Peter Costello
Peace Apart: Lasting Impressions of C.S. Lewis by Bishop Fintan Monahan (Veritas, €9.99/£8.99)
This little book is the third in a series in which Fintan Monahan, the bishop of Killaloe, is evoking writers who have been important to him, and whom he wishes to encourage others to take up and read.
The previous two books were about Newman and Thomas Merton. Here he turns to C.S. Lewis, who was both theologian and novelist. Lewis was born in Belfast, but many Irish people would fail to see him as an Irish writer, which is a pity. Perhaps this is because his life seems to revolve around what we see as English experiences, especially at Oxford University.
Others, of course, recall Lewis as a unique scholar of medieval literature, whose exposition of the medieval world view The Discarded Image is still powerfully readable and insightful.
Here, however, Fintan Monahan concentrates on his fearful experiences of war in early life and then his resolve to put his talents as a creative artist to the service of a Christian vision for everyone, especially through the Narnia series.
This book is aimed at encouraging readers to try Lewis, or to renew their former acquaintance with Lewis in a manner well-adjusted to those who might not feel Lewis is their sort of writer.
Bishop Monahan’s encouragement will hopefully open up to a great writer to many, many people. Great teachers are not always great artists, for as they say, “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”. Lewis, however, was miraculously both teacher and artist. In this context his Irishness scarcely seems to matter.
What Are We Waiting For? Finding Our Way in a World, Ever Changing, Ever Divided, Ever Seeking by Donal Murray (Veritas, €10.99/£9.99)
The author will need no introduction after his long career as a pastor. Now in retirement, he is writing a series of meditative books opening up to the ordinary reader what in theology are often complex matters, but which he thinks can be expressed with a finer simplicity. His twelve short chapters, taken on the basis of one a day, will provide his readers not only with food for thought, but with reasons for hope.
These small pamphlet publications by Veritas (the heirs of the old CTS of Ireland) should be more widely available in churches, but rarely are. In France and Italy local churches seem to expect people, even tourists, will visit them out of interest; this is never the case here.
The Self-Care Squad Journal for Teens and Pre-teens by Amy Claire (Veritas, €16.99/£14.99)
Those years between being a child who is looked after, and a person who has become an adult who can look after themselves, are very difficult. Tides of emotion wash in and out on a daily basis. All very confusing, and undermining.
This book of self-help is designed by life-coach Amy Claire to help record, control, and learn from those moments, so allowing the young person to take control and to find a sense of respect for themselves through keeping a sort of annual journal.
The benefits of a book like this, with varied activities and prompts, can only be achieved through working with it over a whole year. But there will be benefits she claims. It is very much a case of try it and see.
The motto emblazoned on the cover says it all really: “Embrace your uniqueness today!” In other words, you deserve to be the person you can make of yourself.