The Apple of His Eye (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

Although her husband Adrian is better known, Bridget Plass is an excellent writer too. She hasn’t published many books and most are out of print. But her first one, ‘The Apple of His Eye’ is still available. It’s one I read every few years during Lent, and I appreciate it very much each time. The last time I read it was in 2014.

There’s a picture on the front representing the Prodigal Son being welcomed by his father, as a parable for ordinary people being welcomed by God - and at the same time the image looks something like an apple. We use the phrase ‘apple of my eye’ to refer to someone precious to us, and that’s the theme of the book: that each of us matters immensely to God.

It’s set out as a series of short devotions: a Bible passage, a couple of pages of Bridget Plass’s thoughts and commentary, and a brief prayer at the end. The first section doesn’t seem, at first glance, to have anything to do with Lent - it looks at passages, mostly from the Old Testament, that explore some aspect of who God is.

The author’s commentaries on each passage are light-weight and entirely non-preachy. Many times they begin with a family anecdote, some of them involving her husband, or children; some of them relating to friends or people they had met on their travels. Each incident has a relevant point, or something which Bridget Plass realises as a result.

She recounts some of her own struggles, too, some of them quite severe as she brings up four children, and goes through some difficult times: financial difficulties, her husband’s serious depression, and then his sudden rise to fame as a writer. She’s refreshingly honest about how very difficult life can be at times, and how important it is to have supportive and non-judgemental friends.

As Lent progresses, the focus changes: to saying ‘yes’ to what God wants of us, whether it’s exciting or dull; and looking at some people who were ‘apples of his eye’. Then it moves in the last weeks to some of Jesus’ final discourses in the Gospel of John, and during Holy Week the story of the Passion, and - on Easter Sunday - the Resurrection.

I don’t read this book to find out anything new but to think again about God’s love, and what Jesus went through. I’ve been reading one small piece per day, as Lent progressed, and have found it encouraging and poignant.

Very highly recommended, if you'd like a few relevant devotional thoughts to read over a six week period. While the last week specifically refers to the events of Holy Week, the book could be read at any time of year.

Review copyright 2021 Sue's Book Reviews

Challenges of the Narrow Way (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

Years ago I came across Bridget Plass’s book ‘The Apple of His Eye’, a Lenten devotional study guide. I already knew and loved her husband Adrian Plass’s varied books, which combine humour with poignancy and some important messages. And I found Bridget’s book both inspiring and thought-provoking; so much so that I’ve read it at least three times.

I then discovered that she had written some other books, although they’re no longer in print. About three years ago I managed to find ‘Dear Paul… am I the only one?’ and thought that excellent too. So I was delighted when I finally managed to source a copy of ‘Challenges of the Narrow Way’, another of her works.

I hadn’t realised that this is another Lent/Easter study guide. When I started reading and realised that it was, I decided to keep reading anyway. The events of Lent and Easter are relevant all year round, even if they are more meaningful when the church is currently recognising the season. And I’m sure I’ll read this again before too long.

The format is simple: one short study for each day of Lent, with a brief passage of Scripture followed by Bridget Plass’s commentary, and a short prayer at the end. There is the bonus of a few poems by her husband too, all the more meaningful for being selected to go with the text of this book, and quotations from a few other authors too.

Once again I found the writing excellent, getting straight to the heart of each of the passages without any ‘preaching’. The author shares anecdotes from her marriage and family life, and also looks at what Jesus is saying in the Bible passages. As well as putting them into context, they are given a modern slant, suggesting where some 21st century Christians get wrong ideas, or suffer needlessly.

I read just one section - or sometimes too - over the course of more than a month, and each morning looked forward to a little more of Bridget Plass’s wisdom. I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone wanting short devotional passages to read in Lent - or any other time of the year. Apparently this was intended for group study; at the end there are some group questions, but they can be thought of alone, discussed with friends, or ignored.

All in all, I thought this excellent and hope it might be reprinted one day. It can sometimes be found second-hand online at a good price, but it's taken me a while; if you find it, it's well worth acquiring in my view.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's Book Reviews

Dear Paul...Am I the Only One? (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

Although her husband Adrian’s work is much better-known, and she has almost no internet presence on her own, Bridget Plass is a talented and thought-provoking writer too. Many years ago I bought and very much appreciated ‘The Apple of His Eye’, a book I have read as a devotional study three times over the past decade or so.

