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The Way of the Wolf: The Gospel in New Images
Intriguing tales, timeless poetry, enchanting songs . . . Beguiling characters like Barrington
Bunny . . . Joggi, the porcupine . . . Lena, the witch . . . Joshua, the boy who has lost his magic . . . and the great silver wolf -- majestic, ever-present, mysterious . . . A book that will inspire you to consider and celebrate such things as love, forgiveness, acceptance, salvation and commitment.
Bunny . . . Joggi, the porcupine . . . Lena, the witch . . . Joshua, the boy who has lost his magic . . . and the great silver wolf -- majestic, ever-present, mysterious . . . A book that will inspire you to consider and celebrate such things as love, forgiveness, acceptance, salvation and commitment.
144 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1970
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157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 25, 2019
I remembered this book from when I was a child attending church camp. I was so excited to find it and bought it for my birthday, specifically to read Barrington Bunny on Christmas Eve. It did not disappoint, good memories.
November 27, 2018
This book reminded me why, when I was given the choice or math or philosophy, I chose math! While it claims to be based on the parables of Jesus, for me some of the writings were way beyond my understanding of said parables. I found this while cleaning out a closet. The book was given to my daughter by the youth coordinator at our church when she was in high school. Just thought I would read it.
May 11, 2007
Barrington Bunny lives!
July 31, 2008
Very dear to my heart. I can't read Barrington Bunny or Joggi the Porcupine without crying, EVERY time!
December 11, 2008
I have read this many many times both for my own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of countless children. It is a classic and is one of my most cherished possessions.
January 7, 2016
This is one of those books that I could see reading again and again. Since it's a collection of short stories, sermons, songs and poems, I'll say what I thought about each of them.
Barrington Bunny – This is a classic little story and the one that I first heard – the one that made me want to get this book. It is sad, but reading it now, as an adult, I can also see the positive side of the story. As a child, I thought that the other animals were cruel to Barrington. Now, I can see that they just didn’t expect his kindness towards them.
The Secret of Stars – I love that he included music with this (and the other pieces of music in this book). I’d like to see if I can play this at some point, to get a better feel for it.
Noel – the Lone Ranger – I found this piece to be sort of a mixture between poetry and prose. I like it, but it was a bit unexpected in places.
What the Wind Said to Thajir – This story was just plain amazing! Possibly, my favorite in the book.
Incarnatus – Another song that I think I’d have to hear to truly appreciate.
Hunger and Hurricanes – This reads more like a sermon than a story. I found it very interesting and thought provoking.
Where are the Nine? – I’ve often wondered about this and… I loved this take on that story in the Bible. Really quite cool.
How the Demons Captured Amy and What Happened Then – This was an interesting story. I wonder what happened when Amy finally went home…
Apparition – This is just a very good example of free verse poetry. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the message it had.
Walls and Things – Another song… I like the lyrics, but I really need to hear it to know whether I like it or not.
The Boy Who Lost His Magic – This story is just… really powerful and deep. The ending just resonated with me for quite some time after reading it.
On the Death of Colin Stuart – Having recently lost someone very dear to me… this piece really spoke to me. This is something that people should read at funerals, perhaps substituting the name of the deceased.
Wood, Nails and Colored Eggs – The whole sermon was really powerful in its message. I burst out laughing at the image at the very end, though. It was so completely unexpected and wonderful.
Come Gather, Children – Such an awesome message! So true! I really need to be able to hear these songs.
Rag-Tag Army – This… is just too perfect!
The Wheat and the Tares – I really enjoyed this. The parable of the Wheat and the Tares was always an odd one for me. I like this view on it.
Now, Therefore, Tiger – The imagery here was so powerful! I very much enjoyed this poem.
Counterquestion – This essay/sermon it really thought-provoking. For someone like me, who has trouble giving straight answers sometimes, it’s something of a wake-up call.
Brand of the Tiger – This is a song and I’d need to hear this to judge it properly. However, I like the idea of it.
The Porcupine Whose Name Didn’t Matter – This story is so sweet. It made me cry, not because a character died at the end, but because it touched on what it means to be and have a friend.
Some Gospel Themes – These are verses from the Gospel that the author used as inspiration for the stories. All of them were familiar enough to me that I only needed to read the first line to remember them.
Barrington Bunny – This is a classic little story and the one that I first heard – the one that made me want to get this book. It is sad, but reading it now, as an adult, I can also see the positive side of the story. As a child, I thought that the other animals were cruel to Barrington. Now, I can see that they just didn’t expect his kindness towards them.
The Secret of Stars – I love that he included music with this (and the other pieces of music in this book). I’d like to see if I can play this at some point, to get a better feel for it.
