November Book Bracket 2022

The craziness of life continues, but audiobooks and lunch breaks help keep reading a part of it.

Taggerung, by Brian Jacques

This book by prolific young adult serial author Jacques follows a skilled warrior otter, kidnapped and raised in a vermin clan from infancy, after he leaves to pursue what is right and learn about his origins.

Why I picked it up: I was stressed by work and had a mild craving for a children's book from my childhood. It had been a while, but dipping into it again initially was filled with all the comfort I was hoping for.

My impressions: I still think that this is one of, if not the finest, book that Jacques wrote. It's not quite the straightforward adventure that the other Redwall tales are - there are no major battle sequences, the main bad guy is a coward to the core, there is no Abbot or Abbess - but those elements all worked in this particular story. The Juska clan code was well-developed and contributed greatly to the world-building. It was also interesting to have the main character tracked by a group of the enemy, and to see the power dynamics playing out amongst them. The main character is rather flat, but some of the other characters have solid depth. The mystery being solved at the Abbey was not robust - certainly one of the weakest riddle sequences in the series, and therefore a weak element - but it served well to show how one character was right for taking on a certain role at the end of the book. The ending was great - an enemy shows up at the Abbey's door and almost jumps into a battle, but the evils of war are providentially held at bay. As a speech-language pathologist, I appreciate that one of the characters is shown struggling with stuttering and overcoming it (although not with the best research-backed therapy, though!). It is a dear, delightful book, and children who can handle violence and death in fantasy fiction could appreciate this adventure - hopefully as much as I do. Warning: there are some seers who cast omens and a character with a weird healer persona that some could find uncomfortable if they're sensitive about that.

Saint George for England, by G. A. Henty**

This historical fiction book follows Walter Somers (spelling?) as he battles for England against the French and wins honor and renown.

Why I picked it up: I've read people recommend author G. A. Henty for years and I think this was the first work of his that I encountered on Librivox.

My impressions: The first several chapters are pretty good - story driven, with all the trappings of history to help make it feel more real. However, by the middle of the book, the author spends a lot of time describing battles pretty flatly. Yes, there are some escapades the main character and his man-at-arms get into that are more interesting and related to the story, but they are episodic and feel like they take back seat to the battles at times. I guess I would say that the "historical" part of "historical fiction" weighs a little to heavily on the tale. I like action, but the fighting was not necessarily page-turning...it felt, perhaps, a bit more like "stick-to-the-facts," if that makes sense. The denouement was a bit long and not as compelling as it would have been if the tale had perhaps ended earlier, but the author did a good job of tying up loose ends. There may be a more nationalistic attitude present in the work than there typically is in modern writing, but that is also fitting for the story. It was certainly an interesting read considering that I had put down "Joan of Arc" prior to listening to this work and that I've picked it up again after finishing. If I'm correct, "Saint George for England" describes an earlier part of the Hundred Years War between England and France, and from the "other side", so it makes me curious how a French author with a similar attitude would have written the account. I think those who enjoy adventures and tales of knights could find some parts of this enjoyable, but it's not necessarily the quality of story that I like to read.

Twenty and Ten, by Claire Huchet Bishop

This very short tale (short novella, long short story) tells of twenty fifth-grade French students who help hide ten Jewish children during the second World War.

Why I picked it up: I caught a library sale with my fiance while we were visiting his hometown and this looked like a pretty good find. I read it when I did probably because it was taking forever to read books (due to limited free time) and this looked like a children's book with potential.

My impressions: This was a very fast read - I basically finished it in a day, and probably would have in just a matter of hours if I had read through from start to finish. It was short, sweet, to the point, and interesting. Things at the end were tied back to the opening sequence, which was some pretty tight storytelling in that respect. I wouldn't say this is a sad book, but there are some moments of tension, especially around the climax. I wouldn't say it's perfectly written, but it's a great read if you're short on time and just want to soak in a different time and place for a bit. This book would be fine for children and even for adults who just wanted a light read.

Be Healed, by Bob Schuchts

A therapist, through a Catholic lens, discusses what it takes for us to be truly healed of our wounds, and not just treat the symptoms.

Why I picked it up: This book came up at a retreat I went on in January. Eventually, after hearing people mention it enough times on the podcast the author cohosts, I ordered it and started reading.

My impressions: This is a great book for people who seek healing - especially from a Catholic perspective, but I think Christians can find good in it, as well, in spite of some more Catholic-specific topics, like sacraments. I can't say my life has been radically changed from it yet, but there's some very good stuff in this book. I was intrigued by the real-life stories and appreciated that there are prompts and questions for meditation. I would recommend this book to Catholics in general, but perhaps more specifically for those who are actively seeking healing.

Bracket Play

Four books makes for a nice, neat little bracket! "Taggerung" and "Be Healed" both won the first rounds easily, although "Twenty and Ten" was very good. Bob Schucht's work ended up taking the prize because it invites people into deeper relationship with God and can be an instrument of healing. I love Taggerung, but at the end of the day, I don't think it's going to change people's lives like I suspect Schucht's work can.

 September-October Book Bracket 2022

My reading really dropped off in the thick of school and wedding planning. I miss reading. But it's worth it to miss it right now - and I still managed to squeeze in a few reads.

Searching For and Maintaining Peace, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Catholic spiritual master explains the importance of keeping our souls at peace and how that can be done.

Why I picked it up: I don't remember what prompted this reread, but something had happened; I was anxious; it had been a while since I'd read it; it was time to read it again.

My impressions: I'm not going to really review this book, but it's excellent. Most excellent. Top notch. Everyone should read it.

The Red Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang**

This collection of fairy tales from the famed series was a favorite of J. R. R. Tolkien's growing up. It has classics such as "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Rapunzel".

Why I picked it up: This was the book agreed upon by me and my book-club-of-two friend. We'd just finished "Tolkien's Modern Reading" and decided that a children's book that had apparently influenced him was the right pick. I started this as an ebook, but quickly transitioned to free audiobook for the sake of convenience.

My impressions: This is a solid collection of fairy tales, with a few very-well-known ones and a myriad of unusual ones. Yes, there were some problematic spots with racist elements here and there, and one story that talked about someone passing by people who looked like they'd died by suicide, so there might be some concerns with setting any and all readers loose on this work. The last story was based on a classic tragedy and it didn't change the ending to make it happy - it was very sad. Some of the stories had elements similar to each other, but many were strange and fascinating and unique. This work was fine as an audiobook, but some of the readers were difficult to understand at the fast rate I listen at. This would be a great book of fairy tales for a family to read together.

The Catholic Church and Conversion, by G. K. Chesterton**

G. K. Chesterton wrote this work because of his conversion to the Catholic faith. In it, he discusses the negative attitudes towards and some outright lies about the Church that ran rampant in society in his day.

Why I picked it up: I saw it advertised in an Ignatius press catalogue and was able to find it as an audiobook in the public domain.

My impressions: GKC is himself again in this work and discusses the erroneous thinking or perceptions of those antithetical to the Catholic Faith. This is another work that I think I would have soaked in better if I had actually read it, rather than listened to it. There were still moments of relishing Chesterton's wit for me, but I felt that listening to his non-fiction is not the best way for me to enjoy his work. This is a very short work - about 5 or 6 of his essays put together, I suppose - so it's a pretty quick read. I think any GKC lover could get something out of his work.

Bracket Play

Friends, I'm not doing a bracket for these two months. There were only three books, and I would have pitted only two against each other - "Searching For and Maintaining Peace" is basically a repeat winner so it's going to limit the chances of other books if it competes every time I read it - which is often. I am also strapped for time with a wedding coming up and already being over halfway into November and I don't want to get too far behind on that post.

So, let's have it: "The Red Fairy Book" or "The Catholic Church and Conversion"? That's hard and hardly fair to have to choose between two very different books. I think that, even though GKC's work is great, "The Red Fairy Book" has to win because it has, perhaps, a more approachable feel to it. I think GKC, being childlike and one to appreciate fairy tales himself, would be glad with the outcome.

August Book Bracket 2022

 August Book Bracket

Chosen and Cherished: Biblical Wisdom for Your Marriage, by Kimberly Hahn

Wife of well-known Catholic author/professor shares her own insights into marriage using a Biblical base.

