Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Catherine of Siena: A Passionate Life By Don Brophy [Featured Review]
  A Life Focused on Christ Catherine of Siena: A Passionate Life Don Brophy Paperback: BlueBridge, 2011.
  Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Steve Taylor. Without question this new book is one of the most gratifying biographies of a saint that I have ever read. [...]
• Norman Wirzba on FOOD AND FAITH, 2011 Book of the Year! [ Video ]
  Here’s an excellent video interview with Norman Wirzba, discussing his newest book, Food and Faith, which was our 2011 Book of the Year. The video is almost an hour long, but is worth the time as it gives a rich sense of why this book is so important. [...]
• Shirt of Flame By Heather King [Brief Review]
  A Brief Review of Shirt of Flame: A Year with Saint Therese of Lisieux. Heather King. Paperback: Paraclete Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Stephen Taylor. The moment I began to read Shirt of Flame: A Year with Saint Therese of Lisieux, I knew that something very special was [...]

• C. Christopher Smith – The Virtue of Dialogue [New ebook!]
  Shameless plug here… ERB editor Chris Smith has written a little ebook called The Virtue of Dialogue: Conversation as a Hopeful Practice of Church Communities, which is now available from Patheos Press. This ebook narrates Englewood Christian Church’s practice of conversation, how we — a failed megachurch — stumbled in the practice of conversation 15 [...]

• Streams of Contentment – Robert J. Wicks [ Featured Review ]
  Are We Missing Our Lives? Streams of Contentment: Lessons I Learned on My Uncle’s Farm Robert J. Wicks Hardback: Sorin Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Karen Beattie About 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in cities or suburbs. Yet as most of us flock to crowded, fast-paced [...]

• Excerpt: BE NOT AFRAID – Samuel Wells
  An Excerpt from: Be Not Afraid:  Facing Fear with Faith Samuel Wells Paperback: Brazos Press, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] READ OUR REVIEW of this book… Amazon.com Widgets

• Left Behind and Loving It – D. Mark Davis [Review]
  A Review of Left Behind and Loving It: A Cheeky Look at the End Times. D. Mark Davis. Paperback: Cascade Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ]  [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Amy Gentile. D. Mark Davis’ Left Behind and Loving It is a witty contribution to the conversation the church should be having about [...]

• Are you a subscriber to our quarterly print edition?
  Are you a subscriber to our quarterly print edition? Our latest issue is Advent 2011; our next issue (Lent 2012) should arrive in late February. Advent offers us the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth, and in this issue, we have focused particularly on Christ’s coming as the “prince of [...]

• St. Francis De Sales – William Edward Heygate [ Poem ]
  St. Francis De Sales William Edward Heygate Why should I wish to have my will And seeking good secure an ill Mid life and age have only brought Fresh proof of what youth’s trials taught Twas thee I sought with early zeal Great Rome to see and hear and feel And weary with my wandering [...]

• Samuel Wells – Be Not Afraid [Feature Review]
  Into Engagement with the World and With God. A Review of Be Not Afraid:  Facing Fear with Faith Samuel Wells Paperback: Brazos Press, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Jennifer Burns Lewis Sam Wells’ new book, Be Not Afraid, is a powerful antidote to the fear-based news and views so [...]

• St. Agnes’ Eve – Alfred, Lord Tennyson [Poem]
  St. Agnes’ Eve Alfred Lord Tennyson Deep on the convent-roof the snows Are sparkling to the moon: My breath to heaven like vapour goes; May my soul follow soon! The shadows of the convent-towers Slant down the snowy sward, Still creeping with the creeping hours That lead me to my Lord: Make Thou my spirit [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books:

