Advent Books

Wonderful essays about Advent and Christmas.
Mrs. Tickle writes beautifully. In other hands these stories could be overly sentimental, but she puts just the right touch to make them touching without being maudlin.
I re-read it every year to put myself into the real Christmas spirit.

In 1976, Publishers Weekly religion editor Phyllis Tickle and her husband Sam decided to abandon city life and move their family back to their rural roots in western Tennessee. What the Land Already Knows is Tickle's account of winters spent on their farm in the small community of Lucy - "about four thousand citizens if, as we used to say in town meetings, one counted the tractors as well as the cows and people."

This small book is beautifully written, often funny, always touching, and nearly impossible to put down. I devoured it in one sitting, then went back to reread each chapter separately, slowly, savoring the sweetness, the sadness, and Tickle's remarkable insights on family, winter, isolation, and faith.

Following an unhurried path from Advent through the children's return to school in January, Tickle introduces her family - human and animal. Husband Sam is a doctor and passionate grape vine tender. Their seven children, the oldest married before the family moves to the farm, thrive in a world defined by chores, farm animals, and family traditions. Her mother, whose yearly frenzy of pecan cooking the author first tries to escape, then comes to cherish. Silly Sally, Mary, Saint, and Oscar, the cows whose lives, calvings, and deaths bring humor, blessing, and meat to the family's life.

By the time you turn the last of the 114 pages, you feel you might recognize Tickle's family on the streets of Lucy, Tennessee, or any other small farm town.

From her agonizing ambivalence over finding the right gifts for her children to her unabashed pleasure in returning the house to order after the holiday frenzy, Tickle's honesty, always spoken gently, is disarming, beguiling, and sometimes startling.

Perhaps the finest chapter is a reflection on names. Musing on her children's delight in the naming of farm animals, of which there were scores, she notes that the named and the namer create together the identity of each, ending with this beautiful reflection: "What is New Year's Day for the world at large is also the Feast of the Holy name for the church. . . . [B]efore the day is done, I still walk out by myself to Mary's Hill for a little while and think about what it means to know the name of God and to be yourself called by it."

Small enough to fit into a stocking, this is a nearly perfect book for reading and rereading during the long, dark nights of winter.

By the fact of being close to my own age, I am totally impressed by Phyllis Tickle's creativity in picturing Epiphany moments out of her large family in Lucy, Tenn. My one regret is growing-up in East Tenn. I was not privileged to live nearby to Lucy, close to Memphis. While I identify being a member of the little country village of Hall's Cross Roads in East Tenn, it was very nearly the same sort of community that gave all small farmers a closely-knit, feeling of belonging! My sense from Phyllis' neat chapters on "Noel, Holy Mother, The Joseph Candle, Christmas Eve Gift, Silly Sally's Gift, and Name This Child" all create their closely-knit Family in activity reflecting the Christmas Story!

Once I got into the chapter on the "Days of Thomas the Doubter" I noted her carefully portrayed choice of gifts for Laura, "one of the older, newly-wed children...just starting a home." By St Thomas Day, "as my mother used to call it, the Day of the Old Doubter Himself"... She struck a familiar chord in my own sense of describing one of our favorite pastoral characters! In fact, my own point in reading and writing about this unique collection of essays is that it becomes a great model for blending family antidotes into Reflections upon Holy-days and Epi-phanies that people our fondest memories of Christmas.

If I only picture a couple of more impressive spots, they would lie in the chapter, Christmas Eve Gift: "Appalachians conserve everything in order to survive a geography that has no intention of allowing them...or anything else to survive." No pecans are indigenous to Appalachian mountains...just like East Tenn! I was smitten with Ms Tickle's creative pictures of her environment. In particular the family cracking and shelling nuts for nursing stations at Sam's hospital; also the informal relaxed manner of attire when the family sat around the kitchen on the Feast of St Stephen! "We ate and drank and looked for all the world like a Norman Rockwell come to life." Where else could I find a clear reality pictured in beautifully homespun words of real-life?

I am now a Fan of anything written by Phyllis Tickle, regardless if it is "The Graces We Remember or Wisdom In the Waiting!" Let me just soak it up for my writer's hunger and thirst for reality. Retired Chap. Fred W. Hood

My 7 children love this book. We read it from Thanksgiving all the way to CHRISTmas. I haven't researched the book out to know if it is the motive behind the song The Twelve Days of CHRISTmas. But when I read the story it makes so much sense as I have always wondered how they thought up this song. For example,The 5 Golden Rings represents the first 5 books of the Bible and the 9 Ladies Dancing represents the Fruit of the Spirit. The pictures are beautiful and colorful. Children of all ages love the book as demonstrated in my family with children ages 5 months - 13 years. It's definitely a great book to start a family tradition.

