September-October Book Bracket 2022

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

Searching For and Maintaining Peace, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

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

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

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

The Red Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

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

August Book Bracket 2022

 August Book Bracket

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

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

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

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

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte**

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

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

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

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr

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

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

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

The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius**

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

 July 2022 Book Bracket

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

Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, by Astrid Lindgren

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

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

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

The Word on Fire Bible: Gospels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tolkien's Modern Reading, by Holly Ordway

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

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

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

Books Started and Put Down

Triss, by Brian Jacques

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

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

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

 June 2022 Book Bracket

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

Creighton Model FertilityCare System, handbook

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

Why I picked it up: It was required reading.

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

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

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

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

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

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel**

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

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

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

The Jane Austen Society, by Natalie Jenner**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For Women Only, by Shaunti Feldhahn

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

Books I Put Down

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

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

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

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

 May 2022 Book Bracket

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

Hoppity Hare's Adventures, by Geraldine McCaughran

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Island of Two Trees, by Brian Kennelly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

April 2022 Book Bracket

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Song for Nagasaki, by Paul Glynn**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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

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

March 2022 Book Bracket

 March Book Bracket Madness

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

The Books

Heretics, by G. K. Chesterton**

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

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

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

Elijah in Jerusalem, by Michael D. O'Brien

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

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

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

The Little Oratory, by David Clayton and Leila Lawler*

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

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

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

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

The Great Divorce, by C. S. Lewis

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

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

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

Bracket Play

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