Welcome to my blog...whatever image springs to mind, be it a hippopotamus, Tigger, red-haired Highland cattle, or a simple kitchen table, 'Unless a Seed' is a four-legged creature. My hope is that having read a Book Review, a Poem, or a What is a Christian? or some random post in Everything Else, you will be kind enough to leave a comment or a short reply. And I hope you enjoy reading its contents
What is a Christian?
Book, Podcast, Film, and Blog Reviews
Poetry
For Writers, Writing and Everything Else
Book Review: The Wisdom of Tenderness, Brennan Manning (2002)
Brennan Manning let's us peak under his bonnet and enter into his despair and encounter with the tenderness of God in Jesus.
This is medicine and it tastes far better than 'flat ice-cream'
Book Review: The West in Her Eyes, Janet Hancock, Resolute Books
A beautifully told dramatic story of love and loss, refugee escapes and settling, all set in the context of a post-First World War, post-Russian revolution, and a dismantled Ottoman empire. Two young women...how will it all work out?
Book Review: ‘The Gift’ by Edith Eger
Written by a survivor of Auschwitz...that's commendation enough
Book Review: Jesus and the Powers, Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird (SPCK)
Book Review: Jesus and the Powers. A very good review of forms of government and the role Christians should take under any regime.
Book Review: Mornings in Jenin, Susan Abulhawa
Mornings in Jenin is a beautifully written fictional account of the life and times of one Palestinian family which, of course, has great resonance with today’s Israeli/Gazan war. It is written, from a Palestinian point of view .
Book Review: Home by Marilynne Robinson
Marilynne Robinson’s books Gilead and Home belong together…but this is a review of Home, the sequel. A compelling read.
Book Review: Gilead
Gilead is, as the Sunday Times critic summarised ‘A Masterpiece’. I can’t add to that. Set in the fictional town of Gilead in 1956 Iowa, it is a beautifully crafted novel
Book Review: Forty Farms, Amy Bateman
This beautifully photographed hardback book about 40 Lake District Farms undergoing a return to traditional sustainable farming less dependent on agrochemicals hasn’t left my lounge coffee table for about a year now. Proud to let others browse.
My website/blog www.unlessaseed.com has had an MOT and service and is ready to hit the road once again with some improvements
Time to re-launch this website with a few improvements after its annual MOT
Rachel Stevens’ Interview podcast
My daughter Rachel’s impressive, informative, and entertaining podcast Interviews…
Film Review - Indiana Jones, Dial of Destiny
Oppenheimer…not this evening. Mission Impossible…later. Indiana Jones & Dial of Destiny…YES!
Book Review: Act of Oblivion, Robert Harris
When Charles II authorised State sponsored executions…of the ’regicides’, the men who had signed the death warrant of his father Charles I…Harris’ book traces the chase between escaping regicides and their would be assassin. A page-turner.
Podcast Review: How to Fail with All Black Dan Carter
All Black World Cup winning Dan Carter talks about his failures and setbacks - the man behind the image of an invincible number 10 for the all-conquering All Blacks -to Elizabeth Day on her excellent podcast How to Fail
Book Review: Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Set in small town Kentucky Wendell Berry’s novel immerses his readers in a way of life and how it has changed over the decades since 1940 through the eyes of Hannah Coulter from her youth into her late seventies. An excellent read.
When the Rabbis Cry
Book Review: my own book but as summarised by the editor of Westbow Press
Book Review: Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
This is one of those ‘bullseye’ books even if off-centre theologically
Book Review: The Magnificent Moustache & Other Stories
When I read through the five stories, I asked myself ‘Would I have read these to my children when they were younger?’ And the answer is a resounding Yes!
When the Rabbis Cry
Failing to follow the general rule of thumb, ‘start small and build from there I decided for my first attempt to write a Christian paperback, to choose one of the most contentious subjects – Israel.