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.

Book Stats for 2021

The end of the year snuck up on me after a very slow two weeks of COVID at the beginning of December. I haven't even finished my December post and yet, I am here, starting work on the number crunching for the entire year.

Totals

Total number of books read each month (a few months have a parenthetical number because they were rereads of "Searching for and Maintaining Peace"):

January - 8

February -  7

March - 4

April - 5

May - 6

June - 6

July - 6

August - 3

September - 1 (2)

October - 2

November - 3

December - 6 (7)

Compare with the totals for (2020)

8 - January - (7)

7 - February -  (6)

4 - March - (14)

5 - April - (8)

6 - May - (10)

6 - June - (14)

6 - July - (8)

3 - August - (7)

1 - September - (5)

2 - October - (5)

3 - November - (5)

7 - December - (8)

Number of books read over the entire year of 2021: 57 (40 fewer books than 2020)

Total number of books attempted, but put down: 5

Percentage of books started and completed: 91% (same as last year)

Books being read, but not completed, at the end of 2021: 4

Percentage of completed books read on my Kindle: 21% (12 books total)

Percentage of completed books read via audiobook: 2% (1 book total)

Percentage of books that were rereads: 12% (7 books total)

My Reflections

I knew that I wasn't going to read as many books this year as I had last year, but I didn't realize I would be FORTY books short of last year's number. That kind of hurts. However, my social life picked up this year and I ended up starting a relationship with a fella, which seems to take some time that was previously given to reading - well worth it. I am please I made it past the 50 book mark.

There was a slight increase of 4% in books read by Kindle; I "read" one book via audiobook this year (2%) and I would not be surprised at that percentage either increasing or staying the same in the coming year.

"It looks like for every 10 books I started, I put down about one for various reasons. Some were discarded because of lack of interest; others because I didn't like the way they affected my thoughts." This sentence is copied from the post last year, and is still true. However, I noticed that I may not have made note of every single book I put down and/or I put books on hold temporarily that may be on hold for a while yet, meaning that they are in a kind of limbo - they are not permanently put down, but I honestly don't know when I'll finish reading them.  

Slightly over one out of every five books was an ebook; this percentage increased from the last year. The availability of public domain works in free ebook form has had an effect on the medium through which I access some books. I still prefer the physical copy, but I can't deny that ebook options from the library or the public domain are quite attractive.

Genre Data

I broke up the books I read into the following genres: Spiritual Works, Fiction, [Auto]Biography, Philosophy/Literary Criticism, and Non-Fiction. I removed the "Other" category I had from last year and gave non-fiction its own count this time around. Some subdivisions exist within the larger genres of Spiritual Works and Fiction. Some of the works didn't fit neatly into one group, including several in the "Non-Fiction" section; however, this first graph has NO overlap: each book goes into one genre, no more.

And to compare with last year, I actually read a lower percentage of fiction this year (53% this year, 60% last year), which surprised me - I thought from looking at the lists in my Excel spreadsheet that the percentage would have been higher. The spiritual works percentage dropped two points, which I'm not crazy about, but it's really right about where I was last year. It does make me want to be conscientious about making sure I'm getting spiritual works read throughout the year, though. [Auto]Biography was about the same, as was Philosophy/Literary Criticism, but wow - Non-Fiction jumped from being part of the Philosophy/Lit Crit group to having its own designation. Perhaps it just helped fill the gap left by "Other". Overall, it doesn't seem like my reading habits changed too much last year. It looks like I need heaping doses of fiction, though!

It looks like last year, I broke down the two genres from which I read the most books - Spiritual Works and Fiction. I figured it wouldn't hurt to do something similar this year. 

For Spiritual Works, I actually included some books that ended up in different genres in the first graph (Non-Fiction, [Auto]Biography) because they were hard to categorize. I changed two of the three categories as well (last year's were Theology, Apologetics, and Lives of the Saints; I only kept Apologetics). There were 15 books considered for this graph.

It looks like my comparative percentage of apologetical works increased, so I met an informal goal set last year (read: "I think that it would probably be good for me to increase my intake of apologetical works since I'm pretty timid about sharing my faith." - me, Book Stats for 2020). I hope I read at least as many spiritual works next year (there's another informal goal).

I did not overlap my books this year (i.e., each book was placed in only one category), so the stats for fiction look quite a bit different than last year's. The splits looked fairly equal to each other. I think my classics consumption increased thanks to the class I audited during the spring semester. Even though I did not distinguish between adult and children's fiction, I still read an exorbitant number of books targeted to child or young adult audiences - 18 of the 30 books, so over half of the fiction books read. 

My Reflections

I was disappointed by the lower number of books read, but a little perspective change helps - after all, I still read nearly 60 books! I think that, overall, the books last year were more memorable or better quality than this year. Even with the classics, I think more 2021 fiction books were fluff reads than the fiction works read in 2020. However, that is not to say that I didn't read some fantastic books. I read about the same number of rereads, read more ebooks (comparatively), and decided that audiobooks can be pretty nice (as long as you don't forget you have granola cooking in the oven and can't hear the timer go off because you have your headphones on...hypothetical situation, of course...).

