The Church Times today presents a round-up of books for Lent. The reviewer, Peter McGeary, says some kind things about Circles of Thorns:

The author looks at the political, scientific, medical, and spiritual con­texts that would have been part of the artist’s world, and in so doing reveals different layers of meaning to the painting. Who are these people? What do they represent? Why is Christ looking straight at me, the viewer?

This is a very good extended medi­tation on a specific moment in the Passion story; it is also a good example of the quality of patient, intelligent attention that is (or should be) much more fostered than it has been of late in Christian spir­ituality. It is best read by indi­vid­uals rather than a group, I think, but might provide inspiration for a series of Lent groups focusing on something that can be seen.