Culture

Paraclete Press 2011, $25.95 Reviewed by Wendy Scott, Kenmore Uniting Church. THIS book's subtitle, "A year of breaking the sabbath, forgetting to pray, and still loving my neighbour", says it all. Reiss, a pastor, author, editor, speaker, wife and mother, attempts a year of focusing on just one spiritual practice per month, and the book is a diary of this ...

Church House Publishing (London) 2010, RRP $34.95 Reviewed by Wendy Scott, Kenmore Uniting Church. This book is the result of a very thorough research that stretched over five years in London. It is very precise in its findings, as an academic work should be. If you want an accessible paperback giving insight into the beliefs, mindset and culture and attitudes ...

Connorcourt Publishing, 2012, RRP $29.95 Reviewed by Rev Dr Noel Preston, adjunct Professor in Ethics at Griffith University and volunteer chaplain at Wesley Hospital. THAT we will all die is a fact of life but how we are to die or whether we are to live may become a matter of ethical dispute. Indeed, we may safely predict that, at ...

Lion (Oxford) 2010, RRP $29.95 Reviewed by Peter Harvey, Rural Ministry Associate, Presbytery of Western Australia. Investigating Jesus is a large-format illustrated book (from the high-quality Lion stable) in which the author investigates the historical evidence of the existence of Jesus Christ. Dickson presents us with a book entirely about history and about how historians do their job. It is ...

Magnolia Films 2011 Review by Dr Robert Davidson, Lecturer in Composition, School of Music, The University of Queensland. AFRICAN-American gospel music is at the heart of American popular music. It is the fabric from which most of the plethora of genres is cut, including jazz, rock, soul, country, funk and hiphop. Gospel legend Smokey Robinson, interviewed in this joyful and ...

Red Earth Films, 2012, Rated M Reviewed by Mardi Lumsden. STREET Dreams is a documentary that has been made with love, sweat and tears. It follows the work of organisations F.O.C.U.S. and Destiny Rescue in their bid to release young women (particularly girls under 18) who have been victims of human trafficking for the sex trade in South-East Asia. There ...

Scholastic, 2011, RRP $18.99 Reviewed by Frances Manfield. SUZANNE Collins' trilogy The Hunger Games has cemented itself as a must-read in the Young Adult fiction genre, sparking fascination and excitement reminiscent of the Twilight phenomenon. The movie version of the first book, which shares the name of the trilogy, was cowritten and co-produced by Collins and hit cinemas in March ...

Skylight Paths Publishing, 2009, RRP $26.95 Reviewed by Bob Warrick. THIS collection of over 50 readings from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Taoist authors and traditions are grouped to encourage reflection on three questions – why do I serve, whom do I serve and how do I serve. In our world where our neighbours and those we serve alongside ...

Lion Hudson RRP $16.99 Reviewed by Tara Burton. ACCORDING to The Butterfly Foundation, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. On a national level, body image is the top ranking issue of concern for 15 to 19-year-olds. The Parent's Guide to Eating Disorders is the first book on eating disorders that has been written for parents ...

Hillsong Music Australia 2012 RRP $39.95 Reviewed by Rev David MacGregor. "CORNERSTONE" is the latest CD/DVD package in a near-yearly succession of contemporary live worship-music releases from Hillsong Church dating back to the late 1980s. Over this time, although occasionally using Hillsong material in worship, I've had reservations about a lack of inclusive language and clear mission-related titles, a seeming ...