• Broken Hallelujahs by Christian Scharen [Featured Review] Posted: Friday, January 20, 2012 10:16 AM
  The Life that Comes from God. A Review of Broken Hallelujahs: Why Popular Music Matters to Those Seeking God Christian Scharen. Paperback: Brazos Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Christian Book.com ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Sam Edgin There is a dark chasm between the sacred and the secular within culture, or did you not [...]
• Book Giveaway: James Cone’s THE CROSS AND THE LYNCHING TREE Posted: Friday, January 20, 2012 8:30 AM
  Our latest book giveaway… We’re giving away 6 copies of : James Cone’s The Cross and the Lynching Tree [ Read our Review ] ************ Enter to win a Free copy of this book (It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!) : NOTE: You may enter to win once per day as long as the [...]
•  The Dirty Life – Kristin Kimball [Review] Posted: Friday, January 20, 2012 8:16 AM
  Good, Dirty Fun The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love Kristin Kimball Paperback: Scribner, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Tyler Eckel Like clean living? Read The Dirty Life. It begins with the author, having reached the plateau of her career as a travel scribe kid at [...]
•  Peter Ochs: Another Reformation [Brief Review] Posted: 19 Jan 2012 05:06 AM PST
  A Jewish Engagement with Christian Postliberalism A Brief Review of Another Reformation: Postliberal Christianity and the Jews By Peter Ochs Paperback: Baker Academic, 2011 Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Alex Joyner There was a time in the 1960s and 70s when it seemed that the Barthian impact on theology was [...]
• Books Reviewed Elsewhere [19 January 2012]. Posted: 19 Jan 2012 04:41 AM PST
  Haven’t done one of these columns for awhile… Here are three recent reviews of note… Barbara Melosh reviews two books on stuff for The Christian Century: Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee Paperback: Mariner, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Objects of our Affections. [...]
• Jerusalem – The Biography By Simon Sebag Montefiore [Featured Review] Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:11 AM PST
  The Center of the World A Review of Jerusalem: The Biography By Simon Sebag Montefiore Hardback: Knopf, 2011 Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Alex Joyner “Everybody has two cities – his own and Jerusalem” – Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem’s mayor 1965-1993 “No country will more quickly dissipate romantic expectations than Palestine, [...]
• Brent Bill and Beth Booram – Awaken Your Senses [Excerpt] Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:11 AM PST
  An excerpt from Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring The Wonder of God Brent Bill and Beth Booram Paperback:  IVP Books, 2012. Buy Now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Watch for our review in our next quarterly print issue… Amazon.com Widgets
• Words to Eat By by Ina Lipkowitz [ A Featured Review ] Posted: 17 Jan 2012 07:04 AM PST
  A Dinner Date Review of Words to Eat By: Five Foods and the Culinary History of the English Language By Ina Lipkowitz Hardback: St. Martins, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Laura Tokie When I read a book, it’s as if I’m on a date. Some dates go well. We [...]
• DEAL! Our Quarterly Print Edition is free for readers outside North America Posted: 17 Jan 2012 05:52 AM PST
  Here’s a deal! Are you an ERB reader who lives outside North America? You are eligible to receive our quarterly print magazine for FREE! We wanted to make the print edition of The Englewood Review of Books available to readers around the globe, but shipping, customs, etc. make it nearly impossible to ship print magazines [...]
• Rembrandt — Self Portrait: A Poem by Gregory Corso Posted: 17 Jan 2012 05:09 AM PST
  Rembrandt — Self Portrait A Poem by Gregory Corso 1930-2001 ” Rembrandt– Self Portrait ” is found in MINDFIELD: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS.
• Eco-Republic: Melissa Lane [Featured Review] Posted: 16 Jan 2012 08:06 AM PST
  Using Plato to Gain a Vision for Living an Sustainable Life? A Review of Eco-Republic : What the Ancients Can Teach Us About Ethics, Virtue and Sustainable Living. Melissa Lane. Hardback: Princeton U Press, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Eric Judge. It’s a bad sign when I have to read the dust [...]
• Brief Review: Zone One: A Zombie Novel by Colson Whitehead Posted: 14 Jan 2012 07:11 AM PST
  “Manhattan, The City that Never Dies” A Brief Review of Zone One: A Novel by Colson Whitehead Hardback:  Doubleday, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Chris Enstad Zombie fiction has been experiencing something of a, ahem, rebirth in the last few years… if it was ever really dead at all.  [...]
• Poem: “I, too, Sing America” – Langston Hughes Posted: 14 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST
  I, too, sing America. Langston Hughes [ In remembrance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday ] I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: The Cross and the Lynching Tree – James Cone
  Immersing ourselves Deeper into God’s Mission of Reconciling Creation A Review of The Cross and the Lynching Tree. James Cone. Hardback: Orbis Books, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ]  [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Chris Smith. I have long had a deep respect for the work of James Cone.  I don’t always agree with him, [...]
• Giveaway Book / CD combo – Jana Riess and Carrie Newcomer
  We’re giving away 6 sets of this book and CD combo: Jana Riess’s Flunking Sainthood [ Read our Review ] Carrie Newcomer’s CD – Everything is Everywhere [ Read our Review ] ************ Enter to win a Free copy of this book (It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!) : NOTE: You may enter to [...]




