What's Big and Small on the Shelf?

The answer is the title of the book I started this week:

When People are Big and God is Small - Edward T. Welch

This is the same author of Depression: Looking up from the Stubborn Darkness and also one that I have read and enjoyed before. The main subject is the fear of man - how the way we live is shaped by fearing people rather than God. I remember it being very relevant so I'm looking forward to revisiting it. 

Sofa Spotlight - Cards on the Table, Agatha Christie

I had a lot of fun reading this. It is very short, just over 200 pages and I would recommend trying to read in one or two sittings. The one thing that I did find was that it had a very exciting beginning, had a brief lull (possibly caused by where I decided to break off reading) and then got exciting at the end again.

So it starts off with a man who claims to collect murders. Yes I bet you are looking as baffled as I was when I first heard/read it. But it's true he claims to work out people's secrets and enjoys spending time in their company. Problem is he gets murdered while sitting in a room with four people playing bridge - one of whom is the murderer and the other three saw nothing.

Could be an impossible crime for Poirot to solve. All I'm saying is that it was brilliant. Health warning - don't read it before bed, work or any important important. You will neither sleep or be on time. I nearly didn't get off the train at the right time, because, well, there is always time for one more page!

Cards on the Shelf

So only one book started this week but it looks good:

Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie

Loving Agatha Christie at the moment, and this is one that I have never heard of before. I've heard claims that it was her best work so I look forward to reading it. I also love that it starts by saying that Hastings found the case boring when he heard it.

Sofa Spotlight - Depression: Looking up from the Stubbon Darkness, Edward T. Welch

This may not be your choice if you are looking for some light reading before bed. But that isn't a reason not to read it. Nor should you not pick it up if you don't suffer from depression or know anyone who does (but I imagine people in that last category are few).

So why would you read it? Well it has an obvious audience in those who have depression and their friends. And I think for that it works really well. It is a book you can work through together or alone, and Welch's purpose is to move your eyes from the depression and point them at Jesus. From there you look at depression and all that comes with it from the point of view of knowing who you are in Christ.

And it is that view point that makes this book valuable to everyone. It teaches you how to understand emotions in the light of the Bible and our current position before God. When you realign your vision you see life differently. 

There is nothing harsh or unfeeling in this book. It is written by someone who cares about those who suffer from depression and who understands that it is not an easy battle.

Sofa Spotlight - The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie

I was looking forward to reading this book because of the memories I have of watching the TV adaptation. It was good, I was hooked, intrigued and also a little bit scared. (In fact it wasn't long after this that I wasn't allowed to watch murder mysteries on TV because I was too scared to sleep afterwards.

This one is different because the murderer is a serial killer, seemingly selecting his victims at random. It's a race against time for Poirot and the police to find and stop them. Hastings is the main narrator, which of course is funny, but there are some chapters that are told with someone else's voice. And they are creepy. True shiver down your spine stuff.

I say that the victims are selected at random, but actually it appears that their locations are taking from the ABC Railway Guide. A copy of which is found at each murder scene. Murder one is A and the B and so forth. It's a clue but it doesn't really help.

It's a fun book, I loved it and it wouldn't take you long to get through it.