Much Loved by Mark Nixon

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This is a deeply charming book, a collection of photos and short biographies of beloved teddy bears (and a few other animals).

These bears are full of life, and some have clearly led very full lives. They are a testament to the truth of the tale of the Valentine Rabbit, if you are loved then you become real.

Having a house full of teddy bears, and monkeys, and dragons, and ladybirds, and elephants, and … you are getting the picture … from whom I could stand to be parted from this book is a great comfort, for I am clearly not the only one.

The Dyslexia Debate by J. G. Elliott and E. L. Grigorenko

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The “debate” that this book explores is not whether those classed as having Dyslexia have reading difficulties (and other associated challenges).

The debate is whether there is actually any meaningful difference between those with reading difficulties that are classed as Dyslexic and those with reading difficulties that are not classed as Dyslexic. And further, even if there is a different, does that different result in differentiated responses to the two groups being appropiate or effective.

This is an “academic” text, for 180 pages of discussion the authors provide 80 pages of bibliography, which is indicative of the amount of attention that Dyslexia gets and how contested it is as a concept. As a result the conclusion the authors come to is that there is no coherent common understanding of what separates those “with” Dyslexia from those who also have reading difficulties but are deemed not to have Dyslexia. In the absence of such an understanding the term Dyslexia is found to be of virtually not value in an academic or scientific sense.

In addition the authors find major methodological weaknesses in many of the studies into both the causes and the “treatment” of Dyslexia. In most cases that is little or no evidence that interventions provided to support those with Dyslexia were not equally beneficial to those with reading difficulties who were not identified as Dyslexic.

Even within this careful academic writing you get a sense that the authors are somewhat frustrated with all the time and effort that is being wasted trying to define Dyslexia, which would be better spent working to improve the support of all those with reading difficulties.

I was twice assessed for Dyslexia, once at 11 and then again at 20, and found on the first occasion not to Dyslexic and on the second to be Dyslexic. Therefore the question “what changed?” has been of interest to me and this book helps to explain why the answer escapes me. But this experience also gives insight into why, despite the authors rational argument that Dyslexia as a classification is of no benefit, it will be fought for passionately.

After being found not to be Dyslexic at 11 I did receive support for my reading difficulties, but it was limited and discontinuous (chaotic might be a better word) – and when it got to formal exams no provisions were available from the exam boards (as officially there was nothing wrong with me). But at 20 with my new found Dyslexia, which is counted as a formal disability, suddenly all sorts of support and examination changes were thrust upon me (extra time, new computer etc etc). Had my needs changed? Unlikely, yet support was now readily accessible when it hadn't been before.

And so while we have before us a compelling case for retiring Dyslexia it seems highly unlikely that the debate is actually going to conclude any time soon...

Sorry For Your Troubles by Pádraig Ó Tuama

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I am not sure if following a review of books by Stephen Cottrell with one on a book by Pádraig is a good idea, as they are two of my favourite writers and the resulting love-in might get a bit tiresome for you, dear reader...

I also read this while away in Barcelona, and I think it was good to read these poems and reflections which are draw on a backdrop of pain and conflict alongside Cottrell's reflections on Easter and the resurection (in The Things He Said).

 This collection is hope-filled even as, and indeed precisely because, it is honest about the pain and hurt – and that is the essence of our Easter hope. Easter does not deny Good Friday but it does transcend it.

In this collection Pádraig is focusing on the work he has done helping people tell their stories about “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In some ways this makes this a collection rooted in the specifics of that context, however it also catches some much broader themes.

I think one of the uncomfortable feeling was whether it was appropriate to read the expressions of the impact of that violent conflict onto my own, really very minor, experiences of conflict (such as at work or Church). The question was whether such reading across would belittle the experiences within the book – but I think as long as you remain aware of that tension it has to be ok.