Why I picked it up: This book was a lovely and thoughtful birthday gift from a sister-in-law and I wanted to read it before I got married.

My impressions: This is a great book for engaged (or single) women to read. I ended up with about half a dozen sticky notes poking from the pages, marking the different sections I knew I'd want to revisit. Hahn interwove solid theological reflections with practical suggestions. The reflection questions that pop up every few chapters or so provide great food for prayer time in the adoration chapel. The author came across as an experienced older sister or relative who has seen a lot and therefore knows a lot - and I appreciated learning from her wisdom. I will say that I think Hahn made some assertions that don't have a strong base. She hearkens to Proverbs 31, for example, to make what seemed to me an argument for the woman being mother at home and not working in the world - several later segments took on the assumed position that the wife would be ministering to children at home. Now that I'm removed from the experience of the first time reading it, I don't think that she pushed it super hard - but I did find it hard to swallow that we are assuming it's better for women to be at home than to be working. Okay, yes, it does seem ideal to have a mother at home caring for young children rather than having other people raise them for so much of their early lives. Yes. However. As a woman who thinks she might possibly go crazy if she didn't work outside the home, that's hard for me to get on board with. I think there's something to be said for individual family dynamics and jobs through which women still minister in very real ways to others (like my own, in which I serve children in a school setting). Long objection - I think the influence of modern culture on myself is showing. In any case, I think this is a great book overall, especially for Catholic women getting ready for marriage who could use some adoration-time reflection material. I highly recommend this book to such women; I hope to reread at least parts of this book; and I think I might gift a copy of this to friends who become engaged in the future.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte**

This classic work of literature describes the life of a woman who entered into an emotionally abusive marriage and escaped with her son, all while doing her best to maintain her integrity.

Why I picked it up: A dear friend recommended this book years ago - probably while I was an undergraduate college student. I needed another book to carry me into prepping for the schoolyear again, so I found a free Librivox audiobook version. I finally "read" it, friend!

My impressions: This book blows away Wuthering Heights and kept me wondering how things were going to turn out. I thought that the narrator (Gilbert) came across as a pretty emotional and sappy fellow sometimes, and immature to boot - so he was not the strongest character. However, I thought the tale was very well constructed, starting with a happening-now-in-real-time (or more at least, more recently) epistolary story, progressing to an epistolary/diary tale for the middle part, and ending with a conclusion to the happened-more-recently story (still in epistolary form, I think). It was kind of story-inception, then, but the epistolary form for the happening-more-recently story worked because the narrator was able to drop foreshadowing to his fictional reader, while the diary absolutely made sense for that part of the story. Anne Bronte's genius for describing an emotionally abusive love interest blew me away. I've been blessed to never have had that experience myself, but I took an interpersonal communication class that covered this sort of thing in detail. I will say that Arthur presented with pretty much every red flag ever - all this before psychology and profiles for narcissists really came into their own - this was all Bronte's own observations or knowledge of humanity. She hit it spot-on. But, even better of her uncanny ability to portray such a relationship inevitably going off the rails, I loved how the main character, Helen, strove to maintain her fidelity and integrity throughout her trials. She never settled for the immoral route, or at least tried her best not to. She withstood incredibly difficult temptations to actions which many other characters told her would have been completely justifiable given her circumstances. But no: she held strong. And (spoiler alert!) she ended up with her happy ending. This is the Bronte book that I wish was better known - certainly much more than Wuthering Heights. This might be a difficult book for some people to read - I'm imagining those who have had experience with abusive relationships - but it is so very good. It would probably be appropriate for the right high school readers and adults. Even though it's a book I think women are more likely to like, I think men could benefit greatly from reading this book as well - it's got something for all of us in it, I think.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr

This semi-autobiographical work covers two years of life in different countries for a family of Jews who flee Germany just before the Nazis come to power.

Why I picked it up: This book came into my possession sometime when another teacher was getting rid of books and I wanted to find out what such a strangely-named book was about.

My impressions: Spoiler - no, Hitler did not literally steal a pink rabbit toy. The author did a great job of describing the mind of a child. Childish understandings and lifelike descriptions of things such as dreams and arguments really helped me get into the mind of the main character, even though it was in third-person narration (which I do very much enjoy). There were several parts that I thought were very dark - including a tale related by a character about how someone went mad in a concentration camp (not the fact that it happened so much as the description of how it happened) and the story of the suicide of a dear family friend related by the friend's neighbor. Those parts were very sad and would have the potential to make this book a no-go for some sensitive children. There was not much plot to the story, but watching the family's fortunes change in different countries helped keep my interest. Characters were well unique and well-developed. This could be a good book for upper elementary-aged readers, so long as they and/or parents are aware that there are a few troubling parts included (mentioned above).

The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius**

This classic allegory walks through a dialogue between the imprisoned Boethius and Lady Philosophy as they discuss the ups and downs of fortune.

Why I picked it up: This is one of those works that I figured I just had to read sometime - lots of podcasters, etc., reference it and I wanted to read it (listen to it) for myself.

My impressions: Warning: I'm writing this review the first day of November, so it's been a hot minute since I finished listening to this work. Yes, I listened to as a Librivox audiobook, and I don't think that's the way to get the most out of this work. I was able to zone out sometimes because it's not a gripping work like "The 39 Steps". So, I've established it's not the most exciting work. However, it had some good things going for it, including the personal side of the work - it's a philosophical work, but the author places himself as the main character in this dialogue. It was interesting to get a flavor of the political machinations and the personal successes and sufferings of the author as he discussed his turn in fortune with Lady Philosophy. In some ways, I feel it maybe has a mixture of philosophy and theology, because it very clearly operates from a Christian worldview. I'd recommend this work, but not necessarily to everyone. I'd say it was important for scholars and students in a liberal arts education to be familiar with (and other students, but I'm sure it would be a harder sell). It might also benefit people who are going through a really rough time as it could help them to view their life situations through the lens of some ancient wisdom.

Bracket Play

The first round went quickly, with the less captivating works falling easily to the true contenders. Both finalists could have taken the win, but the fictional work wins because the story stuck with me more than the helpful and most excellent reflections of Kimberly Hahn. It is unfortunate, but I'm just going to have to reread "Chosen and Cherished" to really soak it in. That's not a bad thing, and it's probably going to be recommended to my friends more often than "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall". Both are great books and I highly recommend both.

 July 2022 Book Bracket

Lots going on this month, but thanks to a variety of book types and consumption methods, I was still able to fit in a few.

Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, by Astrid Lindgren

The eponymous heroine comes to know, hate, and then befriend the son of a rival robber band.

Why I picked it up: I was working through a good but dense academic work and needed a quick break. I had received this book as a birthday gift from my younger sister after it had been on my "to-read" list for a while.

My impressions: This is a book that, at least in genre specifics, defies description. Yes, it is a children's book - a chapter book - but beyond that, it is hard to categorize. It is part fairy-tale insofar as it features mythical creatures like harpies and author-created rumphops, but it has none of the classic fairy tale story elements. It is a story that happened in the past, but it has no definite dates or locations, so it's not historical fiction. Certain sequences discuss the tasks necessary to survive in a cave in a forest, but it's not a survival guide. I suppose this book is a general sort of "adventure" with an interesting mix of elements. The book is unusual in that Ronia's family, though loving, has a disreputable trade - that of robbing travelers. I am not used to children's books where the family is not morally upstanding, I suppose! But the robbing is never glorified - two of the most important characters question it and refuse to follow that line of work. It was, at times, a bit of a wild ride due to the extremes of emotions some characters experienced and the unusual situation of the characters, but a few parts were a bit slow. This would probably be a fun read for a child and children's-literature-loving-adults like me, but there were a few occasions of borderline questionable language for a young audience. I might end up reading the book again sometime, but I don't anticipate it will end up on the shelf of "beloved children's books".

The Word on Fire Bible: Gospels

This is the first release of the evangelizing Word on Fire ministry's massive multi-volume Bible project.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to own this beautiful Bible.

