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Book Reviews
Some Of The People All The Time
by Alastair Mackie
Book Guild Publishing
The author, a St. Mary's parishioner, tells an intriguing and
lively account of his personal journey, through service as a bomber
pilot in World War II and in V-bombers after it, to anti-nuclear campaigner
in the post-war years. The book is well-written in a puckish style,
and astonishes by the detail it contains, even if occasionally one feels
better-informed than one would wish on the handling qualities of aircraft
through the years. War-time life and the post-war years are vividly
evoked at home and abroad, and the author's touch is deft and
light, even when tackling the more controversial issues surrounding
his CND membership.
Perhaps surprisingly, the author's subsequent civilian career, starting
as under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple, and progressing through a variety
of similar back-room posts to Director-General of the Health Education
Council, sheds the most light on a personality that seems never to have
shirked controversy or confrontation. Having a sense of humour clearly
led Alastair into a number of interesting scrapes. Anyone who described
one of the leading advertising agencies of the 1950's as ".. full of
nauseous and self-regarding cant" well deserves a wide readership.
Patrick Findlater
The Return Of The Prodigal Son
Henri Nouwen
A group of us studied this fascinating insight into Rembrandt's
famous painting. As usual we were expertly guided by Christabel Gairdner
and Geoffrey Barnett as well as having a rather useful tape.
We explored the younger son, the elder son and the father in considerable
detail. We could all relate to the younger son - there are prodigal
son stories in our own lives - but we really sympathised with
the elder son, who was always there, did the right thing, yet who felt
his father didn't appreciate him, and was really angry when the
fatted calf was prepared for the celebratory feast to welcome home his
feckless returning brother.
As for the father; it has to be our aim to be like him, to love unconditionally,
to suffer and forgive. In the father we saw the mother and father love
in so many ways. The larger masculine, strong looking right hand as
depicted in Rembrandt's painting, and the smaller more delicate,
tender and gentle left hand - betokening the mother. The father's
face has a radiance and he is a whole, complete man, one who has experienced
life's tragedies and difficulties which have, in turn, enriched
him to make him become like our heavenly father.
Rosie Findlater |
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