September Book Bracket 2024

 September Book Bracket

This seemed to be the month of starting books, only to put them down. While I don't love the fact that I decided to move on from so many books, I'm also glad, in a way, that I did. There are so many books that I want to read, and trying these books allows me to move on to those works that I'm going to enjoy much more. There's also an added benefit of crossing titles off my to-read list, which gives me a sense of accomplishment, even if I didn't finish the book.

I notice that there were no knock-out, amazing books this month, but one or two that I pushed through to get them done. I'll have to think about how much I want to get a book done just to check it off, versus finding books that I really enjoy and dedicating time to them.

Bearing False Witness, by Rodney Stark**

A historian debunks pernicious anti-Catholic myths that have been perpetuated, even by well-known historians in the present day.

Why I picked it up: I think I first came across this book in the bookshop of Clear Creek Monastery, and while I couldn't buy it and twenty other books, I knew I could add it to my to-read list! It's been on that list for probably over 5 years. It was another audiobook free through the current Audible subscription.

My impressions: Perhaps the most impressive part of this book was the fact that the author is not Catholic, and yet he wrote this book because it was so important to him to set the record straight. He took on the topics I expected - the Inquisition, the Crusades, Galileo - but he also tackled myths about the Church being pro-slavery, anti-Semitic, or suppressive of certain texts (e.g., "lost gospels" or texts that really are Gnostic, not Christian in origin). I did find a few parts too uncomfortable to listen to (sections of the Inquisition), but it was, for the most part, a very "listenable" work. I felt like I learned a lot and have a good resource to return to if I need to brush up on the history of these anti-Catholic myths and/or their key instigators. I questioned his use of terms in certain parts, but he seemed to have a pretty good understanding of Catholic doctrine and practice. Stark came across as a fair analyst of history - noting that Catholics have made mistakes through the centuries, but always acknowledging when the Church's members had things right, were doing it better than non-Catholics, or at least were no worse than non-Catholic peers. I think this is a good book for any Catholic adult who wants to learn more about his faith, particularly to meet accusations in real life with peace and knowledge.

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, by Lois Gladys Leppard**

Mandie endures trials after her father's death, but then finds a loving environment and mysteries solved in her uncle's mansion.

Why I picked it up: This is another book that ended up on my to-read list at some point, but I'm not sure where from. Also accessed through Audible.

My impressions: The beginning was too depressing for me,, so I skipped parts here and there. Then, the ending was rather saccharine for me. The story had some nice elements, certainly - and it was nice to see Mandie get a happy ending - but it also was lacking in the area of plot. Having a few mysterious things happening helped a bit, but it wasn't enough to make it a great read [listen]. I took issue with one comment, about Mandie knowing some information might scare a servant, who was black - implying that black women were easily frightened. Mandie does value her Cherokee heritage, although they don't explore it, with her simply stating her love for Cherokee people who help her. I didn't find there to be any great historical or literary benefit in reading the book, making it more of a fluff read for children. I wouldn't recommend it to kids, seeing as there are so many amazing children's books out there, but I imagine it could be fun for a younger female reader.

7 Secrets of the Eucharist, by Vinny Flynn

A Catholic layman describes seven truths he has come to know and love about the Eucharist.

Why I picked it up: This was a book given to me by a friend who joined the monastery. My husband read it over the summer and shared some things about it that had impacted him, so I decided to make it my adoration reading when he finished it.

My impressions: This book is a good introduction to people who want to know more about the Eucharist and desire to love Jesus even more. I was able to reflect upon points like reverence when approaching the Eucharist and desiring to gain graces from receiving the Eucharist. Much of the first part of the book felt like information that I was already familiar with, but I feel like I gained more practical ways to try to love Jesus more fully in the Eucharist than I did when I read Bishop Barron's book on the Eucharist. This is a good book for those just starting to think more deeply about adoration and Holy Communion, but some of the content later in the book is good for those who are already familiar with some of the treasures of the Eucharist.

Aggressively Happy, by Joy Marie Clarkson**

In the wake of COVID's havoc, the youngest child in the creative homeschooled Clarkson family wrote about the need and ways to find joy in life.

Why I picked it up: I was looking for my next audiobook and wanted to take advantage of the free Clarkson books available via Audible.

My impressions: This audiobook was an enjoyable read that I would classify as "lightish," but still gleaned some good takeaways from. Clarkson definitely hits on some substantial themes in the book (dealing with doubts in the face of the problem of pain, belief in God, mental health, etc.), but the book didn't require too much of me, was easy to follow, and had some profound insights scattered here and there. One of my favorite parts was her hot take on Mr. Collins of Pride and Prejudice (imagine someone taking a positive view of the guy that's actually pretty convincing...maybe he gets the last laugh after all). I appreciated her comments on people often feeling like they deal with a "tiny Puritan" who questions their enjoyment of simple, wholesome pleasures. She also communicated beautifully her experience that showed how story really has the power to form human perspectives. I loved hearing how her niece's perception of someone was colored by her mother's explanation of their role in her family, and how different people she knew told themselves stories that may or may not have drifted from the truth, but all the same, affected how they viewed their lives. I found that the book moved a bit slower as it progressed, which made the first two-thirds of the book the better part. I liked the author's writing voice and her balanced-feeling sense of perspective. Some of her suggestions were practical ones that I've done prior to reading this book, but some of what she says might hit home for a person starting out on "adulting." This book was shaped somewhat by COVID's restrictions, but a young adult today - college-aged or so - could find this book meaningful or useful.

Fingal's Quest, by Madeleine A. Polland

A lad of the Dark Ages who aspires to be a monk must overcome temptations to settle for the lesser loves that keep him from giving his whole heart to God.

Why I picked it up: This was one of the titles that I couldn't access through the local library or any other way for free, but then I found it under my brother's guest bed (I was babysitting and we were playing hide-and-seek at the time) and finally got the chance to read it!

My impressions: This was a solid book. It wasn't the most page-turning work ever, but it provided an idea of what life after the fall of Rome may have been like in Europe, and I appreciated how it developed its theme. At its heart, the story really is as simple as a boy abandoning a monastery to follow a saintly man across Europe. However, the way he must grapple with lesser loves, or idols, makes it a story that really does have a plot. It has some adventurous elements to it, but I wouldn't really call it an adventure story. It's a decent bit of children's historical fiction, and it can show in a concrete way how people can be distracted from God even through their love for good people and wholesome pleasures. This would be a good book for upper elementary age or middle school readers, especially those who have an interest (or curricular subject) in the history of that time.

After London: Or, Wild England, by Richard Jefferies**

In an alternate history where some undefined disaster befell London and England reverted to a quasi-Medieval society, Felix, a noble, leaves the security and limited possibilities of home to try to win a name or fortune for himself.

Why I picked it up: This one ended up on my to-read list at some point and it was on Audible.

My impressions: This early version of the post-apocalyptic tale had lots of potential and some interesting elements, but it failed to deliver in the end. I think I was drawn in by the descriptions of how the landscape and wildlife changed after the apocalyptic event, and even though I disliked an outdated, prejudiced description of the human races that continued after, I continued on to the story portion. Yes, this is a two-part work, with the first section being a short one just explaining what the world and society was like after this fictional event, and the second part being a story following Felix. It had some survival elements which I enjoyed, and some political maneuverings that weren't too political, though the politics and intrigues approached my (relatively low) threshold for such things. However, it also had some of those exploring parts of adventures that spend time describing the land rather than furthering the plot, which I don't love. They weren't horrible, and indeed helped develop a sense of this different England, but I usually go for more action-driven plot than less. The author had clearly thought through what a society in this world might be like - this one had the trappings of a Medieval society with some of the brutality of the ancient Romans - and he melded it very well with issues that would likely arise in a world where lots of practical knowledge and access to materials was lost. The work had some very intriguing features. Unfortunately, the ending had much different pacing and left off at a point where I thought there was still plenty of story left to be told. He tried to wrap it up with a hopeful feeling, but there was still so much Felix had left to do that I felt that I was left hanging. No, there is not a sequel. I can't say I'd recommend this book, unless it would be to a person who wants more world-building in a unique post-apocalyptic tale than actual story. High schoolers could probably handle this one fine, but again, I don't know if they - or older readers - would find it a really interesting read.

My Sisters, the Saints, by Colleen Carroll Campbell**

A Catholic woman finds her faith reignited and her life changed by her growing closeness to several saints.

Why I picked it up: I was blown away by Colleen's later book, The Heart of Perfection, and I figured I should pick this one up, too. This is a title I purchased through Audible a while back.

My impressions: While this book did not blow me away like The Heart of Perfection, I still found it to be an interesting - and sometimes emotional - read. Though I differ from the author in many ways, there was much in her experience to connect with. Colleen is good at telling stories and conveying a sense of what it was like to experience different trials, from watching a loved one deal with a progressively debilitating disease, to experiencing dissatisfaction and longing in her own heart. I had a hard time getting into the book, as Colleen started with her college self, who was drifting from her Catholic upbringing, and it felt a bit depressing. However, once she got into talking about the saints, I was more invested. I did put the book on pause several times because some parts were a little hard to read. However, the book ended well and I felt encouraged by some of her reflections. There are no guarantees that what we long for will come to us, but it was lovely to see how God worked in the soul of one woman through heavenly friends. I would recommend this book to grown women, but I think some high schoolers and college age readers would like it, too. I could also see men getting something from reading this book, but I don't think they'd connect with it like a female reader would.

Bracket Play

As I noted earlier, there were no books that stood out as fantastic for this month, but several had great moments. I put Colleen Carroll Campbell's book (great alliterative name, by the way) in the bye position because it is one I've worked on listening to on and off for a while.

The first round was easy to determine, with the two weakest books going out first round (After London, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel). Bearing False Witness was a good book, but I did have to skip parts, and it's something that's going to be more of a reference for me later, as needed, if needed, so I decided that Aggressively Happy should win. That book had some good takeaways and I enjoyed listening to different sections of it. I like her writing voice.

However, some enjoyable chapters and good writing voice are not enough to carry one through. I gave the win in the second round to Campbell's book, because her work actually made me decide that I want to write a letter to the author. I don't know if or when that might happen, but I put the idea on the back burner. I did end up having Fingal's quest beat the religious book (cue guilty feelings), but much of the book about the Eucharist was information that I was already familiar with. I think I picked the children's book as winner in this battle because I appreciated how it made real the idea that inordinate love of people, pleasures, or other good things can keep us from giving our whole hearts to God. It's something I know, but ideas can become more real when approached in a story. But, now that I'm thinking about it now, I might give the win to Seven Secrets of the Eucharist because it did have some really great points that were fruitful reflection for me. 

The ultimate winner was Campbell's book, something of a memoir of her life as a young adult through her early thirties and the ways her faith grew in those years. She asked many questions that I myself ask at times, and there were lots of feelings had from reading the book. I may disagree with my bracket at the end of the year, but this is what it is for now.

Books Attempted and Put Down

From Little Houses to Little Women: Revisiting a Literary Childhood, by Nancy McCabe

A Kansas native (who lived in Wichita, KS at one time!) reflects upon her childhood reading.

Why I picked it up: I first became interested in this title because it was on the library shelf with some other books that looked highly interesting to me - works like The Readaloud Family and The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. I figured I may as well go ahead and try it.

Why I put it down: This had the fixings of being the sort of pro-reading, pro-children's-lit book I have enjoyed in the last year, but...it wasn't. In spite of the local connection with the author, I felt like my outlook on life, general worldview, and reading tastes varied quite a bit from McCabe's. I didn't like the feel of the introduction. A page into the actual book, I decided to flip through the book and see if this was actually the sort of book I thought it was. I couldn't tell how the author was going to structure it, based off the chapter titles, leaving that question unanswered. That, and a snippet of a rather unsavory anecdote she shared late in the book, convinced me this wasn't the sort of book I'd want to dedicate time to reading.