My impressions: This (Catholic) Bible is quite excellent! It's a slightly different translation than the one I'm used to, but that made it interesting to note slight differences in the text. I love excerpts pulled from works by well-known Catholic theologians and authors, including Church fathers such as St. Augustine, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, G. K. Chesterton, and Bishop Robert Barron. Longer essays punctuated the volume and provided deeper insights into some key texts. I especially loved the full-color reproductions of works of sacred art that included a short explanation of how the work is connected to the Gospel passage being depicted as well as notes about artistic composition. I would highly recommend this Bible to any Catholic.

Charis in the World of Wonders, by Marly Youmans**

A teenage girl named Charis in pre-Revolutionary War Massachusetts escapes massacre and the dangers of the wilderness to make a new life for herself in a sometimes dangerous colonial society.

Why I picked it up: The book first caught my interest as I perused the Ignatius Press catalogue, so when I saw the ebook was on sale, I snatched it up.

My impressions: I enjoyed reading the book - a mix, it seemed, of historical fiction and fairy tale - but still have mixed feelings about it. Or, perhaps, I'm still sorting out my thoughts on it. Well-researched, and certainly beautifully written by a poet/novelist, it portrayed multiple dynamic characters of depth and development. The Catholic French, who make just a few appearances in the story and character's thoughts, were portrayed as vicious, but that isn't surprising considering that the main character, a Puritan, suffered great loss at the hands of the Native Americans and their French allies. I do find it interesting that Ignatius Press, a Catholic publishing company, sells this book. I had to skim a few parts - some just a little too depressing, and some a little too borderline as far as appropriateness goes for me. Nothing was, I'd say, graphic, but the romance was a little strong and more intense intimacy talked about pretty baldly a few times. Some of the scenes of violence were disturbing, so all that combined would have me saying that really maybe only adults should be reading this book...which is strange, because much of it reads like books like "Johnny Tremain", a children's historical fiction book set in a similar time period. Lots of deep thoughts and complex emotions are explored, including lots of loss and coming to terms with death. I will warn prospective readers that there is a suicide in this book. The atmosphere of this work was well-woven and quite believable. As stated earlier, I'd recommend this book only to adults, and that with the warning that they still might find it an emotionally trying work that could require skimming here and there. I wouldn't be surprised if I looked into the author's other works at some point.

Stories of the Saints, by Carey Wallace; illustrated by Nick Thornborrow

An illustrated book shares short tales of saints through the ages, beginning with Roman martyrs and ending with Mother Teresa.

Why I picked it up: A friend gave me this lovely book as a belated Christmas present. I ended up reading one or two stories at a time before turning off the light for bed.

My impressions: Overall, this is a pretty neat take on the children's hagiography compendiums I sometimes read as a child. The shorter length of these stories make them readable in short chunks, like what one might read a child as a bedtime story. There were a few mistakes in a few of the stories and/or illustrations, such as stating Fra Angelico is a saint (he isn't yet) and including too many of a certain item in an illustration. Some of the illustrations really wowed me (e.g., the Fra Angelico illustration was done in the style of one of his own paintings), and some didn't do much for me or came off as creepy. I appreciated that there was an illustration for every saint included in this book. Another likeable feature was the information box that precluded the story; included in the box were (estimated) dates of the years the saint lived, location, items or images associated with the saint, patronages, and feast day. One thing I would have liked would to be know which saint stories were based more on legend and which had historical evidence or accounts. One last thing that rubbed me wrong a bit at the beginning was that the focus at times seemed more on the deeds of the saint with little attention to God. However, I think that with a subheading like "Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage", it isn't surprising that the author really dwells on the "exciting" story elements. In conclusion, I think this book would be fine for kids to read, but just with the knowledge that some illustrations may be a little creepy for young readers, there are a few inaccuracies, and the stories of necessity are very truncated hagiographies.

From Slave to Priest, by Sr. Caroline Hemesath, S.S.F.**

This biography details the life of Father Augustine Tolton, the first black priest to serve in his native country, the United States of America.

Why I picked it up: This audiobook from formed.org seemed of interest when I needed a break from podcasts.

My impressions: I am glad to now know the story of Father Augustine Tolton. This book did a great job of portraying the hardships Father Tolton encountered during his life, both in the struggle to gain acceptance to the seminary, and after ordination in his diocesan ministry. It is rough to see the racism of United States Catholics in action at that time, especially compared to the respect shown to Father Tolton in Rome, and to wonder how much change has happened in the American Catholic Church since then. "Perseverance" is probably the word most suited to this amazing priest. Fr. Tolton is deemed a "Venerable" in the canonization process as of 2019, and I hope that I may celebrate his canonization in the future. I recommend this book to American Catholics, especially if someone is needing a saint biography fix.

If Your Mind Wanders at Mass, by Thomas Howard**

The significance of the different parts of the Mass are explained and pondered.

Why I picked it up: The ebook has been languishing on my list for a long time - I even started it once and couldn't get very far into it. When I saw it was a relatively short audiobook on formed.org, I decided to listen to it to squeeze in one extra book for the month.

My impressions: The best way to experience this book is, I think, to read it and ponder it, perhaps in adoration. As an audiobook, it was easy for my mind to wander (which is a terrible irony, considering the name). There were lots of great explanations about the beauty and importance of the Mass, but listening to it was not the way to encourage deep reflection on it. In some ways, I found myself wishing for more details - like what I learned about in middle school, including technical names, the positioning of the priest's hands, etc. Great overview and some detail, but no practical tips for paying attention better. This book would be a great read for Catholics new to the faith or who have not been well catechized in what is happening at the Mass; also a good refresher for those who are more familiar, including myself.

Tolkien's Modern Reading, by Holly Ordway

Scholar Holly Ordway explores the modern literature Tolkien is known or likely to have read while debunking myths about his life and reading habits that resulted from an unfortunate official biography.

Why I picked it up: I knew I wanted to read this book but didn't decide to until my reading-club-of-two partner agreed to it.

My impressions: This is an academic work and therefore prone to move slower than a novel, but it was an excellent read for serious Tolkien fans. Ordway did a great job of synthesizing when she described some of the books she listed (not all were explained in such - minimal - detail). I felt that she ventured into speculation at times about what influence these works could have had upon Tolkien, but she stated at the beginning that she was going to do so. And, as someone who did some detailed research (the depth is incredible), and as someone who has an intimate understanding of Tolkien's works, I think she is warranted the space to speculate. No amateur is she. There's no way of knowing for sure, but Ordway certainly made the case for Tolkien's imagination working in a certain way - as a "leaf mould". I doubt that anyone's full imaginative workings can be pinned down, but she had good evidence to back up her explanation. This book made me despise Humphrey Carpenter's official biography of Tolkien and wonder how Tolkien may have differed from Carpenter's portrayal. This book took me two summer months to work through (with some other books mixed in), but it was an impressive work that led me to start a letter to the author. I still have to finish it, but I'll get there. This book is good for Tolkien scholars and super-nerds, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to casual fans or even big fans, unless they want to get into the more academic side of things and critical essays aren't enough.

Bracket Play

I did not include the Gospels in the bracket because I feel like the Bible would win hands down, every time. So, excepting the Gospels, this is how bracket play went:

Two of the first round games were easy to decide - Ordway's academic work won out over the beautiful but imperfect "Stories of the Saints". The audiobook of Father Augustine Tolton definitely held my interest much better than "If Your Mind Wanders at Mass", which would probably have been a better read for me as a physical book. However, the two fictional works (I'm certain of only one of them being for children) was difficult to decide. "Ronia" felt like a wild read, but I thought "Charis" was beautifully written and did not shy away from the ugliness and beauty of life. However, this work lost to "From Slave to Priest" because I think (on-his-way-to-being-a-)saint stories are important - and this, one, about a black priest in post-Civil-War America, strikes me as a very important one for today. For this reason, it also beat Ordway's book, which was very good, but probably not as likely to find general appeal.

It looks like the bracket this time was dictated more by what I thought was the better book to be read; it I went off of enjoyment, the winner could have been either fictional work or parts of "Tolkien's Modern Reading."

Books Started and Put Down

Triss, by Brian Jacques

A squirrel with a warrior's heart escapes slavery and battles the evil creatures who try to hunt her down.

Why I picked it up: I felt the urge to read a book from the beloved Redwall series and this was one I hadn't read in a while.