• Review: Business for the Common Good – Wong and Rae
  “Christian ‘Realism’ or a New Reality in Christ” A Review of Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace by Kenman L. Wong and Scott B. Rae Paperback: IVP Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Ragan Sutterfield. When I was in college we had to go [...]
• Featured: The Universe Bends Toward Justice – Obery Hendricks
  “Illuminating the costly way of Jesus in our world” A Review of The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. Paperback: Orbis Books, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by David Swanson. A couple miles from my home on [...]
• Excerpt: The Darker Side of Western Modernity – Walter Mignolo
  Just received a review copy of this book, Watch for our review in the near future! The Darker Side of Western Modernity: Global Futures, Decolonial Options. Walter Mignolo. Paperback: Duke U. Press, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ]




• Brief Review – John and Charles Wesley – P.W. Chilcote, ed.
  A Brief Review of John and Charles Wesley: Selections from Their Writings and Hymns, Annotated and Explained, Annotated by Paul Wesley Chilcote. Paperback: SkyLight Paths Publishing, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Douglas Connelly John and Charles Wesley left a spiritual legacy that has touched every facet of Christianity.  Even [...]
• Free Ebooks (and More!)
  Here’s a sampling of some of the free stuff we give away on the ERB site… (LIKE our Facebook page or Sign up for our weekly email digest to keep up with our latest giveaways!) FREE EBOOK by ERB editor Chris Smith Growing Deeper in Our Church Communities: 50 Ideas For Connection in a Disconnected [...]
• Poem: “The Homely Labors” – Robinson Jeffers
  “The Homely Labors” Robinson Jeffers From his 1916 Collection Californians – Download as a FREE ebook (Red button on Upper Left of Page) Not merely falcon passions and the sweep And sealike power of love; Nor yet alone the dreams that dive hell deep Or fly to heaven above; Nor yet the sense ineffable that [...]
• Featured: The Rhythm of Family – Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule
  “Embracing All That’s Around Us” A Review of The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through the Seasons. Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule. Paperback: Roost Books / Shambhala, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Jeni Newswanger Smith. Amanda Blake Soule has been keeping a popular blog, Soulemama (soulemama.com,) for many [...]




• Poem: “An Old Man’s Winter Night” – Robert Frost
  “An Old Man’s Winter Night” Robert Frost All out of doors looked darkly in at him Through the thin frost, almost in separate stars, That gathers on the pane in empty rooms. What kept his eyes from giving back the gaze Was the lamp tilted near them in his hand. What kept him from remembering [...]
• Bargain Books – [ 7 Jan 2012 ]
  In our continuing effort to fund the publication and free distribution of The Englewood Review, we offer you the opportunity to buy bargain books from CBD that we think of are interest. Buying books this way is a win / win / win proposition. You get great books for a great price, CBD gets the [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on
The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: Cities for People – Jan Gehl
  “Built-in Opportunities for Human Relationships, Health, and Flourishing”
  A Review of Cities for People.  Jan Gehl.  Reviewed by Brent Aldrich.
  In a city like mine, a story which is typical of many US cities has happened: built over the last 200 years, emptied out since the 1960s, and now making a few steps to revitalize the health of what makes cities great; there are hopeful moves of homes rehabbed and occupied, small businesses open, narrow bike stripes painted. And like other cities, we’ve gotten on board with the ‘greening’ of the city – thousands of new trees, some green roofs and rainwater collectors, and small but productive gardens.
• Book Giveaway: Close Enough to Hear God Breathe – Greg Paul
  We’re giving away 5 copies of Close Enough to Hear God Breathe: The Great Story of Divine Intimacy. Greg Paul. Paperback: Thomas Nelson, 2011. …
  
