Recommended Reads

The books below have been recommended by visitors to this website. They are listed in the order they were received, oldest first, newest last.

Read the most recent review

Unexpected Journeys
Eddie Askew, Published by The Leprosy Mission International 2002

A collection of meditations and prayers. A beautifully illustrated, thoughtful book, which brings to life familiar bible stories and puts you right in the action. It challenges you to think about the events and their meaning, as if experiencing them first hand.
Recommended by Lee Hall, Westbury Baptist Church

Psalms for People Under Pressure
Jonathan Aitken

Jonathan Aitken has experienced the ups and downs of life, so is well qualified to write these meditations on the Psalms, and how they can help us in times of trouble. It will put the trials of life into perspective as you realise that the problems we face today are no different to those experienced by the peoples of the Old Testament.
As reviewed in Parish Pump

The Christmas Mystery
by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, Phoenix Books

By the author of the best selling Sophie's World. This book is written in chocolatey bite size chapters, one for each day of Advent. It is the story of a boy who finds a magical advent calender which takes him on an amazing historical and geographical journey backwards in time 2,000 years to the stable in Bethlehem. Led on his journey by a little girl as he opens each window, he meets John the Baptist, angels, magi, shepherds and other key characters. He learns about how to wait and watch. All the members of the group enjoyed this, particularly the poetry of the writing. 'Look at the lovely wild flowers!' she said. The angel nodded mysteriously. 'They are part of the glory of heaven that has strayed down to earth,' he explained. 'You see there's so much glory in heaven that it can easily spill over.' and on the actions of the 6th century church in closing the ancient school of Greek Philosophy; 'many things have been done in the name of Jesus that heaven is not happy about'.
An undemanding delectable Christmassy read suitable for adults and young people.
Recommended by Melody Carter

Lost Icons
Archbishop Rowan Williams, Continuum Books

The author writes as he speaks, with sensitivity and care on some of the key concerns of both the secular and sacred communities of western society. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on child hood and choice. His analysis of our difficulty in giving children the opportunity to grow and explore the world in their own time, of our failures to behave as adults and of the demands we place on children to maintain respectable behaviour in a valueless world was particularly powerful.

This book met with mixed reviews from our group, RW's failure to clearly express a standpoint, although this was written before his enthronement, was frustrating at times. The writing style is very learned and somewhat inpenetrable in the view of some. However, should appeal to intellectual readers/scholars whether of faith or of none.
Recommended by Melody Carter

The Edge
Alan Gibbons

This book, though not a religious book, really stimulates and brings awareness of racial equality. It shows that if you are able to stand strong with faith always with you, you're able to take anything.
Recommended by Irene Carter, St Francis

Heaven: It's not the end of the World
David Lawrence (1995), Scripture Union

Heaven, a key element of the Christian faith, is an area that tends to be either ignored or to be discussed in rather vague and nebulous terms. Lawrence reminds us of the numerous and very tangible references to heaven throughout the Bible. For Jesus, the kingdom of heaven was real and close at hand and in the book of Revelation heaven is not presented as a futuristic place but as a world that exists in parallel to this one. John's vision is an example of the glory of heaven being revealed for us as a message of comfort and encouragement for today rather than a vague notion for the dim and distant future. Members of the book group found this a well researched and presented book, accessible with some humour thrown in. It encouraged us to consider heaven much more deeply and to find some common ground in our different perspectives and expectations of 'paradise' that, after all, should be the daily bread of all Christians. We reckon its well worth a read.
Recommended by Melody Carter

Bringing Home the Prodigals
Rob Parsons (2003), Hodder and Stoughton

As a parent and a Christian I think this is probably the most important book I've read this year. It is a really light read with case examples from Rob's Ministry and helpful meditations and prayers throughout. It was enjoyed and is recommended by all members of the book group.

It is based on Jesus' story of the prodigal son and, although I have heard that story many times from early childhood it was usually presented as simply an illustration of God's unfailing love and his forgiveness of us as we return to him once more. It had never occured to me until as a parent of a growing family that it has an explicit and very practical message for me as a mother and for the church family in general.

Many parents who bring their children to church will eventually experience the pain of seeing them reject both religious routine and even their faith as they grow up. Rob Parsons encourages us not to assume that they have 'gone away' and neither to presume that they will not return. It is important to celebrate all of the pursuits and actions of our children, through employment or study, that work for good as they are a reflection of God's glory even though they might not account for their motives in this way. God works for good in all of us and particularly with parents who continue to show their love inspite of painful rejection of the things that they stand for. We need to work to avoid our children and the young people in our church becoming prodigals. Perhaps to try (outwardly) to relax about refusal to attend church, scary music and their 'facial iron mongery' as the author puts it. Don't make every transgression a battlefield but choose wisely the areas where you draw the line. Rejoice and celebrate the things they are prepared to go with and offer endless encouragement. In this way they will never be far from you and never be far from God.
Recommended by Melody Carter

The Life You've Always Wanted
John Ortburg
Why is it so difficult to make God central to all aspects of your life? How can we acheive an undiveded life in this busy and demanding society? Ortburg makes some really practical suggestions his writing is funny and insightful.
Recommended by Melody Carter

Small Island
Andrea Levy
A prizewinning book which is revalatory, poignant and at times very funny. It tells the story of that (often hidden) post war period of change and upheaval from the perspectives of 4 people. From the perspective of 4 individuals, it deals with the subject of post war immigration and the relationships between white Londoners and people who came from Jamaica after the 2nd World War to find work and opportunity in the 'Mother Country'.  It raised some incredibly challenging issues for the reader in a way that is captivating and difficult at the same time. (It made me reconsider the way I understand racial difference within British society and in particular the implications for our church communities. I couldn't put it down, and wanted to read it over again as soon as I'd finished it. I'm not surprised it won a prize: beg, buy or borrow a copy!
Recommended by Melody Carter

The Purpose Driven Life
Rick Warren, Zondervan
Practical and inspiring. This lenten-length book can be undertaken at any time of the year.
Rick Warren will guide you through a personal 40-day spiritual journey that will transform your answer to life's most important questions: What on earth am I here for? Knowing God's purpose for creating you will reduce your stress, focus your energy, simplify your decisions, give meaning to your life, and, most important, prepare you for eternity. The Purpose-Driven Life is a blueprint for Christian living in the 21st century.
Recommended by Mike Kendall, St Francis