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This weeks reviews! I read some lovely books on my train journey to London for a Booksellers Association meeting. Yes! they let this bookshop boss out of the shop for a day, lovely conscripts worked the place for a day and were amply rewarded with chocolate smiley face lollipops (I'm just that sort of bookshop boss, kind and generous to a fault, that's me!).
Now Remember:
All these reviews and indeed a geat many more can be found on the excellent Good Book Stall Website www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk - well worth checking out :D
All the books reviewed here (and don't forget to check out the review page we have on here as well!) and those found on www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk can also be found at or ordered from Unicorn Tree Books too, both in the shop and online at either www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk or www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk or at the wonderful www.hive.co.uk (but please do remember to make us your favourite shop when you visit Hive! the online bookshop where every sale supports independent physical bookshops!)
All the books reviewed here (and don't forget to check out the review page we have on here as well!) and those found on www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk can also be found at or ordered from Unicorn Tree Books too, both in the shop and online at either www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk or www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk or at the wonderful www.hive.co.uk (but please do remember to make us your favourite shop when you visit Hive! the online bookshop where every sale supports independent physical bookshops!)
(Jacket images of books being reviewed - just for you Mr Groom!)
Title – Joy – The Meaning
Of The Sacraments (Faith Going Deeper Series)
Author – Peter
Waddell
Format – Paperback
Price – £12.99
Publisher – Canterbury
Press
Date of
Publication – October 2012
ISBN 978-1-84825-279-0
Reviewer Melanie
Carroll
This, the second
book in the Faith Going Deeper series, continues to demonstrate the high level
of sound and well explored insightful theology that is possible. In a clear and
articulated fashion ‘Joy’ (Just as ‘Grace’ before it did) removes theology from
the domain of only academics into the reality of the life of the church and the
ordinary person, a wonderful and important achievement that certainly deserves
for this book to be used by individuals and by churches as groups.
‘Joy’ deals with
the sacraments of the church, first pointing out that the sacraments are at
their root about joy - the demonstration of the joy of God in his people and
His desire for Joy for his people. This proposition is put forward both in the
introduction and in the first chapter, ‘Jesus, The Joy Of God’ and from out of
this spins a well written, deeply considered and well formulated discussion of
the Sacraments. No argument is ignored and though written in an easy to grasp
and read style there is no dumbing down in the history, theology and
consideration of any of the sacraments here. The Chapter on the Eucharist has
one of the best descriptions and considerations of transubstantiation that I
have come across in a great many years and for me would have made the book
entirely worth it alone. At the end of the chapters there are a short series of
Discussion questions and a great ‘For Reflection’ section which consists of
quotes from a range of sources and authors through history.
A lovely book and well worth getting, regardless of your academic standing, to be enjoyed as an individual or to be used in a group. This would form a wonderful basis of church catechesis and introduction.
A lovely book and well worth getting, regardless of your academic standing, to be enjoyed as an individual or to be used in a group. This would form a wonderful basis of church catechesis and introduction.
Title – Seasons Of
The Soul – An Intimate God in A Liturgical Time
Author – Carla Mae
Streeter
Format – Paperback
Price – £7.50
Publisher – New City
Press
Date of
Publication – October 2012
ISBN – 978-1-56548-451-1
Reviewer Melanie
Carroll
There is a
beautifully lush lyricism to this series of short meditations on the liturgical
seasons, probably because the author is also a poet and we get a sampling of
her poetry interspersed between each meditation or contemplation. The word
usage is vivid and evocative as she attempts to dig down into the significance
of the seasons both as they stand in liturgical meaning but also as they are to
us today, so colours, scents and secular involvement all meet together in her
considerations of these holy times. There are in the book seven contemplations,
each one tied to a season, - so Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Easter,
Post Paschal Feasts, and of course, Ordinary Time - however in reality there
are nine contemplations because to overlook the introduction and conclusion as
contemplations in their own right would be to do the book and it’s writings an
injustice. This book is a wonderful devotional tool for anyone wanting to consider
the movement of the church through the year.
Title – Death Of
A Saviour – Reflections On Good Friday
Author – Michael
Collins
Format –
Paperback
Price –
£5.99
Publisher – Columba
Press
Date of Publication – January
2013
ISBN
978—1-78218-022-7
Reviewer Melanie
Carroll
What a powerful little book of
reflections for Good Friday! One that is heavy on the political comparisons of
Jesus’ time and suffering and out own. It’s intense, insightful and keen but not
laboured or exclusionary to those not into political theology, rather it is one
that anyone with a consideration for Justice and Peace would find of interest
and with a good balance between reflection and action.
There is some very strong material here that is totally biblically sound and insightful, and that is this books real power. It is good for individual use but some of it really would be fantastic to use on Good Friday in services, and some of it could also be adapted and used as the basis of a strong group study, either at Lent or anytime really. Excellent little book.
There is some very strong material here that is totally biblically sound and insightful, and that is this books real power. It is good for individual use but some of it really would be fantastic to use on Good Friday in services, and some of it could also be adapted and used as the basis of a strong group study, either at Lent or anytime really. Excellent little book.
Title – Nine Lives – The Enneagram In
Life Stories
Author – Eric
Foggitt
Format –
Paperback
Price –
£11.99
Publisher – O Books (John
Hunt)
Date of Publication – December
2012
ISBN –
978-1-78099-978-4
reviewer Melanie
Carroll
Nine Lives by Eric Foggitt is a welcome addition to
books on the enneagram. The fictionalised accountings of the life of a person of
each type really makes it a book that allows you to take in how the lives and
actions of the types can be seen both by themselves and in relation to others.
This way of telling a series of intersecting stories based around people in the
same town and within the same churches really demonstrates how the types as
actual people can look at childhood, adolescence, in work and at home in
relationships, it also works in identifying and demonstrating the shadow feature
of each type as well, the fears and negatives that can drive and hinder. I also
like that there is in the book much about how our way of practicing faith can be
coloured by our types outlook and drivers. The element of spirituality is
central to these stories and views and the questions or ‘spiritual exercises’ at
the end of each section are also very good at both helping to draw out the
understandings of our types in relation to ourselves, but also at building up a
good biblical connection for each type too. Very good and highly unusual book on
the enneagram and spirituality and very very easy and enjoyable to read
too.
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So we'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you when you come in for your books, gifts, cards, crafts, candles, stationery, ereader, fairtrade product or for anything else we sell!
- or indeed for any other reason too!
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