Reviews

REVIEWS

BOOKS

Look beyond the surface

Blue, by Nick Page. Harper Collins £4.99

This is a refreshingly original book! It is good to read a book written with such a combination of integrity, style and imagination. Each section has two parts, a serial story about a trip in a balloon and an application on the themes of hope, faith, stillness, truth, mercy, wonder, friendship and celebration all wrapped in a final word on love.

The main thrust of this book is that each age is characterised by a colour. The environmentally friendly 1990s were characterised by the colour green! In the 21st Century it is time for us to look beyond the earth into the blue!

This book has a blue cover and blue typescript, yet it is more than a novelty item. This attractive pocket-sized book contains a timely and important message to our generation. Nick Page argues that there is more to life than meets the eye. Here is a call to look beyond the surface of life. If only we will look into the blue of God’s alternative way of seeing and living there may just be some richer perspective in our lives in the coming century.

This would be a good book to use as a basis for honestly reflecting on our own lives. It could also be a useful book to put into the hands of an interested non-Christian.

John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle

Parables and paradoxes
Sacred Journey, by Mike Riddell. Lion, £8.99

A HIGH-FLYING business executive reaches middle age and starts to wonder whether his success might have come at the expense of health, family and spirituality. He begins to envy friends who have a faith, but he remains sceptical towards the Church. He feels more drawn to the esoteric books in the 'Mind, Body, Spirit' section of Waterstone’s.

If this sounds like anybody you know, this new book of spiritual reflections by New Zealand writer Mike Riddell might make the perfect gift. Riddell’s musings are aimed squarely at those going through a mid-life crisis – particularly those outside the Church, or on its fringes.

His counsel on a range of life issues is sound and helpful. His assumption throughout is that his audience is unsympathetic towards the Christian faith, and he gently encourages the reader to explore the relevance of biblical insights in their time of transition.

Riddell’s writing style may not appeal to all readers. If you are allergic to portentous 'spiritualese', this book will bring you out in a serious rash! There is lots of talk here of "the soul", "journeying", and "the inner life"; lots of stories that begin, "A disciple asked his guru …", or "The story is told of a traveller …" Riddell clearly aspires to being a Christian equivalent of the Eastern sage, sitting in a remote cave dispensing parables and paradoxes.

Maybe this is no bad thing. Riddell’s intended readership
will be used to the prosaic materialism of balance sheets and company reports. A bit of enigmatic spiritual wisdom could be just what they need.

Mike Starkey is a north London vicar and author

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS BOOKS Look beyond the surface Blue, by Nick Page. Harper Collins £4.99 This is a refreshingly original book! It is good to read a book written with such a combination of integrity, style and imagination. Each section has two parts, a serial story about a trip in a balloon and an application on the themes of hope, faith, stillness, truth, mercy, wonder, friendship and celebration all wrapped in a final word on love. The main thrust of this book is that each age is characterised by a colour. The environmentally friendly 1990s were characterised by the colour green! In the 21st Century it is time for us to look beyond the earth into the blue! This book has a blue cover and blue typescript, yet it is more than a novelty item. This attractive pocket-sized book contains a timely and important message to our generation. Nick Page argues that there is more to life than meets the eye. Here is a call to look beyond the surface of life. If only we will look into the blue of God’s alternative way of seeing and living there may just be some richer perspective in our lives in the coming century. This would be a good book to use as a basis for honestly reflecting on our own lives. It could also be a useful book to put into the hands of an interested non-Christian. John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle Parables and paradoxes Sacred Journey, by Mike Riddell. Lion, £8.99 A HIGH-FLYING business executive reaches middle age and starts to wonder whether his success might have come at the expense of health, family and spirituality. He begins to envy friends who have a faith, but he remains sceptical towards the Church. He feels more drawn to the esoteric books in the 'Mind, Body, Spirit' section of Waterstone’s. If this sounds like anybody you know, this new book of spiritual reflections by New Zealand writer Mike Riddell might make the perfect gift. Riddell’s musings are aimed squarely at those going through a mid-life crisis – particularly those outside the Church, or on its fringes. His counsel on a range of life issues is sound and helpful. His assumption throughout is that his audience is unsympathetic towards the Christian faith, and he gently encourages the reader to explore the relevance of biblical insights in their time of transition. Riddell’s writing style may not appeal to all readers. If you are allergic to portentous 'spiritualese', this book will bring you out in a serious rash! There is lots of talk here of "the soul", "journeying", and "the inner life"; lots of stories that begin, "A disciple asked his guru …", or "The story is told of a traveller …" Riddell clearly aspires to being a Christian equivalent of the Eastern sage, sitting in a remote cave dispensing parables and paradoxes. Maybe this is no bad thing. Riddell’s intended readership will be used to the prosaic materialism of balance sheets and company reports. A bit of enigmatic spiritual wisdom could be just what they need. Mike Starkey is a north London vicar and author © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.