Best in Genre

Like last year, I wanted to pick the "Best in Genre".

Spiritual Work: Searching for and Maintaining Peace, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Fiction (Classics): The Song at the Scaffold, by Gertrud von le Fort

Fiction (Historical): The Lost Baron, by Allen French

Fiction (Fantasy): The Ordinary Princess, by M. M. Kaye

Fiction (Other): Till We Have Faces, by C. S. Lewis

[Auto]Biography: The Life of Christ, by Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Philosophy/Literary Criticism: Seeds of the Word, by Bishop Robert Barron

Non-Fiction: Apologetics and the Christian Imagination

Reread (besides "Searching for and Maintaining Peace): The Ordinary Princess, by M. M. Kaye

Fiction (Other) was a tough one to call - also under consideration was the reread "The Awakening of Miss Prim", but I thought that Lewis' work had more food for thought.

Monthly Winners

January: Searching for and Maintaining Peace

February: The Ordinary Princess (it was a tie in the month bracket and I gave the victory, months later, to the book I found more memorable and dear to my heart)

March: Till We Have Faces

April: The Song at the Scaffold

May: Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church

June: Jesus the Bridegroom

July: Apologetics and the Christian Imagination

August/September: The Lantern Bearers

October/November: The Five Love Languages

December: The Life of Christ

There are 10 winners here because I had two brackets combining two months of light reading each. Four of the winning books were fiction; four were spiritual works; the last two were nonfiction.

2021 Winner Book Bracket

Alright, time for the 10 winners of each month to play for the championship title for the year!

The big winner of this year was "The Life of Christ", a new read, and not a reread like last year's "Story of a Soul". It was still a spiritual work, though. I loved Fulton's imagery and the lines that struck me to the heart. I loved it so much that I recorded lines that struck me into a little notebook so I could look back at them later, and I'm so glad I did. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to someone who wants to reflect on Jesus' life and takes their Catholic faith seriously. It's a big time investment because it's long, but it is so worth it. Thank you for joining me for end-of-year reflections on reading, and there will be more to come next month.

December Book Brackets

 December Books Brackets

I didn't want to catch COVID, but I did. At least I was able to get a little bit of reading in during all those days at home!

Parnassus on Wheels, by Christopher Morley*

Helen, tired of caring for her author brother and taking care of the farm when he goes rambling for materials, purchases a large van that is a traveling bookstore and has adventures in the New England countryside over the course of half a week.

Why I picked it up: I was at home during COVID and struggling; a fluff read was greatly desired, and I recalled at long last that a friend had recommended this book to me and it was waiting on my Kindle.

My impressions: Yes, this was a fluff read, but a quick and easy one. The story itself was not very ambitious and lacked a driving plot, but it was a fun little romp. Not a Chesterton-sized or -styled romp, but a modest little one that every now and then celebrated the joys of being a reader. It also wrapped up nicely at the end. The story had a negative perspective on "hobos", or homeless men, but it was very much a squeaky-clean sort of book. The small romance was predictable (the author gave it away in the introduction) and not terribly well developed, but it was sweet. This is a great pick for someone who wants a clean, very quick fluff-read. I'm curious about the sequel.

Life of Christ, by Fulton Sheen

The famous Archbishop Sheen dives into Scripture and explores the life of Christ.

Why I picked it up: This book (and probably most other works by Sheen) was on my to-read list and I felt like I hit the jackpot when I found a copy at the garage sale of one of my friend's mom.

Quote: There are too many, so I include several here.

"Knowing all, the Son of God made Peter, who knew sin, and no John, the Rock upon which He built His Church that sinners and the weak might never despair." -p. 339

"Sacrifice does not mean 'giving-up' something, as if there were a loss; rather, it is an exchange: an exchange of lower values for higher joys." -p. 167

On Jesus and the Good Thief: "A dying man asked a dying man for eternal life; a man without possessions asked a poor man for a Kingdom; a thief at the door of death asked to die like a thief and steal Paradise. One would have thought a saint would have been the first soul purchased over the counter of Calvary by the red coins of Redemption, but in the Divine plan it was a thief who was the escort of the King of kings into Paradise...It was the thief's last prayer, perhaps even his first. He knocked once, sought once, asked once, dared evertying, and found everything." -p. 374

My impressions: This is an amazing book. Incredible. Insightful. Thoughtful. I could tell Fulton did a lot of praying and thinking for this work. I loved reading it, bit by bit, in my morning meditation. I felt like the makers of "The Chosen" show would benefit from reading this work. It was so good. I recorded favorite quotes as I read; Fulton has an almost Chestertonian turn of phrase at times, sometimes making a point with a paradox, and other times, wowing the reader with a well-worded thought. I highly recommend this book to anyone to loves Jesus and can handle the reading level.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace, by Father Jacques Philippe

As described before, the book examines content indicated by the title: searching for and maintaining spiritual peace.

Why I picked it up: I was again anxious and worried about many things and decided it was a good time to reread it.

