September Book Bracket
I had even fewer books this month than in August, but I still ended up with five titles. I think reading four books and polishing off a slow-burn read in one month is nothing to sniff at, so that helps me make peace with the fact that I don't have time for as many as I did during the summer.
The Mysteries of Life in Children's Literature, by Mitchell Kalpakgian
English professor investigates the values espoused and explored in children's classics.
Why I picked it up: This was an impulse buy from a TAN $5 book sale that sounded like it belonged in my possession.
My impressions: This book is hard to pin down as to what it actually is. Though written by an academic, it is not (even according to the author) an academic work. There are no lengthy footnotes or extended references to other experts in the field. However, it did have a pretty academic outlook because Kalpakgian goes to great lengths to define what exactly is happening in the works he considers. The result is a work that, essentially, is a primer for "how to get the most out of fairy tales and old children's classics". I wish that the author had defined what he means by "children's literature" from the outset. Based on his work, it seems that only fairy tales and children's books that have been around since before the beginning of the last century really count. I liked that I felt more equipped to consider strange elements of such stories the next time I read them, but without the academic rigor, I find it hard to make much out of this book more than an English professor's long essay about why these books are so great (and why our current society is so messed up). Indeed, the last chapter was rather confusing to me - it was a rant about all the many evils found in our society today and how modern society doesn't match up with the ideals of children's classics. I agree with the author about there being many evils to fight today, but he didn't even say how children's classics might interact with or positively influence the culture other than; he basically said "these books have the right ideals and modern society doesn't". I wished that Kalpakgian had used the last chapter to suggest something of how children's classics might be used to address these manifold evils he outlined, but he stopped before he reached what would have been a very interesting argument. I guess his goal was not to make an argument, just to show and explore. He was up front about approaching the subject from a particular orthodox, traditional moral viewpoint - which I appreciated - but this singular focus actually left me unsatisfied. I wondered how these classics, and this work, would dialogue with children who have not had the chance to grow up on such stories. If I had grown up reading Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, like many kids do today, would these stories work on me in the way that they already have? Would I have found inherent value in them? This book is fine for just about anyone to read, but the last chapter might lead to of questions from children who are not very familiar with contraception, the abortion pill, and other societal evils.
The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, by St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Ignatius developed a retreat focused on meditation on various Biblical and religious topics; it is outlined in this work.
Why I picked it up: If I remember correctly, this book was acquired from a $5 Tan book sale and, as it is a well-known spiritual classic, I felt I should read it. It worked well as my short morning meditation and even better in adoration. Note: The TAN books look nice, but I've noticed that there's a plastic layer that starts peeling off the paperback cover with much use.
My impressions: This is an excellent book, but it is definitely best read as a source for meditation, rather than a "read it to get it done" sort of book. I think it would be best if used for a retreat with a director for the participant. I had heard of this sort of "Ignatian meditation" before, and that it relies heavily on the imagination, but it was a neat experience to walk through it on a meditation like the evening our Lord was born in Bethlehem. I really tried to meditate on certain parts, but since I like the feeling of being "done" with books, I definitely read it "to get it done" for a lot of it. Some of the best meditations for me were on the Prodigal Son, following the banner of Jesus or the banner of Satan, and the three classes (used a metaphor of sick men who take different treatments, representing those who only give their desires to Jesus, those who give only certain works to Jesus, and those who give themselves totally to God). I also appreciated a section in the second part of the book which discussed the discernment of spirits. In short, this is a great work and I think that just about every Catholic should go to prayer with it at some point in their life. I hope to remember to bring it to adoration with me now and again so that I can take more time with some of the meditations, as appropriate to the liturgical season.
Something Other Than God, by Jennifer Fulwiler
A stand-up comedienne describes her journey from a lifelong atheism to Catholicism in her late twenties, assisted by a supportive family and blog readers.
Why I picked up this book: This book was available as an ebook through the Formed app and, needing a break from Diogenes and philosophers, this book sounded like something I was in the mood to read. I had heard the name of the author before, but did not know anything about her.
My impressions: The main thing that struck me about this book was a reminder of my dad telling me, "Catholicism is the thinking man's religion." The author's journey to Catholicism was very much an intellectual pursuit. There were some strong emotions involved, certainly, but the author describes her husband as having had experiences of the presence of God, while she struggled to understand that experience, both experiences making sense to me in light of my own life and those of others. I had some minorly surreal moments as Fulwiler described coming to accept the teachings of the Catholic Church because it almost sounded like she had heard the reasons for believing the Church's teachings, which I have taken in since my younger years, and discovered them just so in her own life. For example, when she talks about learning about contraception and why it is wrong, she seems to have come across the exact same prophetic lines by Pope Paul VI that I learned about in high school. I guess my main question is, if this is the sort of teaching that can bring others to the true faith - teachings I'm familiar with - why have I not been working to share it with others? In any case, I found the story interesting and the tone appropriate for each moment - there are humorous descriptions, but they are balanced with moments full of the agonizing search for God. I didn't even know she was a comedienne until I looked up information on her (when I was about halfway through the book), so perhaps I noticed the humor more after that. There were just one or two parts at the end where I thought it was a little slow because she was explaining an aspect of the faith and I, already being familiar with it, wanted to get back to the story. There were some things I was left wondering about (what did she work out with the doctor for medication for a condition? Have others in her family come to the faith, too?), but they are not exactly what I'd call "loose ends". As a book consumed with Man's search for meaning, I think this would be a good book for Catholics and non-Catholics alike to read, probably high school-age and older.
