Book of the Month

Grieving: a beginner’s guide. Jerusha Hull McCormack. 136pp. Paraclete Press, US. $29.99

McCormack, widowed while her children were still young, writes a clear-eyed account of the many emotions and situations a grieving person may encounter. She writes straight from the heart in simple language infused with a spirituality that is never preachy or pushy.

Includes a chapter offering advice to those who accompany grieving people so they can be fully present and helpful.

Short and readable help for the broken-hearted.

Other featured titles

Spiritual Direction: wisdom for the long walk of faith. Henri Nouwen, with Michael J Christensen & Rebecca J Laird. 172pp hbk Harper-SanFrancisco. $49.99

Nouwen understood the spiritual life as a journey of faith and transformation that is deepened by accountability, community, and relationships. Two of his longtime students, have taken his course in spiritual direction and supplemented it with his unpublished writings to create the definitive work on Nouwen's thoughts on the Christian life.

Faith, Politics and Reconciliation: Catholicism and the politics of indigeneity. Dominic O’Sullivan. 296pp. Huia, NZ. $44.99.

Maori academic O’Sullivan compares the stories of the Roman Catholic Church’s involvement in current and historical indigenous policy debate in Australia and New Zealand.

The book is a discussion of the relationship between religious ideas and secular political decision making. It explores religious principles relevant to how Australian and New Zealand societies have considered the political implications of ideas about race, the Treaty of Waitangi, biculturalism, title to the foreshore and seabed, land rights, native title and reconciliation.

Fatal Frontiers: a new history of NZ in the decade before the Treaty. Paul Moon. 256pp. Penguin, NZ. $39.95.

Some of the most important events in NZ history took place in the 1830s. The French almost beat the British to claim New Zealand, English merchants were applying pressure on the country’s natural resources, and European settlers were beginning to demand land. Meanwhile, Maori were starting to explore commercial opportunities. But there was turmoil everywhere. Intertribal warfare raged, while many tribes were trying to decide how to accommodate the Europeans in their midst.

This turbulent period deserves consideration in its own right.

What Men Don’t Talk About. Maggie Hamilton. 384pp. Penguin, Aust. $35.00

What do men and boys long for, agonise over, aspire to?

Can we put the differences between men and women down to the influence of Venus and Mars, or are there more intricate dynamics at play? Is it true that men’s lives are much easier than women’s lives?

Surprising, illuminating and at times shocking, Australian writer Hamilton takes the reader beyond stereotypes of men, and reveals how real men and boys view their world.

Growing Great Boys. Ian Grant. 208pp. Random House, NZ. $35.00

A delightful manual for successfully guiding, coaching, disciplining, loving, encouraging and inspiring boys from birth through to teenage years. Its substance is insightful and challenging and it will be rewarding to all who read it.

Topics include:

Prayer: Does it Make any Difference. Philip Yancey 344pp. Hodder, UK. $29.99

Yancey’s quest to unravel the mysteries of prayer reads as a journal of a fellow traveller: questioning, challenging, lamenting the unexplainable and rejoicing in the discovery of awesome insights. Illustrated with moving true stories.

When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today. Harvey Cox 352pp Mariner, US. $33.00

Harvard theology professor Cox considers the significance of Jesus and his teachings today. He examines con-temporary dilemmas in the light of lessons gleaned from the Gospels. Invigorating and incisive, this book encourages an intellectual approach to faith and inspires a clear way of thinking about moral choices for all of us.

Lord of the Hymn - CD: Celtic Worship. Lisa LaCross – Flute; Bruce Wethey – Violin & the Cool Springs Orchestra. 12 tracks. Coolsprings, US. $25.00

Traditional hymns in Celtic style. From lilting flute arrangements to the joyous rhythms of Celtic dance.

Click the links below to hear samples in wma format. You will need MS Media Player or similar software to listen to these samples:

• Be thou my vision

• Blessed Assurance

• Jesu Joy of Man's desiring

• Tis so Sweet/The Solid Rock

• What a Friend we have in Jesus

Also in this instrumental series, $25 each:

•  Jazz Meets Hymns

•  Guitars in worship

•  Worship Collage (concert piano)

Haere: Farewell, Jack, farewell. Tim Tipene. 32 pp colour large format. Huia, NZ. $16.99

A death is mourned, a birth is celebrated, and a little girl sees that life comes full circle.

In this poetic and moving tale, we watch a year in the life of one whanau through the eyes of a little girl. Evocative illustrations by Huhana Smith.

Talk peace. Sam Williams & Mique Moriuchi. 32pp Colour. Hodder, UK. $15.99

This timely picture book introduces the notion of peace to very young children through a poetic, rap text and bright cheery illustrat­ions. It puts forward the idea that peace, racial harmony and under­standing should permeate every word, action, place and time.

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