Books

Wilson’s Bookmarks

Brief reviews of ‘Illuminations’, ‘Standing in Another Man’s Grave’, and ‘My Bookstore’

Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen Mary Sharratt (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century abbess and mystic whose writings and musical compositions are a living witness to a vibrant faith, has been named a doctor of the Church, sponsored by Pope Benedict XVI himself. This novel opens an imaginative window on Hildegard’s life and times—and may (we hope) lead many readers to explore further. (For listening, try the Anonymous 4 recording The Origin of Fire and Sequentia’s Canticles of Ecstasy.)

Standing in Another Man’s Grave Ian Rankin (Reagan Arthur Books)

After a hiatus of roughly five years—the last book in the series, Exit Music, concluded with his retirement—John Rebus is back. He’s been working cold cases as a civilian, we learn, but he’s thinking about re-applying to the police force in Edinburgh (the age of superannuation has been raised). In a strange twist, his antagonist here is Malcolm Fox, the protagonist of Rankin’s two previous books, a cop who investigates other cops. Fans won’t be able to get this new installment soon enough; newcomers will soon be going back to the start of the saga. Pure gold—but I still miss the early Rebus, who reread Dostoevsky and hadn’t altogether forgotten God.

My Bookstore Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop Edited by Ronald Rice and Booksellers Across America (Black Dog & Leventhal)

If you are booklover, and if you didn’t find this handsome volume under the Christmas tree or in your stocking, you should hasten to pick up a copy—preferably at your local bookstore. One bonus: Next time you are on the road, you can check to see if you’ll be in the vicinity of one of the 84 shops highlighted therein. (I already have a list of book-haunts I particularly want to visit.) Each entry comes with an inviting drawing by Leif Parsons.

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.

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The Hidden History of Insider Movements

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Worshiping Jesus in the Mosque

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Why Evangelicals Should Be Thankful for Muslim Insiders

Cover Story

How Much Muslim Context Is Too Much for the Gospel?

The Gospel Hand-Off

So, Who Hallows God's Name?

My Top 5 Books on Mental Illness

Are You Worshiping the Idol of 'Open Options'?

Review

The Sin of a Preacher Man

Catholics and Baptists Together

Testimony

My Train Wreck Conversion

How Can Short-Term Missions Best Advance God's Mission?

Review

God Repairs the Shattered Glass

Election Is for Everyone

Excerpt

How Should Christians Get Rid of Garbage in their Hearts?

The Zombie Apocalypse

News

Fifty Shades of the Good Book

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Schools Tussle Over Sex Standards

The Great Tiny Baby Rescue

Given Deborah, Jael, and Judith, Why Shouldn't Women Serve in Combat?

Editorial

Discipleship Is Messy

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How Should Christian Satellite Networks Evangelize Muslims?

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Kenyan Jihadists Target Surprising Recruits: Ex-Christians

The 2013 Book Awards

Top 10 News Stories of 2012

Quick Takes

Letters to the Editor

Exclusive: Christian Wiman Discusses Faith as He Leaves World's Top Poetry Magazine

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Hope for the Gay Undergrad

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Should Christian Colleges Build Top-Ranked Football Teams?

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Quotation Marks

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Go Figure

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Gleanings

Change to Believe In

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