The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, Christianity
Length: 119 pages

Reviewed by: Emma Fitzgerald

In his book, The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, Patrick Kavanaugh examines the testimony of faith produced by twelve master composers of classical music. Beginning in the Baroque period with J.S. Bach, and ending in the 20^th century with Igor Stravinsky, Kavanaugh delves into each composer’s spiritual life and seeks to uncover how their daily lives, music and legacy were all shaped by their faith.

Kavanaugh handles the biographical genre admirably, managing to present a good deal of information on each composer while avoiding the textbook stuffiness often associated with facts and dates. His writing is clear, flowing, and extremely readable – the perfect vehicle for his obviously thorough research. He brings color and life to biographical fact with interesting narratives, and fleshes out his description of the composers with their own quotes, writings, and the opinions of their contemporaries. In addition, there are extensive footnotes on each chapter that encourage further study.

Morally the book is very satisfactory, as Kavanaugh strives to present an honest view of each composer’s spiritual life, specifically their profession of Christian faith. His balanced approach does not ignore or excuse instances of immorality (i.e. Franz List’s numerous affairs) or other inconsistencies between a composer’s profession of faith and personal life. However, he focuses his lens on the expressions of true faith and reliance on God found in the words, actions, and even music of these great men. The end of each chapter is a reflection on a particular virtue exemplified by each composer, such as humility, generosity, etc.

As a musician, music history enthusiast, and Christian, I deeply appreciated the fresh approach Kavanaugh took in examining these composers, particularly those whose faith has been disclaimed by many contemporary music historians. His conclusion rang true, that although none of these men were perfect, their spiritual walks are worthy of study and in some cases, emulation. It was inspiring to read of how J.S. Bach inscribed Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be glory) on many of his compositions (p. 13), and to discover that he was not the only composer to give God the credit for his incredible musical ability. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining more insight into the lives of these remarkable musicians and appreciating more fully the God who created them.

First We Have Coffee: And Then We Talk by Margaret Jensen

Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir
Length: 195 pages

Reviewed by: Elaina Westfield

Some travel the high road in the hills, from peak to peak, where light lingers longer. Some travel in the valleys where they walk in the darkness of their own shadow. Mama would choose to walk the high road with God.

In her book First We Have Coffee, Margaret Jensen remembers the person most central in her life: her Mama. As a young immigrant woman, Mama marries a minister and fellow Norwegian from the Baptist Mission in New York City. The call of the missionary preacher takes the couple, along with their growing family, on an itinerant circuit across North America, including posts in Wisconsin, Chicago, and the Canadian prairie. Although Mama would be content to settle in a house of her own, she chooses to follow the call, believing in her heart that “God never fails”.

The plain language and homey style of this book suit its purpose well. The reader often feels she is sitting at her grandmother’s feet, listening to tales of by-gone days, as familiar situations and characters develop naturally out of the simple narrative. The author also makes good use of symbolism that is straight-forward in meaning but deepens in poignancy upon reflection.

While the length allows this book to be read in a couple of afternoons, one might often pause to ponder the full message being presented in each anecdote. Many of the stories relate the experiences a pastor’s wife might face, such as troubled marriages, loneliness, homelessness, and depression. While the author does not shy away from these difficult realities, she keeps her remarks discreet and respectful of the persons involved; and every episode concludes with praise for the Lord’s unfailing provision in the lives of His people. In fact, one of the distinctive characteristics of Mama’s story is how even her simplest prayers (“Lord, it would be so nice to have ten cent’s worth of baloney”!) were often answered in the most unexpected ways. Most impressive was the unwavering strength of Mama’s faith. Although she struggled with many hardships and disappointments, she remained a dutiful wife, mother and servant of God. A favorite image of mine was Mama teaching her children hymns and Bible verses while she did the washing, ironing, and mending.

I found this book to be more of a challenge to my walk with God than at first expected. More than just a collection of heart-warmers, the moral of every story is to follow God with a willing heart of faith.

