100 books

I maybe shoudn't have read this book. I think it raised my blood pressure by at least ten percent!! I'm not sure I would agree with Clifford Hill about the price of milk- let alone anything that particularly matters. There are pages of judgemental commentary on recent church history, there is a very Daily Mail view of current social conditions. But in there are some useful nuggets about how society was in the past. It gives me hope that we can change stuff. And its reaffirmed my thing about being a Wesley!!! Read with caution!

I work just ten minutes walk from Brick Lane.. I live a world away. I have no idea how accurate this view of life for a Muslim woman is: but I loved it. Its warm and funny in places, with real trauma, some potential love in there and depicts the poverty and racial tension around 911 really well. Raises the issues around how do women (in particular) live between cultures.. what tensions are inherent in Islam in 21st century Europe. Having watched the film Crash last night this all seems quite relevant just now… how do races live together or not. Do read this. Really go on. You can borrow my copy if you want.

I read Tuesdays With Morrie just last week, and in reading the Five People You Meet in Heaven you kind of get the impression that Mitch Albom really was quite profoundly affected by the story and the writing around that. This is a warm (if a little twee) look at how our lives are all essentially interconnected. If you have seen the film Pay It Forward then this is not so dissimilar. The story focuses around the guy Eddie, who dies and then goes on to meet five people who show him somehow all the unanswered things in his life. I can’t work out if its quite into karma as a concept or if it somehow has a wider thing going on. Albom talks about praying a lot, about God a bit, but is utterly 21st century and refuses to advocate any kind of formal religion or faith. All slightly odd really. Worth a read. I think with a little more pondering I could get to really love this.

Err… I read this in a vague attempt to get in touch with business y people. Its all about work life balance and stuff… is quite good. Rob Parsons really is the King of Christian short books that really sort you out, and I have no doubt that this has loads to say to the average business bod. I’m not sure I like that style of reading and learning though. But thank you Rob for it.

Yes, I read this as a kid. I vaguely recall Amy Stott throwing up during a reading of it in school one time. It was a must read before we go and see the movie later this week. Dahl is great, hugely imaginative but just a tiny weeny bit sinister. Willy Wonka is just an odd character isn’t he? Its always just a tad odd, reading these things knowing that you are visualizing the film already… ach well.. bring it on mister Burton!

This is a very beautiful book that charts a series of meetings between the author and his old professor: who happens to be dying. Its written almost as a transcript but is really warm and very easy to engage with. You find yourself liking everyone involved. It is a look at how people handle their approaching death. Do you live to the end or do you die to the end? Beautiful, poignant and a pretty quick read.

I read this more slowly than I think I have any other Harry Potter. On two chapters a day I had a good chance to savour it a bit more than usual. And what I found, I really liked. Rowling has done a good job at moving the characters on: getting rid of dead wood like Cho Chang and focusing in on a good core group of people who can and will carry the storyline to the end of the series. In terms of the drama of the story: well, she does well. We are left with lots of loose ends, lots of thoughts about who will do what in the final one of the series. Will Harry work alone or with a team, will Hogwarts re-open, will Ron and Hermione get it together properly, and who is R.A.B? She’s done well. This is I think better than the Order of the Phoenix… am very much looking forward to the last in the series.