bookpagedev

Arts & CultureArt

Art decorated

Review by bookpagedev

In the heart of New York City stands iconic Rockefeller Center, a haven of commerce and industry, art, history and ice skating. Center archivist and author Christine Roussel’s gorgeous The Art of Rockefeller Center is an orderly catalogue of the Center’s history, art and artists. This oversized volume is lavished with exquisite attention to detail; the book’s design and typography, writing and photography are employed in shining homage to the artifice and artistry within and without the Center’s venerable walls. Rockefeller Center emerged during the Depression from the idealistic vision of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Where there were once grimy tenements, the Center rose as a cohesive melding of art, architecture and American ideals. Before construction could begin, Rockefeller spent two years planning a “modern, self-contained urban center” that would be “a mecca for lovers of art.” Together with an art advisory group (including his wife, Abby Aldrich, and son, Nelson), he identified art sites, standards, themes and artists, allocating $1 million to fund the enterprise in 1931. Artists commissioned included Gaston Lachaise, Lee Lawrie, Paul Manship and Diego Rivera (although his finished artwork, considered fascist, was destroyed). Each chapter of The Art of Rockefeller Center explicates the history and art of a single building of the complex, interpreting its art deco and art moderne treasures in exceptionally lucid prose and pristine photography. Especially interesting are explanations of the artistic processes used in creating public art and stories of the artists. The book also includes many historic photos, an index of artists and a color-coded map of the Rockefeller Center for reference.

In the heart of New York City stands iconic Rockefeller Center, a haven of commerce and industry, art, history and ice skating. Center archivist and author Christine Roussel's gorgeous The Art of Rockefeller Center is an orderly catalogue of the Center's history, art and…
Children's & YA

A classic tale revisited

Review by bookpagedev

Michael Rosen’s Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet may be a picture book, but it will give high school students across the country a reason to rejoice. Here, in a lively, attractive format, is an excellent retelling of the classic play, a book that’s sure to be a popular jumping-off point for students before they tackle the Bard’s original text. The book begins with an illustrated introduction to the major characters in the play, followed by information about William Shakespeare and London in the 1590s. From there, Rosen, who is also the author of Shakespeare: His Work and His World, goes right into his retelling. To provide a context for the play, he uses a simple, conversational approach, mixing his material with key passages from Shakespeare’s text. Short definitions of difficult words are included in the borders of each page. The book proceeds scene by scene, summarizing the action, while presenting the most familiar passages from the play. Rosen handles the transitions seamlessly, as in this excerpt from the balcony scene, in which the original text is set off in bold type: “Juliet had no idea that Romeo was down there in the orchard. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? she said aloud. She could not forget the horrible fact that Romeo was a Montague and she a Capulet, and she wished that one of them could give up their family: Deny thy father and refuse thy name.

Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” The retelling concludes with some thoughts about what the reaction of audiences in Shakespeare’s time might have been. Rosen then advises his readers, “One more thing: when you get the chance, go and see the play. That’s why plays are written.” Jane Ray’s exquisite watercolor illustrations, as well as an elegant, clear design, support this wonderful retelling. With its clear presentation of Shakespeare’s words and helpful contextual information, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would be a welcome addition to any library and a wonderful gift for a young person (or adult!) about to see the play for the first time.

Michael Rosen's Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet may be a picture book, but it will give high school students across the country a reason to rejoice. Here, in a lively, attractive format, is an excellent retelling of the classic play, a book that's sure to be…
History

What happened in Vegas

Review by bookpagedev

Hot sun, hype, mobsters and money: it’s Las Vegas, baby. Las Vegas: An Unconventional History, a companion to the PBS American Experience documentary series (and co-author Stephen Ives’ film, Las Vegas), promises and delivers on its title. This western Capital of Sin began as a bleak boom-and-bust railroad town (and gateway to Hoover Dam) in which, says co-author Michelle Ferrari, “There was not much to see.” True, unless you had opportunistic eyes and entrepreneurial spirits as did mob man Bugsy Siegel and a parade of other high rollers who forged The Strip from a dusty street. Ferrari and Ives have claimed their window of opportunity to plumb Las Vegas in this wonderful wacky tale of the small desert oasis (yes, really!) that grew into a glittering grotto of gambling and good times. With classic photos capturing Sin City’s characters, hijinks, kitsch and casinos, the book also offers four essays by guest authors (Jim McManus, David Hickey, Max Rudin and Marc Cooper) that are odes to the town’s glitz, glam and perfidy. Settled by Mormons, built up by mobsters, and fueled by the likes of millionaires Howard Hughes and Steve Wynn, the city’s hedonistic roots are bared in vivid neon in Las Vegas, negating the town’s latest advertising claim that “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

