Palm Sunday Edition ... nearly and some reviews!

In case you didn't know it this Sunday is Palm Sunday - so just one week to go until Easter! (Of course judging by the weather we wouldn't blame you for thinking it might be Christmas that was coming instead!)
So anyway just to let you know that we do still have a few Palm Crosses left, Paschal Candles there are too, but not many, and sadly all the Fairtrade Real Easter Eggs are all gone - but the plastic Gospel Eggs are still in stock and really good fun! and if you really do want chocolate then the TraidCraft Fairtrade Brownies are really quite delicious - I personally taste tested them just for you all, Stem Ginger Cookies might have to be checked for quality control purposes next!
Oh and when you do come in please do check out the rather nice National Book Tokens stands and displays around! remember they are a great gift and can also be used at http://www.hive.co.uk/shop/lincoln/unicorn-tree-books-crafts/ to purchase ebooks with too - don't forget to register us as your fave bookshop whilst visiting Hive - we really need you to do that for us!
(if you can't make it into the shop to see the nice new displays then hop over (like and easter bunny!) to www.facebook.com/UnicornTreeBooks and take a sneak at the pics on there (and if you haven't already liked us then please do!

Right that said now for the reviews! just a short few this week! sorry but enjoy all the same :D

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!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too! 

Title – As A Fire By Burning – Mission As The Life Of The Local Congregation

Author – Roger Standing

Format – Paperback

Price – £25

Publisher – SCM Press

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-334-04370-6

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A very good comprehensive but easy to read book that collects together contributions form a diverse range of people and churches across a number of differing fields and church styles that highlight the many different mission experiences and ideas in and around local congregation settings and experience. It also has good general conversation and consideration within it of what mission is, how it can be practiced, how it has been practiced and why it should be practiced. There are times when the jargon is a strong presence, but nevertheless this is still appropriately used and fitting for a book that is as much practitioner guide as subject study, and this jargon to be fair is well placed so as to make sense and lead into theological and missiological discussion of some depth. I foound it to be a very well written book, that was surprisingly easy to read given the weight of it's subject matter and very good! Heartily recommend it.

Title – Maiden, Mother & Queen – Mary In The Anglical Tradition

Author – Roger Greenacre (Ed. Colin Podmore)

Format – Paperback

Price – £24.99

Publisher – 978-1-84825-278-3

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN – 978-1-84825-278-3

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

This is an absolutely beautiful consideration of the anglo-catholic veneration of Mary found within quarters of the Church of England. This book also serves in some way as a fitting memorial and remembrance of a well respected proponent of Anglican Marian devotion, Roger Greenacre.

However for me the collection of homilies to be found in section two of the book were a real highlight and joy to read, with real depth of feeling and insight to them, and a strangely british refined passion running as an undercurrent to them – the love, attraction and desire to share the reverence that Roger Greenacre so obviously had for the Blessed Virgin Mary cannot be overlooked in these short homilies collected here. Of course the third section of the book which incorporates an historical investigation and understanding into marian devotion and suppression within the anglican communion is also very well done and surprisingly easy to read due in part to the short sections utilised which means there is not much heavy labouring to be done in reading this book. This really is a wonderful book for anyone within the anglo-catholic tradition looking to further their devotional practice and understanding of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or indeed for anyone in the anglican church who wants to gain an understanding of the part Mary can and does play within the church and it's faith framework.