Noel – the Lone Ranger – I found this piece to be sort of a mixture between poetry and prose. I like it, but it was a bit unexpected in places.
What the Wind Said to Thajir – This story was just plain amazing! Possibly, my favorite in the book.
Incarnatus – Another song that I think I’d have to hear to truly appreciate.
Hunger and Hurricanes – This reads more like a sermon than a story. I found it very interesting and thought provoking.
Where are the Nine? – I’ve often wondered about this and… I loved this take on that story in the Bible. Really quite cool.
How the Demons Captured Amy and What Happened Then – This was an interesting story. I wonder what happened when Amy finally went home…
Apparition – This is just a very good example of free verse poetry. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the message it had.
Walls and Things – Another song… I like the lyrics, but I really need to hear it to know whether I like it or not.
The Boy Who Lost His Magic – This story is just… really powerful and deep. The ending just resonated with me for quite some time after reading it.
On the Death of Colin Stuart – Having recently lost someone very dear to me… this piece really spoke to me. This is something that people should read at funerals, perhaps substituting the name of the deceased.
Wood, Nails and Colored Eggs – The whole sermon was really powerful in its message. I burst out laughing at the image at the very end, though. It was so completely unexpected and wonderful.
Come Gather, Children – Such an awesome message! So true! I really need to be able to hear these songs.
Rag-Tag Army – This… is just too perfect!
The Wheat and the Tares – I really enjoyed this. The parable of the Wheat and the Tares was always an odd one for me. I like this view on it.
Now, Therefore, Tiger – The imagery here was so powerful! I very much enjoyed this poem.
Counterquestion – This essay/sermon it really thought-provoking. For someone like me, who has trouble giving straight answers sometimes, it’s something of a wake-up call.
Brand of the Tiger – This is a song and I’d need to hear this to judge it properly. However, I like the idea of it.
The Porcupine Whose Name Didn’t Matter – This story is so sweet. It made me cry, not because a character died at the end, but because it touched on what it means to be and have a friend.
Some Gospel Themes – These are verses from the Gospel that the author used as inspiration for the stories. All of them were familiar enough to me that I only needed to read the first line to remember them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2014
This is a book from my childhood. The first story " Barrington Bunny" has been one of the most important influences in my life. It is poignant, sad and uplifting all at the same time. I hope you read it and I hope it touches your heart as it touched mine.
September 25, 2015
This was a small collection of short stories that were thought provoking and somewhat melancholy. You might have to be in the right mood, but I really enjoyed them. They are the kind of stories that help make your heart bigger for other people.
January 16, 2008
The Rag-Tag Army...definitley has stuck with me for years.
October 10, 2019
Loved this book! Had a hard time getting it but finally got a loan from catholic church library. I liked "Barrington Bunny" but I was most touched by the story "On the Death of Colin Stuart". I had just lost a friend who was my mentor and could see how her name could fit in any of the statements used about Colin.
I don't know how I would have reacted to this book if I were a child or young adult. As an older woman I was emotional and the story resonated with me. I often recall bits and pieces of the book and feel closer to God.
Opening paragraph - "Jesus said: "Go now have sorrow." quite a statement when you relate it to Jesus' death or the death of one of your own loved ones!
I don't know how I would have reacted to this book if I were a child or young adult. As an older woman I was emotional and the story resonated with me. I often recall bits and pieces of the book and feel closer to God.
Opening paragraph - "Jesus said: "Go now have sorrow." quite a statement when you relate it to Jesus' death or the death of one of your own loved ones!
September 15, 2017
I read this book in high school my junior year. I fell in love with one of the poems. I used that particular poem for a presentation I did in my Problem Solving Class. I had this amazing thought provoking teacher named Joe Degrado. He always wanted the students to call him by his first name. He marched to the beat of his own drum. To this day some of his sayings and teachings stick with me even now. He was one of a kind. For me This book was a thought provoker. Just a side note I did get an A on my presentation. :)
December 2, 2024
I always found this book to be such a 1970s-flavored Christian mythology
EXCEPT for the story of Barrington Bunny, which is eternal and powerful and hits you in the (theological) gut like a quick punch. On this tale alone this is worth the price and the work figuring it out. Parables are not supposed to be simple, are they? Or unchallenging....
My Advent season always begins with a re-read of Barrington Bunny.....
EXCEPT for the story of Barrington Bunny, which is eternal and powerful and hits you in the (theological) gut like a quick punch. On this tale alone this is worth the price and the work figuring it out. Parables are not supposed to be simple, are they? Or unchallenging....
My Advent season always begins with a re-read of Barrington Bunny.....
May 16, 2020
I spent half the book going, what?? A parable then a song then a poem then a sermon. I don’t agree with all of the theology and then some of it is so good it’s painful. You cannot read it start to finish and expect anything coherent. It just is what it is in short bursts with a wolf running through it.