My impressions: This book didn't hit or help me as it has the last three times I've read it. I suppose that is to be expected when one reads a book: it doesn't always have the exact same effect. However, that doesn't keep it from being an excellent book. See previous posts for more details on my thoughts on this one.

The Haunted Bookshop, by Christopher Morley*

The couple from "Parnassus on Wheels" have settled into life in Brooklyn, New York, as second-hand booksellers, and they and two young people work through a mystery that comes to their shop.

Why I picked it up: Another fluff read was required.

My impressions: This was another solid fluff read with not much plot, but just enough - especially as the story goes on - to be a little mysterious. There was some anti-German sentiment sprinkled throughout the book, and some negative portrayals and/or discussions of Germans. I disliked the long tirades the bookshop owner Mifflin went on either in conversation or in his imagination - they were lecture-y and it sounded like he was spouting what I assume is the author's views on literature and various other subjects. Or maybe they are just the character's views. In any case, they were too-well-expounded. This book is a fun sequel to "Parnassus on Wheels", although it had some questionable anti-German sentiments.

The Thirty-Nine Steps, by John Buchan, read by Adrian Praetzellis**

This adventure tale follows a South African in England as he flees his enemies after being drawn into a spy's attempt to ward off a political assassination that could result in war.

Why I picked it up: I was going through a period when listening to my usual podcasts seemed to be exacerbating some concerns of mine, so someone recommended that I switch things up. I thought giving an audiobook a try might be nice, so I found this recording on LibriVox, which is a site/app that provides free audiobooks of works in the public domain. Volunteers help record these works, and I have marked the title with a ** to indicate it was not read from a regular book or from an ebook, but was an audiobook that I listened to.

My impressions: This was a pretty short book - only ten chapters - but filled with lots of excitement from the first few pages. Some of the escapades of this untrained and unsuspecting main character were unrealistic from someone who had never done any spy work before, but those unlikelihoods didn't detract from the story. The story was fast-paced and not bogged down by politics, which I found refreshing (some political intrigues take too much time, in my opinion - but not in this story). There was a scene in the first few chapters that described a murdered chap - not in gruesome detail, but it was enough detail that I might have skimmed if I were reading. The narrator had different voices and accents for some of the characters and did a great job overall. This audiobook is an exciting and quick work to listen to, especially quick if one listens to it at 2x speed like I did.

Letters From Father Christmas, by J. R. R. Tolkien

The famous author of The Lord of the Rings series wrote letters to his children for many years - he wrote them as if he were Father Christmas and responded to the letters they wrote to him. Characters such as a North Polar Bear, a secretarial elf named Ilbereth, and various others make debuts through the years and continue their appearances as Father Christmas prepares toys, fights goblins, and deals with the North Polar Bear's foibles from year to year.

Why I picked it up: Earlier this year, a cousin asked if I had read this book before, and I had not. Closer to Advent, I decided I wanted to read it, so I put it on hold through the library's FREE hold system.

My impressions: This is a very interesting work. I appreciate that it has some of the same story-telling qualities that Tolkien's other works showcase, but it has a different feel because the letters are so personal and written for his family. Illustrations were included in this work, and that was an absolute joy to look at - the experience just wouldn't have been the same if I couldn't see the pictures "Father Christmas" was referencing. It was obvious that Tolkien put a lot of time into these letters and pictures. Reading these letters was like looking through a little window into the lives of a family around Christmas time; yes, it's a limited view, but a very sweet and, in some ways, intimate experience. I think this book would be good to read around Christmas if one is a fan of Tolkien, or perhaps wants to share some Christmas joy with others. Maybe it would be a good family activity to read it together (not my idea, but it sounds like it could be a good one).

Praying the Rosary Like Never Before, by Edward Sri

Dr. Sri explains the reasons for praying the Rosary, its history and background, different methods for praying it in a meaningful way, and reflections on the twenty different mysteries.

Why I picked it up: I bought it as a three-book deal at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference this year and wanted to knock out another book from my never-shrinking "to-read" stack.

My impressions: There are other books that go more in-depth into the background of the Rosary, but I liked that Sri referenced an encyclical by Pope St. John Paul II throughout his book (I hadn't heard about the encyclical before). He also provided ten verses for every mystery for those who want to pray a Scriptural rosary (a Rosary where one recites one or more Bible verses per mystery to assist meditation on that mystery) and practical tips for praying the Rosary. I do hope to use the Scripture verses and reflections sometime in the future when I pray the Rosary by myself. Overall, I'd say the book was a mix of information I'd heard before and solid new insights and ideas for connecting better with this prayer. It would be a good introduction to the Rosary or a good book for someone who is familiar with the Rosary, but hasn't read much on it.

Bracket Play

In the opening round, I paired the weaker fiction works by Christopher Morley with stronger works of fiction (the exciting "Thirty-Nine Steps" and Tolkien's letters as Father Christmas). This may scandalize some who know me, but I decided I liked "The Thirty-Nine Steps" better than Tolkien's work. The letters are sweet, but I don't find them as memorable as the action-packed story by John Buchan. I can imagine myself rereading Buchan's work sooner than Tolkien's Father Christmas letters, but who knows if that will be the case in reality, or if I will have the chance to reread them? The play-in game was won easily by Sheen's "The Life of Christ," which is simply fantastic. That book won the bracket this week and definitely has a chance at winning the championship for the whole year.