It was only recently that I discovered that Bridget Plass has written two other books, though I can’t find them anywhere in print. However, ‘Dear Paul…am I the only one?’ was available in Amazon Marketplace, so I recently acquired a copy, and then read it over the next few days. It’s not a big volume - only about 125 pages of paperback - but one which I found quite inspiring, and extremely interesting.

It’s written in an unusual way: as a fictional correspondence between people of a church and the Apostle Paul. Different members of a church have been struggling with some of Paul’s writing, and want to ask him questions - exactly the kinds of questions that I’ve heard many people, over the years, say that they would like to ask him.

There’s Madge, for instance, a retired headmistress who gets angry about the way Paul ‘counts everything as loss’. Or Jill, a perfectionist whose life is so busy with family and friends that she feels she cannot accomplish anything. And there’s Jerry, who asks why Paul gave the apparent restrictions on women in leadership. Some of the letters are somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but others ask serious and important questions.

The replies are, I thought, very cleverly composed. Paul, presumed sitting a table in his heavenly residence, replies in terms which reflect much of what he wrote, yet placing it in cultural context. The point is made, several times, that some of his admonitions and advice were written to specific people, and not necessarily intended for the worldwide church. In some letters - as with the one about women in leadership - there’s some historical context and explanation, the kind of thing that is often ignored by those who assume Paul’s letters can be taken as literal divine commands.

Fundamentalists and Biblical literalists might look askance at the book, which offers a variety of interpretations of some of Paul’s more difficult writing. But for those willing to look a little more closely at what was written, and the time in which it was written, this book could offer much to think about. It’s not an academic tome; the fictional and often light-hearted style ensures that it could be read by anyone with an interest in the topics.

I’d recommend this to anyone who would like to understand the New Testament better, and Paul’s writing in particular.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

The Apple of His Eye (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

Bridget Plass is married to the better-known Adrian Plass, but as this book shows she is also a talented and thoughtful writer. I first read this book in 2005, then - as it's designed to be a Lenten devotional book - re-read it in Lent of 2008.

Remembering that I found it helpful and inspiring, I decided to read it again over the past six weeks of Lent this year, one section per day starting on Ash Wednesday. Once again I enjoyed it very much and looked forward to each day.

The book looks at what it means to be loved by Jesus, in practical and ordinary ways. Starting with some Old Testament references, it then takes us gently through some events in Jesus' life, particularly in the final few months of his ministry. We look with fresh eyes at Mary and Martha, Jesus' close friends, and their brother Lazarus who was raised from the dead. 

Then there's a section about the most important Mary, Jesus' mother. Finally the weeks leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection, with an invitation to think more about what it meant to the early disciples, and what the relevance is for Christians in the 21st century.

I don't remember everything; but I know that I looked forward, each morning, to reading and pondering another brief section. Bridget's thoughts are appropriate for everyone, with a few anecdotes here and there and an overall sense of the immense and overwhelming love that God has for each of his children.

Highly recommended. Still in print in paperback, at least in the UK, and now also available in Kindle form.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

The growing up pains of Adrian Plass (by Adrian Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

I have thoroughly enjoyed many of Adrian Plass's books over the past fifteen years or so. The best-known is probably his 'Sacred Diary', and its sequels, all of which can cause me, even on re-reading, to erupt into chuckles. Plass has also written some more serious books, fiction and non-fiction, and I have found them, without exception, well-written, often moving, and with that vein of light-heartedness that can bring a smile to my face unexpectedly.

Of all his books, the one I remember with least enthusiasm is his autobiography, which was originally entitled 'Join the Company', but then reprinted as 'The growing-up pains of Adrian Plass'. Possibly I first read it shortly after the first 'Sacred Diary' trilogy, expecting more laugh-aloud humour, and was disappointed. Whenever it was that I first read it, it was more than ten years ago so I knew it was more than time for a re-read.

I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps my tastes have changed; perhaps it's just that I've read more autobiographies in recent years, and knew what to expect. Perhaps I simply wasn't expecting so much. Whatever the reasons for my change of heart, I thought it an excellent book: well-written, sometimes moving, full of relevant anecdotes and fascinating people, building up a vivid picture of this talented writer.

Adrian Plass writes in what might be considered classic British understatement, frequently using the excellent and oft-recommended method of showing scenes rather than telling in monologue. Unlike many contemporary biographies, he doesn't name-drop; he doesn't list his achievements or give any claims to greatness. Even when he became a household name in his region as part of a late-night TV chat show, he seems surprised - even a little embarrassed - when recognised in shops or other public places.

His childhood was not, by comparison to many current autobiographies, particularly dreadful. His father was strict and unpredictable, but young Adrian knew the strong and devoted love of his mother from a young age. He also knew how to escape into the world of books. He was able to develop an 'image' in his teens and early twenties, and he fell in love with a wonderful girl who became his wife.

It was only later on in his adult years, now father of three boys whom he loved with a passion, that his past caught up with him and his personality temporarily fragmented. He describes the dark days of his breakdown without self-pity, and gives much credit to those who helped him in various ways, most of all his wife Bridget.

I read this in a little under two weeks, just one chapter per day. I could have sat down and read it straight through, but preferred to enjoy it over a longer period.

I have no hesitation in recommending this little book to anyone - whether or not you have heard of Adrian Plass, whether or not you are interested in Christianity, or God. There's no preaching; indeed he's quite negative at times about the established church, and 'religious' people who spout clichés and refuse to admit to negativity.

I look forward to reading this again in a few years. Unfortunately it's now out of print, although it can fairly often be found second-hand, and is sometimes available in a volume with some of the author's other books.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 8th December 2009

The Apple of His Eye (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

It's hard to find anything online about Bridget Plass, except in conjunction with her better-known husband Adrian Plass. But she is a writer too, though not as prolific.

This book is a series of short devotional readings, intended to be used during the Lent season, culminating on Easter Day. However I first read 'The Apple of His Eye' back in October and November of 2005; about as far away from Lent as it's possible to get! Despite that, I found it very helpful and encouraging, so this year I decided to use it, as intended, during the pre-Easter season.

Once again, I thought it extremely good. There's no deep theology, but short, gentle comments on passages of Scripture appropriate for today's women. They're intended, overall, to show how much God loves each one of us - how we are all, in a sense, the apple of His eye.

The first section - covering Ash Wednesday until the Sunday of the third week of Lent - looks at some of what we can find in the Bible about God as Father. The second section, covering the next two weeks of Lent, looks in some depth at the family Jesus was so fond of - Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Then there's a week looking at Mary, the mother of Jesus, and some of what she went through as she saw her Son grow up and then die in a most appalling way.

Following that is a week studying some of the last things Jesus said to his disciples, and then finally the readings for Holy Week cover the events leading up to Good Friday, finishing with the relevant reading for Easter Day, and commentary on it.

Each reading is given in full in the book, and the commentary is no more than two sides of print for each one. They're ideal for daily readings, for people who want a thought for the day without anything too heavy. There are some anecdotes in places, where relevant; there are also meditations at times, helping us see more clearly the reality of some of the Bible stories. Throughout the readings is the overwhelming theme of God's love.

Recommended to anyone who would like to explore this theme a little more, or to anyone who isn't sure what it means to have God love them. Don't sit down and read the book straight through, though - it's definitely meant to be a one-a-day book, taking six-and-a-half weeks to finish.

Still in print in the UK, though apparently not in the USA.

The Apple of His Eye (by Bridget Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

'The Apple of His Eye' is a devotional book by Bridget Plass, wife of the well-known humorous Christian author Adrian. (A problem with being the wife of a more famous writer is that there don't seem to be any sites which focus purely on Bridget - the above link says very little about her, but is the best I could manage).

The book is a six-week focus on how much God loves us. It's designed as a Lenten devotional, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday; however I read it for the past six weeks, ending today.

It was a good book to take on our recent trip to the UK, and I was glad I did. I actually bought this a few years ago but never really got into it: probably because it's not designed to be read in one sitting, but one section at a time over a month and a half.

The Bible passages are short, the commentary not much longer but full of wisdom and insight. There are a few anecdotes, some of them quite moving, and lots of the author's thoughts and ideas. Through it all comes the over-riding awareness that God really does love us, culminating of course in the ultimate act of love on Good Friday around 2000 years ago.

Highly recommended.

(I've written a longer review of The Apple of His Eye here after re-reading it during Lent of 2008)