Ripening harvest, homecoming – reading to prepare for Advent

Lavinia Byrne
13 November 2025, The Tablet

UNSPLASH: MAX BECK

The seasonal practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are covered by a variety of books.

For prayer, turn to two books from experienced practitioners. Margaret Somerville’s When Prayer Doesn’t Work (Wild Goose Publications, £12.99; Tablet price £11.69) combines old and new answers to the question “Why pray?” Old, insofar as she rehearses arguments from eastern and western sources, and new because her approach is fresh and the book harnesses modern technology via QR codes to send the reader to YouTube images and beyond. A mixture of personal reflection, insights gained from Iona and the experience of her work with Interfaith Alignment make this book an original contribution to the genre.

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