The Emmaus Readers: Listening for God in Contemporary Fiction (edizione 2008)

NCLA Review -Where can God be found in modern life? According to The Emmaus Readers, the answer is in contemporary fiction. The twelve novels considered in this book span a variety of genres: historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and graphic novels. The authors are: Ron Hansen, P.D. James, Mary Doria Russell, David Guterson, Nichole Mazzarella, Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner, Leif Enger, Yann Martel, Ian McEwan, Frederick Buechner, Oscar Hijuelos, and Olga Grushin. The reader will find a synopsis of the novel, biographical information about the author, a discussion of the main themes, questions for discussion, and a bibliography of other similar books. Integrative discussion questions about the novels and a bibliography are at the end. The book is designed primarily for reading groups, book clubs, and librarians, but individual readers looking for spiritual issues relevant to daily life will also find it a useful tool. Rating: 4 —AMB Paraclete Press 2008, 208p, 9781557255433, $17.95 [823] ( )

The Emmaus Readers, a group of Calivin College academics, met together in 2006 to read and discuss fiction "through spiritual eyes." This reading guide covers 12 contemporary novels of different genres. Most titles will be familiar e.g. Ian McEwan's "Atonement"; others chosen for award or genre may be new; e.g. 2006 Christy award winner Nicole Mazzarella's "This Heavy Silence". For each title there is a discussion, questions and suggestions for further reading.
The novels are grouped into four sections, each with an epigraph theme taken from a line in H. G. Spafford's hymn "It is well with my soul." In addition to discussion questions about each novel, there are discussion questions for each section and an overall set of general discussion questions at the end of the book . (e.g. How do stories in novels function as real spiritual disciplines for us? )
Significant novels discussed (not already mentioned):
"Mariette in Ecstasy" (Hansen) , "Children of Men" (James), "The Sparrow and The Children of God" (Russell), 'Snow Falling on Cedars" (Gutterson), "Peace like a River" (Enger), "Life of Pi" (Martel), Godric (Buechner), Mr. Ives' Christmas" (Hijuelos).
Good selections for discussion of Christian spirituality. ( )