  
• Brief Review: Ecumenical Babel – Jordan Ballor
  Brief “Is Christ divided? The Witness of an Ecumenical Table, Not an Ecumenical Babel?”
  A Brief Review of  Ecumenical Babel: Confusing Economic Ideology and Church’s Social Witness
  Jordan J. Ballor. Paperback: Christian Library Press, 2010. Buy now: [ Amazon ]
• Brief Review / Reflection: The Ethics of Voting – Jason Brennan
  A Brief Review of (And Reflection on) The Ethics of Voting Jason Brennan Hardback: Princeton UP, 2011. Buy Now:  [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Chris Smith. Well, here we are in 2012, another new year and another presidential election year.  The television and internet news media are already buzzing constantly about the [...]
• Featured: Two New Books on the Church and Hip-Hop
  “Toward a Constructive Conversation” A Review of Two New Books on the Church and Hip-Hop Reviewed by Adam P. Newton. Hip-Hop Redemption: Finding God in the Rhythm and the Rhyme. Ralph Basui Watkins Paperback: Baker Books, 2011 Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]    Beyond the Four Walls: The Rising Ministry and Spirituality [...]
• Poem: “Pray to what earth does this sweet cold belong” – Henry David Thoreau
  “Pray to what earth does this sweet cold belong” Henry David Thoreau Pray to what earth does this sweet cold belong, Which asks no duties and no conscience? The moon goes up by leaps, her cheerful path In some far summer stratum of the sky, While stars with their cold shine bedot her way. The [...]
• Excerpt: The Cost of Community – Jamie Arpin Ricci
  An Excerpt from The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis and Life in the Kingdom by Jamie Arpin-Ricci Paperback: IVP / Likewise, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Our latest print issue includes an interview with the author about this book… Are you a subscriber?
• Review: Healing the Heart of Democracy – Parker Palmer
  “Recovering a Robust Public Life” A Review of Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit. Parker J. Palmer. Reviewed by Bob Cornwall. [ This Review originally appeared in the ERB Print Edition, Vol. 1, #4. Are you a subscriber? ] Healing the Heart of Democracy: The [...]
• Brief Review: Cain: A Novel by José Saramago
  A Brief Review of Cain: A Novel By José Saramago. Hardback: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. Buy Now: [ Amazon ]  [ Kindle ] Reviewed by J. Brent Bill I love retellings of biblical stories, whether they be a fresh retelling of the actual story such as David Maine’s The Preservationist (about Noah) or reinventions like [...]
• Featured: Christian Peace and Nonviolence – Michael Long, Ed.
  “Renouncing Violence and Following the Peaceful Example of Jesus” A Review of Christian Peace and Nonviolence: A Documentary History Michael Long, Editor Reviewed by Chase Roden. Christian Peace and Nonviolence: A Documentary History Michael Long, Editor Paperback: Orbis Books, 2011. Buy Now:  [ Amazon ] In this remarkable collection, Michael G. Long, associate professor of [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Englewood Honor Books – The Best Books of 2011!
  [ This piece was featured in the Advent 2011 issue of our print magazine, but we thought we'd also feature it here for all of our readers.] *** 2011 Book of the Year *** Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating By Norman Wirzba. Paperback: Cambridge UP, 2011. “[This book] is about trying to help [...]
• New format for the ERB Online edition coming in 2012!
  Starting on Monday January 2nd, we will be shifting our website to a new format where we post daily reviews and book news, instead of a single weekly “issue” with multiple posts — as we have done since our beginning four years ago.  New material will go up on the website six days a week [...]
• Featured: The Bible Made Impossible – Christian Smith [Vol. 4, #27]
