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Patterns | Book 1 | VESPERS: Ishmael's liturgy
Follow Ishmael along a journey of transformation and self discovery as he lives out the liturgy of his life. Vespers is the first of five books in the exciting Patterns series. Also discover the depth and beauty of the Coptic Orthodox liturgy, starting with this first book called Vespers.
- GenresSpiritualityChristian
226 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2023
14 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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December 17, 2024Novel with snippets of the richness of the Coptic Orthodox liturgical service intertwined. What’s not to love?!
I found myself hungry to attend liturgy every time I continued to read this book, and its reflections on various parts of the liturgy have helped me connect deeper and more personally during the service.
It took me longer to get into this series versus elements (another series by the same author), but once I got stuck in, it was hard to put down. (I also NEED to know what’s going to happen in part 2 like now!!! lol)
I found myself hungry to attend liturgy every time I continued to read this book, and its reflections on various parts of the liturgy have helped me connect deeper and more personally during the service.
It took me longer to get into this series versus elements (another series by the same author), but once I got stuck in, it was hard to put down. (I also NEED to know what’s going to happen in part 2 like now!!! lol)
March 10, 2024
Amazing book. Took me longer to ‘get hooked’ on it compared to the previous books written by the same author, but once you do, you still don’t want to stop reading.
Interresting links with the liturgy (vespers)
Can’t wait for the next books!
Interresting links with the liturgy (vespers)
Can’t wait for the next books!
April 24, 2024
A breathtaking work that manages to beautifully weave the liturgical text with a thrilling narrative, the lives of the saints and the Synaxar, the Coptic lectionary, scripture, and church tradition. It’s an excellent work to restart or boost your spiritual life, giving you a sampling of flavors within the Church. I finished this book with a smile and tears, feeling warm and fuzzy inside. This is arguably my favorite of Abouna’s works. My only criticism is the ending cliffhanger… the next installment cannot come faster.
February 9, 2024
The nuggets found in here are treasures
December 31, 2024
I actually really wanted to like this book. I loved the concept, I loved the exegesis of the liturgy and prayers of the veil. I loved the references to the Coptic Orthodox faith and mysticism. I loved the references to the internal state of the Clergy as they pray the mass. I loved the Biblical references and references to theologians and saints across the years.
Unfortunately as with the previous book, the author is extremely proficient at describing Coptic Orthodox faith, tradition and history but he is extremely less proficient or fair when it comes to other cultures and faiths. The presentation of Islam and Pakistani culture in this book is frankly completely unfair and off putting. It verges on bigoted. I have often read books by Middle Eastern Muslim authors and thought 'what an inaccurate portrayal of Christianity and Christians', Alaa Al Aswany being a good example. This book is equivalent if not worse. The weird thing is, it was completely unnecessary to the crux of what the book is trying to get across. We get a man who is happy his wife is dying because he will get to marry four women, wanton a reckless violence in the name of maintaining religious propiety, sexual violence and murder based on a girl wearing trousers, a sheikh who forces a child to drink camel urine to get rid of a Djinn (no, there are no hadiths or quran references to support this). I get the idea of contrasting Islam and Christianity, but I feel like if you are going to present other faiths, you should try to do so as fairly as possible.
On top of this, the book is corny. It gives 'and they all clapped and cried' energy. Jesus and Mary appear frequently in the book as characters, which is cool I guess but I've yet to meet them personally in the physical form and that's the same with most of my friends. It doesn't make for good realism at all.
again, I liked this book but if the author is going to continue labelling philosophy as 'egotistical self love', yoga as 'paganism' and Islam as... Whatever this was, perhaps it's best he sticks to just focusing on a coptic stories.
Unfortunately as with the previous book, the author is extremely proficient at describing Coptic Orthodox faith, tradition and history but he is extremely less proficient or fair when it comes to other cultures and faiths. The presentation of Islam and Pakistani culture in this book is frankly completely unfair and off putting. It verges on bigoted. I have often read books by Middle Eastern Muslim authors and thought 'what an inaccurate portrayal of Christianity and Christians', Alaa Al Aswany being a good example. This book is equivalent if not worse. The weird thing is, it was completely unnecessary to the crux of what the book is trying to get across. We get a man who is happy his wife is dying because he will get to marry four women, wanton a reckless violence in the name of maintaining religious propiety, sexual violence and murder based on a girl wearing trousers, a sheikh who forces a child to drink camel urine to get rid of a Djinn (no, there are no hadiths or quran references to support this). I get the idea of contrasting Islam and Christianity, but I feel like if you are going to present other faiths, you should try to do so as fairly as possible.
On top of this, the book is corny. It gives 'and they all clapped and cried' energy. Jesus and Mary appear frequently in the book as characters, which is cool I guess but I've yet to meet them personally in the physical form and that's the same with most of my friends. It doesn't make for good realism at all.
again, I liked this book but if the author is going to continue labelling philosophy as 'egotistical self love', yoga as 'paganism' and Islam as... Whatever this was, perhaps it's best he sticks to just focusing on a coptic stories.
November 11, 2024
great book
A remarkably unique approach to presenting the church's rituals. It's impressive how the writer seamlessly links the story with the rituals, creating a powerful and engaging narrative.
A remarkably unique approach to presenting the church's rituals. It's impressive how the writer seamlessly links the story with the rituals, creating a powerful and engaging narrative.
March 9, 2024
This book had the perfect balance of orthodox rites, dogma, and emotion. I find it refreshing to read a spiritual book that tells a story from time to time.
October 26, 2024
Another home run in the Elements series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews