A Good Radio Host Makes Listeners Feel As Though They Are Part of an Intimate Conversation, No Matter How Big the Audi- a Good Radio Ence

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ers to share their own short and true anecdotes. You’ll snicker at “Self-Inflicted Hit and Run,” reflect on life lessons with American Icons “Meeting the Queen,” and be moved by reviewed by Otto Selles “Vimy Ridge.” It is a truth universally Then McLean shares an essay about acknowledged among joggers, everyday life. He’ll talk about his lost businesses travelers, and to-do list, praise the sport of curling, or insomniacs that an iPod write an ode to the potato. In these light- loaded with intelligent and hearted monologues, he includes local entertaining podcasts is a details, celebrating places like Sault Ste. marvelous possession. If you Marie, Mich., or Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. are looking for something new, Recently, he’s selected and revised an try the “American Icons” series entertaining collection of these essays in presented by Kurt Anderson’s The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks (Viking). Studio 360. The series profiles His eclectic taste in music is also a everything from literary works highlight of his shows. McLean’s musical (The Great Gatsby, Moby Dick) friends join his tour, including guitar to historic sites (Jefferson’s Il i a Horsburg legend Randy Bachman as well as up- Monticello, the Lincoln Stuart McLean likes the inconse- and-comers like The Wailin’ Jennys, Dala, Memorial) to American pop quential. The motto of his radio show, and Matt Andersen. culture icons (Buffalo Bill, “The Vinyl Cafe,” is “We may not be big, Every time “The Vinyl Cafe” goes on Harley-Davidson, Barbie). The but we’re small.” The bestselling Canadian tour, McLean writes a new “Dave and documentary style is lively and author shares big truths hidden in the Morley” story. Listeners enjoy the folksy amusing, offering fresh per- small things. way he reads them, and his 10 short story spectives on American society. But McLean’s storytelling tours sell collections are full of everyday mishaps. (Free on iTunes or at www. out to large and small theatres across Dave, the owner of a secondhand record studio360.org) North America, and the beloved “Vinyl store, is a decent guy who can’t seem to Cafe” radio show from the Canadian keep himself out of trouble. Dave’s wife, Broadcasting Corporation continues to Morley, their children, Sam and Stepha- grow on public radio stations in the nie, and others show up in the stories. United States, on Sirius channel 137, on They might be exploring do-it-yourself podcast, and online. water slides, toilet training their pets, or Each radio show starts with McLean’s cooking the Christmas turkey. story exchange, an opportunity for listen- A good radio host makes listeners feel as though they are part of an intimate conversation, no matter how big the audi- A good radio ence. Radio and fiction are personal media. McLean brings listeners and read- host makes ers to laughter, tears, and reflection. That listeners feel as makes Stuart McLean a friend. n though they are part of an Ron VandenBurg is a Christian school teacher and a theatre intimate and media buff. He is a member of Jubilee Fellowship CRC conversation. in St. Catharines, Ontario.

22 THE BANNER | July 2011 | www.thebanner.org Dancing with Max by Emily Colson, with Charles Colson The Lowdown reviewed by Sonya VanderVeen Reel Books: Feddema Barton Hollow Books hitting the When Emily Colson’s son Max was by the Civil Wars movie screen this reviewed by Robert J. Keeley diagnosed with autism, her friend said, month: Sarah’s “God works through these children. They are a gift. Max The Civil Wars is the singing/ Key (Weinstein), is a gift.” Consequently, Colson refused to allow labels like songwriting duo of Joy Williams Snow Flower and the Secret Fan “noncompliant” and “unteachable” to define Max. As she and John Paul White. Most of the (Fox Searchlight), Winnie the explains in Dancing with Max, she rejected the world’s s o n g s o n Pooh (Disney), and (in case “can’t do” list for him, and, with God’s help, met him Barton Hol- you haven’t heard) Harry Pot- where he was and joined him in his interests. In the pro- low, their ter and the Deathly Hallows, cess, Max became a teacher to many, including his mother debut album, Part II (Warner Bros.). and his grandfather, Charles Colson. (Zondervan) feature both of their Bright Idea: Owl The Hidden Reality voices inter- City follows up its by Brian Greene weaving with each other in hit electronica reviewed by Phil Christman Jr. subtle and effective ways. The album, Ocean Brian Greene is our generation’s Carl arrangements are sparse; featur- Eyes, with a sophomore effort Sagan: a scientific genius who happens ing White’s acoustic guitar with entitled All Things Bright and to have a gift for analogy and explana- other carefully added instru- Beautiful (Universal Repub- tion. His two previous books managed ments, the focus is on how lic). to be elegant, lucid, and funny about warmly the two voices connect. relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory; The The songs deal thoughtfully with Lion Shares: The Hidden Reality examines several possible versions of the heartache and yearning in a way Lion Guide to the idea that our universe is only one among (or within) that isn’t trite or maudlin but Bible by Peter many. It’s only a little more confusing than an episode shows real people in real situa- Walker and The of “Fringe” and even more entertaining. Buy it before tions. (Sensibility Music) One-Stop Bible the inevitable PBS miniseries. (Knopf) Atlas by Nick Page offer help- ful information in nicely Hundred More Years illustrated books. (Kregel) by Francesca Battistelli reviewed by Paul Delger And FYI: If you want more infor- Francesca Battistelli’s second album, Hundred More Years, offers catchy, mation about the light songs on themes like grace, love, forgiveness, and God’s goodness. land of the Bible, try Fol- Battistelli begins with an instant radio hit, “This Is the Stuff,” which centers lowtheRabbi.com, a website on the fact that God can use mundane incidents, like losing your keys, to from That the World May grow a person. She recently won the Dove Award for Artist of the Year for Know Ministries. her work on her first album, My Paper Heart. (Fervent Records)

Images of God for Young Children by Marie-Hélène Delval reviewed by Gwen Marra A metaphor is a powerful literary tool that brings readers to a deeper level of understanding. In this children’s book, Delval combines metaphors from the Bible with simple language to convey biblical truths about God. Each page contains words and images that encourage children to see God in their world. Families reading this thought-provoking text may enjoy writing their own metaphors about God or illustrating the metaphors from Check thebanner.org the text. This beautiful book could be read any time, but would be suitable for links to find out during devotions or as a bedtime read-aloud. (Eerdmans) more about these titles.