The Lost Prince of Samavia, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This children's adventure story (in the vein of "Ruritanian romance" - check Wikipedia, it's a thing) follows a father-son exile duo and their friend, "The Rat", as they work for the salvation of their war-torn homeland, Samavia.
Why I picked it up: Project Gutenberg, a website that has public domain books available for free in many formats, is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I enjoyed some of Burnett's other books, including "The Secret Garden", so I knew I'd want to give her adventure story a try.
My impressions: This book was fun, but I think there are multiple reasons why this is not a well-known children's work of Burnett's. Some of the emphasis on the main character's "training" of remembering faces and places and details was excessive, as was the emphasis on how much these exiles loved their country. Some of this is necessary, considering that the entire story is about trying to restore a long-lost prince's descendant to the embattled throne - and who doesn't love some of that strong patriotism for a lost homeland in a good story? But, it was a little much. This devotion to country (and even the son's regard of his father) seemed to me to take the place of devotion to God, even. And speaking of God...there are some elements that suggest a Christian outlook, but there is a distinctly and overtly Buddhist leaning throughout the middle and last sections of the book; this was a big turn-off for me. Largely, I would say it was a book that adventure-lovers like me might enjoy at least a little. It has everything: legends, attempted assassinations, kidnapping, secret signs, spies, travelling all over Europe, and secret meeting places. It was not the best-written book (e.g., two spies randomly show up in two different episodes then disappear from the narrative...if this irony is intentional, it's too deep for me), but fun. It would have been even more fun if the Buddhist elements had been left out, but a brief Wikipedia search on the author revealed that later in life, she had religious leanings into spiritualism and Theosophy, so the appearance of non-Christian beliefs makes more sense to me. I can't say I'd recommend this book, but it's not something I'd necessarily tell a high school student they couldn't read it (but, then again, I guess it depends on the student...how solid they are in their faith, etc.). The reading level is probably appropriate for middle or elementary school leaders, but the questionable Buddhist elements prevent me from recommending the book for Catholic children.
St. Thomas Aquinas, by G. K. Chesterton
GKC writes a short biography of this Doctor of the Church and analyzes his importance and greatness.
Why I picked it up: I read "St. Francis" by the same author earlier this year and wanted to get another book in before the month ended. I finished it on the last day of September.
My impressions: I liked this biography better than the one of Saint Francis. I'm not sure what it was, but the fact that I was reading from a book published by a real company and not a terribly-formatted one printed by some random Amazon.com press probably helped. GKC would definitely not pass a "politically correct" test nowadays, but there's much to enjoy in his writing outside those parts. I got enough of a glimpse into what St. Thomas was like as a person to grow in appreciation for him, but I have to admit that even explaining philosophy to me is probably going to end in me getting at least a little lost; such was the case with this book. I wouldn't say the book felt dated, but it was, in a sense, because it was very clear that GKC was writing to address issues he saw in his particular day - issues that maybe aren't quite as big on the modern horizon now as others all. All the same, I think this is a solid book that high schoolers and above could attempt...but it would probably help to have a good head for philosophy and/or some minimal familiarity with Aquinas prior to reading.
Bracket Play
Bracket play was easily decided this month. The lesser books (Mysteries of Life, Lost Prince) fell without a fight to the very good books. "The Spiritual Exercises" was an uneven fifth book, so it had a buy on the first round and took out GKC's book. I felt it deserved to win because it's such a recognized classic and because I anticipate coming back to it for meditations. The same book won the final round against Fulwiler's book, which was more amusing, but didn't have the weight of Ignatius' work.
Books Attempted and Put Down
Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes
The ancient Greek poet Diogenes gives a somewhat encyclopedic look at the sayings or philosophies of ancient Greek philosophers and how they lived their lives.
Why I picked it up: I am auditing some courses and I wanted very much to fully read the books that are assigned.
Why I put it down: I'm not putting it down so much as skimming it - and by skimming, I mean skipping pretty significant sections. Quite frankly, I don't have enough time to read EVERYTHING for this class, and I wanted to save my stamina for later works that I think I will find more interesting. Also, philosophy is not quite my thing and, although there are somewhat interesting and even bizarre people described in the work, that's definitely not enough to make me want to read this much about ancient philosophers. (Please don't tell my professors.)
Daughter of the Forest, by Juliet Marillier
This is a modern retelling of the fairy tale "The Six Swans" and set in a semi-fantastic and quasi-historic British Isles world.
Why I picked it up: A bookish friend of mine loaned me her own copy of this book when I expressed interest. I was intrigued by the premise and, loving fairy tales, knew I wanted to give it a try.
Why I put it down: In the wording of my own subjective way of considering books, "it wasn't bearing good fruit in me." I am very affected mentally and emotionally by what I read or watch, and this book ended up being one of the works that I had to sadly part ways with. It was interesting and I loved some of the imagery, but some of the content was too dark for me. It was a work that I wished I could finish. Just as a warning, the book includes rape (I don't know how much detail is involved - I learned this from looking up the book on the Wikipedia entry) and some delicately worded, but still pretty plain, discussion of torture/its effects. Some people can handle this and a certain tone of writing, but I cannot. Mature high schoolers could probably handle this book, but be aware that one character is an unorthodox (presumably Catholic) monk.
