaking to read about Mark’s dad struggling with a brain tumor. You forget that these guys deal with issues that normal people deal with.
I was surprised to learn that Mark had a blog, that he was an avid reader as a kid and that he and his wife lived in Nashville for five years. I assumed he had always lived in the Atlanta area.
I was fascinated to learn about the early days of the band. My respect for Mac increased.
“…a platform is not something we create on our own. It’s something God entrusts us with”
I recommend the book if you are a fan of Third Day you will thoroughly enjoy this book that shares how Third Day got started. If you are not a fan of the group you will enjoy how Mark blends his experiences to God’s leading and influence.

I enjoyed hearing his story but the writing wasn't engaging.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

Hurt Road is a  memoir from lead guitarist of the Christian band Third Day. The story begins with a life altering event that began on Hurt road in Georgia. The memoir is very readable and was a very quick read. Mark recalls his life and the journey he has lived until the present day. He leads the reader through his life and through his writing he reveals a glimpse of his journey with Christ. Mark starting with the Hurt road incident reflects how his life (and challenges the reader to reflect) doesn't always follow his/our life plans. God has often allows events that alter our plans and can make them bigger than we could ever imagine. 

Any fan of the band, Third Day, will appreciate this memoir. Those readers who have lived anytime in Georgia, will appreciate his description of Marietta. Teens will appreciate the first few chapters and will relate to Mark's high school years. Mark writes with such introspection that readers will relate to wondering where their plans might line up with God's or where God has different plans as long as you are ready to take the next step in faith. Highly recommend this book to any reader who likes memoirs and those who enjoy reading inspirational books.

This book was a quick read with short chapters containing stories of Mark Lee’s life but also life lessons he learned and wants to impart with us. It focused not only on the positive points in his life but also negative ones. He wrote it in such a way that he was stating this was what happened and how he interpreted it. He turned the negatives into learning opportunities. The book didn’t focus as much on the Third Day (Christian band) aspect of his life as I thought it would since that is what he is known for. Instead, it was a balanced retelling of his life from when he was a kid till now. It was an enjoyable read of Mark Lee’s life that blended lighthearted and less lighthearted moments, his music career and that of Third Day, as well as God’s hand through all of it.

An inspiring, yet humble story. Really interesting. You dont need to be a fan to enjoy this book.