Kirjahaku

The book begins by exploring a number of signposts in psalms' scholarship which alert us to the value of psalms as a form of prayer. The particular focus is lament psalms, and their potential as a form of prayer for people engaging with distressing experiences in life. What follows, is a discussion of lament as a process and the areas of potential change for someone who uses these psalms for prayer. The final section of the book includes stories of several people who prayed some of these psalms over a period of time. It explores their responses and reflections in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of praying psalms such as these. The book culminates with a chapter which invites the reader to pray some psalms of distress themselves with notes suggesting an appropriate ritual to follow and some ideas for further exploration. 'David J. Cohen's book, Why, O Lord?, provides a wonderful, comprehensive view of the psalms of lament. It is an encouragement to all Christian traditions to look with fresh eyes on the psalms as prayer, and particularly the psalms of lament, as our suffering, and the suffering of many in our world, needs the language to cry out to God in times of darkness. The psalms express every human emotion and use a strong confidence that we can cry out to God, and that God will hear our suffering, and that transformation is possible. Bringing the psalms of lament into ritual, so aptly described by Cohen, brings a new dimension to worship, both personal and communal. This book is an excellent academic and pastoral addition to our knowledge of the psalms.' Angela McCarthy, lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia: National President of the Australian Academy of Liturgy

This exceptional book explores our understanding of the Psalter as a book of prayer in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It focuses in original and helpful ways on the genre of Lament as a text medium through which personal distress can be engaged with and processed in the action of prayer, and explores some of the psychodynamic shifts which can occur for people praying in this way, providing some actual case examples of the process at work. The author provides a thorough examination of the lament genre found in the Psalter from a theological perspective and also offers a practical working model which could be incorporated into work with people who are suffering from distress in a variety of forms.

All I'd wanted for as long as I could remember was a woman to love, a soulmate to live with in contentment for the rest of my days: friend, lover, companion, mother to our children.Time was running out: I was getting old. Next year I would be eighteen. Barry Goldman is a sensitive boy. He's being primed to run the family business but has discovered a talent for making audiences laugh at his silly poems. At last, he has found something that might make him attractive to girls - in particular, Harriet Fink - but there's not much call for delicate, earnest poets in the 1970s comedy world of hot-panted dolly birds and battle-axe mothers-in-law. Then one night he sees Kris Dean on a stage in Edinburgh and understands that the world of comedy is about to change forever. Stand Up, Barry Goldman - like Elena Ferrante, but with jokes - is the debut novel of David J. Cohen, stand-up comedian and writer best known as the creator of dozens of songs for multi-BAFTA winning hit TV show Horrible Histories, and less well known as lead singer in the world's first Jewish heavy metal band, Guns'n'Moses. "Funny and fascinating, a lovely tale" Jo Brand"Powerfully funny, often moving... Dave has created the Jewish Adrian Mole of alternative comedy." David Quantick"In the last anxiety-making days of lockdown Dave made me laugh out loud from the first few pages. This novel about the world of stand-up comedy is funnier than the real thing." Linda Grant "Evokes all the tension of doing your first Edinburgh Fringe but without incurring the life-changing overdraft" Jack Dee

'Painfully accurate and hilariously hopeless - a definitive 80's Stand-up comedy period drama - pain is funny and so is this ...' Helen Lederer1981: it's the early days of alternative comedy and Barry is right in the thick of it with Harriet, the love of his life.In the hilarious follow-up to Stand Up, Barry Goldman, Barry still wants to be a comedian but comedy has other ideas - which is how he ends up as a trainee journalist on the Rotherham Times.Comedy careers forward without him, soon he is further from his dream of stand-up stardom than ever.He throws himself into the world of journalism and the arms of fellow trainee Sharon but continues to be lured by the glamour of fame and fortune. What's it to be? Fighter for the truth or the glory of the love of the crowd?Sooner or later he'll have to choose.Stand Up, Barry Goldman**** Chortle"Funny and fascinating, a lovely tale." Jo Brand"Powerfully funny, often moving. Dave has created the Jewish Adrian Mole of alternative comedy." David Quantick