Hot sun, hype, mobsters and money: it's Las Vegas, baby. Las Vegas: An Unconventional History, a companion to the PBS American Experience documentary series (and co-author Stephen Ives' film, Las Vegas), promises and delivers on its title. This western Capital of Sin began as a…
History

America the Beautiful: celebrating who we are

Review by bookpagedev

The holidays are almost here, with a flurry of gift-giving just ahead. The following big, beautiful books are full of vibrant narrative and photography that celebrates America’s artistry, industry, cities and most especially her people, a treasure beyond price.

Destination America: The People and Cultures That Created a Nation examines 400 years of journeys to America in a succinct narrative that tracks the history of U.S. settlement and immigration, exploring who came to America and why. The driving motivation to immigrate is shown through man’s enduring desire for freedom from religious persecution, oppression, want, fear and creative repression. Though Destination America augments filmmaker David Grubin’s PBS documentary of the same name, author Chuck Wills has written an educational, stand-alone account of this country’s diverse peoples and cultures. The book’s images, enhanced by objective historical reporting, are portals into our past and present sometimes humorous, often heartbreaking, always illuminating. Destination America renders a multilayered portrait of America that will leave readers to ponder what it really means to be American. Wills posits a definition characterized by transience: “The one thing that unifies the 295 million people living in the United States today is that at some point . . . they, or their ancestors, came here from someplace else.”

The holidays are almost here, with a flurry of gift-giving just ahead. The following big, beautiful books are full of vibrant narrative and photography that celebrates America's artistry, industry, cities and most especially her people, a treasure beyond price.

Destination America: The…
Children's & YA

A tiny hero’s big adventures

Review by bookpagedev

Winter is a wonderful season to snuggle up in a big chair and let books take us traveling. It’s also a good season for bears.

Meet Urso Brunov, the Little Father of All Bears, and the wisest, strongest, bravest bear in the world. Now, Urso is very tiny, only the size of your thumb, but that doesn’t keep him from having polar-bear-sized adventures.

Brian Jacques, best known for the immensely popular Redwall series, sets his original tale in a faraway land, where a tribe of bears called Brunov makes its home. One cold day, just as he’s snuggled in for a long winter’s nap, Urso learns that four of the tiny bears in his keeping have gone missing—they’ve set out for the South, following the geese and searching for sunny lands. (And who can blame them?)

But, alas, it’s a dangerous land for little bears, so brave Urso sets out to find them. He soon learns that the four bears have been captured by a group of hunting men led by a ferocious leader called The Lord of All Sands. It takes all of Urso’s cunning, and several hair-raising adventures with wild-eyed goats, snarling boars and a camel named Gobinag, to rescue not only the tiny, misguided bears, but a whole zoo of caged animals. And The Lord of All Sands? In the end this greedy, mustached villain turns out to be quite a crybaby, putty in the hands of the mighty Urso.

Alexi Natchev, a Bulgarian-born illustrator now living in the United States, graces Jacques’ adventure with bright, child-friendly, humorous watercolors. Kids will especially love the tiny Urso in the corner of each page: when the pages are flipped, he performs a Russian dance.

As little readers know, it’s not easy being small in an adult world. With The Tale of Urso Brunov, Brian Jacques gives youngsters a reassuring story, proving once again that good things (and heroes) do indeed come in small packages.

Winter is a wonderful season to snuggle up in a big chair and let books take us traveling. It's also a good season for bears.

Meet Urso Brunov, the Little Father of All Bears, and the wisest, strongest, bravest bear in the world. Now, Urso…

LiteratureArts & Culture

An inside look

Review by bookpagedev

For a more literary approach to Lewis’ work, take a look at Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Devin Brown, which purports to be the first in-depth literary analysis of Lewis’ first children’s book. Brown proceeds chapter-by-chapter through the novel, examining not only the more obvious mythological, religious and cultural origins of Lewis’ story, but also his far subtler genius for using descriptive imagery to highlight character traits and philosophies. In one insightful passage, Brown compares the Beavers’ hut and its humble, homey contents to the outwardly grand but inwardly cold and empty palace of the White Witch a metaphor for the spiritual states of the inhabitants. Inside Narnia is well-written and readable, even for those to whom “literary analysis” brings back horrific memories of freshman English classes.

