When this collection of fiction appeared it had nothing to do with other 80s writing, such as minimalism or magic realism. Ms. Benedict's hard-scrabble characters (most of whom have a spiritual insight in the story) remind me a lot of Flannery O'Connor's, except Benedict forgoes a Catholic explanation of these insights. Some of these stories have the generality, and power, of myth. A few of the pieces are slight or repetitive, and the same words crop up over and over. The final story of the collection is flawless.

I first read SHINY OBJECTS in around 1983. Dianne was a teacher of mine at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. I loved it. The stories are unique, and original with a gentle, wonderful breeze of a voice. Her narratives are unusual and deep, expressing invaluable and poetic images and insights into childlike perceptions and even grotesque realities. It haunts me and I still find myself in quiet moments 17 years later, aware of it inside me. Dianne write me: rudy@kdsi.net please.

Father Groeschel's presentation of ideas is sound and interesting, and the illustrations using incidents in the lives of people he has known a good approach. However, he tends to present some very intriguing concepts, then insufficiently develop them with clear explanations. For example, he refers to the Good Thief's conversation with Christ on the Cross as manipulative, but assumes the reader (who is unlikely to be a psychologist) will grasp why. The book is an excellent starting point, theologically solid and in accord with classic spirituality, but as a reader I found myself begging for more development and ideas about integration of the principles into one's own prayer life.

Fr. Benedict is one of the most brilliant teachers i've ever heard. He speaks at Catholic conferences and on his own cable show in the East Coast (USA). His pellucid explanations, on diverse topics (relevant to the spiritual life of everyone), have no rival in the English language. This book outlines the different stages of spiritual growth. Since the spirit, (in contrast to the soul) is discussed, it's relevant to people of any religious background, but, most especially understandable to Christians. His discussions are rich and stay closely focused on his topic.

The McWhirter's book provides a nice introduction to workingwith at-risk youth. This book is undoubtedly marked towardsundergraduate students and as a result the authors do a few things that are a bt too "cute" for my taste--like using their poetry and sayings at the beginning each chapter and using a tree metaphor to talk about at-risk behavior. Also, I did not find the case studies particularly relevant but are probably fine for students with limited experience workings with this population. None of this though detracts from an otherwise wonderful book. The authors do a nice job of addressing topics like risky sexual behavior, violence, and suicide and a good series of chapters on intervention. Having said this, though, I think this is a very nice book, enjoyed reading it, and will recommend it to others who want a overview of at-risk youth. END

Benedict Finds a Home is a great book for your child or children. It will teach then that there is no place like home but when you get older sooner or later you will have to move out and take care of yourself.This book has very good pictures and is easy to get.

This elegant novel tells of the Master, a man of international background and sensibilities, and his final apotheosis through the medium of oceanic chess. The book takes us on a tour of biblical, philosophical and marine views of beauty and truth, yet keeps us grounded in the omnipresent present. An indispensable volume for students of chess, and a delight for students of the cosmic paradox.

Father Demetrius Dunn writes a gentle, scholarly understanding of the Rule of St. Benedict through the prism of its Scriptural roots. Is Benedictine spirituality inherently biblical, or is the bible used merely as supporting text? he asks. Not surprisingly, he finds Benedictine spirituality's heart lies in Scripture. Father Dunn spins out his thesis in lovingly crafted discussions of trust, compassion, discipline, community prayer and private prayer--all centered around Christ.

When I heard Father Dunn preach a sermon on the gospel story of the feeding of 5,000 (Matt 15:29-37), he stressed that most of us are not called to martyrdom or greatness, but to be a little "better". This message is repeated throughout Cherist Christ, findings its home in the Rule and Scripture. "Embracing one's real life in honesty and humility is a pre-condition for the faith that gives access to the saving events of God in human history", he writes (page 13). And while I may wish his writing style was less erudite, his message and scholarship are worth the reader's effort.

Benedict Ashley is a Dominican, a member of the Order of Preachers. Like one of his most famous predecessors, St. Thomas Aquinas, he reveals a tremendous intellectual comprehension and organization. Perhaps he attempts something here even greater than the synthesis of Catholic doctrine and Aristotelian realism, as he compares and contrasts the major world views and value systems, Humanism and Confucianism, the Emanation religions (Buddhism and Hinduism), and the Creation religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity). This is not merely a "religions of the world" survey, however, as Ashley provides a system to determine which of these world views and value systems passes the test of universality, unity, holiness, and apostolicity (growth as development of historical background). According to that system, Ashley presents an apologetic that only Christianity, in the form of the Roman Catholic Church, fulfills those goals. Ashley is brilliant, not always as a stylist, but certainly as a thinker, as he examines these world views and value systems with intellectual rigor and practical criticism. It's a fascinating exercise; for one in Ashley's choir, who has never really been outside, I wonder how effective it would be. It seems like a good guide to making a choice of what world view and value system to choose and follow. I've made my choice, and Ashley certainly confirms that it is the right one.

This book address an important issue for all churches, but especially for smaller churches: how can worship be revitalized to attract new members without losing the elements that are important to longj-standing members. Most books on contemporary worship seem to have a started from scratch approach, i.e., start a new service or totally change the existing service. That is not very workable in most situations. However, these authors suggest a blended approach that I have found to be most effective in my church of 50-75 attenders. Their idea that "contemporary" is not "new" but instead "a recovery of what is best in the worship of all ages" (page 7). I highly recommend this book to anyone in church leadership struggling with how to make changes that will not shut down the church!

Mr. Allen took amazing photographs during his journey through Mongolia. I would recommend the book for its pictures alone. Mr. Allen's journal entries weren't quite as engaging as his photos, however. I found that he had a tendancy to repeat things. But aside from that, he gave excellent descriptions of the country's proud people, the harsh yet beautiful landscape, as well as humorous details about his camels and journeying mishaps. If you don't know much about present-day Mongolia and wish you did, get this book.

Life as a peasant in the Philippines is hot, sweaty, and above all very very boring. The wealth differences are huge, the chances of escape almost nil. The peasant's superiors, of course, argue repeatedly that this is all the peasants' fault, that they're morally inferior, lazy, etc. Yet peasants have the good sense to resist this interpretation. That, simply put, is the message of this book, which I enjoyed.