The Wendell Berry poems sound the best.

Not a really impressive list.

No. 2: Well, come on, then: Help them—us—out. What book(s) would you recommend, if any?

I’m seriously underimpressed.

Well, what would impress you? What can you recommend to the rest of us?

But, yes, I know what you mean. The Church Times had a dazzling Christmas list (selected best books of 2008) last year—featuring, among other splendors, a new biography of Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher. Now that’s a prelate who’d warm the hearts and stir the minds of TitusOneNine readers.

I guess I’d like to know from Rudy and A Senior Priest which books they read and found unimpressive.  I’ve only read a few of these, but I agree with Laytham that they are worthy of serious attention, especially Bauckham’s stunning book on early Christian Christology.  It is further startling and encouraging to me that a majority of authors and publishers commended are evangelical and/or orthodox—this is the Christian Century!  Mark Noll’s “scandal of the evangelical mind” seems less and less descriptive of evangelicalism today than it was in 1994.  So I find the list encouraging, and I’m eager to read several of the books on it, probably starting with Wendell Berry, one of the most lyrical writers of our time.

I haven’t read any of these, but I think I’d look forward to reading (1) A collaboration of Hauerwas and Vanier; (2) poems by Berry; and (3) anything by Richard Bauckham.  The fact that I know nothing about the other books, or that I’ve never heard of the authors, doesn’t diminish my interest in what they might say.  I’d ask what #5 and #6 have asked already—what would you recommend, Rudy and Senior Priest?

Pax,  Chuck

The only book I have read from the list is Astonishments by Anna Kamienska, a collection of poems and journal entries.  Like most Polish post-War poets, I find her poems vital and necessary. 

In one journal entry she writes:  Poetry is a premonition to truth. Entryway to faith. It’s only the contemporary poets that turned it into a juggling game.

As a young man (25) fresh out of seminary working in an urban evangelical anglican church plant these books sound great!  Thanks so much!

#6—It is further startling and encouraging to me that a majority of authors and publishers commended are evangelical and/or orthodox—this is the Christian Century!

Indeed, that is what is most significant about the list.  And it has been a growing trend for several years now.  Some of the most important and creatively orthodox theology going on right now is in evangelical circles.  That’s because, as Kevin Vanhoozer puts it, evangelical scholars worry less about revising the ‘script’ than faithfully performing it in contemporary culture. 

Unfortunately, TEC and many other mainline Protestant organizations are rather poorly informed about this burgeoning scholarship, and poorly suited to benefit from it.  One reason for this seems to be old-fashioned prejudice.  Another is the sociology of liberal scholarship at present.  It is increasingly confined to rather small, but tightly connected, communities of discourse.  There is, I suspect, a deep level of insecurity about the extent of revisionism underway—it is, in the long history of liberal theology, rather unprecedented in the extent of its departure from the “faith received.”  The irony is that this insecurity constricts the theological imagination and stiffles constructive work.  That is why contemporary liberal theology has very few themes to work with. 

Anglicans in North America should be proud of books like Tory K. Baucum’s EVANGELICAL HOSPITALITY: CATECHETICAL EVANGELISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH AND ITS RECOVERY FOR TODAY (Scarecrow Press, 2008).  Baucum is the Rector of Truro Church, in Fairfax, VA.  His book displays a fine grasp of historical theology and practice, Anglican essentials, and missional focus with thoughtful multi-disciplinary scope and application.  I’ve just reviewed it for TRINITY JOURNAL FOR THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY.  It is also a key resource in the work of the Committee on Catechesis and Curriculum, which reports to the Education Task Force for the ACNA House of Bishops. 

—Phil Harrold
Trinity School for Ministry

I will take Prof Hein up on his challenge.  I would recommend from the crop of 2009:
  Eamon Duffy             Fires of Faith:  Catholic England Under Mary Tudor (Yale)
  David Bentley Hart     Atheist Delusions:  The Christian Revolution and its Fashionable Enemies (Yale)
  Sidney Griffith           The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque:  Christians and Muslims in the World of Islam (Princeton, 2008 but I think late and almost 2009)
  Margaret MacMillan     Dangerous Games:  The Uses and Abuses of History (Modern Library)

#6, I’m not up to speed on these authors or current scholarship but as a librarian/bookstore employee the publishers of the works on this list tell me a lot.