For a more literary approach to Lewis' work, take a look at Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Devin Brown, which purports to be the first in-depth literary analysis of Lewis' first children's book. Brown proceeds…
LiteratureArts & Culture

Finding faith

Review by bookpagedev

Christian themes and philosophy pervade Lewis’ works, and the Chronicles are no exception. Jonathan Rogers’ The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C.S. Lewis’ Beloved Chronicles explores the spiritual truths in each of the seven Narnia books. Rogers has a gift for revealing subtleties of meaning, theme and character that might go unnoticed even after many readings. Whether it is Prince Caspian’s theme of seeing the evidence for faith when others don’t, or The Silver Chair’s message about standing firm for Christ when evidence seems to point the other way, Rogers reveals how the characters of the Chronicles, including the villains, represent aspects of human faith and frailty. The World According to Narnia can be read for both curiosity and inspiration; if it has a flaw, it is that it ends too quickly.

Christian themes and philosophy pervade Lewis' works, and the Chronicles are no exception. Jonathan Rogers' The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C.S. Lewis' Beloved Chronicles explores the spiritual truths in each of the seven Narnia books. Rogers has a gift for revealing…

Biography

Adventures in Narnia: film brings new attention to classic series

Review by bookpagedev

As a child, whenever I came upon a strange door, stone steps that seemed to lead nowhere, or (of course) a wardrobe, I wondered if they might take me someplace different. And there was always that moment, just before the door swung open or I took the last step, when I sensed that this time, the Narnia I sought might really be there.

The idea that another world could be just beyond the next door has made the Chronicles of Narnia one of the most beloved of all children’s series. In December, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be released as a big-budget film on a par with The Lord of the Rings movies. Along with new editions of the novels themselves, a blizzard of Narnia-themed books will hit the shelves to coincide with the film’s release. We’ve selected three of the best books that open new doors into Narnia and the mind of its creator through works of literary criticism, inspirational study and biography.

Just as one cannot separate Narnia from Christianity, one cannot separate this fanciful realm from its creator, C.S. Lewis. His life and faith are masterfully explored in Alan Jacobs’ The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis. An English professor at Wheaton College, Jacobs is both a scholar of exceptional ability and a writer of marvelous skill. Throughout the book, he delves deeply into Lewis’ developing theology and philosophy, revealing how the experiences of his life shaped his beliefs and writings. Jacobs focuses closely on Lewis’ relationships, especially the pivotal friendship with his Oxford colleague J.R.R. Tolkien whose theory that pagan myths point to the coming of Christ led both to Lewis’ conversion to Christianity and Tolkien’s own explorations of the theme and Lewis’ marriage at the age of 57 to American divorcŽe Joy Davidman, whose love and death shaped his remaining years.

Jacobs argues that Lewis had "a willingness to be enchanted," a quality that enabled him to create remarkable books that captivated the imaginations of children worldwide. The author also corrects many misconceptions about Lewis’ life and work, successfully disputing the claims of both critics and devotees. The Narnian is thoughtful, intriguing and inspiring a treasure for Narnia fans, as well as aficionados of fine biography.

 

As a child, whenever I came upon a strange door, stone steps that seemed to lead nowhere, or (of course) a wardrobe, I wondered if they might take me someplace different. And there was always that moment, just before the door swung open or…

Religion & Spirituality

Inspiration for the season

Review by bookpagedev

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked to spirituality in the search for encouragement, and this season is no different, as great scholars and thinkers continue to question our beliefs and celebrate the hope of faith. Whether you’re searching for a book to help answer your own questions or looking for an appropriate holiday gift, several new religious books offer inspiration and insight.

Where did we come from and where are we going? Almost every religion offers a different answer to these age-old questions. In The Quest for Paradise: Visions of Heaven and Eternity in the World’s Myths and Religions, authors John Ashton and Tom Whyte take readers on a journey that explores heaven and the afterlife from perspectives around the world. Drawing on the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome and Egypt, as well as the belief systems of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, this book examines the similarities and differences between beliefs in the afterlife. From the Celtic and Greek Paradise to the Garden of Delights, you’ll discover the historical roots of both myths and religions. Profiles of Mechtild of Magdeburg, Alexander the Great, Buraq and Shangri-La are intriguing. While this book is both fascinating and easy to read, its strength lies in its layout and design. Lined with spectacular photos, drawings and artwork, the pages come alive for readers of all ages. Whether you’re a history or religion buff or just want a better understanding of what others believe, The Quest for Paradise is a great find.

The artwork in Thomas Merton’s Dialogues with Silence is equally thought- provoking and sure to engage your heart and mind. Merton, a Trappist monk who resided at the Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, focused his heart on God but kept his eyes open to the political and social storms of the modern world. Though he died in 1968, his books, journals and letters have been an enduring inspiration to spiritual seekers of every faith.

In Dialogues with Silence we get a glimpse of Merton as an artist. The collection of prayers is illustrated with previously unseen drawings that reveal his desire to know God in spite of his own humanity and shortcomings. The primitive but powerful black-and-white artwork includes hand-drawn pictures of monks, Christ, churches and women. Full of petitions, confessions and observations, the writing outlines one man’s attempt to know God. Whether you’re a long-time Merton fan or need an introduction, Dialogues with Silence is a great unveiling. Although he is a fictional character, Father Tim Kavanagh is a well-known religious figure to many readers. The local rector in Jan Karon’s best-selling Mitford series, Father Tim is dedicated not only to knowing God but making Him known to his small flock. He uses countless quotes and stories to share his wisdom and heart with everyone in the close-knit town.

Patches of Godlight: Father Tim’s Favorite Quotes is the journal of the Episcopal priest’s search for material to guide his spiritual journey and that of his congregation. It contains sayings, tidbits and passages from philosophers, humorists and poets, including C. S. Lewis and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead of using regular typesetting, this volume appears hand-written complete with loose notes, doodles and even coffee stains. The selections will make you laugh, think and pray. Full of hope and encouragement, this is a great gift book.

Those searching for a more serious read won’t want to miss Jack Miles’ Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God (audio). The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography is back with a new work and focus. The book explores Jesus as a literary character and challenges readers to examine the New Testament as a work of art rather than a work of religion.

This examination of the life of Christ one that began before the creation of the world and stretches to the end of existence is unique. Thoughtful, inquisitive and daring, Miles raises questions and highlights passages with a fresh vigor that challenges the ho-hum of accepted belief. Whether your interest in Christ is historical, scholarly or literary, you won’t be disappointed.

Margaret Feinberg wrote Enjoying God: Experiencing Intimacy with the Heavenly Father (Relevant Books) with S.J. Hill.

 

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked to…

Children's & YA

The life of a little logger

Review by bookpagedev

Benjamin Ward drops out of school to work at the Blackwater Logging Camp in Minnesota. His father, the cook, is proud of his work, and Ben is his assistant, his cookee. It’s winter, 1898, and Ben would prefer to be helping the loggers out at the cut, but for now he is cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry and carrying wood. Blackwater Ben is the charming story of Ben’s existence among men in an isolated part of the world. The young boy is surrounded by an assortment of odd characters, including Charlie, the “dentist,” who sharpens the teeth of crosscut saws, Wally Lofquist, a pencil pusher (clerk) and champion grouch, and Windy, the bull cook (a general maintenance man), who is toothless and whose words have a “mushy sound to them.” Though Ben isn’t living his dream of helping the loggers, he finds himself becoming a part of the community. The men like to play tricks on him. One day, for example, Poultice Pete and Ed Day return with the bad news that Slim Cantwell has been killed, his crushed body placed in the cellar to stay cool until the funeral. When Ben and his friend Nevers have to go to the cellar for molasses, Ben hears the corpse’s muffled voice say, “I’m cold.” Slim is alive, of course, and all of the old-timers had been in on the joke. The boys get even one day when they lace the loggers’ beans with castor oil, and it looks as if they are beginning to give as well as they get in this rugged community. By the end of the story, Ben and Nevers decide to sign up as log drivers. William Durbin has done his research and knows his subject matter well. He clearly relishes the lumberjack culture the lingo, the tall tales and his depiction of the everyday lives of cookees, sky pilots, dentists, wood butchers, groundhogs, road monkeys, swampers and top loaders is sure to appeal to young readers. This is a satisfying tale rooted in lively characters and a strong sense of place.