October-November Book Brackets

 

October and November

October is looking to be a pretty light month for reading again, so I'm again going with a combined bracket.

The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, by Gary Chapman

Counselor Gary Chapman describes the five love languages, or the five main ways he's found that spouses feel and express love in their marriages; the five loves include words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

Why I picked it up: I was talking to someone about the five love languages and they said they hadn't really read up on them, but they thought they might. I figured now was a good time to reread the book (I'd read it in college for my interpersonal communication class) before I offered to lend it to them.

My impressions: I believe this book (or one of its variations) is an important one for people to read. This is a reread for me and I remembered much of what was in it, but it was good to refresh. I like that the author brings years of counseling experience and real-life stories to bear on his school of thought. His writing is simple and straightforward, so it is easy for readers to understand and quick to go through (200 pages, finished in a day or two). This book focuses on couples who have been married for a while and may desire to rekindle the emotional spark of their relationship, but it nevertheless has great insights even for the single person, as I recalled from my first read. I would highly recommend this book to married couples, and one of its variations to single people (haven't read any, but I'm sure they'd be great). It has immediate applications and can help increase self-knowledge. This is basically the kind of book I think any adult would benefit from reading.

The Awakening of Miss Prim, by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera

This novel follows the tightly-laced, modernist, skeptical Miss Prim as a she takes a job as librarian for an intelligent and hard-to-pin-down Man in the Wing Chair in a village that seems caught in a former time.

Why I picked it up: The book I had been reading previously wasn't doing much for me at that time and I wanted a story. This book had been on my reread list for a while.

My impressions: I enjoyed the book the first time I read it, but I had only half understood what was going on. Now, I maybe two-thirds understand what is going on. I found myself caught up in the book and just wanting to sit for hours to read it, which is not something I expected from a book I'd read sometime in the last seven years. It pays homage to the perceived "simpler times" of the past, with descriptions of comfortable gathering spaces for community and delicious-sounding food. I appreciate the timeless aspect of it - excepting a mention of computers near the beginning, this story feels like it could have taken place any time within the last century. I found it interesting that the author left out some of the more typical descriptive details; in fact, there are very few (we know the main character has an upturned nose and honey tones in her hair), and the build of a few characters is suggested, but at most, we hear that individuals are "attractive", etc. It is the personality and character that matters in this book. Many of the conversations, if I'm honest, are not that believable, but they are still charming. There is romance, yes, but it's not cloying. The wider search of the heart for what it truly desires took at least equal importance to the romantic storyline. The book is well written and clearly an homage to Great Books programs, with a mention of Kansas at the beginning, an allusion, I'm sure, to KU's renowned Great Books program and the community around Clear Creek Abbey that seems to have ties to the program. This is a great book for those who have at least a rudimentary understanding of Great Books programs or classical education. The book would still likely be enjoyable to those unfamiliar with such educational perspectives, but it probably wouldn't make as much sense.

The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real Life, by Kendra Tierney

Catholic mom Tierney explains the liturgical year and breaks it down by seasons and major feast days/solemnities/holy days of obligation, gives background, and shares ideas about how to celebrate these key moments of the Catholic year in one's home.

Why I picked up the book: I heard about this book from a good friend and obtained it for Christmas one year. However, it sat on my "to read" pile of the shelf for a while and I was long overdue to actually pick it up and read it.

My impressions: This is a great resource for those who want (and have energy) to celebrate the liturgical year in ways outside of the liturgy. Tierney's work comes across as extremely orthodox, well-researched, and creative. I learned about saints I was not familiar with before, deepened my knowledge of various feasts and saints I already knew, and garnered some ideas for the not-near future when I might try to put more of these activities into practice. This book is definitely geared towards those with children living at home. I think many of the activities could be done by a single person or a couple, but the effort might outweigh the benefits; it sounds like some of these activities are work-intensive, but can be used as opportunities for teaching young ones about the faith. I would recommend this book to any Catholic who wants to get some ideas about "liturgical living." The only thing that would round out this book would be a cookbook with all the recipe ideas, a how-to guide for all other activities and crafts, and the now-published "The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion", which contains, I presume, prayers to accompany the book.

The Lost Baron, by Allen French

This historical fiction tale about Medieval times follows the page Martin as he advances according to his state in the castle of a baron who mysteriously disappeared.

Why I picked up the book: I had read and enjoyed two other books by the same author and purchased it at a discount at a local Bookaholics store. I was in need of a quasi-fluff read and decided some children's literature, historical fiction genre, was called for.

