Another book down, loads to go

This week I have to thank my gal pals for introducing me to Madeleine l’Engle and A Wind in the Door.  Not sure which gal pal recommended Madeleine l’Engle which put her on my wish list but I’m assuming it was one of my American sisters as the author is indeed from the new world. Actually the book I had on my wish list was A Wrinkle in Time which is the first book in the Time Quintet but another gal pal sent me A Wind in the Door which is the second.

These are children’s books but immensely enjoyable and intelligent. There are cherubims masquerading as dragons, journeys to defeat the Echthroi (those who hate) and a mission to restore brilliant harmony and joy to the rhythm of creation, the song of the universe. This is a book to read and re-read to find those big themes of sacrifice and redemption. I’m not sure what age of children may enjoy this as it is quite dark and the language fairly adult. A good book to read aloud, I reckon.

A lesson in humility

Sunday morning brought my sister and her boys over to do my housework and change my bed.  They also taught me Harvest Moon for my DS Lite in case I’m interested in getting it.  (Not sure that I am!)

Son #2 came to visit and eat bacon rolls.

A & K from church came to visit with a purple cushion with ‘Queen’ on it and some books.

D & M came with communion which was a surprise and lovely. That’s the second time this week I’ve been ministered to and it was really rather special.

Finished My Name Was Judas by CK Stead which is our book group book this month. Well, this will be an interesting discussion methinks.  We have to assume that Judas did not commit suicide or die but lived on in Greece and is now telling his version of a shared childhood with Jesus and what it was like being one of the 12. There were quite a few ‘oh that could be right’ moments and lots to ponder. Interesting version of the naked young man who was seen running away when Jesus was captured. Loved that bit! Worth a read.

Good as New

I quite often hear folk say, usually within my hearing, “Oh I really must read the bible one of these days.”  And I usually reply, “Don’t,” because you know they’re going to start at the beginning and lose interest by chapter 3 of Genesis. However I have now found a book which I would gladly give to all and sundry with confidence and elan, no less.  It is called Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures by John Henson and is a joy. Firstly the language is inclusive so that’s got to be good. Secondly, the language is simple and straightforward – the language of ordinary people, as it was written and avoiding complicated sounding ‘foreign’ names which nobody will read out loud in church  (eg Baptise = dip; dove = pigeon; Bethany = Dategrove). It is not a verse by verse translation but all the more enjoyable for it. It is just wonderful and I love it. Thanks Fr JW for pointing me in its direction. And I just know I’m going to be sharing more of it from the rooftops as I get in to it.

Kate Charles does it again

Many, many years ago I came across a book by a new author, Kate Charles, and bought it because it was an ecclesiastical whodunnit – a genre of which I am particularly fond. As soon as I read it I knew that this author knew church – in fact, knew my church. All the characters were there and dialogues that I could practically lip-sync with.  I’ve read them all and waited with bated breath for the next one to come out. Ages ago I saw the latest Secret Sins was out in hardback and it has been a long wait till the paperback version hit Amazon. But, dear reader, it arrived on Saturday and I’ve finished it already. Really wish I’d paced myself better but it just had to be read right now!

I think some of her earlier ones are out of print now but if you find any, get them and you won’t be disappointed. Each one is a story on its own, but some characters do continue in a few of them.

Books, books, books

In my attempt to drag myself away from mind-numbing TV I have been readings lots lately. Here are my latest two recommendations:

Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier. I don’t know how I missed this one when it came out a few years ago as I am a huge Chevalier fan. As ever she manages to mix historical fact with excellent fiction and this one is no different. This book focuses on the Suffragette movement and death and was a great read.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. This was recommended to me by C at church and she said it was her fave book. I read it in one sitting yesterday after church and loved it. It takes the form of letters, mostly between a journalist/author and the members of the aforementioned reading group. Mostly, though it is about Guernsey and its occupation during WW2 and if it doesn’t make you want to go and visit or learn more then you didn’t read the same book as me!  Look out Bookmark – this may be on the list soon…

Why go to Church?

In my search for a suitable Lent book/course for my little flock I came across Why Go To Church? : The Drama of the Eucharist by Timothy Radcliffe. As it wasn’t specifically written for groups I passed it by as unsuitable but have been reading it myself this week. What a fabulous book.

Timothy Radcliffe is a Dominican and it might seem strange that the ABofC has chosen a Roman Catholic to write his Lent book on the subject of the Eucharist which is the biggest cause of division between us. However, it is senstively written and I can see a series of teaching sermons on the Mass in the future using this book. My little Quotes Journal was fair bulging after I finished it last night.

It has made me think seriously about why the Eucharist is so important to me. I can’t imagine life without it which is why I will always find a church whilst on holiday.  As a member of my little flock is wont to say: “I need to go to get the gaps in my aura plugged back in!” It is the same question as ‘Why must I eat?’

Timothy Radcliffe proposes that the Eucharist is a Drama in three acts and each act prepares for the next.

By listening to the word of God, we grow in faith and so become ready to proclaim the Creed and ask for what we need. In the second act, belief leads to hope. From the preparation of the gifts to the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, we remember how on the night beofre he died, Jesus took bread, blessed it and gave it to his disciples saying, ‘This is my body, given for you.’ Faced with failure, violence and death, we are given hope, repeating Christ’s own prayer. In the final act, from the ‘Our Father’ onwards, our hope culminates in love. We prepare for Communion. We encounter the risen Christ and his victory over death and hatred, and receive the bread of life. Finally we are sent on our way – ‘Go and serve the Lord’ – as a sign of God’s love for the world.

P7

I can’t recomend this book highly enough. And it is not just for Lent – it is for all time.

Bookmark reads The Shack

Bigger group than normal last night when we met to discuss The Shack – the book that everyone is talking about. Interesting that only a few said they had enjoyed it but then went on to say they loved this bit and that bit and that another bit had helped them.

We decided it was probably a book written for Christians, especially those who don’t have a church.

You need to remember that this was a story told to the author’s children and not a great theological tome.

We also had an interesting conversation about the McCann’s and missing children.

We all loved the relational aspect of the Trinity.

‘Learning to live loved’ is hard for some.

We liked ‘The bible doesn’t teach you to follow rules. It is a picture of Jesus… don’t look for rules and principles, look for relationship – a way of coming to be with us.’

We’d now like to hear Nan’s story or the story of the elder daughter.

You can read what the other St Mark’s (East Kilbride branch) thought of it here.

And our next book will be The Reader by Bernhard Schlink on Monday 9 March.

Eat, Pray, Love in The Shack

So what have I been reading now that I have my peepers back in working order?

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything by Elizabeth Gilbert.

The hype around this book is immense if you are to believe the blurb. Every movie star is ‘buying it for all my friends’. Having read it, I can see why. It tells the story of the author’s search for harmony, peace of mind, contentment and God. The beginning is very amusing, set in Italy, and involves lots of food. It moves on to India where she learns meditation on an Ashram and finally to some island where she finally finds love. For me, the first half held great potential and was quite amusing, but I struggled to keep with her as her quest went on.

The Shack by Wm Paul Young

This is one of those books that everyone in churchy circles seems to be talking about. Thought I’d better read it before the questions began. It is the story of Mack whose daughter is abducted and murdered whilst on a camping holiday. Some time later Mack gets a letter from God (known as Papa) to go back to the Shack where the murder probably took place. The rest of the book is theology masquerading as the dialogue between Mack and Papa, Jesus and Sarayu. It is an easy read and I actually couldn’t put it down. I loved the image of Papa as a large black woman, although I understand the conservative Christians are not too keen on that part. If you want to learn about forgiveness and the Trinity in a delightful manner, then buy this book.

Book review

Last week when Bishop Alan was preaching he mentioned a book he’d just read: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. I read it yesterday and what a powerful little book it is. I think it is actually a child’s book but probably for older children, and has now been made into a film.

It tells the story of Bruno who lives in Berlin during WW2. His father is in the army and one night the Fury comes to visit with his girlfriend Eva and tells him that they are moving to Out-with Camp. (That’s how he hears it anyway.) Bruno is nine and is unhappy about moving and leaving his friends behind.

They move to Out-With and Bruno is miserable living in a house with no friends nearby. All he can see from his window is a high fence and on the other side people wearing striped pyjamas. There are even children on the other side of the fence but Bruno is not allowed to play with them.

In time Bruno goes exploring and meets a little boy who is the same age as him on the other side of the fence and they strike up a friendship. Bruno brings food and they talk about life on either side of the fence. But Bruno is desperate to cross over to the camp and meet the other children and play.

One day Bruno’s mother discovers that he has head lice and father shaves his head. Now he looks just like his friend Shmuel. Shmuel’s father has gone missing and Bruno crosses over to help him look for him, wearing a pair of striped pyjamas so that nobody spots him.

I won’t spoil the end. But do read it. It is a very powerful little book.

Another book review

Just finished The Tentmaker by Michelle Blake. I can’t remember who recommended it but it might have been the Church Times article about clerical whodunnits. It tells the story about an Episcopal priest, Lily, who is a tentmaker, ie a priest who makes a living outside the church. However she is called in to become interim priest for a wealthy Boston parish after their priest dies and becomes involved in a web of deceit and lies.

The author certainly knows the Episcopal church but I did find it a tad depressing. Not a lot of the Piskie humour we know and love in Scotland, that’s for sure.