Dean Schneider teaches middle school English in Nashville.

Benjamin Ward drops out of school to work at the Blackwater Logging Camp in Minnesota. His father, the cook, is proud of his work, and Ben is his assistant, his cookee. It's winter, 1898, and Ben would prefer to be helping the loggers out at…
Religion & Spirituality

Inspiration for the season

Review by bookpagedev

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked to spirituality in the search for encouragement, and this season is no different, as great scholars and thinkers continue to question our beliefs and celebrate the hope of faith. Whether you’re searching for a book to help answer your own questions or looking for an appropriate holiday gift, several new religious books offer inspiration and insight.

Where did we come from and where are we going? Almost every religion offers a different answer to these age-old questions. In The Quest for Paradise: Visions of Heaven and Eternity in the World’s Myths and Religions, authors John Ashton and Tom Whyte take readers on a journey that explores heaven and the afterlife from perspectives around the world. Drawing on the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome and Egypt, as well as the belief systems of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, this book examines the similarities and differences between beliefs in the afterlife. From the Celtic and Greek Paradise to the Garden of Delights, you’ll discover the historical roots of both myths and religions. Profiles of Mechtild of Magdeburg, Alexander the Great, Buraq and Shangri-La are intriguing. While this book is both fascinating and easy to read, its strength lies in its layout and design. Lined with spectacular photos, drawings and artwork, the pages come alive for readers of all ages. Whether you’re a history or religion buff or just want a better understanding of what others believe, The Quest for Paradise is a great find.

The artwork in Thomas Merton’s Dialogues with Silence is equally thought-provoking and sure to engage your heart and mind. Merton, a Trappist monk who resided at the Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, focused his heart on God but kept his eyes open to the political and social storms of the modern world. Though he died in 1968, his books, journals and letters have been an enduring inspiration to spiritual seekers of every faith.

In Dialogues with Silence we get a glimpse of Merton as an artist. The collection of prayers is illustrated with previously unseen drawings that reveal his desire to know God in spite of his own humanity and shortcomings. The primitive but powerful black-and-white artwork includes hand-drawn pictures of monks, Christ, churches and women. Full of petitions, confessions and observations, the writing outlines one man’s attempt to know God. Whether you’re a long-time Merton fan or need an introduction, Dialogues with Silence is a great unveiling. Although he is a fictional character, Father Tim Kavanagh is a well-known religious figure to many readers. The local rector in Jan Karon’s best-selling Mitford series, Father Tim is dedicated not only to knowing God but making Him known to his small flock. He uses countless quotes and stories to share his wisdom and heart with everyone in the close-knit town.

Patches of Godlight: Father Tim’s Favorite Quotes is the journal of the Episcopal priest’s search for material to guide his spiritual journey and that of his congregation. It contains sayings, tidbits and passages from philosophers, humorists and poets, including C. S. Lewis and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead of using regular typesetting, this volume appears hand-written complete with loose notes, doodles and even coffee stains. The selections will make you laugh, think and pray. Full of hope and encouragement, this is a great gift book.

Those searching for a more serious read won’t want to miss Jack Miles’ Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God (audio). The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography is back with a new work and focus. The book explores Jesus as a literary character and challenges readers to examine the New Testament as a work of art rather than a work of religion.

This examination of the life of Christ one that began before the creation of the world and stretches to the end of existence is unique. Thoughtful, inquisitive and daring, Miles raises questions and highlights passages with a fresh vigor that challenges the ho-hum of accepted belief. Whether your interest in Christ is historical, scholarly or literary, you won’t be disappointed.

Margaret Feinberg wrote Enjoying God: Experiencing Intimacy with the Heavenly Father (Relevant Books) with S.J. Hill.

