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).