February 23, 2021
This little tome deserves 6, 7 stars or more.
I told my priest it was sermon fodder. Several of the parables I'm going use in my storytelling business.
And then I read the last story and sobbed.
I finished the book, but I'm keeping it on my bedside table to revisit.
It doesn't matter if you're a Christian or not, these stories human and you'll be more humane for having read them.
I told my priest it was sermon fodder. Several of the parables I'm going use in my storytelling business.
And then I read the last story and sobbed.
I finished the book, but I'm keeping it on my bedside table to revisit.
It doesn't matter if you're a Christian or not, these stories human and you'll be more humane for having read them.
Read
November 17, 2025There's a thrift store nearby with an excellent book selection, and I found this in the section labeled "new age AKA woo-woo," which was surprising because it's bunch of stories and meditations by a Episcopalian minister, but weirdly accurate! Christianity isn't a topic I visit very often, but I can definitely vibe with this particular flavor.
August 2, 2019
Tissues not required... but recommended.
Read this at youth camp in 1993. Recently found it in print, and suddenly i was 11 years old again, sitting in Frye Cabin, crying endless tears for Barrington and Joggi. Nostalgic and beautiful. ❤️
Read this at youth camp in 1993. Recently found it in print, and suddenly i was 11 years old again, sitting in Frye Cabin, crying endless tears for Barrington and Joggi. Nostalgic and beautiful. ❤️
May 4, 2022
My favourite stories in this collection were : 'Barrington Bunny,' 'Where are the Nine?' 'How the Demons Captured Amy and What Happened Then,' 'Apparition,' 'Rag-Tag Army,' Counterquestion,' and 'The Porcupine Whose Name Didn't Matter.'
October 18, 2020
For me this book wasn't one of my usual reads. It was different, but I enjoyed it. A lot of little stories with good lessons.
June 11, 2021
Wonderful view of the gospel in creative thought and images.
January 20, 2023
Read while working at a church camp. Loved it. Barrington bunny not my favorite story in the book.
July 4, 2023
One of the best books I have ever read.
September 4, 2023
A small book with a big heart that was shared by a very close friend. Calling all ministers: this is great sermon fodder! Highly Recommended 5/5
gave-up-on
April 27, 2024Had it on my shelf for years and would pick it up with hopes of sermon inspiration ... but the stories felt stale, or outdated, or overly analogy. Didn't finish; gave away.
October 16, 2024
I love this book for Barrington Bunny but a majority of the other stories were lost on me. They were so close to meaning something for me yet I found myself wanting more
December 29, 2024
We read the story of Barrington Bunny every Christmas Eve, we love this short story.
April 13, 2025
D-grade Christian mysticism. Wanted to dig it because the author is a Hoosier, but I too have read Herman Hesse, and this is a weak regurgitative swing and a miss for me.
Want to read
June 5, 2025Cutting is for Barrington Bunny
By Martin Bell
By Martin Bell
February 12, 2023
"The Way of the Wolf: The Gospel in New Images" by Martin Bell is a collection of stories and poems that touch the heart and show how God appears to us in subtle ways. This book is a classic, first published in 1970, and has remained popular. The stories are both sad and uplifting, reminding us of the power of faith and hope. I was moved by the beauty of the words and imagery used throughout this book. It was a pleasure to read such an inspiring work. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a meaningful connection with their faith.
December 18, 2016
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the first story--Barrington Bunny--is truly touching. My first encounter with Barrington Bunny was hearing it aloud on Christmas Eve years ago, and it's a tear jerker. It's really the highlight of the book.
Unfortunately, a lot of the other material isn't as strong. The poetry isn't very good, and the prose, even when it's thought-provoking or memorable, generally isn't that well written.
I can understand why people fall in love with this book, and it's short enough to be read in one go if you want, but for me the work as a whole didn't stand up to the strength of that first story.
Unfortunately, a lot of the other material isn't as strong. The poetry isn't very good, and the prose, even when it's thought-provoking or memorable, generally isn't that well written.
I can understand why people fall in love with this book, and it's short enough to be read in one go if you want, but for me the work as a whole didn't stand up to the strength of that first story.
June 15, 2014
There were a few stories (Barrington Bunny and The Porcupine Whose Name Didn't Matter), which made me cry and another (How the Demons Captured Amy and What Happened Then) that was mind-blowing in its concise summation of spiritual and life philosophies from a variety of disciplines. I might pick-up a copy of my own second hand just for those some day, but the rest just didn't do much for me, which might have more to do with me than the book. The book itself was a mix of free-range poetry, music, short stories, and circular self-debates the author had, so there's something for everyone, it just wasn't all for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews