Saturday, February 09, 2013

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!)

 
(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.


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.

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.


Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local and use an Independent - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)
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!

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Snow Days and my weekend reading reviews!

It's been snowing again today so it was pretty quiet for this bookshop boss in the shop! So I did some reding of my favourite subject matter - childrens books! (So ok that's a bit of a fib on the favourite subject matter but I do rather really like them a lot!), I also typed up my weekend reading reviews too and here I am sharing them with you lovely lot!

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!)


Title – Placebo - A Jevin Banks Novel
Author – Steven James
Format – Paperback
Price – £8.99
Publisher – Revell
Date of Publication – December 2012
ISBN 978-0-8007-3425-1
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

A fantastic new series off to a great start from Steven James. A taut interesting thriller that has good characters, dilemna's and a touch of quantum physics and pharmaceutical research mixed in with military/political conspiracy, and a lot of ethical questions asked throughout. If you like Dan Brown style fiction then you will love this. The main character Jevin Banks is kind of a cross between David Blaine and Derren Brown - an escapologist and illusionist that is now making documentaries that try to debunk and explain psychics and other such things. Working with him are the people he used to use in his stage show before the tragic death of his wife and twin sons, whilst making the latest documentary trying to debunk what seems to be the pseudo-science of quantum entanglment arising from quantum physics he stumbles onto something much larger... This book really did grip me from the first page right through to the last and I can't wait for the second in the series to come out later this year.

Title – Fixed - Six Stories of Brokenness And Hope
Author –
Format – Paperback
Price – £1.00
Publisher – Authentic
Date of Publication – January 2013
ISBN – 978-1-86024-759-0
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

At only £1 this book is a fantastic giveaway! inside it are six abridged versions of classic christian biagrpahy/testimony books, so we have:
Taming The Tiger -Tony Anthony, Seriously Rich - Richard Pidgely, Once an Addict -Barry Woodford, A night out with the boys -Haydn Davies,  Conquering the Dragon - Kim Goh, and finally, The power and the glory -  Arthur White. They are well abridged and highly shortened versions of the original book but are done in such a way that the story lines remain true in all of them, the depths experienced and the redemption achieved shines out in all of them still. These are perfect tasters to share.


Title – Easter Activity Fun
Author –
Format – Paperack
Price – £1.99
Publisher – Candle Books (Lion Hudson)
Date of Publication – January 2013
ISBN 978-1-85985-972-8
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

Great little activity book for the 7+ age range with scripture references included on every page to really tie the activity in with the bible accounts of the easter stories. There are colouring pages, spot the differences, dot to dots (with a lot of dots!), logic and shape puzzles here. Something to really keep a child amused given there are 64 pages and each with a seperate activity on each page.

Title – My Story -David - My Fight With Goliath (with Stickers)
Author – Fiona Boon
Format – Paperback
Price – £2.99
Publisher – Authentic
Date of Publication – February 2013
ISBN – 978-1-86024-868-9
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

Great, bright, vibrant, modern, fun, illustrations  by Nadine Wickenden with a great storyline told in a sort of diary style by Fiona Boon, and the coolest typeface with a range of bold print, large print and just fun print make this a great book on David before we even get into the fact that the book has stickers at the end with a great double page spread sticker journal. A great addition to both books on David and to sticker books too.

Title – My Story - Noah - My Adventure In The Ark! (With Stickers)
Author – Fiona Boon
Format – Paperback
Price – £2.99
Publisher – Authentic
Date of Publication – February 2013
ISBN 978-1-86024-870-2
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

Another really fun and creative sticker story book in the 'My Story' series from authentic. Told in a diary like style first person, with great artwork from Nadine Wickenden that adds real character to the well told enjoyable storyline from Fiona Boon, and a wonderful anarchic typeface make this a really fun book, add in stickers (which it does) and any child is going to enjoy this story of Noah - come to that parents might well quite have fun with it too if they are reading it with the kids. Great story sticker book.

Title – The Lion Bible To Keep For Ever
Author – Lois Rock
Format – Hardback
Price – £9.99
Publisher – Lion Childrens
Date of Publication – February 2013
ISBN – 978-0-7459-6914-5
Reviewer Melanie Carroll

A wonderful addition to the gift bible series, this really is a lovely story bible with gentle considered and serious watercolour artwork provided by Sophie Allsopp, and words by Loss Rock, who provides starting lines to each story that set in context the idea's and intent of the story for young readers and yet in no way interfere with the enjoyment of a good well told story, which she provides everytime. Each story has an actual bible quote and reference and each story is true to the original work too. The cover design is lovely, done with a gold colour spine and a tree and leaf motif that edges over and is echoed in the flyleaf and presentation page really does mean this is likely to be a bible to keep forever and read over again and again, maybe even through more than one generation!


Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local and use an Independent - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)
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!