Why I put it down: Honestly, the German accents of several key villains really bothered me. Jacques usually gives interesting accents to side characters, but a pretty major one was sporting a strong accent in this book and I couldn't get past it. I recall from past reads that the story has pretty much all the Redwall adventure tropes one could ask for, but I didn't want to have to fight irritation from one character's voice the entire book. It's one thing to hear an accent in a movie and another to have to read it spelled phonetically in a 300+ page book. I'd still recommend this book to any Redwall lover, even though now was not the time for me to read it.

 June 2022 Book Bracket

Half of the books I "read" this month were audiobooks, drawn from various sources. However, the physical books were the ones that I appreciated most.

Creighton Model FertilityCare System, handbook

Yes, I'm counting this as a book read. The handbook is as the title states: a work explaining the Creighton NFP model.

Why I picked it up: It was required reading.

My impressions: It was not the most interesting thing I've ever read, with multiple parts I would consider "slow". However, it has very important information that I am extremely likely to reference in the future. Highly recommend it for those who are looking into the Creighton NFP model. And that is enough about that.

Howard's End, by E. M. Forster**

The fates of three British families intertwine in the early years of the 20th century; marriages and scandals result.

Why I picked it up: Another Librivox audiobook win here - I wanted to "read" something, and decided this classic would fit the bill. (I had started the audiobook of Mark Twain's "Joan of Arc", but decided to postpone that until a time when I could read the physical book.)

My impressions: It's not my favorite classic, but parts of it reminded me of Victorian novels I have enjoyed, like Elizabeth Gaskell's "Wives and Daughters". I did not expect the second half of the book to be what it was, but it was very good in its own unexpected way. I thought Forster did a great job of considering societal changes and character shortcomings without being heavy-handed. I did not notice any parts that seemed too long or descriptive. It was well written and by the end, compelling - I wanted to know how everything would turn out for all the characters involved. I think this would be a great book for a mature reader, especially one who enjoys "period drama" stories.

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel**

Survivors must navigate a dangerous wilderness dotted by tribal settlements after an apocalyptic pandemic shuts down the world and ends civilization as it had been known.

Why I picked it up: I had seen this book from time to time as an employee at a university bookstore. A random recent encounter with it reminded me that, in a post-COVID world, it would be interesting to see how a fictional work (written before 2020) envisioned terrors and aftermath of a pandemic.

My impressions: The audiobook (found online) was narrated well, without the narrator attempting too much variation on voices. I found the story interesting and ultimately hopeful, although parts were very sad, indeed, and I could have done without so much of what I shall call "immorality in relationships". Definitely a book that mature/adult readers would handle best. It was an interesting thought experiment that had some similarities to the COVID pandemic saga, but it made me grateful that COVID, while deadly, was not nearly as universally fatal as this fictional plague. It was interesting to follow the threads of many different people living in a post-apocalyptic society, but that also made for plot difficulties. I was saddened that the main villain in the story had warped Christian teachings to justify the lifestyle of a Nietzschean superman, but there was a happy ending for many of the characters in that storyline. It was interesting to have the author follow the lives of many individuals who were touched by a single character, a fading Hollywood star - his story, by the end, had touched me. This could be an interesting read for a variety of adult readers, I think, but there are enough moments of violence, sadness, and problematic relationships that a sensitive reader should consider whether this is the right book for them.

The Jane Austen Society, by Natalie Jenner**

Between the two world wars, British locals and an American Hollywood belle team up in an attempt to create a memorial to the beloved author, Jane Austen.

Why I picked it up: I needed another audiobook to listen to while working on various crafts and activities; this one had a few months wait on it through my usual library system, but was immediately available through one that I go to only for ebooks and audiobooks.

My impressions: This was a fun book, not memorable, but paying fitting homage to Austen in the manner of writing; the main complaint I had was that the book had the seemingly-required-nowadays homosexual relationship. Other than that and some premarital relations, it was an enjoyable book. Unfortunately, these elements pervaded much of the book. There was also an attempted rape scene that I imagine some readers could find distressing. I'm glad I'm not a famous actress. I liked how most of the relationships seemed like they could have come straight from a Jane Austen novel, albeit removed to a later time period. The ending felt Austen-y as well. I think the research for this work was probably extensive, but I didn't feel distracted by such references; the facts were well used to create the feel of the story. It's a book that I probably won't be reading again - a bit on the fluff side of reading - and one that, due to some of the content, I'd recommend only to adults who like Jane Austen. (SPOILER ALERT: P.S. it also felt very much like the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - some elements were oddly similar, actually, including the finding of a precious letter by a famous author.)

The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to Everyday Living, by Timothy Gallagher

A priest explains Ignatius' 14 rules of discernment and how they apply to everyday life, illuminating each with numerous realistic scenarios or actual accounts.

Why I picked it up: This was my morning spiritual reading; it had long been on my "To Read" list, but a retreat finally gave me the kick in the rear I needed to actually buy the book and read it.

My impressions: This is a great book, one that I think many Catholics would benefit from reading - or at least, learning the basics of what is described in the book. It was straightforward and broke down what was happening in each rule. I felt like the author had extensive expert experience in this area and was well-researched. His examples felt approachable and applicable, even when the subject described was focused on a person in a religious order or a priest. I have one practical takeaway I plan to do (print out the 14 rules so I have a copy of them handy) and others I can refer to in the book when I need to. I highly recommend this book to Catholics looking for their next spiritual reading book - and, really, to just about all Catholics. It's probably too dense for young readers, but readable by adults and mature teenagers.

For Women Only, by Shaunti Feldhahn

A female author conducted statistical research and shares her findings in a book that aims to teach women about what the men in their life need in relationships.

Why I picked it up: Mom and Dad recommended my fiance and I read this book (and he its partner book, "For Men Only") when we were betrothed.

My impressions: I had read this book years ago, but boy! It was a good and even necessary reread. I felt like I (re)learned a lot about what makes men tick and it led to some good discussion with my fiance. I highly recommend this book to any woman who wants to love her boyfriend/fiance/spouse better. I appreciated that this book comes from a Christian perspective. I was impressed that the author decided to do real statistical survey research to come up with results - its nice to have both the qualitative and the quantitative sides, and she shared both in this work. I would recommend this book to adults/mature readers only because it does speak frankly about sex.

Bracket Play

The first rounds of bracket play were easy for determining which works continued on to the next round. The survey-based book easily beat the fluff-read about Austen fans; the period drama by Forster beat the science fiction post-apocalypse story, and the applicable and practical spiritual work won out over the important, but dry, informative handbook on one NFP method. "For Women Only" beat "Howard's End" because of the extreme practicality and universal message it carries for women; however, it did lose to the spiritual work "Discernment of Spirits". My fiance helped me realize that "For Women Only" did offer some generalizations that, while covering some majority of responses, was not true of every man. "Discernment of Spirits" seems to me to be a work that any Catholic serious about their faith could benefit from. I would recommend both semifinalists as good reads.

Books I Put Down

Marriage: The Rock on Which the Family is Built, by William May**

A Catholic theologian explains why marriage is the foundation of family life.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to listen to another audiobook and, considering the vocation I'm headed towards, this one looked good to me.

Why I put it down: The content was good, but I'd heard or read much of the information before. I already believe what the author has to say and I decided my listening time could be better used listening to something else. (I also have at least two books on the topic of marriage that I hope to read before the end of the year already).

 May 2022 Book Bracket

I decided to go ahead and include one book that I actually finished in June; this way, I could have an even number of titles for the bracket this month.

Hoppity Hare's Adventures, by Geraldine McCaughran

This short book covers one adventure, Beatrix Potter-style, embarked upon by the eponymous character.

Why I picked it up: I originally picked it up at the Friends of the Library bookstore, having seen its series (Brambledown Tales) recommended long ago on a Facebook group I follow. I wanted a short book that I could read on my lunch break.

My impressions: Not having read much Beatrix Potter, but knowing a bit about her works, I had the feeling that this was a book that could be enjoyed by those who enjoyed Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. It was short and appropriate for young readers who can read more than a picture book, but are not full-fledged readers yet. Simple plot, but solid, and including unique characters. It's not something I'll read again just for my own self, but it could be a good before-going-to-bed book to read with kids over a week or so.