  “The Right Book for the Right Time in the Right Spirit” A Review of The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism is not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture by Christian Smith. Reviewed by Michael J. Bowling. The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism is not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture by Christian Smith. Hardback: Brazos [...]
• Featured: The Politics of Yahweh by John Nugent [Vol. 4, #27]
  “Reconciling the Biblical Story” A Review of The Politics of Yahweh: John Howard Yoder, The Old Testament and the People of God. by John Nugent Reviewed by Chris Smith. The Politics of Yahweh: John Howard Yoder, The Old Testament and the People of God. John Nugent Paperback: Cascade Books, 2011> Buy now:  [ Amazon ] [...]
• Featured: The Triumph of Christianity – Rodney Stark [Vol. 4, #27]
  “A Triumphant Debunking” A Review of The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion by Rodney Stark Reviewed by Jonathan Master. The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion by Rodney Stark Hardback: HarperOne, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Amazon - Kindle ] [...]
• Last Chance… Our Year-End Fundraising Campaign!
  Thanks to all of our readers for another good year of the ERB! Although it’s been a good year, it’s also been a somewhat rough one for us financially… This is the last chance to check out our our fundraising drive, and make donation in 2011. If you send a payment (electronically or with a [...]
• Review: Princeton Readings in Violence and Religion [Vol. 4, #27]
  “Religious Violence and Social Order” A Review of Princeton Readings in Religion and Violence by Mark Juergensmeyer and Margo Kitts Paperback: Princeton UP, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ]  [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Adam Ericksen. In their introduction to Princeton Readings in Religion and Violence, Mark Juergensmyer and Margo Kitts claim that “Violence in [...]
• Brief Review: Left, Right and Christ by Lisa Sharon Harper and D.C. Innes [Vol. 4, #27]
  A Brief Review of : Left, Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics. by Lisa Sharon Harper and D.C. Innes Hardback: Russell Media, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Chris Sicks. I’m a pastor at an evangelical church just 4 miles from Washington, DC. The majority of our people work [...]
• Bargain Books [Vol. 4, #27]
  In our continuing effort to fund the publication and free distribution of The Englewood Review, we offer you the opportunity to buy bargain books from CBD that we think of are interest. Buying books this way is a win / win / win proposition. You get great books for a great price, CBD gets the [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: Main Street Public Library by Wayne Wiegand [Vol. 4, #26.5]
  “Conversation Places” A Review of Main Street Public Library: Community Places and Reading Spaces in the Rural Heartland, 1876-1956 by Wayne Wiegand Reviewed by Sam Edgin. Main Street Public Library: Community Places and Reading Spaces in the Rural Heartland, 1876-1956 Wayne Wiegand. Paperback: U of Iowa Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle [...]
• Featured: Why Read Moby Dick? Nathaniel Philbrick [Vol. 4, #26.5]
  “An American Mythology” A Review of Why Read Moby Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick. Reviewed by Chelsea Andres. Why Read Moby Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick. Hardback: Viking Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] I must confess: I am prone to the spell of literaryspeak. This language is always a mixture of poetry, [...]
• Christmas is almost here! Our Huge Giveaway and More!
  We’re giving away over $1000 of prizes to our readers this Christmas (including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire — or $150 giftcard to Amazon or the local bookstore of your choice!) this Christmas season!!! Share the ERB with a friend this Christmas and enter to win!!! Enter as many times as you want, as [...]
• New Music: Everything is Everywhere by Carrie Newcomer [Vol. 4, #26.5]
