A review by loudgls89
Three Vicars Talking: The Book of the Brilliant BBC Radio 4 Series by Kate Bottley, Giles Fraser, Richard Coles

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I had this book on my Christmas list this year as I absolutely love both Kate Bottley and Richard Coles. I’d not heard of Giles Fraser before reading this book, but now I think he’s great. 

What I didn’t realise when I asked for this book is that it is a transcript of a series of radio shows that the three vicars recorded together over the previous year (I guess I should probably have figured that out from the title…), but the fact that it was a transcription of a conversation meant that it felt really natural and friendly and as if you could have been there with them. 

Each section of the book is themed on a different topic; covering baptisms, weddings, funerals, Christmas and Easter. The Easter topic felt particularly poignant as it was recorded during the first part of Covid when the word was in complete turmoil. 

What was quite interesting was to hear the different opinions of each vicar and how they differed, their personalities shining through from the pages. And because it was a conversation, it didn’t feel like a competition , it felt very relaxed. 

The other bonus of it being a conversation rather than a carefully manuscripted and edited book was that the language used was approachable and personal and easy to understand, making this the perfect book for both experience Christians and those new to the faith. 

My only wish is that I had listened to the radio shows themselves as I think it would have been a wonderful thing to listen to rather than read – perhaps they’ll still be on iplayer. But I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in differing opinions on our Christian traditions.