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6 books from around the globe
Travel should be a part of one’s life – it is a way of growing and knowing what’s out there. But not everyone has the luxury of being able to travel to different places, which is why SPCK has chosen five personal accounts (and one biography) that explore the experience of travel.
1. Shandong: The Revival Province – Paul Hattaway
How did Christianity become so important in Asia? In this extremely insightful narrative, Chinese Church expert Paul Hattaway explores the ways in which the eruption of Christianity occurred in China’s ‘Revival Province’, known as Shandong.
2. Johann Sebastian Bach – Andrew Gant
This ‘very brief history’ to the German composer will be invaluable to any classical music connoisseur, offering an authoritative understanding into his life that explores his historical, cultural and musical legacy that is still relevant to this day.
3. Cycling out of the Comfort Zone – Charles Guilhamon
A moving account of two young men of faith fresh out of university, they are inspired to travel to various Christian communities on their bikes, where Christianity is far from being the norm. This book will be a source of motivation for those wanting to explore the outside world in cultures that are anything but similar to the West.
4. They Called Us Love – Deborah Meroff
In a remarkable biography of love and perseverance, April Holden travels to the most war-torn countries in North Africa to work with the poorest of the poor whose first-hand experiences are told in the most candid way.
5. Midwife of Borneo – Wendy Grey Rogerson and Barbara Fox
‘The girl with a faith that surmounts jungle perils.’ The year is 1959. Newcastle nurse Wendy Grey leaves her comfortable life to pursue one of compassion by running a clinic in a place so remote that no one had ever seen a white woman before. This mesmerising book tells the tale of a Geordie whose life is transformed.
6. Solitude – Terry Waite
‘During a prolonged period of solitude, one experiences time differently from the way it is experienced in normal life. It is not easy to describe how this feels.’ Terry Waite was held hostage for five years and spent nearly four in solitary confinement. In this book, he gets to know other people and to understand their reason for choosing a life of solitude. He travels to meet them and to share their stories. Some people prefer to be alone, to choose solitude.
So if you're looking for a gift for someone you know who loves travelling but finds it difficult to get away, why not surprise them with something from our selection?
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