Reading Together: Sharing in the Wonder of Books with a Parent-Child Book Club, by Brown, Bettencourt, Doherty, Lowe-Rogstad, and McCann

Five moms and five kids formed a book club that met monthly and lasted from first grade to twelfth grade.

Why I picked it up: Same exact reason as the book above.

Why I put it down: Wow, two for two of picking a book from a historically good shelf and not loving it. There were two main reasons I put it down: there were warnings and disclaimers that, while important to say, left a bad taste in my mouth from the wording or focus, and the formatting of the book itself. The disclaimers had some of the feel of cancel culture - the focus was more on problematic authors rather than problematic content. While I think knowing about an author might sometimes help readers understand a work a bit better, I will say that I put books down for problematic content much more often than for questions I have about the author's failings. So, that first disclaimer set a negative tone. Secondly, each page is set up in two columns of text, with text pullouts and illustrations - it made it look like a magazine. Visually, it was way too much for me - I mean, this is a full novel-length book. The format really decided it for me, so I put it down. While it was a bummer to have two books in a row not pan out, it was also nice, in another way, to have a lot of potential reading time freed up for books that I'm confident I will enjoy.

Bambi, by Felix Salten**

The book that inspired the Disney movie by the same name, about a deer named Bambi.

Why I picked it up: It had made it onto my to-read list, and it was available for free from Audible.

Why I put it down: I had barely started it, but I wasn't impressed by the dialogue in the opening chapter. I figured that, with so many books out there that I want to try, I didn't want to waste time on a talking animals book that I wasn't enjoying.

Archimedes and the Door of Science, by Jeanne Bendick

An informational book that includes science and tales of Archimedes and his contributions to math and science.

Why I picked it up: This book was also from my brother and his wife, and was a title on my to-read list.

Why I put it down: I found out this wasn't a story story, it was a book made to teach. While I appreciate that this book takes seriously the idea of reading to learn, I expected more story when I picked it up. This book didn't quite seem to know what it was...a textbook about a famous Greek? Or an informational not-really-story novel? I suppose adults learn more about specific subjects from reading books, but this is not what I planned to spend my time reading. I'm glad I can cross it off the list and move on to the next one!

The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared, by Alice Ozma

A young woman recounts her experience of her father reading to her for at least ten minutes a day in a years-long effort called "The Streak."

Why I picked it up: Alice Ozma was interviewed on the Read Aloud Revival podcast, and it sounded interesting.

Why I put it down: What I thought would be a book focused on the excited of reading and an epic challenge turned into what seemed to be a series of vignettes about her life growing up. Books were mentioned in every chapter, of course, but I found I wasn't loving the vignette approach, and the stories weren't bringing me joy. When I looked at the title again, I realized that, of course, many vignettes would feature her father because the two foci of the book are books and her father. I found an early chapter about a boy-hating club a little off-putting, but I really wasn't connecting with the stories in general. This might be a great book for someone else, but it wasn't quite what I expected or was wanting to read right now.

The Mapmaker, by Frank G. Slaughter

A fictional account of the swashbuckling life of Andrea Bianco, a mapmaker of Renaissance times.

Why I picked it up: I think this book came from a massive cleanse a former homeschooling parent was doing of the family library; the sale was advertised on Facebook. It had been sitting amongst my children's books for years, and I finally decided this was the time to sit down and actually figure out what this story was about.

Why I put it down: First of all, this is not children's historical fiction. It took a few pages to get started, but then moved into an action-packed sequence, which was good for the reader. However, I was uncomfortable with a few analogies that the author had made that I found to be in questionable taste. I then discovered I didn't really like the main character, who seemed concerned with only his own wellbeing. That can be addressed during the course of a book, but when the main character employs deception about his religious beliefs to save his own skin, followed up by thinking romantically about the the lovely woman he just met, I figured this book didn't warrant any more time from me. There are too many other books I want to read.