And with that tension in mind the whole collection seemed to question the new found love of “facilitated conversations” that Bishops in the Church of England think will sort out the mess they have got into over same-sex marriage. There is a desire to see this as an act of goodwill, but it is so hard not to view it as empty words and cynicism, how and when we will together be able to create the space of genuine integrity and honesty in order to actually talk to one another is not clear.

I will share just one of the poems here – because you need to buy the book and read them all!

W e a r e n o t t h e s a m e

We are not the same.

If we think we are

we end up playing games

where dignity's dependent

on some flimsy proof.

And dignity's not a game

that can be won or lost,

because we know this truth:

winners always define glory

and losers always suffer loss.

Rather, we are us.

Not because of anything

just because, just because

just because everything

less than this

demeans us.

Anything less than this

depletes us.

And in this space of sharing

there are various

types of people

loving people

loving people.

And while we're not the same

our intrinsic worth is equal.

We are less

if we accept

anything less than equal.

The Things He Carried and The Things He Said by Stephen Cottrell

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This is a buy one get one free review, covering this two books of reflections by Stephen Cottrell, one for Lent and the other for Easter.

I read The Things He Carried on and off last thing at night during Lent, while I dipped in and out of The Things He Said over week (on holiday in Barcelona), and found the “slow” reading of them allowed the ideas to dwell deeper in the mind.

As usual Cottrell crafts the reflections in such a way that there is great simplicity but also great depth. The cover familiar themes and yet are remarkably fresh.

There are many Lenten books and The Things He Carried is a strong contribution to a crowded shelf, but Easter books are less common and therefore The Things He Said is perhaps a greater gift.

The Things He Said is divided into 2 sections, the first focused on Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus at the Tomb, and the second focused on the Emmaus road.

It was the first part that I found most powerful, the way Cottrell captures Mary's pain and grief as she comes to the Tomb, and the confusion of finding it empty, was a new insight for me into the story.

I really felt myself being drawn into the moment. The desire to cling to Jesus in the midst of a troubled world is familiar to me. I will be honest and say that I am struggling with “Church” right now and that the lost and lonely feelings of Mary that morning indeed echo for me.

I think the second part, for me, lacked that power, perhaps it is harder to capture the emotional state of two disciples would have left Jerusalem for Emmaus, but also there was much longer dialogue on the road, it is not the imitate and intense exchange of Mary and Jesus in the Garden.

Cottrell provides questions etc to allow these books to be used by study groups, which is a useful addition, but for me the encounter prompted more of a meditative than a discursive response.

The 39 Steps by John Buchan

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As with Cold Comfort Farm this was in a boxed set of “Essential Penguins” and its inclusion also puzzles me a touch.

It has more than once been made into a film, and the plot in the hands of a Master film maker such as Hitchcock undoubtedly became a classic.

I enjoyed the book in the same way that I enjoy occasionally reading Biggles, and that feels like the appropriate company for it to keep.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

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It is an enjoyable read, but it is unclear to me why this is held up as a classic work.

Perhaps the trouble is that Cold Comfort Farm is a parody of various novels of which I have had fairly slim encounters.

I would bracket closely with the film Clueless, fun but not generally considered worthy of critical praise...

As a fan of Clueless I would support the case that it is somewhat under rated but that is perhaps a separate discussion?

Creative Ideas for Frontline Evangelism with Young People by Simon Rundell

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Unlike his two earlier contributions to the “Creative Ideas for...” series this one is almost exclusively a source book rather than a discussion on principles and practice. It is made up of reflections on, mostly, Gospel events with accompanying activities to help explore and embed the message.

This is a useful collection, for a wide range of contexts – I could see plenty of these fitting well into the monthly “informal” service in my own parish, which if I am honest is some way from “frontline evangelism” and is not by any means primarily made up of “young people”.

If you were hoping for some radical new approach this isn't it – Simon Rundell's approach is fundamentally age old – “tell the story, let God do the rest” - but then again maybe there is good reason that Christians have been following this pattern so long...