A lent course based on Les Miserables

Review by Jacqui Hicks

Jonathan Meyer has created a fabulous book in Another Story Must Begin (published by Darton, Longman and Todd). This is a Lent course with a difference and is based on Les Miserables.

The book is split into five sessions. These are Fantine and Cosette, The Bishop of Digne, Jean Valjean, Javert, and Redemption and Salvation.

What I like is that every session has the opportunity to watch part of the film and/or read part of the novel to give inspiration. This is followed by discussion, texts, quiet reflections, questions, readings and bible passages. This is done in short bitesize pieces, eg. watch, read, ask, discuss, reflect, ask, discuss, reflect – and not always in that order. There are clear and really interesting leader's notes, searching questions and suggested prayers to close.

Even not seeing the film, the book gives such clear guidance through its clear literary imagery, you would still be able to enjoy this as a Lent course. I think it would be a great little book to study at any time of year not just during Lent.

As an extra to the course itself is an interesting introduction by Jonathan Meyer, who is priest in charge of St Mary the Virgin, Ewelme, Oxfordshire. This church was used as a location in the film as the residence of the Bishop of Digne. The introduction explains how the church came to be used as the Bishop's residence and Jonathan’s feelings at it being used as such, then his realization of being able to use the experience as inspiration for others. (Issue five of ArtServe magazine includes a feature on the filming at Ewelme.)

Having been in involved in filming productions and how TV and film location people can take over, I enjoyed reading this, as I am well aware of what he would have gone through from that first seemingly simple phone call of ‘can we come and look at your church with a view to doing a little filming?’ to his amazement of opening his door to over 20 people, and then the worry that it be used in a ‘proper’ way.

This is excellently priced at only £5.99 and is a book you will enjoy having in your creative worship collection. I have a feeling you will not only use it as a Lenten course but will find it useful to dip into many times for inspiration.