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked…

Memoir

Reading Lolita in Tehran

Review by bookpagedev

This poignant memoir from Nafisi, a professor of literature who teaches at Johns Hopkins University, is sure to resonate with readers. A native of Iran, Nafisi left the country to attend university, then returned to become a teacher in Tehran. When she resigned from her school because of its repressive atmosphere, she formed a group with some of her best female students, and they began a secret study of Western literature. The meetings quickly became an outlet for political and personal debate, as the women shared stories of love, marriage and persecution under the Iranian government. Blending their personal anecdotes with wonderful evaluations of the work of Vladimir Nabokov, Jane Austen and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among others, Nafisi’s book is a fascinating portrait of the female experience in modern-day Iran and a testament to the redemptive power of literature a luxury most of us take for granted. A reading group guide is included in the book.

This poignant memoir from Nafisi, a professor of literature who teaches at Johns Hopkins University, is sure to resonate with readers. A native of Iran, Nafisi left the country to attend university, then returned to become a teacher in Tehran. When she resigned from her…
Religion & Spirituality

Inspiration for the season

Review by bookpagedev

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked to spirituality in the search for encouragement, and this season is no different, as great scholars and thinkers continue to question our beliefs and celebrate the hope of faith. Whether you’re searching for a book to help answer your own questions or looking for an appropriate holiday gift, several new religious books offer inspiration and insight.

Where did we come from and where are we going? Almost every religion offers a different answer to these age-old questions. In The Quest for Paradise: Visions of Heaven and Eternity in the World’s Myths and Religions, authors John Ashton and Tom Whyte take readers on a journey that explores heaven and the afterlife from perspectives around the world. Drawing on the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome and Egypt, as well as the belief systems of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, this book examines the similarities and differences between beliefs in the afterlife. From the Celtic and Greek Paradise to the Garden of Delights, you’ll discover the historical roots of both myths and religions. Profiles of Mechtild of Magdeburg, Alexander the Great, Buraq and Shangri-La are intriguing. While this book is both fascinating and easy to read, its strength lies in its layout and design. Lined with spectacular photos, drawings and artwork, the pages come alive for readers of all ages. Whether you’re a history or religion buff or just want a better understanding of what others believe, The Quest for Paradise is a great find.

The artwork in Thomas Merton’s Dialogues with Silence is equally thought-provoking and sure to engage your heart and mind. Merton, a Trappist monk who resided at the Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, focused his heart on God but kept his eyes open to the political and social storms of the modern world. Though he died in 1968, his books, journals and letters have been an enduring inspiration to spiritual seekers of every faith.

In Dialogues with Silence we get a glimpse of Merton as an artist. The collection of prayers is illustrated with previously unseen drawings that reveal his desire to know God in spite of his own humanity and shortcomings. The primitive but powerful black-and-white artwork includes hand-drawn pictures of monks, Christ, churches and women. Full of petitions, confessions and observations, the writing outlines one man’s attempt to know God. Whether you’re a long-time Merton fan or need an introduction, Dialogues with Silence is a great unveiling. Although he is a fictional character, Father Tim Kavanagh is a well-known religious figure to many readers. The local rector in Jan Karon’s best-selling Mitford series, Father Tim is dedicated not only to knowing God but making Him known to his small flock. He uses countless quotes and stories to share his wisdom and heart with everyone in the close-knit town.

Patches of Godlight: Father Tim’s Favorite Quotes is the journal of the Episcopal priest’s search for material to guide his spiritual journey and that of his congregation. It contains sayings, tidbits and passages from philosophers, humorists and poets, including C. S. Lewis and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead of using regular typesetting, this volume appears hand-written complete with loose notes, doodles and even coffee stains. The selections will make you laugh, think and pray. Full of hope and encouragement, this is a great gift book.

Those searching for a more serious read won’t want to miss Jack Miles’ Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God (audio). The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography is back with a new work and focus. The book explores Jesus as a literary character and challenges readers to examine the New Testament as a work of art rather than a work of religion.

This examination of the life of Christ one that began before the creation of the world and stretches to the end of existence is unique. Thoughtful, inquisitive and daring, Miles raises questions and highlights passages with a fresh vigor that challenges the ho-hum of accepted belief. Whether your interest in Christ is historical, scholarly or literary, you won’t be disappointed.

Margaret Feinberg wrote Enjoying God: Experiencing Intimacy with the Heavenly Father (Relevant Books) with S.J. Hill.

 

For many Americans, a renewed interest in prayer, faith and spirituality followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Bible sales soared and copies of the Koran flew off shelves as the distraught turned to religion for hope and understanding. But people have always looked…

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