Happiness, God, and Man, by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn**

This collection of essays by a modern Catholic Cardinal explore a variety of subjects, including the nature of happiness, the lives of several influential Austrians, and fictional works by Gertrud von le Fort and C. S. Lewis.

Why I picked it up: I wanted an audiobook that wasn't too long; this one's title piqued my interest.

My impressions: This book had some positive aspects as well as some that I did not appreciate quite so much. In fact, the topics were of variable levels of interest to me, so if I had had a physical copy of this book, I might have ended up skimming some sections. However, it was also interesting to get a mix of topics in what I'm calling a collection of essays. There was at least one section where the cardinal dove into some Thomistic theology and I, not having a great head for philosophy, couldn't tell you what was in it. However, I was very invested in the sections that dealt with the authors von le Fort and C. S. Lewis, having read multiple works written by both authors. In fact, these author-focused sections at the end were my favorite parts. I don't know if I'd say I'd recommend the entire collection outright, but I definitely think some sections would be interesting to different readers - and the question of what makes for happiness is a universally relevant one that many people could benefit from considering.

The Island of Two Trees, by Brian Kennelly

Three children are sucked into their father's imagination to fight the evil tree and army that have taken over his story.

Why I picked it up: I think I'd seen this book recommended on a Facebook page, or seen it advertised by a Catholic publishing company. In any case, I think I bought it from a $5 TAN Books sale.

My impressions: I appreciate the effort that the author has put into creating a story like this - I do - but it's not a book I see myself rereading or necessarily recommending to others. One of the parts I liked best was a mythic-feeling origin story of the two trees mentioned in the title. Aspects of this book reminded me of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The author seemed to try to incorporate Tolkien's view of fairy tales (re: "On Fairy Tales" essay by Tolkien) into how the imaginative world of the story operates. However, the characters sometimes sounded pretentious or like they were trying too hard; I can't say the writing was excellent. Interesting, yes, but not refined or memorable in the way that the prose of many classic children's tales are. I feel bad that I can't give it a higher recommendation since the work is clearly a very Catholic one, but it's not going to become a classic. I think children who like fantasy stories could enjoy this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to older readers.

Toward the Gleam, by T. M. Doran**

Imagine what would happen if a major Tolkien/Inkling fan said to himself, "You know, Tolkien would make a great main character in a book that has him discovering an ancient treasure and taking on great personal risk to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands." That's this book.

Why I picked it up: I thought I remembered seeing the title in an Ignatius Press catalog; it looked like some sort of fictional work, and as I was in the mood for a fictional audiobook, I listened to it.

My impressions: Definitely an interesting book and a unique way to pay homage to a beloved author, but definitely not a "must read/listen to" in my estimation. I enjoyed the story well enough, although the beginning was a bit slow and one or two parts were a little hard to follow. The difficulty following could very well be the result of listening to, rather than reading, the book. I felt like some sections were far too long and unnecessary, such as Tolkien having a lengthy philosophical discussion with a random philosopher living off the land in the wilds of Scotland. As a professed Tolkien fan, I didn't need the author to lay out the differences between the worldviews that battled each other in the novel. One of my favorite parts of the book involved a character who was worked in slowly - mentioned first as a name, then as a "new" character, then with a story thread that pulled together the villain's past with the current storyline. I disliked some parts of the novel too, such as how Tolkien was tempted by one of the characters, his conflicted resort to lying throughout the story, and how he dispenses of the villain; I felt these were not true "what if" representations of the man (yes, fictional story, but I thought the author took too much liberty in these areas). I also disliked that this story made Tolkien's own creations seem like they were not as much his own work as they were in reality - he had a true storytelling genius, and a part of me feels that genius was denigrated in how the story depicts him composing them. It was cool to see him meeting several contemporaries and having some of their dialogue sound close to what I imagined their actual style might be like, but those encounters also felt a little forced. This book would be fine for adults and probably mature high schoolers to read, but likely to be appreciated best by Inklings fans. 

P.S. A word of warning about the audiobook; many of the narrator's voices for characters were fine, but the voices he adopted for the female characters drove me halfway to distraction. I liked C. S. Lewis' and GKC's voices, though.

Bracket Play

Well, I wasn't too impressed by the works I read this May. The first round was easy to determine, with the two children's books falling to the adult works (unusual for me, but it is reflective of the works). The cardinal's book ended up winning overall because I really enjoyed some of the essays, particularly the ones about C.S. Lewis's space trilogy and Gertrud von le Fort. "Toward the Gleam" had its mix of pros and cons, but it wasn't enough to beat out the other work.

April 2022 Book Bracket

This was a powerhouse month of books. Three, if not all four, of these titles could easily have been the top book for any other month. I really don't want to have to choose a winner.

What Every Catholic Needs to Know about Literature, by Joseph Pearce**

Convert, literature nerd/literary critic, and professor Joseph Pearce briefly touches on (I think?) 100 works of fiction, most of which are considered "literary classics", why Catholics should read them, and what perhaps can be gained from reading them.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to try the free audiobook through the Formed.org app since books are expensive.

My impressions: I listened to this one as an audiobook read by the author himself. Before I say anything else, I want to 100% recommend listening to the audiobook if it is available to you if only because listening to this man speak is about the most relaxing thing in the world. But, going off of that, this is a book that I'd love to have a physical copy of someday. The reason for this is that I want to go back to it and reread it, or at least parts of it. I found myself more determined than ever to read some works which I have failed to pick up ("The Betrothed", for example) and willing to revisit works that confused or troubled me on some level before. One such work includes "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer; Pearce gave me perspective on some of what could be going on by including such rascally sinners in a very Catholic work. I appreciated that he said some of these works could be troubling to readers - he didn't pretend that everything was squeaky-clean, and that there can be something to be gained by reading works that include very imperfect, fallen human beings doing terrible things; evil is evil, yes, but if it is being portrayed, that portrayal can serve a purpose (I hope that makes sense). I highly recommend this book to adults, but I'd wish it to be read even more so by high schoolers - I think it would be enormously helpful in forming their encounters with the classics they are required to read at school.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, by Brant Pitre*

Biblical scholar Brant Pitre describes what Jewish religious practices and beliefs were at the time of Jesus and what those cultural understandings mean for our understanding of the Eucharist today.

Why I picked it up: I'm not sure when I first heard about this book, but it was highly recommended by one friend and I chose it as my Lenten read.

My impressions: This is a great book - I'd heard some of the information in bits and pieces over the years, but it was nice to have it all together in one place. As with the Pitre work I read last year, I found this book well-researched and easy to read. I regretted reading it as an ebook from the library because the 2-week checkout limit made me feel rushed and I believe that feeling decreased what I soaked in because I was trying to read so much so quickly. However, reading it as a regular ebook without worrying about time limit would likely have been just as good a reading experience as that of other ebooks I've read. I can't say that I was enthralled by it, but I think this is a good book and should definitely be read by those who want to reflect upon Jesus' true presence in the Eucharist.

A Song for Nagasaki, by Paul Glynn**

This biography describes the life of Takashi Nagai, the saintly Japanese radiologist who converted to Catholicism and survived the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

Why I picked it up: This book was highly recommended by a friend and, after my fantastic experience with the Joseph Pearce audiobook, I wanted to take advantage of this one - I started it during a sewing and Easter-egg-stuffing spree.

My impressions: Yes. This book is fantastic. It was beautiful; it touched my heart; it made me cry; it made me yearn for a saintly, God-filled marriage. It is a hard book at times, especially in the section describing the dropping of the atomic bomb and its effect on the victims. I eventually had to skip some of this section because the descriptions were too graphic for me. I think that we of the current time have lost the horror of war - specifically atomic warfare - that grew from the post-World War II era. The books was so well researched and engaging. It gave a view of Japan from what I think would be an authentic Japanese viewpoint, and described ways in which it differed and suffered from American or Western perspectives. Glynn quoted extensively from Nagai's own works and personal journal; this flowed well in audiobook format. I really enjoyed his description of Nagai's grappling with questions of faith and belief because it played like how an internal struggle might actually sound in someone's head. I highly recommend this book to adult readers, but with the warning that there are some graphic descriptions and extremely sad moments, especially in the last third or so of the book.

