The following titles are books that I read with special
pleasure in 2014. Some of them were published in that year, or thereabouts, but
some of them were published much earlier. One, in fact, is now out of print and
only available from specialty libraries or second hand. Two are novels; all the
rest have largely to do with faith. In a stretched sense, the novels have a
religious theme as well. These titles are in no particular order. Ranking favorite books is just a bridge too far for
me. They are all wonderful.
Paul and the
Faithfulness of God by N.T. Wright.
What can I possibly say about this massive work? I spent the entire seasons of Epiphany and Lent reading these 1400 pages and never regretted a moment of it. Wright is a man of #onebigidea. In religious matters he is a unified-field- theory type. Here is a cursory summary of the work: God has a plan for humanity. Israel was part of the plan. Jesus WAS the plan. Each one of us is a part of that plan, too. The plan is to perfect creation. Paul grasped this and spent his adult life endeavoring to share his understanding with the world. It was “too light a thing” for him to preach only to the Jews. Christ’s message is for all.
I have greatly oversimplified Wright's masterful argument. It is a brilliant light shining into first Century Palestine and the religious, philosophical and cultural strains that colored Paul's and Jesus' world. How Paul gets from highly observant servant of the Torah to flagrant Christ worshipper and recruiter of Pagans is quite a tale. Read it.
What can I possibly say about this massive work? I spent the entire seasons of Epiphany and Lent reading these 1400 pages and never regretted a moment of it. Wright is a man of #onebigidea. In religious matters he is a unified-field- theory type. Here is a cursory summary of the work: God has a plan for humanity. Israel was part of the plan. Jesus WAS the plan. Each one of us is a part of that plan, too. The plan is to perfect creation. Paul grasped this and spent his adult life endeavoring to share his understanding with the world. It was “too light a thing” for him to preach only to the Jews. Christ’s message is for all.
I have greatly oversimplified Wright's masterful argument. It is a brilliant light shining into first Century Palestine and the religious, philosophical and cultural strains that colored Paul's and Jesus' world. How Paul gets from highly observant servant of the Torah to flagrant Christ worshipper and recruiter of Pagans is quite a tale. Read it.
Lila by Marilynne
Robinson.
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be a restless wanderer like Cain, you will want to read this novel. You are neglected by whatever family you have until a kind woman steals you away and takes you on a vagabond journey across Depression America for about 25 years. Then she is gone. You manage as best you can for a while. You can trust no one. You can love no one. You live from one odd job to the next. Then you wander through a rain storm into a church and the preacher sees into your soul. You are saved though you might not want to be.
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be a restless wanderer like Cain, you will want to read this novel. You are neglected by whatever family you have until a kind woman steals you away and takes you on a vagabond journey across Depression America for about 25 years. Then she is gone. You manage as best you can for a while. You can trust no one. You can love no one. You live from one odd job to the next. Then you wander through a rain storm into a church and the preacher sees into your soul. You are saved though you might not want to be.
Scared Rhythms by
Ruth Bailey Howard.
I avoided this author for a long time. For some reason, her three names, the soccer mom persona, the upper middle class aura put me off. She also looked a little too much like me. The type, I mean. I like to think I don’t judge by outward signs, but it seems I do. I was wrong. Don’t make my mistake. This woman has a firm grip on what it takes to live a contemplative life, a faithful and prayerful life. She is honest and humble and smart. Her wisdom is accessible but uncompromising and firm.
I avoided this author for a long time. For some reason, her three names, the soccer mom persona, the upper middle class aura put me off. She also looked a little too much like me. The type, I mean. I like to think I don’t judge by outward signs, but it seems I do. I was wrong. Don’t make my mistake. This woman has a firm grip on what it takes to live a contemplative life, a faithful and prayerful life. She is honest and humble and smart. Her wisdom is accessible but uncompromising and firm.
The Sacred Journey: A
Memoir of Early Days by Frederick Buechner.
Alas, another of my prejudices had to be put to death this year. Memoirs always seem just a touch self-indulgent to me. What’s more they tend to sacrifice art for honesty with sloppy writing* as the end result. Not this memoir. If all you want to do is read exquisite prose, this is the book for you. If all you want is a gripping story of growing up, this is the book for you. If all you want is an account of how someone raised without religious practice became one of the leading voices in Christian thought today, this is the book for you. I was spellbound. Buechner is 88 years old as of this writing and I plan to read every last one of his books before I reach that age. I’d better hurry up.
