Bonds Books

The late Adrienne Bond was a champion of poetry, particularly Southern poetry. Her own poems show why the poetry from her native region continues to be a vital part of our national literary heritage. Bond brings to her own sense of place all the love, passion, and verbal music that she can muster, giving us lyrical passage into the inescapable subjects of memory, time, and mortality. There is no heaviness in these poems, though, no brooding nostalgia; Adrienne Bond has a sense of humor: whether writing about a huge holiday meal (complete with item after delectable item on the table) or a poetry workshop infiltrated by one rebellious Agnes who keeps insisting on bringing roses into the author's poem, she charms us with her eye for the humorous, yet compassionate. detail. Her poems live in my mind, in my ear, on my tongue. What more could one ask of a book of poems?

"Time was, she declares" and "hard Times" are two of the best poems to come out of the south in years. The poems in this collection are quite diverse in style and content but all capture "the original of it, the real immediate thing." As Judson Mitcham writes in the preface: "her voices are authentic, her characters convincing, her landscapes vividly realized..."

This book helped me to identify forces that had been influencing me as I worked with patients -- forces I had been impacted by but which had remained out of my awareness...probably due to my need to survive in this era of managed care. I am grateful for the opportunity to look more deeply into myself and the work I do with patients, and realize that we have all been compromised by the managed care environment. Bravo to the courage of these authors to challenge us all.

This book is a major entry in the debate over managed care. In addition to its theoretical and historical chapters, it offers the real and complex experiences of seasoned clinicians wrestling with the juggernaut of managed care. And in so doing, it provides a significant source of learning for psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists entering the work force and for the supervisors and educators involved in their clinical training. This should be read.

L. Susan Bond's book, Trouble with Jesus: Women, Christology and Preaching, has been an important book for me. Perhaps the key insight I take comes from early in the book, with her highlight on the discontinuity between preached messages and the liturgies. Coming from a tradition in which liturgical flexibility and adaptation is not the norm, this is of concern to me, as it requires me to pay particular attention to the meaning of the words and symbols in the Eucharistic ritual with regard to the message intended by the sermon.

In her first chapter, Bond asks the question of how new theologies impact the local pastor. Bond emphasizes the difficulty for women simply being in the pulpit, much less trying to speak a new language to the congregation that they might resist regardless of who preached it. Exactly how preaching is theological is a difficult question, which Bond addresses through various lenses, highlighting the particular difficulties women have of dealing with male saviour, dealing with ideas of glorified victimisation, and difficult tasks of embodiment and relationality.

In her second and third chapters, Bond looks at theological/Christological frameworks historical and modern. Looking at historical theologies is important, so that present-day preachers can avoid the pitfalls of later layers of interpretation as well as mistaken notions of the writers due to their cultural influences. 'Women preachers canavoid reinscribing "special incarnation" status to the Jesus of the New Testament writings, since Jesus' ontological status was not a primary concern of the early writers. By avoiding the divinity problem, women preachers can also avoid reinscribing anti-Judaism onto Jesus.' (p. 46) In examining the modern theologies, Bond shows the contexts and the limitations many of them face. She highlights the lack of consciousness of other races in mainstream feminist thought, the latent anti-Judaism in Third World thought, etc. Her summary here argues for a Christology that takes a real world approach without settling for simple answers. She also warns against an always-changing and inconsistent approach. 'We can't use a Sophia Christology one week, an erotic Christology the next, and a Jesus-as-feminist Christology another time.' (p. 107)

In the fourth chapter, Bond sets out to provide a framework for the construction of a modern Christology that draws on resources from the past and speaks to the future. Acknowledging her cultural position and bias, Bond sets forward a series of questions that any should ask in constructing theological ideas:
· Is the image intelligible?
· Does this image enable transformative praxis?
· Is this image disciplined by historical data?
· Does this image affirm plurality?
· Does this image enhance the community's worshipful devotion?
· Does this image maintain the priority of God?
· Does this image trivialise or romanticise suffering?
· Does this image support any type of mind/body dualism?
· Does this image project a vision of the community's shared commitment toward the world that God so loves?

These questions are particularly important for constructing theologies and sermons that are accessible to women. These should not lead to an easy or simple solution. Using the idea of the theology of salvage, deriving from the same root but still different from the idea of salvation, Bond shows power present for preaching, yet this is not an easy task to develop. Certainly preaching is not ultimately meant to simply be a series of pleasing platitudes. 'Preaching is nothing more and nothing less than the invocation of the dangerous memory, the subversive presence, and the transformed future of the God we know in Jesus/Christ.' (p. 150)

In the final chapter, Bond examines the different practices of the church and community in light of her framework of salvage. Eucharist, baptism, hospitality, stewardship, etc. - all these are developed in this light, leading to her final statement: 'To follow the way of Christ is not primarily an exercise in the disciplines of individual perfection, but a headlong and risky communal commitment to the messy work of justice: a sign of the inbreaking basileia.' (p. 182) In all, Bond seeks to instill an importance for the true work of the church and the gospel message of justice through all people through some reasonably radical (if one may use that terminology) systems of thought. Wherever she teaches, the institution that receives her will be challenged and blessed.

I read this book as part of a project on Women in the Pulpit at my seminary; the recovery of women's voices in the church has been an interest of mine for some time (please see Saved from Silence: Finding Women's Voice in Preaching and Women - To Preach or Not To Preach; likewise Women's Ways of Knowing and In Her Own Rite: Constructing Feminist Liturgical Tradition are good resources). I was blessed to have a woman preach at my ordination; I have been blessed to have the support of many women prior to and during my ministry. These works go some way toward helping women to recover their own sense of vocation and ministry.

Finally, a smartly written and highly readable book for Christian preachers, teachers, and students of preaching that skillfully navigates the historical and contemporary cross-currents of theologies of Jesus, and then boldly wagers a homiletical Christology for the 21st century church.

L.Susan Bond spots, especially among women clergy, "trouble with Jesus." Uneasy with various historical interpretations of Jesus, women pastors (as well as men) have found it increasingly more difficult to relate the Jesus of scripture and church tradition to everyday human experience. The result has been sermons preached without Christ, an odd state of affairs for Christian preaching, or sermons that drift from one view of Jesus to another contradictory understanding.

The writer deftly explores contemporary women's responses to this theological problem with Jesus: how to preach and teach Jesus Christ today when so many interpretations of Jesus seem to reinforce gender, racial, cultural, and socio-economic injustice? Bond offers fresh readings of select feminist, womanist, sophia/wisdom, mujerista, African, and Asian approaches to Jesus Christ. She artfully evaluates these new direction in theology on the way to constructing her own compelling proposal of how, with intellectual integrity and worldly responsibility, the contemporary church can continue to affirm its faith and base its practices upon Jesus Christ.

Bond suggests the evocative Christological methaphor of "salvage" as one helpful way forward. She writes, "[T]he power of God in Jesus/Christ is the power to tenderly salvage what is salvageable, the power to be in solidarity with those who suffer, and the power to proclaim and to practice life in the midst of death." The people who practice this "salvage" operation in the world are the church, of course. The ones who by the power of Jesus Christ join hands in suffering and redemptive hope with those people who the powers of death routinely toss upon the trash heaps of the world. Bond salvages the real work of the church even as she outlines a Christology of salvage.

Don't be mistaken. Clearly Susan Bond understands the world of the academy and academic theology. But in this book she speaks to preachers who every Sunday climb into pulpits "smack in the middle of folks who have lost jobs, beaten their wives, lost children" and cast their votes for presidential candidates. She knows that Jesus Christ has direct bearing on this real world of the congregation. She offers challenging theological insight and sound rhetorical guidance for those preachers and teachers, women and men, who are honest enough to admit "trouble with Jesus," and who are faithful enough to seek some answers.

If you happen to be one of those people, grab a good cup of coffee, and read this book!

This book was written out of one of the most beautiful marriage experiences that I have ever witnessed. I have known the Saunders since 1968 and they have "lived out the experience of marriage according to the contents of this book.

Recently I read one of the best books on marriage I have ever come across. Over the past 27 years of my own marriage I have read and studied a great many books on this subject in a attempt to understand and improve my own married life. " The Unbreakable Marriage" by Rick Saunders is the most practical, hands on, right where you live discourses I have come across in many years. It is easy to read, and Rick's easy writing manner and humorous examples held my attention throughout the book. Rick and Gloria have vulnerably exposed their marriage foilbles and trials and allow us as readers to connect with people just like ourselves. Rick presents great examples of how to keep the passion in marriage burning brightly and ways to enjoy and appreciate one another's differences. This is definitely not your same old theme on marriage. This book stands out with a fresh, new outlook on maintaining and building a rock solid marriage. I know these folks personally and they live exactly what Rick has written. For sure I give " The Unbreakable Marriage" 5 Stars.