My impressions: This book is a fine adventure tale, even though it did not have the strongest plot. There was more an overhanging mystery throughout the tale than a forward-moving storyline, but there was plot enough to keep me engaged. I found the tale believable, as well as the character development. There were a few descriptions that tired me, but there was one chapter that I found particularly interesting - it included switching between the perspectives of multiple characters observing or participating in a single event. My one or two words to parents is that all these Medieval characters put a lot of stock in "luck", with a "lucky" penny being a major part of the story; parents might wish to discuss the Catholic viewpoint on luck, etc. before a child reads this book. Also, there are some instances injustice and violence. Otherwise, this book is appropriate for readers of chapter books - probably older elementary and on, especially those who like a good adventure.

Dear Enemy, by Jean Webster

This sequel to "Daddy Long Legs" follows Sallie McBride, a college-educated and somewhat air-headed woman who takes on the task of running and improving the orphanage her friend was raised at. It also follows the development of her friendships/relationships with different characters, all explored in an epistolary format.

Why I picked up the book: I needed a fluff read and this was on my kindle; I'd read "Daddy Long Legs" within the last few years.

My impressions: Definitely a fluff read, it's the sort of story a light romantic comedy could be made out of. It was a pretty quick read and easy on the brain, being very predictable. However, I definitely took issue with and skipped some sections that seemed to promote a eugenics mindset - the descriptions of some orphans and their parents (with problematic histories) announced a perspective that sees some lives as more worthy and deserving and valuable than others, which I did not appreciate. Marriage is also not necessarily viewed as indissoluble, at least in the case of one character. Although a sequel to another book, this tale stands pretty well on its own - all someone would need to know would be that two of the people Sallie writes to are her college friend (main character of "Daddy Long Legs") and that woman's husband. I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend this book to read, but if one doesn't mind reading the sections I disliked, or is ready to skip them, and is desirous of a fluff read, this could be a possible candidate. Definitely not the sort of book I'd anticipate a guy appreciating.

Bracket Play

This is another bracket that has an odd number, so it was decided that Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages" would have a buy the first round. The two romantic reads, "The Awakening of Miss Prim" and "Dear Enemy" were pitted against each other. "Miss Prim" won handily due to its substance and creativity over the eugenics-laced epistolary novel. A mismatch happened with the other first-round game, with one book being a children's historical fiction work and the other a niche area of Catholic content. It could have gone either way, but the victory went to the book I am more likely to reference and apply to my daily life, "The Catholic All Year Compendium". This book lost quickly against the favored "Five Love Languages," the book that went on to win the overall competition against another reread. Chapman's book is applicable to everyone in some way, even if they are not married. "Miss Prim", though excellent in certain ways, is not a book that I agree with 100%. It provides food for discussion, but does not have the universal appeal of Chapman's book.

August-September Book Brackets

 August and September Book Brackets

Life got ridiculously busy in the last month of summer and the first of fall. I suspected something like this might happen if and when I started dating someone, and it looks like my suspicions were accurate. There is hardly any time to read, which is somewhat sad, but it means I've filled my time with other wonderful things that I believe God wants me to be doing. So, I've combined these two months so I have something to show for an actual bracket. I wasn't terribly impressed by the books I've read over these two months besides "Searching for and Maintaining Peace", but I left it out of bracket play because I don't think it would be fair for it to win a second time this year.

Richard III, by William Shakespeare

This history play by the Bard recounts the rise of King Richard III and the demise of many, many people.

Why I picked it up: There was a movie night coming up featuring the stellar talents of Ian McKellan, Maggie Smith, Robert Downey, Jr., and others, and I'd never read the play before. I like to read Shakespeare's plays before I watch them so I kind of know what is coming.

My impressions: I've never loved Shakespeare's history plays. I don't want to give too many spoilers, but there seemed to be an awful lot of murdering and cursing in this one. Like, a lot. Political intrigue can sometimes be interesting, but it's not the thing that I really look forward to in my stories. There were some oft-quoted lines (A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"), the ever-delightful iambic pentameter, and cool moments, like the scene where the spirits of the dead visit the leaders of two warring armies the night before war. However, I was extremely confused by the interconnectedness of all the characters, many of whom shared the same names. I think there were at least three Edwards, two queens, and lots of relatives and in-laws, and I did not succeed well in keeping them straight. I hope that watching the performance will help clear up some of the confusion. If I were to recommend a Shakespeare play, this wouldn't be it. However, it's not the worst of his that I've read (maybe "Titus Andronicus"?).

Searching for and Maintaining Peace, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

A priest discusses peace of heart and why it is so important to the spiritual life.

Why I picked it up: I was wound up about something; looked for a book on my shelf; couldn't find the book I was looking for, but providentially came across this one, and knew it was the book I needed to read at that moment.

My impressions: I read this book earlier in the year, in January, and it was an excellent reread. Please see the January blog for more details. I will end with this: this book is going onto my nightstand so that it is in plain sight. If ever I lose my peace, it will be visible to me as a reminder that I may be in need of a reread.

From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age

This essay discusses two modes of Christianity mixing with cultures, the pros and cons of each mode, and strategies to use in the current mode.

Why I picked it up: This book was recommended by one friend, but a few small reading group picks prompted me to actually purchase and read the book.

