Books

Wilson’s Bookmarks

Brief reviews of ‘The Circle of Seasons,’ ‘The Best American Essays 2012,’ and ‘One for the Books’

The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year Kimberlee Conway Ireton (IVP)

First published in 2008, this lovely book is now out of print. But it’s still readily findable—and worth seeking. Like the author, I was raised in churches in which the “liturgical year” was deeply alien, associated with the mummery of Catholicism. In The Circle of Seasons, Kimberlee Conway Ireton tells how she and her husband were introduced to the arc of the church calendar and reflects on the story it tells: “[P]aying attention to the circling of the seasons has deepened my faith, grounding my life with Christ in time, in Scripture and in community.”

The Best American Essays 2012: Edited by David Brooks Series Editor, David Atwan (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

There are many fine essays in this collection. One of them, “My Father/My Husband,” by David J. Lawless, first published in Prism, particularly stood out for me. Unlike much of what I’ve read about severe dementia—in Lawless’s case, afflicting his wife of more than 50 years—this account rings true to my own experience. Note: Though at least a couple of the writers represented (Lawless included) are Christians, God and faith are almost entirely unmentioned in the 300+ pages of the book.

One for the Books Joe Queenan (Viking)

A book about books and reading. Step 1: Open at random. Step 2: Read a sentence or two: “Several years back, literally overwhelmed by the flood of material unleashed each year by the publishing industry, I decided to establish a screening program, whereby I would only read books that at least one reviewer had described as ‘astonishing.’ Thus, I was overjoyed by the great news that Alice McDermott’s new novel …” Step 3: Look up from the page, realizing that you have been reading steadily for an hour.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Incredible Journeys: What to Make of Visits to Heaven

My Top 5 Books on Israel & Palestine

Review

Rest Works

This American Christian Life

Do American Christians Need the Message of Grace or a Call to Holiness?

Excerpt

Why Everyone Needs Theology

Why Jonathan Bock Wants More Christians in the Arts

The Relentless Passion of Francis Chan

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African Pastors Lead Crusade for Circumcision

Review

Home Away from Home

Genocide in Shades of Pink

Why 'Mere Christianity' Should Have Bombed

Three Is the Loveliest Number

Misreading the Magnificat

Created to Make Homes

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Should Churches Discourage Belief in Santa Claus?

Breast-feeding in the Back Pew

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Subverting the Taliban

The End of Nominal Protestantism

Was the Real St. Nick Better than Santa Claus?

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State-Sponsored Pilgrimages Under Review in Nigeria

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Exodus International Fragments Over Focus

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After D'Souza's Departure, The King's College Seeks Doctrine Over Politics

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Quotation Marks

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The White Umbrella

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The Terrible Speed of Mercy

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Brigham Young

A Veggie Good Time

Letters to the Editor

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Go Figure

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