I am an afficionado of this period of music, and a bit of a 60's rock historian. Vic Flick's book is so revealing, exciting and a real page-turner. I must admit that, as an "expert," I was not aware of a good 80% of what was revealed. Great book! (Hey, let's get a cover photo, if only to see the guitar that Mr. Flick used to play "The James Bond Theme" and "Ringo's Theme") ! - R

This is a fascinating book concerning the life and career of a man who always wanted to make his living through playing the guitar. By no means a household name on either side of the Atlantic, we learn how Vic Flick nevertheless became the leader of the incomparable John Barry Seven and eventually *the* man to turn to for crucial studio recordings.

There is a vivid account of growing up in the UK during the Second World War, before a brief attempt at a non-musical career faltered when the lure of playing music professionally proved too strong. We re-live the days of endless, tiring, variety tours in the late fifties, leading to a meeting with John Barry on a Paul Anka tour which became the first big break for him when John later asked him to join the JB7.

There are tales of the nerve-wracking "live" performances on BBC TV's Drumbeat show - the series which introduced Adam Faith to the general public. Also the JB7 recording sessions at the famous Abbey Road Studios and at CTS Bayswater - where the original version of The James Bond Theme was recorded, and on which Vic played solo guitar. There is even an extract from his diary verifying the time and date on which the recording of probably the most famous film theme of all time took place!

The book is full of hilarious anecdotes of both off and on-stage antics at pop concerts, characters he worked with at recording sessions at virtually every studio in London, the idiosyncrasies of the powerful session "fixers", and meeting and working with star names at both recording sessions and on TV shows during his very lengthy career. There are also some poignant and moving moments, too, when we learn that the career of a freelance musician is not all roses, including the devastating moment when he eventually discovered he had been denied the chance to become "Britain's answer to Duane Eddy" when executives at EMI were told he was under contract to John Barry during the early sixties - which was not the case.

What is apparent throughout the book is the integrity and honesty of the writer, who has received total support from his family. If you want to read a factual and absorbing account of the life of a professional musician during the heady days of the fifties, sixties and seventies, this book is thoroughly recommended.

I read this book to my 2 and 3 year old children. We are expecting our 3rd child soon and my older child was entranced by the idea of what a belly button is. This was a great way to talk about the baby in mommy's tummy and also get an early intro to the idea that all mammals have belly buttons. My youngest loved the pictures, which are beautiful, and had fun pointing to the belly buttons on all the animals.
This book could be a lead-in to the "where do babies come from" question, but for younger children, it is nice just to teach them about belly buttons. I actually learned something too--whales have belly buttons! I had never really thought about it before. This is an enchanting book and not too "sciency" for little kids. We all enjoyed reading it over and over. I recommend it to all of my friends.

I read this to my 4 year old boy and he was totally engrossed in it. It provides a very natural springboard to other conversations regarding bodies, facts of life, etc. Plus the illustrations are great - good lines, colors. Multicultural and because it also shows other mammals, very attention-getting. Would recommend without hesitation.

From the Publisher: "Working Together" shines a bright line on group conflict and cooperation at a fundamental but understudied juncture in American social life: the workplace. Her study combines deep research and careful nuance with bristling insight and an accessible style that should attract a broad audience. For a host of reasons, American social analysts tend to minimize the importance of what happens at the job. "Working Together" is an important and impressive corrective."--Randall Kennedy

"WORKING TOGETHER is an original and important book. With eloquent prose, Cynthia Estlund convincingly develops the argument, based on a careful integration of empirical studies and social and political theory, that working together enhances inter-group relations in the long run. This book has enormous relevance for students concerned about the future of civil society, and will be widely discussed and cited for many years."

---William Julius Wilson, author of WHEN WORK DISAPPEARS and BRIDGE OVER THE RACIAL DIVIDE

Hilarious stuff. Cats are a pest, and a blight, with millions of the little bastiches going feral. They also destroy much of the native wildlife, both birds and animals. So, if more people could put some of these groundbreaking scientific ideas into practice the country would be a far better place. ROFL stuff.

This is a great biography on the life of Ian Fleming. It is interesting, informative, and gives you the real story behind this intriguing person. I did a project using this book and it was very helpful, I found all the information to be factual and backed up with proof. It is an interesting book for anyone who wants to know more about the creator of James Bond, or just read a great biography.

Amy's creative writing skills shine in the second installment to the Soul Seekers trilogy. A must read!!!