  A Review of Everything is Everywhere. Carrie Newcomer. Available Light Records, 2011. Buy Now: [ Carrie Newcomer ] [ Amazon - MP3 ] Reviewed by Chris Smith. In the Fall of 2009, Carrie Newcomer was invited to India to perform and to work with students in creating art rooted in themes of peace and justice.  [...]
• Poem: “Christmas” – George Herbert [Vol. 4, #26.5]
  Christmas George Herbert Christmas (I) After all pleasures as I rid one day, My horse and I, both tired, body and mind, With full cry of affections, quite astray; I took up the next inn I could find. There when I came, whom found I but my dear, My dearest Lord, expecting till the grief [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: The Road to Missional – Michael Frost [Vol. 4, #26]
  “A Kingdom Here-and-Still-Coming” A Review of The Road to Missional: Journey to the Center of the Church by Michael Frost Reviewed by Josh Wallace The Road to Missional: Journey to the Center of the Church Michael Frost Paperback: Baker Books, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] [ Read an Excerpt from this [...]
• Featured: Sacrilege by Hugh Halter [Vol. 4, #26]
  “Engaging Jesus Relationally” A Review of Sacrilege:  Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus By Hugh Halter Review by Kevin Book-Satterlee. Sacrilege: Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus Hugh Halter. Paperback: Baker Books, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] Somehow the church became uninspiring and ineffective for restoration.  It [...]
• Featured: Between Heaven and Mirth – James Martin, S.J. [Vol. 4, #26]
  “What Joy!” A Review of Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life by James Martin, S.J. Review by Mark Eckel. Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life James Martin, S.J. Hardback: HarperOne, 2011. Buy now: [...]
• Our Christmas Giveway! Enter to win a Kindle Fire or $150 in Books!
  We’re giving away over $1000 of prizes to our readers (including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire — or $150 giftcard to Amazon or the local bookstore of your choice!) this Christmas season!!! Share the ERB with a friend and enter to win!!! Enter as many times as you want, as long as each entry [...]
• Give the gift of the ERB this Christmas!!!
  It’s not too late to give a gift of The Englewood Review’s print edition this Christmas… Give a gift subscription now and we’ll send a free copy of Issue #5 (Advent 2011) and the subscription will start with the next issue! Advent offers us the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s coming to [...]
• Review: Traveling by Joerg Rieger [Vol. 4, #26]
  A Review of Traveling: Christian Explorations of Daily Living Joerg Rieger Paperback: Fortress Press, 2011 Buy now:  [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Bob Cornwall [This review originally appeared on the reviewer's blog and is reprinted here with permission.] Most of us have taken a trip somewhere, and that trip may have affected the way we [...]
• Brief Review: Zombie Church – Tyler Edwards [Vol. 4, #26]
  A Brief Review of Zombie Church: Breathing Life Back into the Body of Christ By Tyler Edwards Paperback: Kregel Publications, 2011. Buy now:  [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Brian Johnson. Have you ever been to or been part of a church that seemed alive but yet something of life was missing? Welcome [...]
• Brief Review: Private Property: A Novel by Paule Constant [Vol. 4, #26]
  A Brief Review of Private Property: A Novel. Paule Constant. Translated from the French by Margot Miller and France Grenaudier-Klijn Paperback: Bison Books, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Ruth Huizenga Everhart If you’ve ever been a middle schooler enduring a cafeteria lunch, if you’ve ever spent a recess wishing you could disappear [...]
• Excerpt: The Road to Missional – Michael Frost [Vol. 4, #26]
  An excerpt from The Road to Missional: Journey to the Center of the Church Michael Frost Paperback: Baker Books, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ Kindle ] Read our review of this book… Click the image to read an excerpt on Google Books… (Sorry, embedding it here doesn’t seem to be working right now…)

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: Insurrection by Peter Rollins [Vol. 4, #25.5]
  “Friend, Enemy or Frenemy?” A Review of Insurrection: To Believe is Human, To Doubt, Divine By Peter Rollins Review by Maria Drews.    Insurrection: To Believe is Human, To Doubt, Divine By Peter Rollins. Paperback: Howard Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] In a book that often reads more like poetry [...]
• Christmas is Coming! Our Huge Christmas Giveaway and more!
  We’re giving away over $1000 of prizes to our readers this Christmas (including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire — or $150 giftcard to Amazon or the local bookstore of your choice!) this Christmas season!!! Share the ERB with a friend this Christmas and enter to win!!! Enter as many times as you want, as [...]
• Announcing our newest print issue- Advent 2011!!!
  Issue #5 (Advent 2011) of our print edition came back from the printer this week and had been mailed to our subscribers! Advent offers us the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth, and in this issue, we have focused particularly on Christ’s coming as the “prince of peace,” and what [...]
• Brief Review: Paulo Freire by James Kirylo [Vol. 4, #25.5]
  A Brief Review of Paulo Freire: The Man from Recife James D. Kirylo. Paperback: Peter Lang, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Chris Smith. Paulo Freire is one of the most important thinkers of the last half-century, although you may never have heard his name – unless of course, you have a background [...]
• Poem: “The Shepherds Had an Angel” – Christina Rossetti [Vol. 4, #25.5]
  The Shepherds Had An Angel Christina Rossetti The shepherds had an angel, The wise men had a star; But what have I, a little child, To guide me home from far, Where glad stars sing together, And singing angels are? Lord Jesus is my Guardian so I can nothing lack; The lambs lie in His [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: Rumors of Water by L.L. Barkat [Vol. 4, #25]
  “Sustaining the Creative Life by using Small Beans” A Review of Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing By L.L. Barkat Review by Denise Frame Harlan. Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity and Writing By L.L. Barkat. Paperback: T.S. Poetry Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] The secret of the [...]
• Featured: Three New Books by Robert Adams [Vol. 4, #25]
  “Close At Hand” A Review of Three New Books Of Photographs By Robert Adams. Review by Brent Aldrich. Prairie. Robert Adams. Paperback – Reprint Edition: Yale UP, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] Sea Stories. Robert Adams. Paperback: Yale UP, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] This Day. Robert Adams. Paperback: Yale UP, 2011. Buy [...]
• Featured: The Maid’s Daughter – Mary Romero [Vol. 4, #25]
  “Take a Walk in Their Shoes” A Review of The Maid’s Daughter: Living Inside and Outside the American Dream by Mary Romero Review by Leslie Starasta. The Maid’s Daughter: Living Inside and Outside the American Dream by Mary Romero. Hardback: NYU Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] The opening scene of [...]
• Win a Kindle Fire In our Christmas Giveaway!!!
  We’re giving away over $1000 of prizes to our readers (including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire — or $150 Amazon giftcard!) this Christmas season!!!  Share the ERB with a friend and enter to win!!! Enter as many times as you want, as long as each entry has a different friend’s name… The contest runs [...]
• Review: Every Day Poems [Vol. 4, #25]
  Inbox Poetry A Review of Every Day Poems Daily Poetry Subscription from T.S. Poetry Press Annual subscription only $0.99!!! [ SUBSCRIBE ] Review by J. Ted Voigt [ Sample Poem #1 - "A Poet's Thanks" ] [ Sample Poem #2 - "The Singing Flower XIV"] Poetry is an acquired taste. I say this because there [...]
• Review: 25 Books Every Christian Should Read [Vol. 4, #25]
  A Review of 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. Edited by Renovaré Paperback: HarperOne, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Chris Smith [ Download 8 of these 25 titles as PDF ebooks!  ] I love making lists of books.  Just as John Cusack’s character Rob, compulsively makes lists of albums [...]
• Brief Review: Creating a Spiritual Legacy – Daniel Taylor [Vol. 4, #25]
  The Perfect Book on Writing for the Non-writer A Brief Review of Creating a Spiritual Legacy: How to Share Your Stories, Values, and Wisdom. by Daniel Taylor. Paperback: Brazos Press, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Reviewed by Greg Schreur. Few people would argue with Daniel Taylor’s fundamental premise: we all have [...]
• Christmas Gift Ideas… Help support the ERB!
  Although we adamantly believe that the consumerism of the Christmas season is way out of control, we aren’t opposed to the giving of thoughtful gifts, particularly books. Here are a few ideas for the readers among your friends and family. Order some meaningful book-related gifts (and help support the ERB in the process…) 1) The [...]
• Slow Church Advent Reflections
  ERB editor Chris Smith has been curating a series of Advent reflections on the daily Lectionary texts on the Slow Church Blog. We invite you to check out the following reflections that have been posted this week, and if you find them helpful, you can keep up with this daily Advent series, by following SlowChurch.com [...]

