A review of Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall", reviewed by Kara Martin It is easy to be unaware of the church wars of the past. We may well take our protestant evangelical faith for granted.When the often sordid details of the interactions...
A review of Christopher Hitchens' memoir 'Hitch-22', reviewed by Kara Martin Christopher Hitchens joins Phillip Pullman and Richard Dawkins at the forefront of the New Atheism. Which presents me a problem in reviewing this book... There will be many Christian...
A Review of John Freeman's book "Shrinking the World", reviewed by Kara Martin The average office worker receives 200 emails a day and spends 40% of their working day reading or responding to emails. Within 14 months there will be...
A review of Thomas Keneally's book "Australians, Origins to Eureka". Reviewed by Kara Martin My Year 6 son has a science teacher who loves art. My daughter loved this teacher's classes, but my son feels very ripped off. He loves...
Modern Science Befuddled by Mystery.... Kara Martin reviews two books : "Genesis Enigma" by Andrew Parker and "Why us?" by James Le Fanu. I was not thrilled to be handed two huge tomes of scientific material to plough through and review....
What is the What by David Eggers, reviewed by Kara Martin This is a postmodern book in a really interesting sense. It takes the true story of one of the "Lost Boys" of the Sudan, Valentino Achak Deng, and novelises...
Kara Martin reviews Jacques Attali's book A Brief History of the Future. What is the appeal of forecast books? Future Shock, Next...Is it to receive some hope of future comfort from the chaos happening now? Does it increase the sense...
The Art of the Short Story: A review of Nam Le's The Boat. Reviewed by Kara Martin Short story writing is sometimes seen by writers as a way of impressing people before they get the chance to write their first...
"Be alert, stay calm" A review of David Claydon's book Islam, Human Rights and Public Policy, Reviewed by Kara Martin Portrayals of Muslims in the media oscillate between hysteria over terrorism attacks, or defence of the Muslim community against allegations...
"Hedgehogs can be delightful..." A review of Muriel Barbery's book "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". Reviewed by Kara Martin Renee is a concierge and widow, who hides behind the persona of low-class domestic servant to protect her livelihood. There is...
A review of "The Great Emergence" by Phyllis Tickle Reviewed by Kara Martin According to author Phyllis Tickle, the contemporary Church stands in the midst of a once-every-500-year re-formation. There have been three such moments before, and each time...
"Valuing Stories and Beauty" - A review of People of the Book, by author Geraldine Brooks - - Reviewed by Kara Martin - Geraldine Brooks is a very important author. Like Tim Winton, she is an unashamedly Australian writer...
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION A review of Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century, by Walter Rauschenbusch. Reviewed by Kara Martin Walter Rauschenbusch was the eighth in a line of pastors and started his...
Christian authors trying to make new culture A review of Beckwood Brae - David H Webb, and Nemesis Train - Nathan Brown. Reviews by Kara Martin In Andy Crouch’s Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, he says: “It is not...
It’s just a toy... or is it? A review of Jerry Oppenheimer's book Toy Monster. Review by Kara Martin. I never allowed my daughter to own a Barbie, or a Bratz. I didn’t allow my children to play with guns....
"The God who Comforts but does not Command"... A review of Yann Martel's book, Life of Pi. Review by Kara Martin... The Life of Pi is about two journeys: a journey through three great religions: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam;...
“The strong influence of debt”A review of Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, Margaret Atwood. Review by Kara Martin Margaret Atwood has won countless literary awards, including the Booker Prize, and is mostly famous for her fiction such...
“The most popular book series of 2008-09” A review of the Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Series. Review by Kara Martin Vampires that resist the urge to drink human blood... Vampires that are courteous and kind and try to live like humans.A...
“The detail behind the hope” A review of "The Change We Can Believe In", by Barack Obama. Book review by Kara Martin There is enormous pressure on Barack Obama right now. The eyes of the world are on him to...
Religious versus social work Two book reviews - of Hope Endures, by Colette Livermore, and Finding Calcutta, by Mary Poplin. Reviewed by Kara Martin Colette Livermore decided to join Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Order straight from school. In doing so...
“Truth Resounding through Music”... A review of Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the Word of Music, by Jeremy S. Begbie. Review by Kara Martin Jeremy Begbie is an academic, a theologian and a musician, and has written this book to...
“Fantasy with Values” - A review of Christopher Paolini's Brisingr. Review by Kara Martin Christopher Paolini was just 15 when he wrote Eragon, a fantasy novel that became a movie. Then came Eldest. The latest in the Inheritance Cycle series...
“The Journey toward God” ... A review of "There is a God", by Anthony Flew Review by Kara Martin In 2004, world-renowned atheist Anthony Flew stood up at a debate about the existence of God and shocked the audience with...
“Without free will, there is despair”A review of The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger Review by Kara Martin Readers are fascinated by stories that play with time. Dr Who, Back to the Future, Memento... There are many examples of...
“Jesus’ message is more radical than we can imagine”Review of The Third Jesus, Deepak Chopra, by Kara Martin I am so angry at this book, and it disturbs me. After all, there are so many books that reconstruct Jesus, and...
“A Celebration of Difference”Review of Stargirl and Love, Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli, Kara Martin Jerry Spinelli is an award-winning author for teenagers, known for his witty dialogue, his mix of fantasy and realism, and his unforgettable characters. Stargirl is one of...
“Our Longing for Intimacy”Review of Sexuality and Holy Longing, Lisa Graham McMinn, Kara Martin There is so much talk about sexuality in our society; and so much concern about the impact of a more open attitude to sex. Lisa Graham...
“Christ the Lord, and Man”Review of Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, Anne Rice. By Kara Martin I was so suspicious opening the pages of this book: Anne Rice, the Vampire novelist writing a biography of Jesus? As usual,...
The struggle to find harmony with our spiritReview of Breath, Tim Winton, Kara Martin For me a new book by Tim Winton is like opening a box of your favourite chocolates. You know you are not going to be...
“A New Earth though a New Me”by Kara Martin Eckhart Tolle has shot to superstar status with the publication of his first book in eight years: A New Earth. It has been embraced by Oprah Winfrey and she hosted an...
When cultures clashReview of The Gospel of Gods and Crocodiles, Elizabeth Stead. By Kara Martin Pastor Morley is a Seventh Day Adventist missionary who travels to an island north of Australia convinced that he is bringing God to the islanders....
“Imagination should be nurtured”Review of The Book of Everything, Guus Kuijer, by Kara Martin Thomas is a nine-year-old with a vivid imagination, but he soon realises that not many other people see the world the way he does. He...
“Becoming all we can be”Review of A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines, by Kara Martin Ernest J. Gaines was born on a plantation in Louisiana, United States, and draws heavily on his own experiences of that community in this...
“Love is Stronger than Death”Review of The Submerged Cathedral, Charlotte Wood, by Kara Martin Australian author Charlotte Wood has written just three novels in ten years, following a career as a journalist. Her books tend to have strong biographical elements,...
Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is a large book about a small girl, an accordianist, some fanatical Germans and the power of words. Set in Germany during the 2nd World War, the book centres primarily on Liesel. Liesel's father has been taken...