Alas, another of my prejudices had to be put to death this year. Memoirs always seem just a touch self-indulgent to me. What’s more they tend to sacrifice art for honesty with sloppy writing* as the end result. Not this memoir. If all you want to do is read exquisite prose, this is the book for you. If all you want is a gripping story of growing up, this is the book for you. If all you want is an account of how someone raised without religious practice became one of the leading voices in Christian thought today, this is the book for you. I was spellbound. Buechner is 88 years old as of this writing and I plan to read every last one of his books before I reach that age. I’d better hurry up.
Someone by Alice
McDermott.
I’m not sure if anyone has ever compared Alice McDermott with Charles Dickens or Virginia Woolf, much less to both of them, but I’m taking that plunge. Someone is as introspective and stream-of-consciousness as Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway but it’s as busy and unpredictable as Bleak House. Marie’s story starts off when she is only seven and ends with her in late middle age. Early in the first chapter she recalls fainting in a delicatessen during her first pregnancy, so we know she grows up, marries and has a normal life. Nevertheless, knowing the outline of her story in no way compromises the tension and worry the reader feels as each new episode unfolds.
I’m not sure if anyone has ever compared Alice McDermott with Charles Dickens or Virginia Woolf, much less to both of them, but I’m taking that plunge. Someone is as introspective and stream-of-consciousness as Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway but it’s as busy and unpredictable as Bleak House. Marie’s story starts off when she is only seven and ends with her in late middle age. Early in the first chapter she recalls fainting in a delicatessen during her first pregnancy, so we know she grows up, marries and has a normal life. Nevertheless, knowing the outline of her story in no way compromises the tension and worry the reader feels as each new episode unfolds.
God and You by
William A Barry S.J.
Do not be fooled by the title. This is not a children’s book. It is not a simplistic guide to loving Jesus or “being good.” This is a demanding exercise in coming face to face with God in Christ and working out your issues. Barry predicates his thesis on an assumption that we all want something and that God is what that something actually is. You will have noticed the “S.J.” after Barry’s name. The author is a Jesuit and Jesuits love to trade in apparent simplicities, see also @Pontifex. Barry will convince you that having an intimate relationship with the Almighty is both simple and necessary. There are steps to take and matters to deal with but it can happen. In fact, it will happen.
Do not be fooled by the title. This is not a children’s book. It is not a simplistic guide to loving Jesus or “being good.” This is a demanding exercise in coming face to face with God in Christ and working out your issues. Barry predicates his thesis on an assumption that we all want something and that God is what that something actually is. You will have noticed the “S.J.” after Barry’s name. The author is a Jesuit and Jesuits love to trade in apparent simplicities, see also @Pontifex. Barry will convince you that having an intimate relationship with the Almighty is both simple and necessary. There are steps to take and matters to deal with but it can happen. In fact, it will happen.
Let This Mind Be In You by Sebastian Moore
The previous author, William Barry, refers to Moore's book so frequently in his own writing that I finally hunted it down and purchased a second hand copy. The book itself is out of print, but it's worth the trouble of finding it, if you can. Moore begins with the assertion that we are desired by God. In fact our own love of our selves reflects this desire. As we pass from this this innocent perfect state, we perceive ourselves as flawed and therefore become flawed. Christ has absorbed our imperfections and by his life and death and Resurrection perfected us...if only we would see it. If only we would see it.
The previous author, William Barry, refers to Moore's book so frequently in his own writing that I finally hunted it down and purchased a second hand copy. The book itself is out of print, but it's worth the trouble of finding it, if you can. Moore begins with the assertion that we are desired by God. In fact our own love of our selves reflects this desire. As we pass from this this innocent perfect state, we perceive ourselves as flawed and therefore become flawed. Christ has absorbed our imperfections and by his life and death and Resurrection perfected us...if only we would see it. If only we would see it.
*Bloggers are guilty of this and I am probably no
exception. But it only a blog after all, so….
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