Both adults and children enjoy this traditional song while Knorr's beautiful illustrations are worthy of the seasonal favorite. The book appeals to a broader audience by relating the religious meanings behind the song. Don't miss the scenes with the seven swans cavorting in a pool or the luminous angel carrying five golden rings on a cushion.

If you actually counted every idea this book suggests, you'd come up with loads more than 365, not to mention all the ideas of your own it inspires you to come up with! Entertaining, gift suggestions, wrappings, decorating, addresses for mail-order companies, recipes & lots more, all in one book. This is the book I've been wanting for years

I bought this book about 10 years ago, when I was first setting up my own house for Christmas. I read it cover-to-cover as soon as I got it, and have referred to it periodically since then. Many of the ideas aren't my style, but even those get me thinking, and there are plenty of other ideas to use/adapt.

There are no pictures to inspire, but the writing is crisp, the ideas are good, and the text is easy-to-read. The chapters cover:

Getting ready throughout the year
Preparing/buying gifts, wrap, cards, etc. (including food gifts)
Decorating the home/garden
The tree
Entertaining (including recipes)
Traditions

Some of my favorite ideas/recipes are the "Braided Wreath for Birdies" (a bread wreath with birdseed), "Winter Wonderland Centerpiece," and an never-fail party favorite, "Chocolate Indiscretions" (not quite a sin, just an indiscretion). I've considered picking up this newer edition to check for updates and new ideas -- and just because my paperback one is falling apart.

Divided into 3 liturgical sections: 1) Advent, 2) Christmas, 3) Epiphany... this is a really cool book (printed in RED ink!). Fabulous ideas for making your holiday season, as an individual, but most especially as a family, truly something to remember. How to create memories that will last a lifetime. Really.... I don't think I'm gonna sell my copy it's so cool!

This author divides up the Christmas season into it's three distinct parts: Advent, "christmastide," and epiphany, in keeping with the religious significance of Christmas. The focus is on the birth of Jesus and less on the commercially-driven tradition of Santa Claus and the buying frenzy. There are many practical and simple ideas for family and friend celebrations and get-togethers as well as quiet, reflective Christmas traditions. It provides lovely substitutes for all of the frenetic Christmas obligations that seem to permeate the season.

My 6 year old daughter recieved this book for christmas and as a rule, I try to read each book myself, before reading it to her. Well, being the sensitive kind, I cried...twice! Please, don't NOT get this book, thinking that it is too sad. My daughter loved it! And she did not cry, but more importantly she asked questions about Pequele's life. (ie: "What is the plague?", and "Why was that monk mean to Pequele?", "Is Pequele an angel now?". This opened doors for me, on subjects that every child eventually arrives at. I feel that this book touches more than the heart. It tells a child that he/she can endure through even the hardest of times. It shows them that, even though there is death, there is learning. I also felt that it was more spiritual than it was religious. To me, this is very important, in showing the world to my very observant 6 year old. Trully deep.

I read The Acrobat and The Angel to my 3 year old daughter last night. It moved me to take action. 1)I am sending the book today to my best friend in Texas who has just lost a close family member. I hope it will help heal her heart. 2) I am getting my own copy of the book (we had gotten it from our library). and 3) I am going to tell lots of folks about the book. The Shannon brothers are wonderful. Both the story and the illustrations are touching. I dug in to all the illustrations to see the symbols used in the frames for each page - very telling! I also noted the two pages without frames and thought about what David Shannon was saying, putting his drawings there without "limits". Get it! Read it! Give it!

This book, Advent Anticipation: Drawing Nearer to the Christ-Child, was a great help for our family. It allowed all of us (of differing denominational backgrounds such as Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican & Baptist) to all draw together during the Christmas season. There was nothing denominationally to offend any of us, yet it brought us together spiritually at a time when this was expecially yearned for and needed. Some of us actually reread the book after Christmas. We didn't want to stop. It has many insights not readily available elsewhere.

 

 

 

Regardless of a person's denominational preferance (or lack thereof), if you'll just slow down long enough to spend a few moments daily within these pages, you'll be blessed. Ms. Conte's methods of providing daily devotionals that are biblically sound yet personally applicable allows for the quiet reflection time we all need, especially during this busiest of seasons. Here's what Pastor Peter Kelsall of the United Kingdom said about the book: "In season, the scriptures and meditations will warm your heart, broaden your thinking and help you keep the true meaning of Advent and Christmas in perspective. Out of season, there are depths here into which you can dip and be refreshed in your daily journey with God."

These conversations can work in almost any setting. The simple conversation style helps highlight the meaning of advent in today's world...and it's great having one resource that covers all three years of the lectionary cycle.