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Reviews, etc. posted this week on The Englewood Review of Books

• Featured: MISSIONAL SPIRITUALITY – Helland / Hjalmarson [Vol. 4, #24.5]
  “Beginning to Tell a New Story” A Review of Missional Spirituality; Embodying God’s Love from the Inside Out Roger Helland and Leonard Hjalmarson Review by Jeff Romack. Missional Spirituality; Embodying God’s Love from the Inside Out Roger Helland and Leonard Hjalmarson Paperback: IVP Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] While it might come as [...]
• Featured: CONVERSIONS by Craig Harline [Vol. 4, #24.5]
  “A Tale of Two Families” A review of Conversions: Two Family Stories From the Reformation and Modern America. by Craig Harline. Review by Timothy Morriss. Conversions: Two Family Stories From the Reformation and Modern America. Craig Harline. Hardback: Yale UP, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ] Conversion involves radical change and stories [...]
• Brief Review: Modern Homestead By Renee Wilkinson [Vol. 4, #24.5]
  A Brief Review of Modern Homestead: Grow, Raise, Create. Renee Wilkinson. Paperback: Fulcrum, 2011. Buy now:  [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Zena Neds-Fox. Renee Wilkinson’s Modern Homestead: Grow, Raise, Create offers above all a spirit of accessibility. Around my urban setting of Detroit I’ve watched many a bearded soul roll up their sleeves, dig in, [...]
• Advent Gift Ideas
  Although we adamantly believe that the consumerism of the Christmas season is way out of control, we aren’t opposed to the giving of thoughtful gifts, particularly books.  Here are a few ideas for the readers among your friends and family.  Skip Black Friday and order some meaningful book-related gifts (and help support the ERB in [...]
• Poem: “A Thanksgiving Poem” – Paul Laurence Dunbar [Vol. 4, #24.5]
  “A Thanksgiving Poem” Paul Laurence Dunbar The sun hath shed its kindly light, Our harvesting is gladly o’er, Our fields have felt no killing blight, Our bins are filled with goodly store. From pestilence, fire, ‘flood, and sword We have been spared by thy decree, And now with humble hearts, O Lord, We come to [...]
• Featured: Lectio Divina, The Sacred Art – Christine Valters Paintner [Vol. 4, #24]
  “Slowing Down And Immersing Ourselves in the Biblical Story” A review of Lectio Divina, The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer by Christine Valters Paintner. Review by Chris Smith. [ Read an excerpt from this book... ] Lectio Divina, The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer Christine Valters Paintner. [...]
• Featured: As Christ Submits to the Church – Alan Padgett [Vol. 4, #24]
  “To Follow the Lead of Christ” A review of As  Christ Submits to the Church: A Biblical Understanding of Leadership and Mutual Submission by Alan Padgett. Review by Micah Weedman. As  Christ Submits to the Church: A Biblical Understanding of Leadership and Mutual Submission Alan Padgett. Paperback: BakerAcademic, 2011. Buy now: [ ChristianBook.com ] [ [...]
• Audio: Scott Russell Sanders on the Importance of Public Libraries.
  Last Saturday was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of The East Washington Street branch of the Indianapolis Public Library (the library located just south of Englewood Christian Church). One of the treats of this celebration was a brief talk by renowned Indiana author Scott Russell Sanders on the importance of public libraries for common [...]
• Support the ERB! Our Fall Fundraising Drive.
  Just a reminder that our fall fundraising drive is going on… Friends of The Englewood Review of Books, Thanks for your faithful reading of The Englewood Review! You have been essential to our rapid growth as a publication over the last four years, from a meager email newsletter that went out to about 100 friends [...]

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