I am part of a housegroup which really enjoys film-based studies, so we had high hopes for this. The film is deeply moving and raises a myriad of issues about faith, life and redemption ... which the book either ignores or trivialises, This book is basically in two parts: the first gives a lot of background about St James and about the pilgrim route associated with him; the second details Heaton's views on salvation, interspersed with film clips. The first part is interesting but not really necessary, the second fails to engage with the film in any meaningful way. The cover says the book is \*based on\* the film "The Way"', which to me implies that it takes the themes of the film and explores them from a Christian and Biblical viewpoint. Actually the book is based on Heaton's views (which I don't necessarily disagree with) with bits of the film shoehorned in to kind-of illustrate them. I would have said this was a two-star book, as some of what Heaton has to say is interesting and it did introduce us to the film, if it wasn't for some of the few film-based questions being so utterly inappropriate for any mixed background group. The film touches very gently and sensitively on linked issues of domestic abuse and abortion. The book (in its single-paragraph 'Group Discussion' on the key scene) stomps in with a GCSE-level question about "the rights and wrongs of abortion", then proceeds to causally link abortion, sin and personal suffering. Then, in an abrupt jump, he goes straight back into discussion of his ideas on salvation. He ignores the domestic abuse link entirely, presumably he doesn't see it as a hot topic in church circles, and appears utterly ignorant of the depth of hurt that such a cack-handed, trivialising approach can cause to the very many people who are touched by these issues. In summary: watch the film but avoid the book - it is not very helpful and could be harmful. There are far better film-based studies available here on Eden, including some wonderful courses by Hilary Brand and Paul Kerensa/Zoe Young.

Another Lent course based around a film - and that's no bad thing at all - in fact in these days of media attraction it's a positive boon in encouraging some to attend. This time the film is one directed by Emilio Estevez, that stars Martin Sheen and is about a journey through bereavement and along the pilgrimage route of the Way of St James. It is a brilliant and emotional film and this book makes a good, well considered use of it to open up discussion on the issue of salvation. In many ways the book, though brilliantly set up and appropriate for Lent, would work at any time for an in-depth group study. The course is set out with real weight to it, the sessions well timed, and containing intelligent discussion questions along with good endings in a series of reflections and contemplations that gently round off each one. A very welcome addition to the Lent courses out there.