Lenten Reading: The Big List of Nonfiction

Here's the big list of nonfiction for Lent. I was going to reread Brant Pitre's Introduction to the Spiritual Life but jumped the gun and reread it recently. I may fall back on my old reliable, Roman Pilgrimage by George Weigel.

In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year by Francis Fernandez
Vol. 2: Lent Holy Week Eastertide
This is part of a series of seven devotionals, with entries for every day of the liturgical year as well as two volumes devoted to special feast days. I discovered these soon after I converted and reading them daily for at least four years was deeply formative. Over twenty years later, I still dip in and out of them, depending on what else I'm reading. I cannot recommend these books too highly.  I know of no other books which do such a good job of showing how to live an authentic Christian life.

The one most people have tried is the Lent/Easter book but the one I began with was for midsummer. I soon bought all the others.  I probably will be dipping into this one throughout Lent and Easter.

Introduction to the Spiritual Life: Walking the Path of Prayer with Jesus by Brant Pitre

This is a truly inspirational book. As he loves to do, Pitre is tracing the roots of practices and understanding from Judaism to Jesus to the Christian spiritual classics. This, of course, gives the reader depth and context which in itself is eye opening. However, as each section ends in the classics, we are given solid advice about how to apply ourselves to each particular step of the spiritual life.

That is what this book is all about, after all, the spiritual life. It ranges from forms of prayer to major temptations, from spiritual exercises to the seven capital sins, from how to meditate on scripture to how to hang on when nothing seems to be working (that's called the dark night of the soul).

Fruits of the Spirit by Stratford Caldecott
Small but packs a powerful punch.

Book description, which I can't improve upon: This booklet explores the imagery of trees and fruitfulness in the Bible, and offers a sketch of Christian morality based on the relationship of spiritual fruits to the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues. The result is a kind of rough map, a guidebook of sorts to a life in the Spirit, inspired by teachings that we find in Holy Scripture and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Roman Pilgrimage by George Wiegel
From Ash Wednesday through Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics go to the Roman "station church" assigned for that day's Mass as a pilgrimage.

George Weigel uses this framework to provide a wonderful daily devotional for Lent, complete with photos and a page of information on each church. It is much more than a simple set of devotional reflections, however. The Mass readings and Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the hours are interwoven in an insightful commentary. Weigel doesn't stop there. He includes papal comments, saints' stories and quotes, and much more. I have used this book for several years during Lent and it is extremely rewarding.

 

For the Life of the World by Alexander Schmeeman
The author was an Eastern Orthodox priest but any Christian can get a great deal of insight and inspiration from this wonderful book. He looks at the connection between daily life and the sacraments and liturgy of the church. As a result, we are repeatedly drawn into fresh realizations about how present God is in everyday life ... and how connected that is with the liturgy. 

 One of the most inspirational books I've ever read. My full review is here.

 

 

The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism by Thomas Joseph White
Do you want a good dose of philosophy with your Catholic faith? Here's the book for you. Looking for something lighter than Edward Feser, but that still had intellectual depth, I noticed this title continually popping up in my searches. So glad I did because it is exactly what I wanted ... though the discussion of the Trinity caused a bit of brain paralysis, but that's no different than my reaction to any other deep look at the Trinity. It's been a long time since I've had to think in such a different way. All this is without ignoring the questions that Catholicism raise in modern life. This isn't necessarily easy reading but it is really rewarding. Truly this is a great book.

7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
7 Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness
by Eric Metaxas
The stories of seven men who lived their lives in ways we can admire. Or women, depending on which book you read. Each contains short biographies of a diverse group of people that pack in a lot of information . Each story turns on the fact that they surrendered themselves to God and sacrificed themselves in some way for the greater good.

The men range from George Washington to Jackie Robinson to Chuck Colson. Women range from Joan of Arc to Rosa Parks to Mother Teresa. Plus some in each group that you probably haven't heard of.

Metaxas isn't heavy handed but he doesn't shy away from occasionally raising points that encourage the reader to look deeper within his (or her) own heart. I found each very inspirational. My review of 7 Men is here.

A Song For Nagasaki by Fr. Paul Glynn
The biography of Takashi Nagai, a young Catholic Japanese doctor who lived through the bombing of Nagasaki and became an inspiration for spiritual healing for his people. Paul Glynn combines vivid descriptions, character insights, and just enough Japanese history so that we have context.