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, by Sherry A. Weddell

Weddell, the founder of the Called & Gifted discernment of spirits program for Catholics, dives into the stats of Catholics who leave the faith and what faithful Catholics can do to evangelize in our culture.

Why I picked it up: This was the book chosen by me and my book-club-of-two partner for this round.

My impressions: Wow, this was a hard book to read at times because I felt called out at times, but it was a book I was so grateful to have read by the end. I felt like there were extremely relevant and practical suggestions for evangelizing those in our parish and also for those who are not in communion with the Church. It was helpful to view evangelization from the perspective of forming intentional disciples - the path of conversion is not just a "believe or don't believe" dichotomy; there are stages that people go through, and the way we approach others should probably be influenced by the stage of conversion we find them in. These stages can happen in any person - Catholics and non-Catholics alike. I think I felt more empowered to evangelize by this book than I have by anything else I can recall having read or listened to. As always, it doesn't mean that I'm suddenly going out and evangelizing more, but it DOES mean I have a resource I can reference and feel more confident about my abilities to share the Gospel. I highly recommend this book for all Catholic adults, as well as for Catholic teenagers.

Bracket Play

It was hard to pick the winner this month since all the books I read in April were very good - and all in their own unique way.

In the first round, the two audiobooks faced each other. I gave the win to Joseph Pearce's book because I think it is an important book for Catholic educators and any Catholic pursuing a liberal arts education to read. However, "Song for Nagasaki" could just as easily have won due to its more objective, biographical nature and potentially wider appeal. It was also an excellent book - so good that it had me feeling things and crying at different times. In the other matchup, the physical book about evangelizing unbelievers and uncatechized believers beat the theological ebook. The reading of the former was a much more relaxed experience than reading the time-limited-checkout of the latter. While I felt I had encountered some of the information included in both works, I felt like "Forming Intentional Disciples" hit me a lot harder and has had me thinking a lot more about the topics it addressed. For this reason, it did win the second matchup against Pearce's book. I'm very likely to revisit both excellent books, but Weddell's work felt more impactful at the time and timely for what is going on in the Church (especially in our Western culture) today.

March 2022 Book Bracket

 March Book Bracket Madness

There's nothing particularly sports-themed about my book brackets this month, but the NCAA basketball tournament was one of the inspirations for the format of this blog. I couldn't remember which books I finished when, so I kept just four books for this month to keep the bracket to a good number and pushed the others I couldn't remember well to April's post.

The Books

Heretics, by G. K. Chesterton**

Chesterton takes on many well-known individuals and "types" of his day and explains some of the problems with the perspectives of his subjects.

Why I picked it up: Librivox came through with another audiobook that had been on my list for a while but I hadn't made time to sit down and read. This was one of those books that I thought, "Well, since I read [x book](in this case, Orthodoxy), I should read the 'partner book', so to speak." However, it was pretty low on my list of priorities. Much like the Louisa May Alcott audiobooks, this felt like the perfect format to get this work read.

My impressions: Perhaps audiobook is not the ideal way to encounter Chesterton's more analytical texts. I did not find the book very memorable, and due to the lack of familiar names, I couldn't tell anyone more than one person Chesterton considered in this book. I've found that Chesterton sometimes hits the nail on the head with universal truths or platitudes, but sometimes, he focused so keenly on the issues of his time that I struggle to connect with what he is arguing. The latter case was the experience I had with this book. I think I would have appreciated the work more if I had more background knowledge on the people Chesterton was analyzing. One bright spot in the book was Chesterton's observations on family - although, due to my lack of memory, I couldn't tell you what it was that he said on that topic. This book does not approach the heights of Everlasting Man or Orthodoxy or even Tremendous Trifles. However, in the name of giving the work a fair chance, my experience might have been more positive - and more memorable - if I had read the work. I wouldn't recommend this work to others, especially since there are much better works to sample from this prolific writer.

Elijah in Jerusalem, by Michael D. O'Brien

This sequel to Father Elijah follows the titular character and his brother monk as they travel into Jerusalem to again call the antichrist to repentance.

Why I picked it up: I read Father Elijah a few years ago and I overheard a friend talking about these books recently, which reminded me I needed to try to learn what happened in the rest of the story.

My impressions: This book had a very similar feel to the previous work and they tied together smoothly. It felt shorter than Father Elijah and moved, overall, at a pretty decent pace with a few slightly slower parts here and there. I felt like the author has a strong grasp of spirituality and can develop characters and share their stories beautifully. There was not much plot to this book - much of the story involved hearing the life stories of many of the people whom Elijah meets - but there was enough to lead up to a climax and have me wondering how things would end. I was a bit bummed to find that, after finishing the book, I'm still trying to figure out how things ended. What happened to the main character was pretty clear, but the last few pages raised some important questions that weren't answered. Of course, that recalls Job to my mind, the biblical man who did not have his questions answered at the end in the way he wanted. Amongst a few other important things, I wondered about the ultimate choices of some of the characters and how the rest of the apocalypse played out. There were one or two kind of creepy parts in the book, but they were brief and probably more concerning to someone like me, who is pretty sensitive. O'Brien didn't shy away from sharing from troubling scenes that happened in the lives of a few of the characters, so this is definitely a book for adult/mature readers. I can't say I'd necessarily recommend this book to someone unless they are specifically looking for a sequel to a "religious thriller" (which seems like an extremely niche category to me), but it's a solid sequel to Father Elijah and would likely be appreciated by those who enjoyed that preceding work.

The Little Oratory, by David Clayton and Leila Lawler*

Catholic authors talk about how to set up a prayer space, or oratory, in the home and different ways to make the home a domestic church.

Why I picked it up: This was a free ebook via the formed.org app and has been on my to-read list since I saw it in the shop/bookstore at Clear Creek Monastery. I was on vacation and definitely needed something a bit lighter to read.

Quote: "A husband must be patient with his wife's attention to detail. A wife should never shame her husband with her competence, making him feel inadequate; but with her loving encouragement, he will overcome his doubts and perceived shortcomings. As Pope John Paul II notes, 'in many ways [the man] has to learn his own "fatherhood" from the mother' (Mulieris Dignitatem18). But she must do that as his loving, not scolding, wife."

My impressions: This book is a great companion read to the "Catholic All Year" liturgical living compendium book I read last year. The books cover different information, but it goes together beautifully. This book talked about the basic ideas behind why Catholic families would benefit from having a prayer table at home, decorating beautifully, praying the Divine Office, and participating in different devotions. There were also practical tips and tons of great resources to go along with the information - I was definitely interested in and looked up some of those resources after reading the book. I had a small issue with the book; namely, I felt that there were some claims made that didn't have a lot of supporting evidence. I agree that the home should be beautiful, but I don't know where ideas like 'folk music is especially beneficial to children' comes from (this is not an exact quote and taken out of context, but that's about as much as was said on the topic - there was no follow-up explanation for that claim). There were also a few parts that dragged a bit, so some skimming occurred here and there. I made probably at least twenty notes and highlighted different passages, so from that viewpoint, having the ebook version was great (I'd be very hesitant to make any marks in a book, even if it was my own). I was sad that I couldn't access the pictures at the link they listed (the page doesn't exist anymore), so from that perspective, it would be good to have the physical book. Overall, I'd recommend this to any Catholic adult who wants to think about how they might better incorporate the faith into their home life. I suppose liturgical living pros might basically know what's shared in this book, but I imagine they'd still be able to find something to take away from this book.

The Great Divorce, by C. S. Lewis

Lewis gives a fictional rendering of what the individual choosing Heaven or Hell after death might be like.

Why I picked it up: My boyfriend and I decided this would be a good book to read aloud together, following The Hobbit.

