Excerpts from Four Reviews Coming in the May 15 Issue of Publishers Weekly
-- Publishers Weekly, 5/3/2006
Strange Heaven: The Virgin Mary as Woman, Mother, Disciple and Advocate
Jon M. Sweeney. Paraclete, $21.95 (220p) ISBN 1-55725-432-X
Pious devotions to Mary the mother of Jesus, once derided as superstitious by non-Catholic Christians, are reconsidered by award-winning Protestant author Sweeney (Born Again and Again). Drawing upon excellent scholarship, Christian history, and spiritual traditions, Sweeney recounts how a humble Palestinian teenage girl came to be revered by many Christians as the "mother of God." Sweeney is clear that Mary's significance transcends even her role as the mother of Jesus. Mary's virginity influenced the development of Christian sexual ethics, she is praised in the Islamic Qur'an and some would say that her role in redeeming humanity is equal to her son's. Sweeney is very even-handed when addressing some of the more controversial Catholic beliefs about Mary—his prose comes across as earnest and respectful, while remaining informed and unafraid of critique. (Sept.)
The Gospel According to the Beatles
Steve Turner. Westminster John Knox, $19.95 (240p) ISBN 0-664-22983-2
Acclaimed pop music writer Turner (A Man Called Cash) unsuccessfully attempts to reveal the "gospel" of the Fab Four in this plodding book. He recounts the already well-known biographies of each Beatle, pointing out that each had some early brushes with either the Church of England or Roman Catholicism. Turner takes John Lennon's now-infamous 1966 claim that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus" as his starting point and then examines superficially the well-known turn East that the group took in the late 1960s. The book lacks in-depth interpretations of The Beatles' song lyrics, and fails to account for the rich and complex meanings that arguably make their lyrics some of the most religious in rock. (Aug.)
Lessons I Learned in the Light: Thriving in a Dark World
Jennifer Rothschild. Multnomah, $12.99 (224p) ISBN 1-59052-656-2
Rothschild, a regular speaker on the Women of Faith lecture circuit, offers a companion volume to her prior work Lessons I Learned in the Dark that reads like a charming invitation to afternoon tea. Her gentle, pleasing style first draws readers in and captures their imaginations. Only then does she deliver her more powerful punches, emphasizing that Christians should live by accountability, self-discipline and faith rather than emotions. Expounding upon quirky daily life occurrences as a wife and mom, Rothschild blends humorous tales with the poignant reality of being blind. Struggling with blindness day in and day out is tough stuff, she admits, yet she believes that faith grows best amidst the thorns of life, providing more sustenance, depth, strength and inner change than "simple deliverance" ever could. Christian readers beware: while this looks like a run-of-the-mill spirituality book, its pages contain the potential to drastically alter lives. (July)
Buddha or Bust: In Search of Truth, Meaning, Happiness, and the Man Who Found Them All
Perry Garfinkel. Harmony, $24.95 (272p) ISBN 1-4000-8217-X
A wonderful idea with so-so execution, this spiritual travelogue ambitiously circles the globe to explore the Asian roots and worldwide branches of Buddhism. Journalist Garfinkel got an assignment to write a feature for National Geographic magazine about the spread of Buddhism; the book includes both the material he gathered in nine countries and his memoir-ish commentary on his experiences. The book is at its best when Garfinkel holds memoir to a minimum and just reports on his subjects, whether they be people or countries. The resurgence of Buddhism in economically booming China is particularly fascinating. By contrast, increased coverage of Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh and a little less of Garfinkel's girlfriend at Nhat Hanh's Plum Village in France would have been more to the point. While informative, this book isn't fresh or rigorous enough. (June 13)
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