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Book Reviews

Prophet Song I don’t think I’ve read a book that articulates as brilliantly as Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song (winner of the 2023 Booker Prize) what a woman experiences during the darkness of political tyranny—a husband “disappeared,” a son caught up in the conflict, and her effort to keep her family together as well as care for a parent.  It’s a dystopian novel set in Ireland, but it feels both historical and contemporary. I kept thinking of women in our Mennonite past and in many places today. The tiny emotional shifts Lynch captures seem entirely true, and the prose is poetic, intimate and urgent. – Dora Dueck, author of four books of fiction, and, most recently, Return Stroke: Essays & Memoir   Anabaptist ReMix This summer I’ve been reading Anabaptist ReMix: Varieties of Cultural Engagement in North America, edited by Lauren Friesen and Dennis R. Koehn. If you are wondering what Anabaptists are thinking about, this book is sure to get your mind doing jumping jacks. The topics are wide-ranging, from race, disability and gender, to farming, literature, health care and music. It includes writing from up-and-coming scholars like Katie Graber and Maxwell Kennel as well as writers with long track records. How are people in the Anabaptist tradition shaped by culture, and how do they shape it? The theme of healing and justice in the face of violence is sung in many different keys. I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful book. – Carol Penner, director of Theological Studies, Conrad Grebel University College   Q Luther Blissett’s novel Q is an epic historical fiction action thriller set in the crucible of the Radical Reformation. The narrator is an action hero with varied mysterious identities who connects with Anabaptist historical figures.  At the outset, he is a captain in the peasants’ army, working closely with Thomas Müntzer. In the next stage, he’s a key leader in the siege of Münster, and, finally, a shady businessman in Venice.  The other protagonist is Q, a spy under the employ of Cardinal Carafe, whose clandestine operations provide intelligence to Rome. The novel makes gritty connections between the politics, economics and social upheaval of the time and the theological debate in which it was cloaked.  – Fred Martin, director of development, Conrad Grebel University College   Art and Faith As an artist, I found that the book Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura put into words what I could not verbalize regarding the artistry of God. This book has reframed the ways I interact with art-making and brought me into the depths of its intention as an approach to worship. I recommend this book for whoever has an artful heart, mind and soul. – Christen Kong, Toronto, Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church   Hidden Systems Dan Nott’s graphic novel Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day will appeal to both graphic novel lovers and those who want to understand how and why our world works as it does.  The book is written clearly, easy enough for young readers to understand and full of facts that older readers may not know or may have forgotten. Best of all, it is written with hope and an eye to our future as we reimagine how these systems can change to become more efficient and equitable. Insightful, challenging and entertaining. – Laura Wiebe, Calgary, Trinity Mennonite Church   The Other Side of the Wall In The Other Side of the Wall, Munther Isaac makes a passionate plea to the Western church for justice in the Palestinian people’s struggle for their land.  What are the roots of the conflict? Whose land is it, really? What is Zionism, and what is its impact on this region?  Isaac challenges Christian Zionism’s understanding of biblical prophecy and its belief that the present state of Israel was promised to the Jewish people as an eternal inheritance. He finds courage and hope in the Beatitudes and challenges Christians to move beyond a focus on personal salvation to seek Christ’s justice. – Marvin Baergen, Regina, Grace Mennonite Church Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs, and In-betweens, by Kate Bowler, is a book of meditations for the wary, the weary, and the heart-sore. In short, for all of us.  Bowler eschews pat answers. With humour, candour and gentleness, Bowler addresses a range of difficult human experiences while simultaneously drawing our gaze to the God who is with us. Just as the title suggests, her book holds together two truths: our world contains heartache, and God’s grace shimmers in the dailiness of our lives. We are broken, and we are beloved. With fresh imagery, Bowler’s words offer genuine solace to our “hummingbird hearts.”  The words offer relief that is like being in the company of a longstanding friend who enters with you into your less-than-lovely moments and holds your hand while you wait for the dawn.  – Aimee Reid, Hamilton, Hamilton Mennonite Church   So We & Our Children May Live So We & Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis is a thought-provoking exploration of the underlying systems that have brought us to ecological overreach. Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler combine theological insight with a deep call to action, challenging readers to confront the legacy of colonialism and capitalism.  Their writing is clear and compelling, drawing from personal experiences and scriptural reflections. The book not only educates but also invites readers into the work of reparation and solidarity with those most negatively impacted by climate change—Indigenous communities.  An eye-opening resource for those committed to future generations and the longevity of the planet.  – Mollee Moua, Kitchener, Ontario, First Hmong Mennonite Church Photo: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels Share this page: