Reviews

BOOKS

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (Black Swan £6.99)

This debut novel by American author Leif Enger has received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic with interest in the film rights too. The book, set in the early 1960s, seems to have struck a chord with post-September 11 America looking for the values of another era.

The New York Post said: "If ever there was a time for a novel of faith and redemption, this is it".

The book tells the story of a family headed by a father, Jeremiah, who believes in miracles and a powerful God even though their circumstances look bleak - the eldest son, Davy, has broken out of jail after being arrested for a double manslaughter and is now on the run.

The circumstances leading up to this and the family's subsequent journey to find Davy are retold from the viewpoint of the younger brother Reuben.

There are some achingly poignant moments as the story unfolds and the writing has a beautiful, poetic quality at times. I must admit I was slightly disappointed with aspects of the ending and found the female characters less convincing than their male counterparts.

On the whole, though, I found it a compelling and powerful read. It was also refreshing to see Christian beliefs being treated in a serious and generally positive way in a mainstream novel.

Jane Bravo is a freelance proof-reader and mother of three

MUSIC

Lavish package

The River Flows – Anthology Volume 1, by Iona. Open Sky (Alliance Music), 4 CD set, £34.99

Through their breathtaking musicianship and unique fusion of rock, folk, jazz and Celtic influences, Iona have won respect and admiration from an equally diverse audience, and considerable critical acclaim in both the Christian media and secular music press.

Far more than a straight re-release of the band’s early work, The River Flows is a lavish package, with its four CDs affixed to the covers of a glossy hardback book.

Although The Book Of Kells and Beyond These Shores are unaltered, Iona’s eponymous debut has been digitally remastered, with new/additional parts on several tracks, resulting in a much brighter, fuller sound than on the 1990 original.

Final CD Dunes contains previously unreleased material – soundtrack music from BBC TV Natural World programme Snowdonia – Realm Of The Ravens, and current versions of concert favourites: Jigs, Hearthquake and Castlerigg/Reels – all recorded ‘live’ in the studio with a fresh, vibrant sound.

Also included is a haunting studio version of traditional folk song I Will Give My Love An Apple, which has been in singer Joanne Hogg’s repertoire since she was 12.

Complementing the musical content are 60 pages of photographs, background and biographical information. Quite pricey, but an ideal gift to grace any fan’s CD collection, bookshelves or coffee table.

Contemporary worship

Lord Of Every Heart, by Stuart Townend. Kingsway Music, CD £14.99

Less a new project from NFI songwriter/worship leader Stuart Townend than the development of a partnership with Phil Hartley (formerly of Phil & John), which brought about last year’s Friends CD with Robin Mark and Gary Sadler. The same team of Nashville-based musicians provides the backing, and recordings of the title cut and When Love Came Down were lifted straight from one album to the other.

The gentle Love Incarnate best encapsulates a common theme in many songs, but the surging basslines and big guitars of the first track Grace deliver a 'full-on' celebration of God’s unconditional love (easily on a par with Matt Redman’s Amazing), and following it the more relaxed Image of Invisible God expresses a very real sense of wonder at Christ’s personification of that love.

Also likely to arouse interest is Stuart’s own version of In Christ Alone – very different from the full congregational recordings made at his home church in Brighton, Spring Harvest and Stoneleigh 2001.

Already known for songs such as How Deep The Father’s Love and How Long, Stuart Townend is continuing to write contemporary songs of worship and devotion with a theological grounding comparable to that in many of Watts’ or Wesley’s hymns.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities with the charity InterAct

© 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.


		BOOKS Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (Black Swan £6.99) This debut novel by American author Leif Enger has received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic with interest in the film rights too. The book, set in the early 1960s, seems to have struck a chord with post-September 11 America looking for the values of another era. The New York Post said: "If ever there was a time for a novel of faith and redemption, this is it". The book tells the story of a family headed by a father, Jeremiah, who believes in miracles and a powerful God even though their circumstances look bleak - the eldest son, Davy, has broken out of jail after being arrested for a double manslaughter and is now on the run. The circumstances leading up to this and the family's subsequent journey to find Davy are retold from the viewpoint of the younger brother Reuben. There are some achingly poignant moments as the story unfolds and the writing has a beautiful, poetic quality at times. I must admit I was slightly disappointed with aspects of the ending and found the female characters less convincing than their male counterparts. On the whole, though, I found it a compelling and powerful read. It was also refreshing to see Christian beliefs being treated in a serious and generally positive way in a mainstream novel. Jane Bravo is a freelance proof-reader and mother of three MUSIC Lavish package The River Flows – Anthology Volume 1, by Iona. Open Sky (Alliance Music), 4 CD set, £34.99 Through their breathtaking musicianship and unique fusion of rock, folk, jazz and Celtic influences, Iona have won respect and admiration from an equally diverse audience, and considerable critical acclaim in both the Christian media and secular music press. Far more than a straight re-release of the band’s early work, The River Flows is a lavish package, with its four CDs affixed to the covers of a glossy hardback book. Although The Book Of Kells and Beyond These Shores are unaltered, Iona’s eponymous debut has been digitally remastered, with new/additional parts on several tracks, resulting in a much brighter, fuller sound than on the 1990 original. Final CD Dunes contains previously unreleased material – soundtrack music from BBC TV Natural World programme Snowdonia – Realm Of The Ravens, and current versions of concert favourites: Jigs, Hearthquake and Castlerigg/Reels – all recorded ‘live’ in the studio with a fresh, vibrant sound. Also included is a haunting studio version of traditional folk song I Will Give My Love An Apple, which has been in singer Joanne Hogg’s repertoire since she was 12. Complementing the musical content are 60 pages of photographs, background and biographical information. Quite pricey, but an ideal gift to grace any fan’s CD collection, bookshelves or coffee table. Contemporary worship Lord Of Every Heart, by Stuart Townend. Kingsway Music, CD £14.99 Less a new project from NFI songwriter/worship leader Stuart Townend than the development of a partnership with Phil Hartley (formerly of Phil & John), which brought about last year’s Friends CD with Robin Mark and Gary Sadler. The same team of Nashville-based musicians provides the backing, and recordings of the title cut and When Love Came Down were lifted straight from one album to the other. The gentle Love Incarnate best encapsulates a common theme in many songs, but the surging basslines and big guitars of the first track Grace deliver a 'full-on' celebration of God’s unconditional love (easily on a par with Matt Redman’s Amazing), and following it the more relaxed Image of Invisible God expresses a very real sense of wonder at Christ’s personification of that love. Also likely to arouse interest is Stuart’s own version of In Christ Alone – very different from the full congregational recordings made at his home church in Brighton, Spring Harvest and Stoneleigh 2001. Already known for songs such as How Deep The Father’s Love and How Long, Stuart Townend is continuing to write contemporary songs of worship and devotion with a theological grounding comparable to that in many of Watts’ or Wesley’s hymns. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities with the charity InterAct © 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.