Note: Margaret Jensen is the author of several books, including Then Comes the Joy and Papa’s Place.

1776 by David McCullough

Genre: Non-fiction, History, Biography
Length: 386 pages

Reviewed by: Willow Locksley

“…When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” – The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

“The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.” - General George Washington, July 2, 1776.

In his Pulitzer Prize winning book 1776, author and historian David McCullough makes an engaging study of the individuals and events comprising one year of America’s War for Independence. Despite Congress boldly issuing the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776, McCullough shows readers how the year was marked by a string of shattering American defeats, as ordinary citizens rose up against one of the largest, best-equipped forces in the world: the British military. From the arduous climb up Dorchester Heights to Washington’s legendary crossing of the Delaware, readers will find themselves shouting “Huzzah!” for America’s early patriots.

With eighty-seven pages of source notes, this book is well-researched but not tedious. Readers will enjoy a steady trek through the events of 1776. McCullough keeps the story grounded with interesting looks into the lives of his main characters, among them George Washington, Joseph Reed, Nathanael Greene, Israel Putnam, and Henry Knox, along with the records of common soldiers. McCullough hardly makes a statement without backing it up with a quote from the diaries, letters and newspapers of the time. For those who like to put faces to the names, several glossy pages featuring beautiful color portraits are included.

America’s founders continually called on God for guidance and were quick to give Him the glory; and while McCullough makes no claim to Christianity himself, he doesn’t flinch away from including these passages in his book. Nor does he avoid records telling of an uglier side of the war. Occupying armies posed a real danger to the land’s inhabitants, and vile actions were attributed to both the American and the British sides. It is a story of fallible men doing extraordinary things according to God’s perfect plan.

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine, a prominent journalist in 1776. Sentinels froze to death on fifteen minute patrols during the harsh winter of that year. Shoes were scarce among the American troops, making it possible for the British to track them by the bloody trail left behind. This account of my forefathers’ struggles gave me a greater appreciation for my country and reminded me that, while freedom is precious and great courage is required to preserve it, it is ultimately God’s will that decides the fate of men and nations. Highly recommended.

Note: 1776 by David McCullough is also available in an illustrated & abridged edition.

Victoria and Albert: A Life at Osborne House by HRH The Duchess of York (with Benita Stoney)

Genre: Non-fiction, History, Biography
Length: 208 pages

Reviewed by Elaina Westfield

"I trust that God may bless this work and that we may live many happy years in the house, with our children and children's children..." - Queen Victoria

In Victoria and Albert: A Life at Osborne House HRH* The Duchess of York relates the previously untold story of the Royal Family at their private residence on the Isle of Wight. Desiring a retreat from public life, the young Queen and her newly-wed Prince search for a place to call their own. The couple find a home and much happiness at Osborne in the years that follow, preferring its domestic setting for the raising of their nine children and the entertainment of their special guests.

In this rare portrait of family life, the members of England's beloved royal household are revived with fresh insights into their relationships, dispositions, and dreams for the future. The author's passionate interest in her subject is evident in the thoughtful and captivating prose, as well as the beautiful illustrations and photographs found on nearly every page of this colorful book. The material is well-documented throughout, including numerous quotes from the journals of Queen Victoria herself.

The book’s focus on the importance of home and family in the lives of the Queen and her husband reveals strongly-held values often absent in aristocratic life. Various anecdotes highlight the compassionate and fun-loving nature of the Queen, and the personal involvement she and the Prince had in their children's nurture and education. After the Prince's death, however, the shadow which falls over Osborne demonstrates the negative impact that prolonged grief may have on a family and a nation.

A far cry from the dry knowledge presented in many histories, Victoria and Albert overflows with personality and real-life romance. The author's objective approach gives an authenticity to the story, making it all the more meaningful to the reader. As an introduction to the Victorian monarchy, or as a new look at an already familiar subject, this book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by this remarkable family.

