One of the back-cover blurbs for 'At the Corner of East and Now' describes Frederica Mathewes-Green as 'the Orthodox Erma Bombeck,' but I don't remember Erma Bombeck having anywhere near the spiritual insights, the writing style (both folksy and lyrical), or, frankly, the humor Presbytera Frederica displays in this book.
For most Americans, even Christians, Orthodox Christianity is *terra incognita.* Mrs Mathewes-Green does an excellent job charting a path for us, leading us back and forth between the elements of the liturgy and the intersection of ancient Christianity and modern 'post-Christian' America. Along the way, we rediscover her parish family (many of whom we met in 'Facing East'), go into a women's prison with a group of post-abortion counselors, discover the perplexing world of 'Christian death metal,' and much more. It's an awful clich; to say, 'You'll laugh, you'll cry,' but there is a lot in this book that's very funny, and a lot that's profoundly moving (see, for example, the chapter titled 'My Father').
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity. While not a definitive survey of Orthodox theology and practice (as no doubt Mrs Mathewes-Green would be the first to tell you), it is a grand portrait of how one individual's, and one family's, life is embraced by Eastern Christianity.
I especially liked some of the incidental touches, quick little portraits of her family's three teenaged children, who have been raised much of their lives in Orthodoxy: the high school-aged son on the bus, reading a biography of St Theophan the Recluse; the oldest child defending Orthodoxy online and at her Roman Catholic college; and the youngest thinking a stranger must be Orthodox because he has a bumper sticker reading The Doors (the joke, actually pretty funny, is explained in the book).
More than that, though, I would also recommend this book -- if I weren't libertarian I might even try to force the book -- to people, especially Protestant Christians, who don't know, or maybe aren't interested in knowing, that there is another, very different and yet strangely familiar and comforting, way to worship Christ, just on the other side of the 'denominational' divide.
This, of course, is where many readers may become very uncomfortable with this book. America's dominant religious paradigm, of course, is Protestant, and perhaps its most visible religious 'subculture' is Evangelical Protestants. Mrs Mathewes-Green pulls no punches in comparing Evangelicalism and Orthodoxy -- for example, when she contrasts an Orthodox hymn ('Of the Father before the morning star thou wast begotten from the belly without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe thee to be created, not God, classing thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures...') with the nursery-rhyme music and lyrics of the Evangelical 'P&W' songs 'Mighty is our God!' and 'Celebrate Jesus!'
She notes that a popular Evangelical hymn ends with the refrain '... and I long to worship Thee.' Quoting her husband, an Orthodox priest, Mrs Mathewes-Green notes that back when they were Protestants, they, too, longed to worship God. The truth was, they didn't know how, though they suspected it had something to do with emotion. But now, the longing has subsided, replaced by 'something that feels just right, like a key in a lock. ... I was made for this.'
Even if this exciting, touching, educational book doesn't convert you to Orthodoxy, it's an encounter you're not likely to forget for a long time.

If you would like a good, honest, brief explination of the events leading to the fall of the Romanovs, this is a great source. Nicholas II is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented historical figures. Written from the perspective of Mr. Gibbes we have an insider's view of the events discribed. This book is well written, and presented in an interesting manner that keeps the reader turning the pages. Having read many books on the subject of Tsar Nicholas II and his family, I find this to be one of the better ones. Read this and Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" and you will have a good picture of what really happened. Thank you Chiristine for this excellent study!

After reading "Facing East," Frederica M-G's first book on the Eastern Orthodox Church, I immediately borrowed my Orthodox friend's copy of this book, "At the Corner of East and Now." Both books are excellent, and both answered many of my questions about this ancient Christian church that has stayed amazingly close to its roots through centuries, while other branches of the church keep splitting further and further apart. I recommend this book to anyone who is curious about the Orthodox church. There is an appendix at the back of this book that should be required reading for any visitor, as it explains many bewildering customs and practices. I enjoyed reading this book, and I hope that you will, too!

Fr. Jon Braun's book is best explained by its subtitle, "The Orthodox Path to Christian Victory". Rather than simply asking Jesus into our hearts and expecting a prosperous life simply because we are Christian, the author urges us to fight the good fight (cf. 2 Tim. 4:7) and to wage all-out war with sin. In the preface of the book, he writes:
"It has been my experience that there are millions of committed Christians in Protestant Churches who sincerely love God with all their hearts but who also have discovered that the Christian life is often...a battle against sin. They...are frustrated because they aren't winning what they believe should be their share of those spiritual wars. It is my conviction that in the depth of Orthodox theology and spirituality, new--actually, old--answers may be found." (page xi)
Beginning with an assessment of the battle all Christians have been called to fight, Fr. Jon then turns to basic Orthodox theology regarding the Trinity, the Incarnation, etc. as the foundation for our struggle in this battle. Finally, he explains the tools, or weapons, we may use to fight the good fight such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and living a virtuous life. These tools have been used in and encouraged by the Church for 2000 years. They are "time-tested". Fr. Jon writes: "We don't have to experiment. The Church now has two thousand years of battle knowledge behind her. We can trust what she's learned..." (p. 146)
I highly recommend this book as a good, solid introduction to basic Orthodox spirituality. It is well-written in a common language which anyone can understand. After one has read this book, I would also recommend ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION by Bishop of Nafpaktos Hierotheos (published by Birth of the Theotokos Monastery).
The below review of this book is very misleading. DIVINE ENERGIES has nothing to do with cruelty to animals.

Frederica Mathewes-Green is an excellent writer. I found this book both fascinating and informative. It gave me a better understanding of Orthodoxy, especially as it pertains to the modern world.
Both 'Facing East' and 'At The Corner of East and Now' were given to me by my son, Father Damascene whose name and book, 'Christ The Eternal Tao', is mentioned in chapter two of 'At The corner of East and Now'. This, of course, makes the book even more meaningful to me.

Wonderful reading for those interested in Orthodoxy! This book tells the incredible story of roughly 2,000 former evangelical Protestants who find the New Testament faith in the historic Orthodox Church. I was a part of this group of 2,000 believers, and this is a wonderful account of our story, as well as some of the questions we had regarding Orthodoxy which many Protestant Christians ask. Highly Recommended!

Gillquist's book Becoming Orthodox is a story about his own pilgrimage to Orthodoxy. A former Campus Crusade for Christ leader, graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Wheaton Graduate School,Gillquist describes the ups and downs of his spiritual journey and what ultimately led him and several of his friends in Campus Crusade to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Of significance is the way in which he clearly elucidates in a non-threatening manner faith/doctrinal issues with which Prostestants often find themselves at odds. His experience also shows that lack of racial ties within the Greek Orthodox Faith can be a strong deterant for the "outsider" wanting in.

A former devout Prostestant joins the Orthodox Church. Very inspiring. Also explains Protestant questions about Orthodoxy.