New in the Book Corner | Summer 2010

A deeply moving memoir, giving a clear and realistic account of caring for an elderly loved one. Along the way, the author notes the spiritual challenges she encountered. This book is a helpful companion to those who have recently assumed the role of caregiver.

If you’ve never treated yourself to a Wendell Berry novel, now is the time to do so. Life carried on for the community of Port William, Kentucky, as some boys returned from the war and the lives of others were mourned.

A finalist for the Quill Book Award, this novel contains a message about creating family in the most unusual places…a testament to the saving graces of surrogate families. Funny, heartbreaking, and alive with a potpourri of eccentric and irresistible characters.

Tutu engages the reader with stories from his own life, as well as with memories from his work in the darkest corners of the world. He calls us to hope, to joy, and to claim the goodness that we were made for. He invites us to take on the disciplines of goodness, the practices that are key to finding fulfillment, meaning, and happiness for our lives.

Hope. When you say goodbye to a loved one, lose a job, suffer illness, or struggle to find self-worth, it can seem like nothing but wishful thinking. But when you’re hurting, hope is the very thing you need. Spend time with Parker Palmer, Walter Brueggemann, Joan Chittister, Jim Wallis, and others, and let them remind you that hope is not just for the afterlife; it can be part of your life now.

Does anger sometimes get the best of you? Are there days when you feel mad at the world? In Anger: Minding Your Passion, you’ll find a collection of writings that explore constructive usage of this powerful emotion. As you read and ponder thoughts from such noted authors as Thich Nhat Hanh, Frederick Buechner, and Sue Monk Kidd, you’ll find validation for your feelings along with suggestions for handling your ire. You’ll also discover that you can cope with anger while still believing in, and being in relationship with, a divine presence.

Forgiveness, for the writers in this collection, does not mean you must forget you were ever wronged or hurt by someone. It does mean you need to make peace with those instances in the past to move forward positively. Read how others moved from lingering resentment to a heart of forgiveness, filled with hope for the future. Contributors include Henri J. M. Nouwen, Marjorie J. Thompson, and Flora Slosson Wuellner.

A thoughtful gift, or a help in engaging others in conversation, this book embraces the act of compassion as a daily way of being. Readers will find essays, stories, and quotes from many who have adopted compassion as a way of life. Contributors include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henri J. M. Nouwen, and Wendy M. Wright.
Jan Aplin, Book Corner manager
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you,' that would suffice. " ~Meister Eckhart