As a result I wound up admiring the Japanese people even more than I did already. I never realized how many of the Japanese ideals combine with saintly living, especially as seen through Takashi Nagai's eventful life.

My review here.

The Bells of Nagasaki by Takashi Nagai
Among the wounded on the day they dropped the bomb on Nagasaki was a young doctor who, though sick himself cared for the sick and dying. Written when he too lay dying of leukemia, The Bells of Nagasaki is his account of the experience.

It is deeply moving story of faith under extraordinary conditions.

My review is here.

The Smile of a Ragpicker by Fr. Paul Glynn
Satoko Kitahara came from a wealthy home and encountered the Catholic faith when she wandered into a church one day and saw a statue of Mary. As a convert, she lived her faith so completely that she is still a well known heroine for Japanese of all religious persuasions. Striving to follow Christ fully she wound up becoming the "Mary of Ants Town," living with with the destitute in a shanty town in a public park where subsistence living came from ragpicking.

On a personal level I cannot stress enough the effect this gentle saintly girl's story continues to have on me. I won't go into details here but her honesty in her spiritual journey, her complete faith and dedication, and her love of Mary affected me deeply. My review is here.

To Whom Shall We Go? by Archbishop Timothy Dolan
In To Whom Shall We Go, we are reminded of all St. Peter's strengths, weaknesses, joys, and sorrows. In short, we are shown his humanity as he follows Jesus in the Gospels and Dolan points out how our own natures are reflected in therein as well.

This is a simply fantastic book and I say that as a person who has never been particularly interested in St. Peter.

My review here.

Gospel of Mark, The (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture) by Mary Healy
This is a really great commentary. Healy is excellent at putting the scripture in context, whether in reference to the context of people of the time, to other scripture, or for our own lives. Sometimes I was enlightened by the factual information which gave me new insights into the text. Sometimes it was from the material for reflection. However, it was a rare day that I failed coming away with an insight that I pondered the rest of the day. My review is here.

I've found a lot of the Catholic Commentary series book very rewarding, regardless of who the author is. So just dive in.

The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
The classic autobiography by the youngest Doctor of the Church. I struggled with reading this book until finding Robert Edmonson's translation, which was be less sacchrine and more real-life than others I read.

If this book doesn't appeal, consider one of the many others written by different saints and then ask their intercession while you read. Make Lent a walk through the desert with a saintly guide holding your hand.

Happy Catholic for Lent

Three other books that would make good Lenten reading:

Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets - my latest! In Kindle or softcover.

Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life - my second book! In paperback.

Happy Catholic - my first book! In either softcover or Kindle / Nook format.

Lenten Reading: The Big List of Fiction

This is a huge list to be sure. But it has some of the most thought provoking books I know They both entertain and inspire. It ranges from science fiction to mystery to Uncle Tom's Cabin. I've run the list before but have updated it.

Last year I read The Lord of the Rings beginning on Ash Wednesday and finishing on Holy Saturday. It was intense, both in my daily reading requirements and spiritually. It was the perfect accompaniment to Lent and I'm doing it again this year.

 The Feast by Margaret Kennedy

This book starts out with a clergyman at a loss for how to write a eulogy for seven people who died in a hotel when a cliff fell on it and crushed it. We're then taken back to life in the hotel a week before the disaster. We get to know everyone and watch how their interactions change them (or don't). This book is not just about the mystery of who will live and who will die. It is also about spiritual realities by which these people live their lives.

My full review is here. Scott and I discussed this in episode 321 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

In the late 1800s two French priests are assigned to the New Mexico territory to minister to the neglected Catholic churches there. One is intellectual, the other is the salt of the earth. Both are friends and both are good Catholic priests. This is what one might call an episodic telling, much as are the Gospels. We see the lives of the priests, those they minister to, and the country itself which is as much of a character as any of the people. Cather wasn't Catholic but you'd never know it simply by reading this account which gets everything right — and gives a lot of food for thought along the way.

Black Bottle Man by Craig Russell

Rembrandt, his father, and uncle are trying to undo a deal with the devil made by their loved ones. As they seek a champion, they must cope with a tricky requirement that they not stay in any place longer than 12 days.

Considerations of faith are handled both honestly and delicately in this book. The insights and observations throughout the book underlie the main story in a way that lends itself to considerations of gratitude, mercy, selfishness, sacrifice, and much more — all without being heavy handed.