My impressions: This was my third time reading the book and it was again most excellent. I think it would be great to hear as an audiobook, but reading aloud and discussing different parts of it as we went was great. All the individual discussions in the purgatorial space were amazing, and some quite intense. I enjoyed similar parts to previous readings of the book and find them easy to recall - they stick in the memory. My boyfriend said he was invested in knowing how one or two of the stories ended when we paused at chapter endings, and he even had a dream that was uncomfortably similar to some aspects of the book (we made sure to finish it as soon as possible after that). Even though the souls we met were largely nameless, Lewis makes them so lifelike that the reader cares about their choice and can perhaps see such people, or aspects of them, in reality. There are a few topics that might not be totally appreciated by or appropriate for younger readers, but high school readers and above would definitely be encouraged (by me) to read this book.

Bracket Play

I pitted weaker books against the stronger ones, but noticed I had an even mix of fiction and non-fiction. In the non-fiction realm, Chesterton's work lost to "The Little Oratory." Though he had a brilliant mind, the people he considered in his work were too far removed from my experience to be of much interest to me - on the other hand, "The Little Oratory" is a work that I took many notes on and will probably reread, at least in part, some day. In the fiction face-off, O'Brien's work lost easily to "The Great Divorce". I found some elements of "Elijah in Jerusalem" were not satisfactory, at least to my taste. I will probably not reread it, but I enjoyed Lewis' work for a third time reading it. In the second and final round, "The Great Divorce" won over "The Little Oratory". Lewis' work is such a classic, and one of the few that I would say haunts the reader (pun not intended, but we'll claim it if it's there). It's a book that has no boring parts for me and would be more likely to be recommended to others generally; "The Little Oratory" had a couple slow sections and I would recommend the book only to a subset of Catholic adults. 

 February 2022 Book Brackets

I have to admit, I panicked a little when I came to the start of the month and realized I had some very long or slow-moving books I was working on. I ended up with only three books for the bracket, but perhaps there will be more next month.

My Reviews

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

A hobbit, Bilbo, who is quite content with his quiet life, is sent on an adventure by a wizard in which he will save dwarves, be almost captured by goblins, steal from a dragon, try to avert a war, and find a magical ring before returning home.

Why I picked it up: My boyfriend and I agreed to read this book aloud together soon after we officially started dating. It was at least my third, maybe my fourth time reading it, but his first time.

My impressions: This is a fantastic book for young and old alike. Some people (rightfully) complain that the narrative tone is that of an adult talking down to a child, but it's still a fantastic adventure. The story is engaging, well-told, and the ends are tied up nicely at the conclusion. It's one of the few stories I know that has no hint of a romance and, frankly, has absolutely no need of one. Bilbo has fantastic development throughout the story, and the passing of a character at the end is poignant and touched me, even after having read the book before, recorded the quote, etc. It was definitely a good book for reading aloud. I recommend this book to all readers, young and old, who are at that reading level; it may not be beloved by all, but it has been a favorite of many. Don't watch the Peter Jackson movie adaptation; if you must, read the book first.

Bible in a Year Podcast with Father Mike Schmitz**

Catholic priest Fr. Mike Schmitz reads through and comments on the Bible every day for a year in this podcast.

Why I listened to it: Although it's a podcast, I'm counting this as an audiobook because Fr. Schmitz does, in fact, read the entire Bible. I decided to give this a try because although I'd finally read through the entire Bible, I definitely felt like I should try to engage with it more deeply. I WILL NOT be including this in the bracket because I feel that 1) how could you say the Bible is NOT the best book you'd read? and 2) the podcast was completed primarily in 2021 and just finished right at the beginning of January, so it doesn't even technically fall in this month.

My impressions: One or two of the professors of a class I audited in 2021 implied that trying to read through the Bible in an entire year was a bad idea. No podcasts were named, but I felt this one was implicated in that statement. In brief: I disagree. In detail: I think this podcast is great for the general public, especially Catholics who really haven't taken the time to encounter God in Scripture. I'm sure there are better ways to really engage with the text than the way I did (listening in bursts at 2x speed and taking no notes and always doing something while listening), in which case the professors are correct. However, I loved the commentary Fr. Schmitz gave that didn't shy away from hard topics or confusing passages. Some passages of the Bible were still pretty dry to me, but I would definitely recommend this to Christians and Catholics high school and older (after all, there IS adult content in the Bible).

Hannah Coulter, by Wendell Berry

An aged Hannah Coulter looks back on her life, which spanned much of the 20th century, and gives thanks for it all, from her upbringing in poverty to her first marriage, widowing, motherhood, second marriage, and family life.

Why I picked it up: I had multiple people tell me I had to read this book. I picked it up at my favorite local bookstore a while back (a year or more?), but hesitated to pick it up because one of the people who had recommended it told me to wait until I had time to sit down and savor it. I picked a busy January back at work anyway and read a portion of it during my lunch breaks.

My impressions: Friends, please don't hate this review, but I can't say I was hit super hard by this book. Lovely writing? Yes. Deep insights about life? Yes. Poignant moments that reflected realities that I haven't lived? Yes. But it has no plot outside of the plot that most lives follow: youth, maturation, love, growth, growing old. It is beautiful, for sure, and that hominess and normalness is part of the charm. But it is a book that requires a lot of time to just sit and reflect. It's not a book that I imagine turning to in times of high stress. It's a work that requires a low level of stress and a high level of receptivity already established in the reader for the ideas to sink in. Maybe this review just shows that I wasn't in the right place to read the book (sorry to you, wise recommender, who said to wait till I could savor it). I think this book would be like a drink of cool, refreshing water to the right person in the right time of life. This apparently wasn't it for me. I think it's well written and any adult in the right mindset could enjoy it (but that's true of many books, isn't it?). I'm not quite sure who would like it...I got a"Little House on the Prairie" aura at some points in the book, so maybe people who appreciated those books could find comfort in a story that's very different, but has perhaps something of the same environment as that series. There is some deft wording of intimate things that keeps anything from being sexually explicit - in fact, it's handled pretty tastefully for letting you know what's going on - but I'd say this is a book for adults. I don't think a high schooler would enjoy or appreciate it.

On the Incarnation, by Saint Athanasius

Doctor of the Church St. Athanasius defends the Church's teaching that Christ truly became man, addressing arguments that might be made against this doctrine.

Why I picked it up: I heard from the Word on Fire podcast that this is a seminal work in Christian theological literature, and when I was asked to find one more thing that I wanted for Christmas, I decided this copy (with introduction by C. S. Lewis) from my favorite bookstore fit the bill.

My impressions: This is a text that I think would be good for Catholic high school students to encounter. It is pretty short, but chock-full of apologetical language that powerfully and intelligently defends this elemental doctrine. My one complaint about this edition is that, following the C. S. Lewis preface, there was an introduction that dragged on for 28 pages. The book was only 110 pages long. I felt the information, though I'm sure helpful to the serious student, would have been better appreciated as an afterward, or study guide, of sorts. Frontloading all the analysis at the front end of the book was NOT fun. I didn't feel like I had any major spiritual moments from reading the book, but it is so good to be able to say that I've read this work and to know that I can reread it.

Bracket Play

As mentioned above, I did not include the Bible in bracket play because it would win by default.

We have two works of fiction facing off in round one; one a fantasy written for children, one a piece of modern fiction for adults. The children's book won, of course (there are exceptions to this tendency, but at the very least, I'm not surprised by this). While I think "The Hobbit" is more memorable and more accessible, the theological classic won because it's such a classic and treats on such a fundamental doctrine of Catholicism.

Book Brackets January 2022

 January 2021 Book Brackets

Some audiobooks and children's fairy tales helped bump up the number of books read this month, but there was also time for some Catholic works, too.

Book Reviews

The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, by Madeleine l'Engle

Middle child Vicky experiences the joys and anxieties of the Advent season as she prepares to be the angel for the church pageant and wonders if her mother will have the baby in time to be home for Christmas.

Why I picked it up: The author of the "Catholic All Year" compendium mentioned this as a recommended read during the Advent season. It was available in my local library system.

My impressions: This very short book (less than 50 pages) is a realistic-feeling story about one family as it prepares for Christmas with different special activities during every day of Advent. I liked the religious references, the focus on family, and the overall homey tone of the book. There were some very beautiful comments in the book, such as the only thing we can truly give God is ourselves. It's not something I anticipate reading again, but I think it could be a nice read for a child during Advent.

The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald

With the help of her great-great-grandmother, Princess Irene and the miner boy Curdie work to foil the plan of the goblins who live in the mountain.

