100 books

This is a pretty standard text for wannabee vicars. It explores the models of leadership as practised by the church throughout the ages and takes a look at how we might want to exercise leadership now. Michael Green is a lovely lovely man and that comes through in the text. He genuinely cares and I like that. On the downside, the book is a little dated, its written pre women priests, and certainly doesn't look at the current hot potatoes of women bishops and gay clergy (well openly practising gay clergy anyhoo!).. Again, only really worth reading if you're in the Church of England!

Good read this one. I'm not entirely sure I agree with this guys central premise (which is that Anglicanism in the UK should abandon its parish system and grow new churches using school halls and new worship centres.. ).. Its certainly given me some stuff to think about. Not really one to read unless you're working in the Anglican church.. or want to..

I loved this book. Although its basically a text book for work I have really, really enjoyed it. The book is well written for a start. Its well put together, practical and inspiring. Though it talks about priesthood its appropriate for anyone in leadership. Again I find the Anglican communion more and more inviting. Its great!

What to say? I actually greatly enjoyed this book. I think I’ve read it at a time when God is calling me back to understand all that he has created me to be. To hear that I am woman and beloved and romanced has got to be good just now. This IS an American book and you should bear that in mind when you pick it up. There are no examples of women in church leadership over men, which makes a point in and of itself. But at the heart of it is some stuff that I think we maybe all need to receive, that God has created us to be pursued, to have a unique place in an adventure, and to be romanced (or maybe that’s the same as pursued). I’ve already recommended this to two people. Must be a good one.

I like Coupland, but had never read his seminal (well at least his kick start) work until now. The story of Gen X, is based around Andy, middle child from middle America, choosing to live an edgy existence in California. Its definitely a book of its time- the notion of dropping out in this way is no longer strange but seems to depict how most of my friends are living just now- all of us with jobs that just get us by. I;m not sure we're quite so neurotic but hey.. Definitely worth a read, though for me doesn’t measure up to the wonderful Hey Nostradamus.

Do you ever get just the teensiest bit scared when reading a Roald Dahl book? I know that most of his characters are designed to be just a little bit sinister, but this book really brought it home to me. As ever with Dahl, its a really good read but just an iddy bit weird!