It’s the beginning of the 19th century in rural England. Anne Elliot, ‘with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no weight, her convenience was always to give way – she was only Anne.’ But, amid illustrious Lords and Ladies, Baronets, Admirals and naval Captains, we see the world through her eyes.
The Bible and Other Faiths by Ida Glaser Ida Glaser expounds on her in-depth knowledge of the Christian Bible. This she combines with her extensive experience interacting with people of different faiths in various parts of the world. She has chaired workshops bringing Christians and Muslims together. The result is a thought-provoking treatise emphasising God’s…
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson It takes some courage to pick up this tome. It’s BIG. If you take the plunge, you’ll discover it’s very well researched, very readable, and very informative. The cosmology and physics are presented simply and clearly. The historical developments in such areas as geology, paleontology, archaeology,…
Angel at the Paradise Hotel by Teresa O’Driscoll This book has an intriguing premise – you’ll have to read it to find out what I mean. We encounter a diverse cast of individuals – both Corfu locals and holidaymakers from afar – each burdened by unique anxieties and unresolved issues. As their interactions unfold, their…
Two Old Fools on a Camel by Victoria Twead Victoria Twead’s beloved series usually places her and her husband, Joe, firmly in their charming, chaotic Andalucían village of El Hoyo. However, Two Old Fools on a Camel sees them undertaking their biggest adventure yet: a year-long teaching stint in Bahrain. The reason for this enormous…
A Broken Hallelujah by Judith Forgoston Judith Forgoston’s A Broken Hallelujah is a brilliantly composed novel that skilfully spans half the world to explore two profoundly human and spiritual themes. It serves as both a cautionary tale and a powerful testament to restorative love. On one hand, the book highlights the very real danger of…
Our Village Says ‘No’ to Extravagance, ‘Yes’ to Compromise (and New Neighbors!) Last night, our village assembly, the twice-yearly gathering where grassroots democracy truly shines, was anything but routine. While the autumn meeting typically focuses on budget approvals, this session brought pivotal decisions on both new citizenship and a hotly debated community building project. The…
The Last Voyage by Brian D. McLaren Were this merely a work of science fiction, it could be deemed a reasonably well-written, thrilling narrative about a small group of scientists on a highly improbable trip to another planet. But, if you know anything about Brian McLaren, it’s got to be much more than that. The…
I’ve recently read several books about the wives of Christian reformers. They led me to ponder on the way the Church’s emphasis and lifestyle have changed throughout history. Here is a very superficial summary of my analysis, concentrating on the European situation:
Katharina Luther series by Margaret Skea These books about Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther’s wife, show an incredibly vivid combination of informative history and living personalities.
Old Wives’ Tales by Clare Heath-Whyte Social values and norms change over the centuries. This also applies to the Christian Church. So, as we read about the lives of seven 18th century Christian leaders’ wives, we have some difficulty relating their experiences to ours of today.
The Wanderer’s Legacy by Natasha Woodcraft As the third book in the epic Wanderer series, The Wanderer’s Legacy is a captivating read. Woodcraft transports us to a largely unexplored period; life is basic, yet people live for hundreds of years. Following the sparse biblical text, she shows us the first few generations torn between allegiance…