One of Britain's most celebrated and prolific modern novelists, Ian McEwan is a frequent prize-winner. His books regularly feature on the Booker Prize shortlist. Atonement was edged out of last year's esteemed prize by Peter Carey's The True History of the Kelly Gang. Choosing one over the other would have been a difficult decision.

It was a great delight to read The Revelation of God. The book is helpfully written from the perspective of theological education and training for ministry.

In Black Chicks Talking, actor Leah Purcell interviews nine indigenous women about their lives.

The life of campaigning Aboriginal missioner, the Rev Ernest Gribble, is one of the most remarkable stories in the often sorry 215-year history of contact between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Beyond Prediction is, I take it, an example of the kind of evangelism the authors recommend. It uses a New Age tool – the Tarot – in order to bring New Agers to see the spiritual truth about Christ. It is written straightforwardly as a serious book about Tarot, explaining the truths to be found there – truths that ultimately point to Christ.

Jesus and the Gods of the New Age provides a strategy for Christians trying to evangelise New Agers. In the spirit of becoming all things to all men, those who evangelise New Agers need to take on the culture and language of New Age, and give serious thought to the questions and answers that drive New Age thinking (not an oxymoron, despite popular jokes to the contrary).

The Clarkes have written a very concise and helpful little book as “a practical guide to honeymoon sex and beyond”. They describe the book as deliberately brief and introductory … it certainly is that! … but their reason is so that people will read it, rather than leave it amongst the many other things to do, in the busy-ness of preparing for marriage. And it is eminently readable, interspersed with stories of either real or imagined people, to illustrate the point under discussion, and providing helpful issues for a couple to discuss together, under the “Pillow Talk” symbol. For couples in a hurry, and with much to do, this book is a gem, as it can be completely read in a matter of a couple of hours.

In each generation aspects of biblical truth come under attack. We should therefore be profoundly grateful to those who take the time not only to address these criticisms but also to restate biblical truth with power and clarity.