My full review is here. It is is marketed to teens but I'm not the first reviewer to mention that label is too limiting because it is also a great read for adults.

Mockingbird by Walter Tevis

Only the mockingbird sings at the edge of the woods.

I've been jaded by the plethora of recent apocalyptic novels but this one is different. Perhaps the highest tribute I can give this novel is that when I finished I didn't want to read another book. To do so would sully what I'd just read before I'd finished thinking about it, as well as be unfair to anything that followed because it wouldn't be able to compare.

My full review is here. We also discussed this book in Episode 110 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast. And also on SFFaudio where a lot of interesting fruitful topics came up.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Or, since Lent is only 40 days, at least the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring. I was was blown away by how much the audio experience added to my understanding of the richness and depth of the story. Admittedly, it was also greatly helped by The Tolkien Professor's class sessions on this book. You will be hard put to find a better primer on sacrifice, redemption, and many other key lessons for Christian life. I think this may be the best book ever written. And you could do worse than to read The Hobbit for starters.

Joseph R's review is the best I've read if you'd like a more complete look at the novel.

Scott and I were joined by Seth Wilson in a two-part discussion of this novel at A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast: part 1, part 2.

Christy by Catherine Marshall
I read this several times when I was in high school and college but hadn't encountered it for decades. It came to mind again when talking with my mother about books set in hardscrabble backgrounds.

I remembered it being really interesting about people in the Smoky Mountains in 1912 cut off from any outside civilization except for a few people who came in to try to help their poverty stricken situation. Including the 19-year-old young woman, Christy, who comes to teach the children. She is naive and from a well-to-do background so she's completely unprepared for what she finds.

I didn't recall it being so inspirational throughout. I wound up loving it so much that I could hardly bear to put it down.

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
A bedraggled, galley ship survivor, despite his best efforts to the contrary, finds himself in the middle of royal intrigue. If that weren't enough, he is also pulled into the the affairs of the divine as a result and this complicates his life as one might imagine. This is a land of various gods and strong, dark magic. It is, however, also a land where free will matters in the outcome of events.

Will Duquette calls this "theological science fiction" and I agree. The way that free will is intertwined with what the gods desire, as well as what is "right," is fascinating and a good way to examine our own motives the next time we turn away from what God may be asking of us. My full review is here. A Good Story discussion is at Episode 198.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry is an incredible Christ-figure as I discovered when I reread the series recently. Of course, this only works for those who have read the series before.

For more depth and as accompanying materials, readers may want to listen to Episode 26 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast where Scott Danielson and I discuss the book and the entire series from a Catholic point of view.

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden
This extraordinarily sensitive and insightful portrait of religious life centers on Philippa Talbot, a highly successful professional woman who leaves her life among the London elite to join a cloistered Benedictine community. That's the official description but it doesn't begin to cover the richly woven tapestry Godden weaves with nuanced personalities, mysteries to solve so that the order may continue, Philippa's internal struggles, and much more.

Again, Joseph R. has a wonderful review of the book. We also discussed  episode 97 at A Good Story is Hard to Find

Prince of Foxes by Samuel Shellabarger
This beautifully written historical fiction tells of Andrea Orsini, who is one of Cesare Borgia's most trusted political manipulators during the Italian Renaissance. This is a swashbuckler that simultaneously shows Andrea's transition of a human heart from greed to love, selfishness to sacrifice, and power grubbing to nobility.

Discussed in episode 13 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
A real page-turner which many think they know because the cultural references are so embedded in our society. However, if you haven't read this book then you don't know it at all. First and foremost, Uncle Tom actually is a Christ-figure, a living saint. No wonder he is misunderstood by so many.

Stowe does a good job showing many different attitudes toward slavery and how people excused themselves under the flimsiest of excuses. What is unexpected is how well she examines the varying levels of Christianity proclaimed and threaded solidly throughout the story.

Discussed in episode 114 of A Good Story is Hard to Find.

I read this aloud on my Forgotten Classics podcast with commentary. Yes, that's how much I love it.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

We all think of this as a classic horror story but there is much more to it. Look below the surface and you find a classic tale of unselfishness and doing God's will in order to rid the world of a monster who is a perversion of Christ.

Discussed in episode 168 of A Good Story is Hard to Find. Mythgard Institute (founded by Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor) has a superb series of classes on Dracula.