My impressions: This book is succinct (90 pages) and covers the ground it needs to, establishing where the Catholic Church in the West - specifically, in America - is now. Included are discussions of what the faulty perceptions are surrounding it in both Catholic circles (i.e., groups still operating in a Christendom mode) and in the cultural air around it (i.e., the flaws of the modern zeitgeist which create the current Apostolic evangelistic reality). I found the work to be well thought-out and a reflection of the rumblings that I hear in the Catholic world - perhaps mostly in podcasts. But, as Bishop Robert Barron likes to say, for every one person that enters the faith, six leave; clearly, something is wrong here, and I think this essay makes a pretty good case for what the problem is. I would have liked some elaboration of what a Christendom model vs. an Apostolic model might look like, but I appreciated the theoretical or philosophical base that underpinned the work. It dovetailed nicely with Holly Ordway's book on imaginative apologetics. Unfortunately, I read this essay in bits, here and there, and I believe I (and probably lots of readers) would benefit from reading it at least once more. I think this work furthers an important discussion that seems to be taking place in many dioceses in the nation. It would be a great book for discussion and I'd recommend it to any Catholic who takes their faith seriously.

Robin Hood, by Henry Gilbert

This older (1912) series of stories introduces readers to Robin Hood and explains his decision to live in the greenwood, his death, and the many adventures that befall him in between.

Why I picked it up: I saw this version advertised by Cluny Media and received an older edition of it from friends as a gift. It had been a while since I had revisited the stories, so it seemed like a good time to try a different take on the classic tales.

My impressions: Books that don't have a single overarching plot tend to rank lower on my list of favorites, but this series of stories fares better in my opinion than Howard Pyle's take on the classic. Many of the tales focus on Robin taking down a group of baddies that operate out of a certain castle. Throughout the course of the book, they are almost all killed in retribution for their cruelties and injustices. Certainly, there are questionable aspects of vigilante justice. However, I appreciate that Robin never wavers from his standards and is always kind to women. There are negative portrayals of rich religious, certainly, but Friar Tuck is portrayed very positively. There is great sadness in the final few tales, which (spoiler alert) chronicle the deaths of both Marian and Robin Hood. I would not recommend the book necessarily as something to read just for fun - it doesn't have the connected plot that I find enjoyable - but, if someone is going to read about Robin Hood, this is the better of the two works I've read so far - I would recommend it over Howard Pyle's version.

The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff

This third book in the "Roman Britain" trilogy, started with "The Eagle of the Ninth", follows the young Roman soldier Aquila across 20 years, through desertion, the death of his father, slavery, reunion with and separation from his sister, and his decisions to serve Ambrosius and marry after the Roman Empire leaves Britain to fend for itself against hostile Saxon forces. 

Why I picked it up: I can't remember the exact reason why, but I wanted to finish this trilogy.

My impressions: This book differs from the previous two in that it spans such a long period of time in the life of one character. There were pros and cons to this approach, with the cons being that the story skipped years that were inconvenient to the action and there being some "telling" of what filled the time between. The pros were that I was able to follow the depth of development in Aquila's character over the course of time, and that development felt natural to the story because it was slow. There are good scenes of action and battle and only a hint of the spying or intrigue that was such a big part of the second book in this series. I think I would have appreciated the story even more if I'd grown up with a deep knowledge of British history and lands, but it was a solid reading experience even for this American reader. As with the other two books in the trilogy, this work stands alone just fine. This book would probably be enjoyed by readers who like action and adventure, perhaps of the middle school and/or high school age. Concerned parents might want to know that there were a few somewhat uncomfortable marriages that were more or less forced, and one comment that a character was stripped of his clothes before being sentenced to death.

Bracket Play

As I said before, the only really incredible book I read was one I'd read earlier in the year, "Searching for and Maintaining Peace". I removed it from the runnings because I wanted to give the other books a chance, but there wasn't a clear winner. If anything, I'd say the only real quasi-loser was Richard III - it just wasn't enjoyable. Robin Hood wasn't fantastic, but it had some good qualities and I thought it was better than Pyle's version. These both lost out to somewhat stronger contenders, but one wasn't really better than the other if genre is taken into account - apples to oranges sort of comparison. I went with "The Lantern Bearers" because I think it is more memorable to me as a reader. I want to revisit "Christendom to Apostolic Mission", but in spite of its extremely relevant and important subject matter, I wouldn't say it was as compelling as the solidly decent adventure story.

Month Off

 I will not be creating a post for August. I read a total of three books, which isn't much. It takes a bit of work to format a bracket, so I'll just double up the next two months to have a fuller bracket and save myself some work. Thank you for your patience!

July 2021 Book Bracket

 July Books

This month, I decided to add a new feature to my book reviews. If I collected any quotes that I particularly like from a work, I plan to leave one in the review. Not every book reviewed will have a quote, but I like the idea of doing something with the quotes I find striking.

I also realized that I have not developed a system for designating books that I know I would like to read again some time in the future, including a work from this month, "Apologetics and the Christian Imagination." Perhaps I'll need to look over the monthly reviews at the end of the year and pick out the works that I know I want to read again.

