Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed But, At Times, Wonderful, September 29, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: At the Corner of East and Now (Hardcover)
Frederica Mathewes-Green's latest offering, `At the Corner of East and Now', is a sort-of sequel to her earlier brilliant book `Facing East'. Like `Facing East', it concerns the author's small Orthodox mission parish near Baltimore. While `Facing East' took the format of a chronicle of one year in this small parish, `Corner' takes a different perspective: that of the alternating juxtaposition of the timelessness of the Orthodox liturgy, on the one hand, with the `here and now' of contemporary American culture. This paralells the position of the Church itself - as existing at the same time in `chronos', or historical time, and in `kairos', or the Eternal Now. This is a creative but ambitious goal, and the results, while uneven, at their best are extremely well-done. The most compelling parts of this book, ironically, are those that deal with the author's observations regarding contemporary American culture and society, done in the form of episodic vignettes of slices of American life from the author's perspective as an Orthodox Christian. Fresh and interesting insights abound in these sections of the book, which are enhanced by the author's keen wit and smooth writing style. The author successfully portrays the truth that, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding, one can lead an Orthodox life in the midst of contemporary America - albeit with a certain perspective. The book is at its least satisfying in its discussions, often comparative discussions, of the similarities and differences between Orthodoxy and other Christian Churches. In these sections, it appears almost as if a different voice is speaking from that one we hear in `Facing East', and a surprising number of oversimplifications and derogatory remarks are parceled out to Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. One wonders, for example, whether it was really necessary for the author to describe the vision of Mary in traditional Roman Catholic piety as `helpless' or `vapid'. Similarly, descriptions of Orthodoxy are sometimes distressingly inaccurate (e.g., her contention that the famous interpretive canon of St Vincent of Lerins referring to consensus among the Holy Fathers implies that for Orthodox Christians `the faith consensus of the gathered community is our guide') and oversimplified. One senses that, perhaps, the views of the author regarding non-Orthodox Christianity have become hardened somewhat in the past few years. In any case, while there are mollifying passages toward the end of the book, the tone in several sections will make this book needlessly difficult for non-Orthodox to read and relate to, which is, in my opinion, an unfortunate shortcoming. But, in spite of these flaws, this book contains a lot of valuable and interesting insights and, at its high points, is excellent writing. Read it, even if you have to hold your nose at those points where she bashes your non-Orthodox beliefs.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A touching, exciting, educational, & very entertaining story, May 24, 2001
One of the back-cover blurbs for 'At the Corner of East and Now' describes Frederica Mathewes-Green as 'the Orthodox Erma Bombeck,' but I don't remember Erma Bombeck having anywhere near the spiritual insights, the writing style (both folksy and lyrical), or, frankly, the humor Presbytera Frederica displays in this book. For most Americans, even Christians, Orthodox Christianity is *terra incognita.* Mrs Mathewes-Green does an excellent job charting a path for us, leading us back and forth between the elements of the liturgy and the intersection of ancient Christianity and modern 'post-Christian' America. Along the way, we rediscover her parish family (many of whom we met in 'Facing East'), go into a women's prison with a group of post-abortion counselors, discover the perplexing world of 'Christian death metal,' and much more. It's an awful cliché to say, 'You'll laugh, you'll cry,' but there is a lot in this book that's very funny, and a lot that's profoundly moving (see, for example, the chapter titled 'My Father'). I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity. While not a definitive survey of Orthodox theology and practice (as no doubt Mrs Mathewes-Green would be the first to tell you), it is a grand portrait of how one individual's, and one family's, life is embraced by Eastern Christianity. I especially liked some of the incidental touches, quick little portraits of her family's three teenaged children, who have been raised much of their lives in Orthodoxy: the high school-aged son on the bus, reading a biography of St Theophan the Recluse; the oldest child defending Orthodoxy online and at her Roman Catholic college; and the youngest thinking a stranger must be Orthodox because he has a bumper sticker reading The Doors (the joke, actually pretty funny, is explained in the book). More than that, though, I would also recommend this book -- if I weren't libertarian I might even try to force the book -- to people, especially Protestant Christians, who don't know, or maybe aren't interested in knowing, that there is another, very different and yet strangely familiar and comforting, way to worship Christ, just on the other side of the 'denominational' divide. This, of course, is where many readers may become very uncomfortable with this book. America's dominant religious paradigm, of course, is Protestant, and perhaps its most visible religious 'subculture' is Evangelical Protestants. Mrs Mathewes-Green pulls no punches in comparing Evangelicalism and Orthodoxy -- for example, when she contrasts an Orthodox hymn ('Of the Father before the morning star thou wast begotten from the belly without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe thee to be created, not God, classing thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures...') with the nursery-rhyme music and lyrics of the Evangelical 'P&W' songs 'Mighty is our God!' and 'Celebrate Jesus!' She notes that a popular Evangelical hymn ends with the refrain '... and I long to worship Thee.' Quoting her husband, an Orthodox priest, Mrs Mathewes-Green notes that back when they were Protestants, they, too, longed to worship God. The truth was, they didn't know how, though they suspected it had something to do with emotion. But now, the longing has subsided, replaced by 'something that feels just right, like a key in a lock. ... I was made for this.' Even if this exciting, touching, educational book doesn't convert you to Orthodoxy, it's an encounter you're not likely to forget for a long time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Searching for Truth and Love, June 25, 2002
By A Customer
Frederica Mathewes-Green's book, At the Corner of East and Now" is a "good read": entertainingly written; delving into questions we all want answered [is there a God? if so, how do we approach Him? and what does He expect from us], questions so familiar that we respond, "Yes! That's just how I felt!"; introducing us to what may be a strange world; providing humor and information. Her gift for noting details brings to life scenes within the church and without; her ability to laugh at herself keeps her [and us] from getting bogged down into heavy theological discussions. I think in today's society there is a hunger for worship. Mainstream churches are good are offering teaching, fellowship, and entertainment -- but the sense of mystery and awe have disappeared. Ms. Mathewes-Green pulls us into the orthodox services and helps us experience those important two elements of worship. She also provides resources if you'd like to experience this yourself. I was a little put off by the switching between liturgical services and "everyday" vignettes. It's not that I didn't want one or the other, or disagree with Ms. Mathewes-Green's tacit assumption that our faith is to be lived out in everyday encounters [I do agree]. Rather, my criticism is the lack of transition -- the everyday vignettes read as separate columns/articles, which have been interspered, with no thought of continuity of the manuscript. That, however, is a minor drawback to an otherwise excellent volume. This book should be of interest to anyone interested in how eastern worship differs from western, or to anyone interested in vibrantly living his/her faith. I recommend it highly.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
