by Anthea Dove

I wonder how many readers are aware that the author of ‘Jesus Christ the apple tree’, Anthea Dove, lives in the north of our diocese and is already many times a published author. As soon as I picked up her new book, I knew I would love it.

The picture of the apple on the front cover – the sort of apple we used to know before they began to be offered all shiny and leafless in the shops – filled me with pleasurable anticipation. I knew it would speak to me in familiar language, with story and lived experience.

Divided into almost 60 very short sections, all reflecting on the many different ways we see Jesus and interspersed with poetry and prayers, the book can be used in different ways, as daily meditations, or as the basis of liturgies which precede different meetings of groups such as justice and peace groups, Bible study groups, support groups of all kinds or just prayer groups. I was so captivated by it, I read half the book at my first sitting! The text is only 124 pages long so that is not an amazing feat, but actually I found it hard to put down.

Why is this? I think it is the combination of a firm Scripture base and Anthea’s own experience which brings the Bible stories she uses to life. Though these stories may come from different parts of the world, they also come from her daily life with family and friends. Often she concludes a section by accusing herself of insensitivity, confessing to feeling shame or of needing to be shown the truth by a child or someone unexpected. It is easy therefore to put oneself into these stories and above all, to learn to know Jesus through the eyes of the people he cured, the people he talked to and the people he chose as his companions. There is so much to think about, so much to sustain one in this book. I hope it will be read by many people.

Publ: SPCK £9.99

Nan Saeki