Title – The #Pray4 Principle – Why Prayer Is Still Important In A Secular Age

Author – Alexander Lee

Format – Paperback

Price – £8.99

Publisher – DLT

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-232-52982-1

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A well written quite short book that nevertheless really looks at prayer as we use it and understand it both as Christians and as a secular peoples, using the twitter #pray4muamba campaign as the catalyst for consideration and insight, and with stunning clarity Alexander Lee through this book smashes home some important insights that some may well find painful and really want to discount, but to do so would be to overlook a truth we need to address if we are to really see a return to prayer and Christian faith for our nation and secular times. We must not be so quick as Christians to discount the prayers of others, to reject those not 'Christian' enough to fit our stance, instead we should consider the lessons of Paul, of Acts, and their outreach to the gentiles … we should consider Jesus' teachings on prayer and faith that exhort us not to be hypocrites or babblers … but instead to offer hospitality and comfort, acceptance and love …

The #Pray4 Principle really does hold up faith and prayer as an important and still integral part of our nations underpinning foundation, and shows that there at the heart of us all there is still a need for prayer and a deep spiritual yearning, and that with the right attitude of prayer by Christ's followers we can yet make a difference and bring back the lost to the fold, but we have first to be open the gates to them and meet them where they are and not where we are.

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!

Nearly missed the weeks reviews!

ohh how time flies, especially when you decide to re-arrange and bump up the children's section in the shop (who knew kids books were so much fun! pretty sure it would have gone quicker if I hadn't kept stopping to read the childrens picture books and share them with others!).
Ohh and Don't forget to join us on facebook and keep up with what's going on in the shop, interact with us and take part in our competitions! this week I said I gobble books like others gobble sweeties and then asked what genre would be which sweet .. and there is a free 'Oblivion' T-shirt for one of the answer(er)s.  Oblivion being a rather good book from Anthony Horrowitz - but I'm sure you already knew that...
There's an #epicfail competition coming up soon too, with stickers and stuff for anyone as may want them and come in and get them! My favourite is the one that says 'Failure is an option' ;D
Anyway that aside (and watch out later on there could well be some children's book reviews in the offering at a later date - and a lot of them from the general kids selection too!) here are the reviews I did last weekend and this week ...

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!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too! 

Title – Un-Conditional – Rescuing The Gospel From The Gay-vs-Christian Debate

Author – Justin Lee

Format – Paperback

Price – £12.99

Publisher – Hodder & Stoughton

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN – 978-1-444-74541-2

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

 Unconditional is a beautiful and honourable book with an honesty and gentle insight at its heart that has a passion for compassion and understanding shining through. This is not a book of argument or rhetoric but a book of apologia that works more for the lack of such heated argument, it moves one and tries to open the discussion up to the human realities and suffering, it invites us to understand and consider the reality away from the academic, the reality of the persons dealing with the issues, the gay person yes, but their family, their friends, their church – it asks us to look at this issue with the eyes of the gospel, with the eyes of Jesus, you know that man  that did not judge the adulteress but instead had compassion for her…
Perhaps one of the most important bits of the book is the discussion to do with and around the realisation that the word ‘gay’ has connotations that are at odds sometimes between those using it, for some gay immediately means sex, for some not, but for all the discussion becomes bogged down at this point until we work past the word and instead see and deal with the person, each one an individual and not a ‘type’.

Of all the books I have read on this subject I think I would say that this is truly the most pastoral of them all and there is a real need and place for this book within our churches and within the hands of our congregations, and for those who are Gay and Christian.

Title – C.S. Lewis Vs The New Atheists

Author – Peter S Williams

Format – Paperback

Price – £12.99

Publisher – Paternoster (Authentic)

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-1-84227-770-6

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

An absolute must of a book for any fan of Lewis or for people who want to grapple with ‘New Atheists’ and their arguments against our mere Christianity! Honestly if you had ever wondered how Lewis would these days approach and deal with the new atheist arguments then here you will find your answer.

Given C. S Lewis came initially from an atheistic position to one of faith and then spent so many years as a keen apologist of the faith then it is obvious that his works are well suited as a base to help in dismantling arguments and building up a framework of arguments for the faith. Peter Williams does an excellent job of setting forth the new atheist arguments and positions with good outlines of Grayling, Dawkins, Hitchens et al positions and then in turn digging down into Lewis’ own work and arguments to proffer forward strong rebuttals and strategies of discourse.
The book is itself a beautifully strong apologist work with no little reference to academic knowledge and measures (indeed each section has an end reference that is almost encyclopaedic in it’s scope and coverage) but over all the book retains a style that is easy to read and for this reader thoroughly enjoyable.