Charming Billy (#12): (1) What do the publishers of these works tell you about the books? (2) Are you suggesting that more can discerned about a book by its publisher than by its actual substance?  That seems backwards, but perhaps I misunderstand.

From the Hauerwas/Vanier book: ” “the Word became flesh to bring people together”

Isn’t something missing from that statement? Or did the Word become flesh so we could just have a family reunion?

More recommendations from others appreciated.

No. 14: heh-heh. Reminds me of Johnny Carson’s old line: Thanksgiving is that time of year when relatives gather from hundreds of miles away, get together, eat, talk ......... and realize that once a year is far too often!

So, yes, one hopes that there’s a bit more to it than bringing people together.

Thanks, no. 11. I didn’t mean my earlier request to sound like a challenge, though I did have to wonder if those earlier commenters actually had anything positive or constructive in mind or had even read any of the books mentioned.

I have not read any of the books on the list or any of the ones you mentioned either. I tend to read for either courses or research—other than a slew of journals. So I keep up with the reviews of new books. One new book I’ve read is Dickson’s Jesus: A Short Life (Lion). It’s rather well done. I guess I could recommend that one. I’ve often thought it would be good if churches would introduce high-school students to a historical-critical portrait of Jesus so they won’t be so bewildered when they come to college; it’s very frustrating.

Otherwise, I’ve just read the new biography of Faulkner and his women—the women in his life—and that made some good points, though I’m old-fashioned in not enjoying the way authors mention themselves in the main text; I prefer that “I” not be used past the front matter.

And I’ve been reading some older stuff by Rose Macaulay for a book I’m working on.

Have also been reading a great deal of World War I literature for a book that’s either not coming together or seems like too much work for too little gain.

hough I’m old-fashioned in not enjoying the way authors mention themselves in the main text; I prefer that “I” not be used past the front matter.

I share that “old-fashioned” trait. I hope your book progresses more hopefully soon.

I haven’t been reading theology, lately, other than a John Stott book on Acts for Bible Study and Wright’s “Luke for Everyone.” My current reading is Eudora Welty (“A Curtain of Green”) and John A. Williams’ “Appalachia: A History.”

Thanks, no. 16; sounds good.

Have also just read much of vol. 2 of Ian Markham (ed.)‘s Blackwell Companion to the Theologians. And I have to say I find the articles of very varying quality, as if Markham simply called on some people he knew, rather than the top experts, for some of these essays. The result sometimes seems amateurish.

But some articles are quite good. Brian Hebblethwaite on Austin Farrer is excellent, as one would expect. The pieces on Richard Swinburne and Hans Frei, among others, are also of interest.

I guess I would add something more about Rose Macaulay: I’d love to see a revival of interest in her work. There’s already a small revival going (judging by books back in print), but I’d like to see it grow.

A. N. Wilson mentions in his After the Victorians Macaulay’s wonderful book The World My Wilderness, which came out in 1950 (by which time many had thought RM had given up novel-writing). I made, I think, good use of that novel in setting the stage for the postwar British scene in my little biography of Geoffrey Fisher, which no. 5 shamelessly mentions above.

Anyway, I just reread TWMW a couple of nights ago. It’s the book in which Macaulay feels affection for all her characters (unlike her earlier satires). None is perfect, but all are appreciated. It’s a powerful portrait of ruins—personal, familial, social, spiritual, ecclesiastical, and of course architectural. And yet, despite its bleakness, it’s a positive treatment of confession, forgiveness, and love.

David, if you have not done so already then I highly recommend reading Samuel Hynes A War Imagined:  The First World War and English Culture.  It was published in UK by Bodley Head in 1990 and must also have US publishers as he was professor at Princeton.  The book is an incredible tour d’horizon.  I read it 18 months ago as part of the research for my own book which came out in October.  As I write under a very slight pseudonymn (ie anybody who knows me would recognize me from my posts) and as there is a strong taboo on using blogs to advertize I will refrain from recommending my own book ... But Hynes is superb.  In fact I was so impressed that I read his other books, including his two autobiographies, one about growing up in Minneapolis in the 30s, the other about his experience as a pilot in WW2. 

Greetings to you all from freezing cold London ... although the snow on the East Coast of the US sounds much worse.

Thanks, Terry Tee. Yes, I know that one; it is indeed excellent. One problem I have is that so much of such high quality has already been done on the lit of WW I. I had an idea for a simple book called The Great Books of the Great War: A Reader’s Guide, which could come out around the time of the 100th anniversary. There are good books such as the one you mentioned, but I had in mind about eight chapters, one for each of the best-known memoirs and novels, to really introduce ordinary readers to the subjects. Unlike history or literary studies, which take on a lot more. But I don’t think I’ll do it. I have a whole shelf now, though, of WW I literature!

Anyway, another book—speaking of London—which I read recently was James Lees-Milne’s Another Self. Enjoyed most of it, especially the early part about his eccentric family.

Btw, yes, please do mention your own book; Kendall won’t mind, esp. now that I’ve specifically requested it!

David, just to reassure you that I was not having a sly dig in my post # 19.  When I began writing it your preceding one had not appeared as you can see from the timing and I was slow in the uptake in the reference to the biography.

No. 21: Oh, I didn’t notice that till you mentioned it! Seriously, I didn’t, but the more important point is that, when people do what no. 5 did, even if it’s done largely tongue in cheek or for private amusement, then, well, any fair-minded person would have to say that people like the aforementioned no. 5 deserve sly digs or whatever else they have coming to ‘em.

But, no, I proceed in these blogs with a kind of untouchy equanimity, a kind of naive innocence, and simply go on my merry way.

In any case, yes, please do advertise! Tis the season.

#14 Sherri2: The Word became Flesh to reconcile a fallen people to a holy God.

On the whole I can recommend the new biography of Ronald Knox, Ronald Knox and English Catholicism (Gracewing, 2009) which, while giving us the life of a famous convert to the Catholic Church, is appreciative of his Anglican background.  An interesting book in the light of recent Anglican-Roman Catholic developments.

Br_er Rabbit, yes, that’s the bit I thought was missing. A shame to leave it out, don’t you think?

Yes, indeed: Ronald Knox and English Catholicism is well worth mentioning and adding to the Christmas list. It has received glowing reviews in the best journals. It’s the well-written account of a remarkably appealing English priest, one whose story intersects with much of interest in twentieth-century Christianity and culture.

Here is a selection of books which I do find important and interesting.  They come from extensive perusals of the book exhibits at the Society of Biblical Literature annual meetings in New Orleans (2009), Boston (2008), and San Diego (2007), and other conversations with colleagues:

Karl P. Donfried, Who Owns the Bible? Towards the Recovery of a Christian Hermeneutic (Crossroad 2006).

Raymond F. Collins, The Power of Images in Paul (Liturgical Press 2008).

Philip B. Payne, Man and Woman, One in Christ (Zondervan 2009).

Douglas A. Campbell, The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul (Eerdmans 2009).  This book was the subject of an SBL session at which, I estimate, over 300 scholars were present.

Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church:  History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Eerdmans 2009).

Gordon S. Mikoski, Baptism and Christian Identity: Teaching in the Triune Name (Eerdmans 2009).

Maxwell E. Johnson, The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation (revised and expanded edition, Liturgical Press 2007).

Robert Jewett, Romans: A Commentary (Hermeneia; Fortress Press 2007).  This large commentary was the subject of a well-attended joint session of two sections of SBL in 2007.

John Reumann, Philippians (Yale Anchor Bible; Yale University Press 2008).

Dieter Zeller, Der erste Brief an die Korinther (Meyer-Kommentar; Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2009).

Stanley E. Porter and Christopher D. Stanley, editors, As It Is Written: Studying Paul’s Use of Scripture (Society of Biblical Literature 2008).

Well worth buying and using in your parish are the several volumes in the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars Study Series, all of which have titles which begin with the words Conversations with Scripture (Church Publishing Inc.)

Rudy, a great list.  Thanks.  You clearly have a penchant for the tome!  I’m trying to make my way through Campbell at the moment and trying to discern if it is worth my time.  I must say that I found Reumann’s Philippians commentary disappointing—not for lack of detail, but it does not read well nor is it easy to discern the train of thought.  He holds a 3-letter compilation theory, which one might have expected him to defend somewhere within the 800 pp.!  O’Brien and Fee and even Bockmuehl still have more to offer, I think.  But it is essential for up to date research. 

Thanks for rounding out our list.