This book comes in extremely handy for a busy Advent season. The dialogues are easy conversations between friends and relates the day's scripture lesson to today's life. It brings a different perspective and understanding to the lighting of the Advent wreath.

It says much for the sport of Scuba Diving that I remain as excited about my diving as did on that day when I first plunged into the wintry waters of Strangford Lough over 26 years ago. When not underwater, however, one of the most exciting and pleasing aspects of being a "Professional Underwater Photo-Journalist," is researching the many shipwrecks available to Scuba Divers throughout the world. A single good shipwreck can change the economic fortunes of either a small Caribbean country or improve those of a more wealthy country on the other side of the globe. Not only that, I just enjoy telling their stories.

A wreck-dive is, of course, much more than an ever-deteriorating pile of metal found underwater. This is a dive with a tale to tell and is often a brush with history. After all, apart from a few famous ships, very few historic vessels are ever preserved - so it is only underwater we get to see that which remains.

Conway Maritime Press are a leading authority on ships and several of their now out-of-print books have provided me with sources of reference for many years. I only wish I had come across this particular book before today.

"The Advent of Steam - The Merchant Steamship before 1900" is the fifth title in an ambitious programme of twelve books and measures approx. 12" x 10". The book is a limited edition of 2000 copies and is hard back. The list of contributors is impressive in itself - especially as they are headed by none other than Dr Basil Greenhill - former Director of the National Maritime Museum.

As one would expect from a book with such impeccable credentials, it is extremely well researched and well put together. Easy to say, I know, but this is evidenced by a continual cross-reference to their own sources coupled with the reproduction of a great many historic photographs, diagrams and cross-sections of various ships and machinery - all of which bear testament to the painstaking work that has gone into checking and double checking every single entry.

As the title suggests, this is a book about that fascinating time when the ship evolved from sail to steam power. It is about the people who made this possible and their designs. Many of the vessels were the leading-edge technology of the day - either because of their hull design or the revolutionary (no pun intended.) machinery installed within.

There are, of course, far too many ships to mention by name here - but several are of particular interest to the Scuba Diver, not least of which are the Carnatic, Royal Charter and Orinoco - to name but three.

This is an immensely readable book and one that is a "must" for any serious historian - be they amateur or professional, but get in quick - it is a limited edition and copies are selling fast.

NM

I am a great lakes shipwreck diver who is interested in understanding the history of the ships I dive on. I am also a mechanical engineer. This book presents a lot of details on the technology of steam ships as well as the economic imperatives that drove that technology. While great lakes shipping is not specifically touched on in this volume, much of the designs and equipment made their way on to the ships of the inland seas. It provides a compact, but detailed overview with lots of excellent illustrations and pictures.

Leslie Norris's book is excellent. I bought three copies... one for my nieces, one for my aunt, and one for myself! I was fortunate to hear Mr.Norris read the book, as well as read a rough draft he wrote that might soon be another Albert and Lucille story!! For anyone looking for the perfect holiday gift, Albert and the Angels is excellent! The writing is superb and the illustrations are fabulous. This book is HIGHLY recommended.

I have been waiting for this book to arrive for more than two years. Ever since I heard Leslie Norris read it along with his poetry I have waitied and waited for this book to be here so that I could read it at my family Christmas party. Unlike so many other things, my memory did not overshadow the real experience when the book finally arrived. After seeing the illustrations and reading the book for myself, I can forgive the publishers for the many delays I was made to endure. I read with renewed astonishment the wonderful prose of Leslie Norris telling the story of Albert trying to get his mother a special gift for Christmas. I fell in love with children's stories once again.

Once every now and then, a book comes along that you are just dying to share with your friends and family. This is such a book. Norris has a beautiful ear for the way children speak and an amazing imagination to see things the way children must. I say this because it is remarkable how close his words come to the way my own son speaks and plays.

Albert and the Angels makes you believe in a world of magic and inspiration. The words and the illustrations make for a wonderful evening with your children. I cannot praise this book enough, so you will have to see for yourself what I am talking about.

The magic of Christmas Eve is told in a simple
rhyming tale of an old fashioned Santa in a new
fashioned sleigh. Only one gift is shown
and that is from the friends of PV,
given to Santa. A story that must be shared with all the children (young & old). Note the snow, in all its shades of white to blue. If you wonder if there can be a fresh new tale of Christmas, read this and know that there can be.

The magic of Christmas Eve is told in a simple
rhyming tale of an old fashioned Santa in a new
fashioned sleigh. Only one gift is shown
and that is from the friends of PV,
given to Santa. A story that must be shared with all the children (young & old). Note the snow, in all its shades of white to blue. If you wonder if there can be a fresh new tale of Christmas, read this and know that there can be.