REVIEWS

WHISPERS OF WISDOM 

Reassurance for those living with loss 

Written by: Tom Gordon 

Published by: Wild Goose Publications 

Price: £9.99

As a hospice chaplain in Edinburgh for 15 years (and many years of parish ministry beforehand), the Rev Tom Gordon is perhaps better placed than most to talk about issues of death, dying and bereavement.

This volume is a follow-up to an earlier work (New Journeys Now Begin, published in 2006) and offers hope through the voices of those who have borne losses and are living with grief. As someone who dealt regularly with death and grief in the aftermath of loss, he is perhaps better qualified than most to offer practical advice and support to both the bereaved and those supporting the bereaved who are listening and helping people dealing with the death of a close loved one or friend to find their way through and cope.

The author is critical of societal pressure which he says force the bereaved to return to ‘normal’ and function and in an introduction says this pressure is greater than it has ever been for those dealing with grief. He writes: ‘Those who are bereaved are forced into patterns of behaviour and expected attitudes – in other words to clearly exhibit coping strategies – before there has been any meaningful processing of their issues of grief.’ Consequently, he writes, the bereaved find themselves pushed further into isolation and ‘aloneness’ with fewer opportunities than they need to try and cope with the new feelings they have to deal with.

Drawing on the experience of those he has encountered through work and bereavement support groups, he offers their insights and wisdom on a subject that will be experienced by all readers at some point in their lives.

Above all else, the book seeks to reassure readers that whatever they are feeling in dealing with grief or supporting others who have been bereaved that what they are feeling is perfectly normal.

Particularly relevant is a special chapter dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which transformed both death and grief and grieving from previous patterns and practices.

This book is a valuable contribution to the debate about grief and the need to accept it is a natural part of the journey of life, but also to acknowledge that responses are individual and that there is no one way or formula to deal with painful loss.

A ROOMFUL OF ELEPHANTS 

My First Eighty Years in the Church 

Written by: Patrick Forbes 

Published by: Bauhan Publishing 

Price: £17.00

As the son of a journalist, this is a beautifully woven story of a lifetime of experience – perfectly paced, witty and entertaining.

It reflects a journey through different employment before the call to serve came for the Rev Patrick Forbes, who served as both curate, parish priest before becoming religious programmes producer and is a regular contributor to Radio 2’s Pause for Thought.

He firmly believes in using humour to diffuse difficult questions and situations and this is a common thread throughout the book.

However the book is also a fascinating social journey through a changing England and changing Church of England. Finding a suitable parish in the diocese of Southwark after seeking the advice of the Bishop of Woolwich, when contemplating a move from Somerset proved to be an eyeopener and resulted in a move to a maisonette in the mass new Thamesmead housing estate. The time spent here resulted in many challenges and the lively retelling of this time demonstrates the importance of mission and creativity.

From there he moved to the diocese of St Albans, then under the future Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and spent part of his time as a communications officer, leading to his engagement with broadcasting.

One of the most interesting points is perhaps the final chapter. The author focuses on the issues afflicting the Church of England – and there is common ground in terms of the similar challenges and issues facing both the Anglican church and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The book is an entertaining read – not just because it charts an interesting life story but because its telling raises many points of engagement for all Christian churches today.

FOR CHILDREN 

GOODNIGHT WORLD 

Written by: Rebecca Parkinson 

Illustrated by: Patrick Corrigan 

Published by: SPCK 

Price: £6.99

Aimed at younger small children and early readers, this bedtime book encourages youngsters to not only say goodnight to some of the animals of creation but has a strong message about caring for the environment and a further message of the love of God.

Beautifully and colourfully illustrated, the 33-page book features animals from all continents as they bed down for the night, with an underlying theme that they are watched over by God.

This book would be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in engaging small children and introducing them to faith and caring for creation at bedtime.

Lynne McNeil