Books by Jamey Heit

An imaginative and enriching analysis of the poetry of John Donne and Emily Dickinson from a liturgical and theological perspective.

When Jesus offers his body as a promise to his disciples, he initiates a liturgical framework that is driven by irony and betrayal. Through these deconstructive elements, however, the promise invites the disciples into an intimate space where they anticipate the fulfillment of what is to come. This anticipatory energy provides the common thread between Donne and Dickinson, who draw specifically on the unstable story that unfolds during the Last Supper in order to develop a liturgical poetics.By tracing the implications of the body as a textual presence, Liturgical Liaisons opens into new readings of Donne and Dickinson in a way that enriches how these figures are understood as poets. The result is a risky and rewarding understanding of how these two figures challenged accepted theological norms of their day.

The night before his death, Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples. Jesus broke bread and poured wine, and thus initiated a sacrament that anchors the Christian faith to this day. Often overlooked in this moment are Jesus' disciples. How did they react to what they witnessed? What were they feeling? By adopting each disciple's voice, Voices from the Last Supper explores the different reactions and emotions that Jesus' actions no doubt elicited. Each disciple has the chance to express his feelings as Jesus shares a final meal with them. The doubts, fears, and loyalty that characterize the disciples' humanity now have a voice. Voices from the Last Supper encourages readers to explore their own feelings by placing them in the middle of Jesus' final meal before his death. "If Leonardo da Vinci portrayed the disciples at the Last Supper engaged in disconcerted conversation...Heit portrays each as involved in his own deep and solitary thoughts. Thus, he gives us twelve individual responses, and thereby conveys the truth that we meet Jesus through our own personal experiences, circumstances, and neediness."-Dr. Donald Capps, William Harte Felmeth Professor of Pastoral Psychology, Princeton Theological Seminary"Good poetry makes readers think, and this collection made me think a lot. You incorporate psychological insights into the human character with deeply unknowable theological questions: both veins of exploration are big risks. Good poetry is risky."--Mary Kat White, English Department, Southern Methodist University

Set in the future dystopia of Panem, The Hunger Games trilogy follows the rise of a provincial rebellion against the wealthy and tyrannical "Capitol." As narrator and heroine, Katniss Everdeen comes to embody the hope of the long oppressed for a new order. During her journey some of our most urgent political questions are addressed. What does it mean to be a leader? Can the oppressed recover a political identity that affirms individual values and freedoms? Do the media necessarily corrupt political discourse? This critical study of The Hunger Games explores novels in the context of how we think about the nature of politics, the value of the individual and the importance of political action. The author draws parallels between Panem and the Roman Empire, considering Herod's Massacre of the Innocents alongside Haymitch Abernathy's elusive political influence as mentor of tributes. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.