Title – Immortal Diamond – The Search For Our True Self

Author – Richard Rohr

Format – Paperback

Price – £10.99

Publisher – SPCK

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-281-07017-6

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

Richard Rohr’s new book has a profound depth that digs at the heart of who and what we are, making us work at mining our deepest beliefs and self delusions until what is left is the heart of our true self, our innermost being stripped bare of its self defences, our altered perceptions and the voices of others, until we find buried beneath all that the heart of ourselves as God see’s us,  unearthed at last the ‘Immortal Diamond’.
Like Rohr’s previous works this focuses on spiritual and psychological growth and insight, but in this one the biblical considerations and narrative of death and resurrection is deep and rich, indeed so much so that this book would make an incredible companion on the journey to resurrection that is lent and holy week -though to be fair it would be strong at any time. At the end of the book are a series of appendixes which form a series of practical exercises to really help you build on the understanding of the book. It’s a fantastic book and one not just for fans of Rohr’s previous work, indeed if you’ve never come across his work before this would be a wonderful place to start.

Title – The Reunion - A Novel

Author – Dan Walsh

Format – Paperback

Price – £8.99

Publisher – Revell (Baker Books)

Date of Publication – October 2012

ISBN – 978-0-8007-2121-3

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

The Reunion is a beautifully gentle novel with a considered pace and flowing words that really takes you along on this story of  what is ultimately about love and redemption, but covers loss, change, doubt, heroism and above all quiet lives of unexpected worth – how much do we know our neighbours, how do we really see ourselves, how easy is it to lose yourself or indeed to find yourself? All these were the questions and thoughts that this gentle novel brought to mind in me.
It’s the story of Aaron, a Vietnam veteran who war profoundly affected, now in his 60’s a simple handyman at a trailer park. It’s also about his daughter who never really knew her father, and a journalist whose father died in the Vietnam war and all the other people who intersect with these lives –it’s a story that has its base in war, but more importantly it’s a story of what happens after a war and it’s longer term consequences.

Title – The Jonah Complex – Rediscovering The Outrageous Grace Of God

Author – Greg Haslam

Format – Paperback

Price – £7.99

Publisher – River Publishing (Dist. Joining The Dots)

Date of Publication – February 2012

ISBN 978-1-908393-04-3

Reviewer Melanie Carroll

The Jonah Complex by Greg Haslam is an excellent book that is both critique and commentary, critique in some ways of our church and society today – pointing out the similarities between where we are and Jonah’s story and time, and commentary that works all the way through the book of Jonah highlighting and upholding the story and it’s worth for today. I have always been a big fan of the story of Jonah, not so much the fishy tale we get as children but the depth and intricacies that are in it about faith, about choosing to follow, about misunderstanding God’s Grace which are all in it, notably though for me the most important part of the story of Jonah is at the end, the castor oil plant episode, and to finally get a book that does not ignore or gloss over this section is lovely. Haslam instead uses it to really show and hold up ‘the outrageous Grace of God’.

Title – Not So Secret – Being Contemporary Agents For Mission

Author – Graham Orr

Format – Paperback

Price – £8.99

Publisher – IVP

Date of Publication – October 2012

ISBN – 978-1-84474-591-3

Reviewer Melanie Carroll

I found this book to be really enjoyable, being as it was a mix of testimonial stories of time spent in Tokyo, Japan as active missionaries and also a reflection on their time when returning and working in the UK, as such it has a personalness and genuineness about it that works well to demonstrate how we can be missionary agents in our own lives and communities. In each chapter not only is there this correlation between japan and the Uk but there is also a strong and considered biblical outline as well, looking at what Jesus would have and indeed did do in such circumstance and providing the scripture references and understanding that must be at the basis of our actions and understanding when we go forth under the Great Commission. This is an excellent book for those that like testimonials, for those considering mission work, and not least for those that want to be active in evangelism.

Title – Only Say The Word – Affirming Gay And Lesbian Love

Author – Alan McManus

Format – Paperback

Price – £9.99

Publisher – Christian Alternative (John Hunt)

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN 978-1-78099-309-6

Reviewer Melanie Carroll

This is a very different book, it’s intent is to offer forward a more merciful reading of scripture and theology that affirms homosexuality rather than suffering or rejecting homosexuality. In the book we are introduced to a rainbow of churches, each church preceding a chapter offers forward a different persepective of reception that gay or lesbian people may come across, these are all quite readily recognised positions – these short introductions to the rainbow churches are quite interesting in themselves given they are written in a first person perspective with gentle commentary on issues that may be at heart here. From these we then move onto more considered arguments, discussions or contemplations that help to develop the feelings and understandings of those from the gay community as they endeavour to make understood the position they are often in…
I’m not sure the book entirely achieved it’s aim of ‘Affirming Gay & Lesbian Love’ but for me the most moving piece is the ABC of the Cloud of Witnesses we encounter in the Violet Church on pages 54. This is something that for me should be read and reflected on by everyone, regardless of gender or opinion, and makes this book important because if we can’t be moved by this then there is fundamentally something wrong with how we understand the command to love others as ourselves.

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! 

 

Reviews of the week!

Wow Thursday already! where did the week go? I suppose that's what happens when you've got your head buried in books, time passes as if unnoticed. Ahh the life of a bookshop boss, it's not that bad really...
Right so here are this weeks delights for you, all the books I've read since last week, some nice little crackers in this bunch (and I do mean little - there seem to be a preponderance of short books being published at the moment, don't get me wrong they are great books on big subjects but just short on pages so they feel more like chapter books to 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!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too!

Title – Confession – Looking Into The Eyes Of God

Author – Paul Farren

Format – Hardback

Price – £8.50

Publisher – Columba Press

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN – 978-1-85607-878-8

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A short (only 79 pages) but considered book on an important subject, Confession, or more accurately in this case the Act of Reconciliation as practiced in the Catholic church and which in recent years has lost favour. Largely the author works to show us that this is because it has lost meaning and understanding in the eyes of people as to what it is really all about. What at heart it is, Farren says, is an act of love and not an act about Hell or damnation as so many seem to think it is and as he does admit was for a time how it largely seemed to be taught as. The book is a lovingly crafted work on a subject the author really does obviously love and feel a passion for – and this comes over well and with insight, the book flows and reads in a way that feels more like a devotional work or a contemplation, and it really does help open up the view of confession as an act of love so much so that even this non-participant felt it was something they perhaps should give another go.

Title – Like The Wideness Of The Sea – Women Bishops And The Church Of England

Author – Maggie Dawn

Format – Paperback

Price – £6.99

Publisher – DLT

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-232-53001-8

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A very short book at only 76 pages long, but it is nonetheless considered and insightful, and certainly an important book given the discussions over Women Bishops and the turmoil and unrest that this has really caused within the Church of England. Maggi Dawn has here penned a book that is in part a testimony whilst also setting out clearly the arguments around the issue and the latest vote at Synod. As an ordained Priest within the Church of England and a theologian currently based at Yale Divinity School in the US she is well able to put forward clearly and articulately the issues and pain that is felt by the many women within the church. She pulls no punches in this small book, but neither does she labour the painful issues of sexism and disenfranchisement, rather she comments calmly and lucidly from a position of personal experience. This book is not a harsh condemenation so much as it is an honest imploration for integrity within the Church of England and an understanding of where they are leaving women within its environs. – or perhaps more accurately how they are at risk of leaving them outside those environs.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue this is perhaps a good book to read on a tricky and emotional subject.

 

Title – Neighbors – Short Reflections On Loving The People Around Us

Author – Chiara Lubich

Format – Paperback

Price – £5.95

Publisher – New City Press

Date of Publication – November 2012

ISBN – 978-1-56548-476-4

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

Chiara Lubich is well known in Catholic circles as she was president of the catholic lay movement Focolare, she passed away in 2008 but her works still speak loudly and deserve a wide audience beyond the catholic church. This small book is a collection of short insights she offered over time to do with neighbours and neighbourliness. They are gentle and have an air at times of the mystic to them even though utterly down to earth at the same time,‘Only God can form His image in someone. We can only ruin Him.’

They would suit a wide range of situations and would be perfect for a devotional time but could also be used as a basis for communal prayers or intentions within a wide setting of groups and organisations. Some of them, like the consideration on page 68 on ‘Today’s Poor’, could also make very good discussion starters for groups indeed. A lovely little book for anyone looking to reflect on the issue of Neighbours.

 

Title – There Must Be More Than This …  Let God Write Your Story

Author – Stepehn Rademan

Format – Paperback

Price – £7.99

Publisher – Valleys Ablaze (Dist. Joining The Dots)

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN 978-1-907080-36-4

Reviewer Melanie Carroll

A short (just over 100 pages long) testimony book that rather than being a long biography style testimony is instead a series of incidents in the Authors life that he uses to show that God is active in his life and that he can be in yours too. These incidents happen at home, abroad on missions, in his personal life and in his public ministry, and they all combine to be evidence of God’s continuing activity in his life. They are short and well written and easy to digest. This book would most appeal to those within the Pentecostal or charismatic traditions because a lot of the testimonies do involve things like active healing, revelation and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Each testimony also comes with a solid bible scripture to uphold it and underpin it, this is also used as the foundation for showing how this testimony can in it’s own way also be a teaching for others. The underlying message of the book is that God is active in your life, believe in him and trust in him.

Title – Friends In Christ – Paths To A New Understanding Of Church

Author – Brother John of Taize

Format – Paperback

Price – £14.99

Publisher – Orbis books (Dist. Alban)

Date of Publication – August 2012

ISBN – 978-1-64698-000-6

reviewer Melanie Carroll

This is an absolutely wonderful book on friendship, and through that friendship it is a book on how the church could really be and should really be. It is beautiful in it’s simplicity of heart and message and amazing in it’s depth of understanding, conviction and well reasoned argument. This book does not fail to address the issues that arise from friendship, the problems of friends falling out, of who is a friend etc, it also does not fail to acknowledge that a church based on friendship could have problems on leadership and authority if not done right, but at the end of the day you are left convicted that only when we truly reach out in friendship will we truly connect to the church as God and Christ wanted it to be. It’s also a book that gives you a lovely glimpse into the ethos and day to day understanding of Taize, and that is a lovely picture. This book is certainly one for anyone who has been touched by Taize in anyway, but more it is also one for anyone that wants to see the church be all it can be and/or wants to grapple with the real issue of friendship.

Title – Fresh Expressions Of Church And The Kingdom Of God (Ancient Faith, Future Mission Series)

Author – Various

Format – Paperback

Price – £16.99

Publisher – Canterbury Press

Date of Publication – July 2012

ISBN 978-1-84825-091-8

Reviewer Melanie Carroll

The third book in the Ancient Faith, Future Mission Series that looks at and arises out of the Fresh Expressions movement within the UK. This is a series of articles from well known contributors that look at the movement as it is happening and practiced, but looks also with a critical eye, noting at times the tensions between intent and action, between saying and doing and this is extremely important, not least to help set up a framework of understanding and argument against what critics may say, but also as a checks and measures balance thing within the movement itself.
As someone from within the Fresh Expressions movement, as it were, I found this book to be intelligent and erudite in it’s theology and outlook, especially noteable for me where the chapters by Cray, Tickle and Harvey, although the others were still very good and spanned a range of idea’s within the movement. Certainly one for any involved or interested in Fresh Expressions of Church, but probably also good for those outside the movement 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!

 

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!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too!

 

 

(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.

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