100 books

The blurb on the back of this book is all about Paula being agreat athlete and all that. It even includes the Dailiy Mail's "Britain's greatest ever woman athlete" (which I'm sure they saida bout Kelly Holmes too). Good as these things are, the fact that they are on the back of the book should betray the fact that although a great runner, Paula is not a great writer. Now, I'm not the most linear person in the world, but this book is just a bit confusing sometimes. It kind of flits all over the place.. I get the impression that it was put together almost by a series of interviews and no-one bothered to link then very well. (I guess the pressure of getting the book out soon after the Olympics took its toll). However, as an insight into the life if an athlete its great... and a bit gross. Hernias, incontinence, fluid, jabs, tears, deep friction.. all a bit vomit inducing (oh and there's vomit in there too). Aside from the grossness, I'm left with th...

Do yourselves a favour. Do NOT read this book. In terms of writing its not bad- the end is hurried, and frankly a bit twee.. but the reason to avoid it is the content. I felt quite sure that I should buy and read this book... but I'm in no hurry to pass it on. It goes into the life story (fictional but you just know its not really), of someone with repressed memory. It tracks him through life in a hostel where he was abused, into the Soho scene of the sixties and into a life of alcoholism. Its gritty, explicit and frankly a bit gratuitous. Don't read it. Its made me immensely grateful for all that God has done in my life.. but thats its huge redeeming factor.. stay away.. will mess with you head!

This is not going to go down as the most enjoyable read of all time, but it was really useful. This is a PHD thesis from back in the day when all PHD theses became books. Its a fairly well written piece about the relationship between Moravianism and Methodism. It focuses a lot on the character of John Wesley (more so than that of Zinzendorf) and is VERY English in its outlook. Its a useful wee insight into the period of tension between the two movements. I'll stop there cos there are probably only about three copies in the country and so I'm not sure its worth the read!

Hmm.. A friend of mine said she felt that she needed to take a bath after reading this. I'm inclined to agree. The plusses: its kind of a modern day Catcher in The Rye. Its an interesting insight into shame and what its effects can be. It makes you wonder what did happen to his dad? the bit with teh names in teh first few chapters is clever. Minuses: its pretty seedy. Its really hard to read because its so filled with swearing. Salinger is as shocking without the silly language, but maybe I'm just being old fashioned. Careful as you go with this one. I think I'm glad I read it but at the same time I feel a little violated by it too. Proceed with caution!

I confess. I only bought this to be a church swot. We're following the book as the Lent Series at church. But, that said, it is worth a read. I think one of the perils of reading it as part of the hundred is that I have gone through it pretty quickly. It probably deserves to be worked through with the study material (which is actually VERY well put together!). But to the book itself. Max Lucado writes in pictures. Excessively so at some points druing the early chapters. But if you make it through that you get to some really good stuff. I'm not sure I entriely agree with him on a couple of things (especially the bit that says that all of our bad experiences are to good.. just not sure its that black and white). But he's good. I think take your time with this one.. get over the cheese and let it sink in.

Another book written by a friend. But the following is not just written as a tribute to Queen Est. Its a good look at some of the issues around an ethical lifestyle. Its geared at the classic Spring Harvest market; Christians who just a need a bit of encouragement to make a stand for the poor. There are loads of stories at the beginning. There are a whole bunch of really practical ideas. And there is a tehology in there that reaffirms what I know. Its a really good book to hand to someone who is just getting their head round what it might mean to live ethically. I was really encouraged as I read it...

So this is weird... reviewing a book born out of a movement I work for, and written by my kind of boss I guess... Its good.. I'm not saying its the best thing that Pete has ever scribed but its good. If you haven't ever read anything on what it might mean to follow Jesus this is a very good place to start. It is a challenge to stop just saying how amazing grace is and start living in the light of the call to "take up the cross". Its accessible, its well thought out, and it has an invitation at the end that is so counter to our culture that its quite tough to read.. Friends: read and lets talk!

John Wesley. A key figure in the evangelical revival of the 18th and 19th century. A prolific preacher. But I don’t like him. And I feel quite justified in saying that because I just read hundreds of pages where he was pretty disparaging about pretty much every other of his contemporaries. I think I’m maybe just a bit shocked. I guess at my roots I’m a people pleaser and to hear this man being so rude and ungracious about people is a bit scary… The journal is a real eye opener. Especially as much of it was edited by Wesley himself.. I’m not sure I would leave in what he did! In terms of writing: well this was an abridged version so I think I may have missed some of the picture. There are a few gems in there which have really spoken to me a bit. Things like the reminder not to battle temptation but to flee it. A timely reminder. Wesley’s description of the state of society bears more than a little resemblance to life today (drunkenness and profanity!). And at the...

I LOVED THIS BOOK! In fact I loved it so much that I persuaded the book club (yes I'm in a book club... but its quite cool.. like I'm the oldest one in it.. ) to read it too. Watership Down is beautifully descriptive, has great characterisation and a wonderful allegory. Its just wonderful- and probably lost on most children to whom it is read. I loved the comparisons of journeying together as a church or bunch of people setting out as pioneers. I love the way that we see that people have to be released and trusted in their giftings. I love the way that there are phases of the journey, each distinct, and that there is settling and growth too. I love the community, the way that rabbits lick each others wounds to clean them, defend each other and release each other too. This is a much better book on church planting than most in the Christian book stores. But it is about bunnies.. which should be forgotten when reading much of it, lest it becomes too heart rending!!! ...

This is a first draft manuscript by a friend of mine. What can I say? I liked it. Its a sort of novella, a take on the relationship between two men who come to spend a lot of time together in unlikely circumstances. It keeps you guessing and there are some really lovely thinsg going on with teh peripheral characters. I liked it.. a lot actually. It needs a bit of work to get to published status but heck of a good start!!