Lepanto, by G. K. Chesterton; Explanatory Notes and Commentary Edited by Dale Ahlquist

This book contains the 140-some line titular poem by Chesterton and several essays explaining the history and significance of the naval Battle of Lepanto.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to check another item off my to-read list and this was available at the library.

My impressions: I think the poem is well written and has some fantastic imagery, but I don't have the whole-hearted approval of it that Ahlquist and other contributing essayists do. I find Chesterton's descriptions of Muslims and Muhammad...troublesome. I am glad that Christianity was preserved from a dark fate by the victory at Lepanto, but a poem that glorifies a battle between religious forces and depicts one major world religion as in league with demons is, not surprisingly, going to make sensitive me a little uncomfortable. I have some more reflecting I need to do. The essays included as commentary that were contributed by contemporary writers had what felt like a single perspective and I found myself wondering what a modern Islamic author might have to say about the poem or about the Battle of Lepanto itself. I thought that a  balance of views was lacking in this collection. I found the explanatory notes immediately after the poem text were helpful in making obscure references in the poem meaningful. The two essays by Chesterton that were included in this collection nicely rounded out the information shared in the essays. Regarding the poem itself, I loved Chesterton's mastery over language that he shares in this work. He ties together different scenes with different players in this major historical event in a way that is just fascinating and artistically delightful. The rhythm of the poem pounds like war drums and the alliteration - oh, the alliteration! - contribute to make for a very exciting read. I would recommend this book to those who already want to read the poem "Lepanto" so that they really get the meaning of it, but with the note that the perspective is fairly one-sided. I think this would be a great little poem/book study to do with friends.

Catherine of Siena, by Sigrid Undset

Nobel-prize-for-literature-winning author Undset gives a biography of one of the female Doctors of the Catholic Church, St. Catherine of Siena.

Why I picked it up: I don't know if I'll ever be ready to pick up Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter, but I knew I wanted to try this "saint book" by the author the moment it was recommended several years ago, probably on my favorite book-recommending Facebook group page. It was available for checkout at my alma mater, making me grateful, once again, to have a community library card for that establishment.

Favorite quote: "A soul cannot live without loving. It must have something to love, for it was created of love."

My impressions: This was the first time, I think, that I read about the life of a saint and felt bad about myself in comparison with their holiness. I had heard of this happening to other people before, but it has now happened to me. I think it arises from the fact that St. Catherine was so holy that it throws all my faults and attachments into sharp contrast. However, the discomfort faded after the first third of the book, at which point Undset moved her focus from Catherine's sanctity to her sanctity in the context of the politics of her time. This woman truly was incredible, working miracles, living on an hour of sleep each day, receiving visions, calling out leaders of her time, brokering peace between warring factions, and telling popes to move away from Avignon back to Rome. The Lord truly worked marvels through her in her life, but she always felt her sinfulness and maintained humility. The book wasn't slow, but it wasn't fast-paced, either. I liked the feeling that I got a sense of what life was like back then, at least politically, which indicates that Undset did her research. The first chapter was not particularly memorable and actually did not treat on St. Catherine directly - it was more an exploration of women, weakness and power, and the Church, and therefore, more of an introduction. Otherwise, I thought the book was excellent and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about this saint (with the understanding that this might not be for everyone and/or may make some readers uncomfortable).

Talking to Dragons, Patricia Wrede

This fourth book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles concludes the series and the problems begun in the previous book, following the adventures of Daystar as he tries to figure out what he's supposed to do with a magic sword, makes friends, and dodges wily wizards in the Enchanted Forest.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to finish the series and actually really needed to so I could return the book to its owner, who I had noticed was working her way through the series herself.

My impressions: This was a fine ending to the series. I enjoyed the irony knowing more about the situation than the narrator, Daystar, as he goes on his own sort of coming-of-age quest. I encountered familiar characters and enjoyed meeting new ones, although some seemed to have personalities that felt a little...recycled. All the same, it was a fun adventure and, as with the preceding books, would recommend this to anyone already reading the series so long as they are aware of the magic elements/spells that are part of the story.

Tremendous Trifles, by G. K. Chesterton

This is a collection of 39 essays that originally appeared in his journalistic column; they concern random thoughts and encounters GKC had around the year 1909.

Why I picked it up: I'd heard the title referenced before, it was at the library, and it was a thin book.

Favorite quote: “I suppose every one must have reflected how primeval and how poetical are the things that one carries in one’s pocket; the pocket-knife, for instance, the type of all human tools, the infant of the sword. Once I planned to write a book of poems entirely about the things in my pockets. But I found it would be too long; and the age of the great epics is past.”

My impressions: GKC's whimsy comes very much to the fore in this series of essays. I found the first ten or so the most delightful, but then I was ready to finish up the book and move on to something else. I found several well-known GKC quotes are included in the essays in this collection, including the one about not growing a beard in a moment of passion and the oft-misquoted line about fairy tales not introducing bogeys, but introducing the idea that bogeys can be defeated. Chesterton's personality shines brilliantly throughout the essays and I revel in his one-liners and unique way of viewing ordinary things. He does not disappoint and not unfrequently comes to a very profound point after what seems to be frivolous wandering. My favorite essay was the second one, "A Piece of Chalk." I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants some exposure to Chesterton, but is not in the mood for Father Brown mysteries or for his heavier works.

Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith, by Holly Ordway

Holly Ordway, an academic and professor in all cool things (literature, especially Tolkien's, and its intersection with theology or faith), describes a different angle to approaching apologetics.

Why I picked it up: In spite of the ridiculous number of books to be read that line my shelves, I knew I needed to borrow this one from my sister's shelf for a little while.

Favorite quote: "Literature offers a mode of apologetics in whic hwe can guide the natural human emotional response toward its right end, by presenting truth in such a way that we are moved on the level of our emotions as well as convinced on the level of our intellect. When emotion and intellect are in line, rather than at odds, with each other and both are oriented toward the good, then it becomes easier for the will to direct action toward the good." -pg. 102

My impressions: I need to read this book again. It was a little slow getting into it, but by the third or fourth chapter, I was thinking, "Oh yeah, this is good." It's a book that needs full attention, and there were times when I was not completely focused on it, to my own loss. I've always been intimidated by the idea of sharing my faith with others, but Ordway's focus on incorporating the imagination into the apologetic experience gave me great encouragement. This seems like something I could start with. I like that she didn't say this was the silver bullet of apologetics; rather, it's an aspect that's always been part of the apologetic process, but has perhaps been neglected, and can be of great use in our time. The work gives me the impression that the author has not only done her research, but just sat and thought about big ideas and specific applications and how things played out in her own experiences or in those of others. The one shortcoming I associate with myself (rather than the book) after reading is that I don't have any clear ideas of how to apply all this information, which indicates that a closer reading and/or more reflection is warranted. I highly recommend this book to any Catholic who wants to share their faith, but most especially to those who have a vibrant intellectual life or imagination. I DEFINITELY hope that I'll have time to read this again - and hopefully discuss it with a friend.

The Wife of Pilate and Other Stories, by Gertrude von le Fort*

These three historical fiction novellas by the author of "The Song at the Scaffold" consider three experiences: Pilate's wife and their life in Rome after his fateful condemnation of Jesus in Jerusalem; an orphaned handmaiden learning about love of God and lesser loves in the Holy Roman Empire; and a tale of Galileo's trial and its relation to war-ravaged Italians in World War II.

Why I picked it up: I didn't have the book I was originally reading with me and this one was already downloaded and available on my Kindle thanks to the Formed.org app.

My impressions: Gertrude von le Fort seems to have a formula that she sticks to, but that doesn't mean she's not a good writer. She seems to have a penchant for tales told in a letter formant or via "discovered document," which I suppose allows her greater freedom for including individual reflections on characters and foreshadowing elements. However, the formula doesn't diminish her ability to share keen insights into the human person and the Catholic faith. I found it interesting that a romantic relationship was a big part of all three of these stories, but even that seems to have significance. I most enjoyed the first tale, about Pilate's wife; the second story was not at all what I was expecting, but still good; the third story felt muddled, but that is perhaps because it's hard for me to remember what exactly happened in the Galileo trial, where he went wrong, and where members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy went wrong. I believe that if I had had the facts fresh in my mind when reading that novella, then I would have understood it better. Even if that difficulty had been resolved, however, I think I still would have struggled to discern the main question(s) considered in that story. Overall, I think adult Catholic readers would appreciate these stories, especially if they found "The Song at the Scaffold" is their cup of tea. It is good writing, but von le Fort's points were obvious enough that I felt like I was getting them.

Bracket Play

GKC's poem fell in Round 1 to Undset's saint biography because, while the latter was hard to read at times due to my own shortcomings, I learned much about a Doctor of the Church and was inspired with awe at what God does through the cooperation of His creatures. I also learned about history from "Lepanto", but it was a mishmash of poem and essays and an overall less-impressive work. The Catholic short stories beat "Talking to Dragons" because it was a collection of stories of substance, as opposed to a fun, but fluffy, fantasy. "Catherine of Siena" won in the faceoff against "The Wife of Pilate" because it was a well-written and incredible true-life account of an amazing saint; it did not need to be fiction to explore history or big questions. 

Holly Ordway's book, a long reflection on apologetics and human imagination, beat Chesterton's shorter fun reflections on various topics. Although several of his essays were quite excellent, I ended Ordway's book with the feeling that I wanted to revisit this book in the future, a feeling which GKC's work did not create for me. Ordway's book was the winner this month because of its applicability to my own life, the subject matter, and its thorough, wide-ranging treatment of that subject matter.

Books Attempted and Put Down

A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold

An environmentalist describes life on his Wisconsin farm across the twelve months and discusses ecological issues.

Why I picked it up: A friend recommended this book and it sounded like a good nature-themed book to try during summer.

Why I put it down: The book, although good in the first part which I had read, moved too slowly and I realized that there were an awful lot of other books I wanted to be reading instead. I may come back to this someday, but it wasn't the book for me right now.