*Her Royal Highness

Complications – A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande

Genre: Non-fiction, Medicine
Length: 269 pages

Reviewed by: Caliana von Lichtenstein

“Medicine is, I have found, a strange and in many ways disturbing business. The stakes are high, the liberties taken tremendous. We drug people, put needles and tubes into them, manipulate their chemistry, biology, and physics, lay them unconscious and open their bodies up to the world. We do so out of an abiding confidence in our know-how as a profession. What you find when you get in close, however – close enough to see the furrowed brows, the doubts and missteps, the failures as well as the successes – is how messy, uncertain, and also surprising medicine turns out to be.”

The pages of Complications are riddled with narrative accounts of daring surgical procedures, miraculous saves in the emergency room, mysterious diseases and their often misdiagnosed symptoms, as well as descriptions of the challenges health-care workers face on a daily basis. Throughout these narratives, Atul Gawande, a surgical resident, deals with some of the issues that surround the modern medical field. When is it appropriate to let students practice? Whom do they practice on? Shouldn’t every person receive the best medical care possible, and thus be only in the care of the most experienced surgeons, physicians, and nurses? How do we justify the use of human intellect and decision-making when sometimes machines make more accurate diagnoses? What actions should be taken against doctors who make mistakes? To quote Gawande: “As patients, we want both expertise and progress. What nobody wants to face is that these are contradictory desires. In the words of one British public report, ‘There should be no learning curve as far as patient safety is concerned.’ But that is entirely wishful thinking.”

Gawande’s writing style, far from being the brisk choppy method usually employed for surgical notes or doctor’s orders, is flowing and easy to read. He combines the riveting accounts of his years of experience in the medical field with his reflections on current issues – giving the book a fast-paced yet thoughtful tone.

Though he never claims Christianity, Gawande certainly appears to respect the sanctity of human life. Throughout the book, he wrestles with the idea that every life is precious and should receive medical care by the most experienced health-care workers – but that because of the way modern medicine functions, expertise is truly not possible in every case. To again quote Gawande: “We look for medicine to be an orderly field of knowledge and procedure. But it is not. It is an imperfect science, an enterprise of constantly changing knowledge, uncertain information, fallible individuals, and at the same time lives on the line…The gap between what we know and what we aim for persists. And this gap complicates everything we do.”

This book is written by a surgeon, and thus its fairly vivid descriptions of botched hip replacements, gastric bypass operations, gunshot wounds, and heart surgeries are not for the squeamish. However, for those searching for an exciting, informative, and often thought-provoking read on the complexities of modern medicine, this is certainly an excellent option.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

Genre: Non-fiction, Travel
Length: 207 pages

Reviewed by: Elaina Westfield

"The year began with lunch."

So begins A Year in Provence, Peter Mayle’s humorous account of his introduction to French country life. English by birth, Mr. Mayle and his wife relocate to the Mediterranean province, where they dream of experiencing Provencal culture in all its fullness. Before they have a chance to settle in, however, the peculiarities of local life take them on a journey they never imagined.

This light-hearted look at daily life in rural France makes a delightful read. The author’s talent for story-telling and incisive wit give character to the narrative beyond that of a simple journal. Personalities are as endearing as they are eccentric, while age-old customs are explored and celebrated with great enthusiasm. A strong peppering of French enhances the native flavor throughout.

The down-to-earth tone of the book is appealing, as it touches upon aspects of human nature and experience which are familiar to everyone, regardless of location. However, the author’s candid style does include the occasional off-color reference and some rough language. These references are generally mild and sometimes expressed in French.

I enjoyed this book immensely and would eagerly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in travel, culture, or simply being entertained by the eccentricities of the world. Provence is brought to life in its pages, and even now I feel drawn to enter into that world once more.

Note: A Year in Provence is followed by its sequel Toujours Provence.