Why I picked it up: I wanted a comfort read and figured this would be a good one since I hadn't read it for a while.

My impressions: Not as magical this time as the first read, but still a great story. I like being able to sense theological underpinnings to the story. However, some weird parts are still weird (great-great-grandmother has Irene go to bed with her; gives her a bath even though Irene is eight years old...not sure what was needed there), and the descriptions of the goblins, their creatures, and some of their conversations are still kind of creepy to me, even as an adult and reading this book for at least the third time. It's a good fairy tale with some very likeable characters; however, it might not be suitable for young readers of fairy tales if they are sensitive to scary things...or if parts of it are just too weird.

Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott**

Jo and her husband, Mr. Baehr, have a school for many young boys and a few girls, and guide the growth of their charges to become virtuous and the best versions of themselves.

Why I picked it up: I wanted another audiobook (**) and this book was available as well as on my list of books to read. It was narrated by four or five different volunteers.

My impressions: Having different narrators was not as enjoyable an experience as having the single reader for "The Thirty-Nine Steps", as some were easier to listen to than others, but it did not interfere with the experience too much. As for the story, there's not really a plot, but lots of character development. It's one of those books that just follows characters around as they grow up. The stories are interesting enough to keep attention, but it's not a page-turner, by any means. An audiobook was probably the best possible way for me to "read" it since it was easy to have it going while I worked on other things. Those who enjoyed "Little Women" would probably find something to like in this book, but I don't foresee myself picking it up again for a reread.

The Princess and Curdie, by George MacDonald

Princess Irene's grandmother sends the miner boy Curdie, along with some grotesque but good creatures, to save the king from disloyal, plotting subjects.

Why I picked it up: I had finished rereading "The Princess and the Goblin" and it seemed proper to follow it up with the sequel.

My impressions: This is going to be a longer review because there's a decent bit of thought generated by reading this book and the original tale by MacDonald; I guess this is more of a book report and comparison-contrast. So, skip the next part if you want to avoid some spoilers. I'd say this is a darker book than the original, and not quite as good. The "bad guys" in this story were humans, and many of them basically were jerks if they weren't downright conniving. There was also a lack of the lightheartedness that came up at times in the original (for example, no stomping on goblin feet in this book - just lots of mean people). It is the more violent of the two books as well, I'd say. Curdie kills several creatures, there is a battle at the end, and the fifty terrifying goblin creatures wreak havoc on unrepentant scoundrels in a manner that the animal rampage in C. S. Lewis' "That Hideous Strength" evokes to bloodier effect. However, it was still an interesting read - I found myself wanting to have more time to read it, even if it didn't have a thrilling "page-turning" quality. This book had one main storyline to follow, whereas the original wove together two different narratives very harmoniously. I appreciated that we got to follow Curdie and that he was not a static character. I don't know why the goblin creatures reappeared in this book, but giving them more time and showing that they weren't necessarily evil, although they were ugly, played well with other great fairytale elements, such as a special ability Curdie is given by the grandmother and the fact that the virtuous and the vicious do receive their just desserts in the end. I felt like MacDonald tried to slip more social commentary into the narrative, and it wasn't necessary, but it also didn't take up too much time. I recalled from last time that the very end of the story is a sort of epilogue that is quite sad (at least to me), so I tried to stop before I read all that again. I was disappointed that a key goblin creature, Lina, was hinted to have been a woman at some point and took on an ugly form after doing something bad, but that was never actually resolved. I found that rather unsatisfying. Overall, this book is probably less suited to young readers than the original is, and it should definitely be read after the original. Last notes: the townspeople talk about exorcising the palace, where they have mistaken goblin creatures for demons, so parents sensitive to that sort of thing might want to be aware. Also, a religion is mentioned and the head minister depicted in a not-so-flattering light, in the way of commentary on real life, I believe - just so you know.

The 21 Undeniable Secrets of Marriage, by Dr. Allen Hunt

Catholic convert Dr. Hunt lays out the twenty-one titular secrets of marriage in a quick, easy-to-read book that includes an explanation of each secret and a practical way to practice each.

Why I picked it up: My mom had started reading it and passed it on to me so that I could get a better idea of what is called for in a marriage.

My impressions: I think this book would be great for Catholic couples to read. It is definitely directed towards couples who are already married, but I believe I gained some good insights from this book. Some of it was already familiar to me (the love languages, not going to people outside the marriage to resolve all problems, etc.), but some was new. I don't think I'll remember much right now because I'm not actually married, but I think it would be a good book to keep around to reference if and when I get married. I liked the stories of couples that were included in the book - narratives always have so much to attract! I'd definitely recommend this book to married Catholics, whether they are new to the sacrament or have been married for a while (wow, that probably sounds really presumptuous coming from an unmarried woman!).

The Reed of God, by Caryll Houselander

In a work published in the midst of World War II, Houselander reflects on Mary and her qualities, and through Mary, on Jesus Christ.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to read this book for Advent because it had been recommended as a good Advent or Lenten read. I didn't finish it until well after Christmas Day, however.

Quote: "Each saint has his special work: one person's work. But Our Lady had to include in her vocation, in her life's work, the essential thing that was to be hidden in every other vocation, in every life. She is not only human; she is humanity. The one thing that she did and does is the one thing that we all have to do, namely, to bear Christ into the world." - pg. 4

My impressions: This is an excellent book and I want to reread it again in a few years. The book is about Mary, but by the end, I found the focus was more exclusively on Jesus. I appreciated this and the fact that the focus switched so naturally, because it is a way to show how growing close to Mary is really growing close to Christ. Parts of it were hard to read, like feeling called out about "flinching" over hard passages in the Gospels, but so much of it was beautiful. It was again hard to pick out one quote because many spoke to me or were so lovely - "the indefinable lightness of heart which descends upon him like Pentecost" (- pg. 106) jumped out at me as I reread the quotes in my florilegium for this book. I was able to start practical application of one idea right away - a simple thing, greeting Jesus silently in each person I meet (if I remember), but there were many points that would have worked well for meditation. I highly recommend this book to any Catholic who is up to that reading level; it is definitely what I would call a spiritual classic.

Jo's Boys, by Louisa May Alcott**

The boys and girls of Plumfield come of age around the world or at the nearby higher education institution, some making their way, some falling in love, some having adventures, but all growing in maturity and virtue.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to "read" (listen to) the last book in the series of Little Women and Librivox was a good way to do it.

My impressions: This book would have been easier to read through in book form than Little Men: I feel that, while there was still not much plot, the episodes were more interesting and "higher stakes" than the woes and joys of the youngsters. It was fun to see how the characters had developed and continued to through the course of the book. I detected some strong "drawn from real life" sentiments about being an author expressed through Jo, but I don't know how much was for the sake of story and how much was perhaps just Alcott venting. It was a good finish to the series, with the lives of the children being summarized nicely in the last paragraph. However, I got the sense from that last chapter that Alcott was ready to be done with this fictional family and was trying to head off any questions by wrapping things up so nicely. I'd recommend this book over Little Men, but it's not a "must read". It should not be read without reading Little Men first, however.

Bracket Play

I read an uneven seven books this month, but bracket play still worked out nicely; I gave "The Reed of God" a buy for the first round since it was so good. The book on marriage easily defeated the minimalist "24 Days Before Christmas", and a favorite, "The Princess and the Goblin" likewise beat the plot-weak "Little Men". However, the match was closer between "The Princess and Curdie" and "Jo's Boys". I ended up handing the victory to "The Princess and Curdie" because I figured I'd be more likely to reread that one myself. However, that hard-fought victory came to naught, because "The Reed of God" trounced it in the next face-off. The game was very close and I couldn't really decide...I was going to announce "21 Undeniable Secrets" as the winner, but I felt like I was betraying a beloved book that had meant so much to me...so I had MacDonald's book win. In any case, I figured it didn't matter too much, because I knew "The Reed of God" would win it all this month. No prizes for second place, but I do want to make a not that I couldn't really decide between those two books. "The Reed of God" was sometimes hard to read, particularly sections that I felt called me out, but I was encouraged and felt like I learned a lot and could apply some of the concepts in my own life right away.