Before I add my own commentary on this disc, I must make a nod to Mr. Hollingsworth's review. He has said much of what I feel about this music. What is left for me to comment on?...The beauty. The sheer beauty. Rarely have I heard such beauty. In his finer moments, Sir Malcolm achieves what few ever have (Mahler, Vaughan Williams, pehaps J.S. Bach). The slow movements of the fifth and sixth symphonies ache with wonder. Yet the work never degenerates into the ear candy that was so prevalent in late twentieth century British Classical music. This recording was made in the presence of the composer. Andrew Penny does and excellent job with the forces of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. The Naxos sound is excellent.

For my part, I eagerly look forward to hearing Mr. Penny's other Arnold recordings.

If I could make a wish and have any person or group of persons materialize at my bedside and sing me to sleep, it would be Kitka. Their music is so beautiful that there are no words. It is only to be experienced. So get it for yourself. Let this astounding music wash over you.

Praise God for this book. All too often what one hears as the "Christian" message is empty moralizing. Morals mean nothing if God does not have your heart. It is God's job to pursue us. Without having been seduced by God, we cannot give him our heart, much less our actions. Trying to live up to some external system of holiness only makes us better actors. Being swallowed whole by God's love is the only answer. A great book. (Further recommendations: the works of Brennan Manning, Rich Mullins, Robert Capon, Philip Yancey)

The Kodaly Quartet's playing of this music is insightful, incisive, emotional, and *gasp* duly romantic. This recording is at the top of my list for these pieces. Naxos continues to amaze me with talent of their musicians and the sound of their recordings. Get this disc.

I dare you to read Philip Dick and not have some portion of your thought changed. From the paranoid to the visionary and the beautiful, all of the elements of Philip Dick's greatness shine through in The Man in the High Castle. This is a bit of a historical "what if?" It is also a condemnation of true history. This book speaks to the rampant cultural imperialism of the Twentieth century. What a wake up call it is! I urge you to read it.

This book is the book to have if you once played, have been a fan of, or have fallen in love with the greatest game known to man--baseball. Some of the authors here surprised me (especially DeLillo). These pieces form a noble, moving whole (kind of stitched together--like a baseball). As is usual, the book (being a Library of America special edition) is sturdily built--built to last. Get this book.

It is bad enough that Dallas Willard has writen the same book four times. The shame of it all is that they get progressively duller. I believe deeply in a spiritually disciplined life (That is why I've slogged through his books). It is a shame that Willard makes it seem so DULL. He does make good points. Transformation is God's work. The disciplines just help set the table so God can come over and eat with us. Maybe Willard should get one of the Ghost writers the folks at Willow Creek and Jim Cymbala use. It'd make for a much more readable book.

Rich Mullins' music grew out of a heart that earnestly sought to be God's. Rich saw them largely as Christian entertainment. Yet as Jesus said, we know a tree by its fruit--and much fruit has come from the music of this remarkable man. Never Picture Perfect contains some of Rich's greatest songs. "First Family" was a song Rich wrote for his Mom and Dad on their anniversary. If it does not move you, nothing will. "The Love of God" is possibly the greatest song Rich ever wrote. "Somewhere" and "Bound to Come Some Trouble" are also up there in the pantheon of Rich's songs. Rich Mullins made some remarkable CDs in his time. Never Picture Perfect is as good as any of them. The greatest thing I can think to say about Rich or this disc is that he, like his parents, "worked to give faith hands and feet--and somehow gave it wings."

Ralph Fiennes is one of my favorite actors. Juliette Binoche is one of my favorite actresses. I really enjoyed Ondaatje's novel. Why then, is this movie so dull? Perhaps it suffers from trying to stick too closely to the half of the novel it tries to depict. Perhaps there is just a lack of chemistry between the actors (Defoe in particular lacks a necessary dangerousness). I don't know. I just know that I do not care for this movie. I suggest that you read the novel instead. Don't write off Ondaatje's work just because of this lifeless (though critically acclaimed) motion picture.

"The Wounded Healer" is an unusually weak book from a wonderful author. In fact, it is probably the worst book Henri Nouwen ever wrote. Nouwen was an admirable, often very perceptive and moving author. Yet Henri also inhabited academia for much of his life. It shows here. Nouwen must have been locked in the ivory tower and forced to write "The Wounded Healer." There is no other explanation for this horrid book. It is so cut off from the humanity that characterizes his other, greater works. The Twentieth Century was indeed a bad time. Yet to simplify the concerns of modern man down to a fear of Nuclear-induced extinction is mere foolishness. To be fair, "The Wounded Healer" is not complete drivel. Yet, this book gets one star from me. It is the low point of all of Nouwen's works.