Tag Archive | SPCK publishing

The Company Of Heaven by Catherine Fox

May19

Epic & Enjoyable

The Company Of Heaven by Catherine Fox is the fifth book in the Lindchester Chronicles series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is an epic tale set from spring 2021 to spring 2022. The reader drops in on the surrounding area of Lindchester as we follow the various characters.

It is a gentle tale as the narrator notices not only the big things but the small too. It is a social commentary on the times as you find yourself saying “gosh I had forgotten that” or “I remember that!”

We see the tail end of the COVID years that feel in some ways so very long ago. We are thankful for the freedoms we have today and which we had previously taken for granted.

All the characters are well drawn. They are an eclectic mix, such as you would find in any town. They each have their various challenges and are easy to empathise with. Each reader will identify with different characters.

The writing is amusing too. I found the maths problem with the young girl’s answer very funny – certainly something I could identify with, having found maths questions rather alien myself!

Continue reading →

Holy Bible With Apocrypha

Oct14

A Welcome Addition

Holy Bible With Apocrypha, Anglicized deluxe leatherette edition in ESV (English Standard Version) is an absolutely beautiful Bible that would be a welcome addition to anyone’s collection of Bibles.

I had not heard of the Apocrypha but it is explained in the introduction. It is a group of books that do not exist in their entirety in Hebrew or Aramaic. The reader is introduced to new names as well as the familiar of Esther (the extra content is in italics), the wisdom of Solomon, a letter from Jeremiah and Psalm 151 penned by David after he defeated Goliath. Martin Luther included some of the books in his Bible of 1534.

Scholars of both the Protestant and Catholic faith came together in 2016 to discuss the inclusion of the extra books.

The Apocrypha sits between the Old and New Testaments. It makes fascinating reading as the heart of God is revealed to the reader.

Continue reading →

Utterly Brilliant My Life’s Journey by Timmy Mallett

Jun22

You Me

Utterly Brilliant My Life’s Journey by Timmy Mallett is an utterly brilliant book about Timmy Mallett’s pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in memory of his brother Martin.

This book is a powerful read as we learn not only about the sights along the way but also life lessons. The Camino de Santiago is a physical, cultural, historical and spiritual journey undertaken by many pilgrims each year, with some making repeat journeys.

Timmy Mallett makes his journey by e-bike, leaving markers in tribute to his brother Martin along the way. Using the map at the front of the book and the app Three Little Words, the markers are available for all to find.

Martin was born with Down’s Syndrome and not expected to make it far into adulthood. He actually made it the sixty four years and seven months. Timmy Mallett speaks fondly of his brother who loved life and lived loved. “Martin… had love in abundance… We sometimes wondered if that extra chromosome… is an extra chromosome of love.”

Continue reading →