The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis
These books seem an interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction to me. Lewis's imagination is vivid and fascinating. His tendency to have characters speechify leans to the nonfiction side. Taken as a meditative read, they would be very good for Lent, I'd think.

Out of the Silent Planet: Dr. Ransom is kidnapped by two men who take him to Mars as a sacrifice to the natives. Lewis was fantastically inventive about what the planet and living beings were like. I didn't know he had it in him.

Perelandra: Very different from Out of the Silent Planet while still showing C.S. Lewis's vivid and inspiring imagination. I am simply blown away by his vision of creation on Venus. Amazing insights as to battling evil, the dance of God's creation and plan, and our part in it.

That Hideous Strength: It is a testament to Lewis's imagination and writing skill as to how different all three of the books are in this trilogy, while simultaneously all carrying out the same basic theme. No wonder J.R.R. Tolkien loved them. This book left me striving to be a better person, to be truer to myself, as did the other two. Not many other books really leave one feeling that way.

Discussed in episodes 202, 204, and 206 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.

Rafael Sabatini — Entertaining, Intelligent Swashbuckling

I just reread Scaramouche for an upcoming podcast discussion. I wanted to remind everyone of what a wonderful author Rafael Sabatini is so I'm rerunning this post from 2018.

I discovered Rafael Sabatini through the audio of his two most popular books, Scaramouche and Captain Blood. I didn't realize for some time that these were just a small sampling of Sabatini's work.

He wrote 31 novels, not to mention numerous short stories and other works. As if that weren't impressive enough, he spoke seven languages and then learned English specifically for writing because, he said, "all the best stories are written in English." He had to write for 25 years before achieving fame with Scaramouche  (After which the publishers said, "Wait, look at all these other great books he's written!" and rushed them into print.) Sabatini just kept on writing even more great books.

I love knowing that there are so many of his books out there to read. They are all adventure and romance novels with clever dialogue and elaborate plots. Heroes, swordfights, and chivalry abound though often with characters that go against our expectations, which just adds to the enjoyment. Almost all of them have historical backdrops and characters which are accurate, while being part of an exciting story.

Think of Sabatini as the Georgette Heyer of adventure. He's tops for a real page turner that doesn't dumb it down while simultaneously not needing to be deep to keep your attention.

Most are available from the usual places, public domain books can be found on Project Gutenberg or ... your local library probably has a ton of them. They were very popular once upon a time.

THE SEA-HAWK
My exploration of Rafael Sabatini's books began with noticing this title which is the name of my favorite Errol Flynn movie. Turns out the title is about all they took from the book, if indeed the book was at all involved.

This is the tale of a family feud, betrayed brotherhood, and love gone awry which results in galley slavery, more than a flirtation with Islam, and every exotic story device that can be imagined. It all works. It's a bit over-the-top sort, but I was hanging on every chapter, reading breathlessly to see what happened next.

What makes the story even better is that Sabatini evidently was scrupulous in being historically exact. Yes, Lord Oliver existed and did those things. Now, that didn't keep Sabatini from inventing and exaggerating to give us this swashbuckler. And I'm ok with that. I'm not reading these for the history, though that doesn't hurt it a bit.

ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER
Garnache is a wily and accomplished swordsman sent by the Queen to rescue an heiress who is being held prisoner by a mother and son so they can take her estate. A lot of my enjoyment of this book is due to Garnache's unbridled temper, which has been the bane of his career. Watching him struggle to overcome it and the result of his ill-timed explosions is a lot of fun because we can sympathize with his frustration.

He despises the fairer sex, "Let me tell you that this is the first time in my life that I have been concerned in anything that had to do with women." This makes it more ironic when the main players in the story are all women: the Queen of France, the girl he must rescue, and the wicked Marquise de Condillac who foils his attempts repeatedly. Poor Garnache does nothing but deal with women, except when he's sword fighting, of course.

THE BLACK SWAN
This hit the spot for swashbuckling adventure. Wanting a break from thinking and chaos and the real world, I borrowed the movie from the library and we were delighted with the old pirate adventure featuring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara. Sparks flew. Swashbuckling and preening. And so forth. Naturally I had to get the book. Which was tons better. Tons.

Priscilla Harradine is sailing to England, accompanied by Major Sands who is at least twice her age and, unbeknownst to her, hoping to marry her. Also on board is Charles de Bernis. And that's lucky because when their ship is boarded by the infamous pirate, Tom Leach (sailing the Black Swan) Charles is able to save them all from certain death (and worse!).

The interest lies in watching Monsieur de Bargis nimbly navigate minefields in dealing with pirates, officious boors (Major Sands, of course), and everyone who keeps threatening bodily injury and death to the small group of people he is trying to save under very trying circumstances. One of which is the aforementioned boor who we love to hate. Of course, there is a love interest but it is handled in the most delicate way which was most enjoyable to watch unfold.

SCARAMOUCHE
Lawyer Andre-Louis Moreau has never believed strongly in any philosophical point of view. When his best friend goes to face the arrogant Marquis de la Tour d' Azyr for slaying a poacher, everything goes wrong. Andre-Louis finds himself on the run, eventually joining an acting company, but with a sense that he must speak up for his friend's beliefs, even if he doesn't really believe them. Andre-Louis's natural gift for rhetoric and logical argument are used for both humorous and dramatic effect.

This book pulls us into the arguments for and against revolution, while enjoying romance, revenge, betrayal, treason, and, of course, sword fighting. I love watching Andre-Louis become what he pretends to be.

It's extremely enjoyable swashbuckling on the eve of the French Revolution. This might be the perfect companion volume to A Tale of Two Cities, though it also had strong echoes of Nicholas Nickleby because of the theater connection.

THE SNARE
There are multiple snares in this swashbuckler by Rafael Sabatini. Set in Portugal, under Wellington's command as he forms a clever trap for Napoleon, this is a tale of jealousy, love, betrayal, and friendship ... all set into motion by one stupid, selfish brother. Atypically, this is no swashbuckler with most of the story taken up by a legal trial.

I really enjoyed it although the trial toward the end was a bit lengthy for my taste. I didn't expect military strategy to form such a big part of the plot but was fascinated by this look at the Napoleonic wars.

CAPTAIN BLOOD
Dr. Peter Blood is sentenced to slavery and exile in the islands after his arrest for treating wounded rebels. When he escapes, no ship sailing the Spanish Main is safe from his natural talent for piracy. He does, however, have an Achilles heel — his love for Miss Arabella Bishop who was the only kind person during his slave days. Rescuing her and redeeming his reputation will take all his skill.

This is the best known of Rafael Sabatini's books. It is just a touch less over the top and a bit more complete in characterizations. I did get tired of all the sailing maneuvers toward the end but that's just me. I listened to B.J. Harrison's fine narration of the novel. It made perfect listening while working on a long project.

BELLARION
Bellarion is a naive, monastery educated orphan who gets sidetracked on his way to finish his classical education in the big city. Faced with a series of emergencies, his native intelligence leads to an unsuspected ability to solve problems and strategize. His unexpected rise into a responsible position leads to intricate political intrigue and warfare.

Unfortunately, the story often ground to a halt because of the numerous battles and sieges recounted. I understand it is based on real history and people (except for Bellarion) but I feel good storytelling should have been able to communicate a lot of these events without taking me through it blow by blow. However, it is a good story overall and with my battle-skimming abilities I enjoyed it well enough.

THE HOUNDS OF GOD
Margaret Trevanion has been raised with an unusual amount independence and self-reliance which leads to her spurning the neighbor we suspect she loves and taking a survivor of the Spanish Armada as her prisoner. Who we do not trust, though that distrust is based on very little. (Heavens, I might as well be Elizabethan with that attitude!)

Others have commented on how different the second half of the book is from the first. The Spanish Inquisition and royal rulers are a large part of that difference. I actually really enjoyed both parts. Elizabeth I's note to King Philip made me laugh out loud and these two self-centered rulers are perfect foils. Likewise, we are shown several contrasts within the Inquisition and these are both entertaining and give food for thought about motivations and the result of lying to oneself (Brother Luis, I'm lookin' at you!).

A Terrible Book Hangover

You can't put the book you just finished behind you because you still want to live in it. You have a terrible book hangover, and it lasts three days. Ibuprofen does nothing for it. You're sad because whatever you read next can't possibly be as good as the book you just finished. You depair because nothing you read can possibly be as good, ever again.

Anne Bogel, I'd Rather Be Reading

This doesn't happen to me often but when it does it's terrible. And wonderful — to have read such a book, such wonderful writing, such depth of feeling. And so forth. But in the meantime, what does one read until one recovers? I mean, you've gotta read something. You can't just not read for three days. It's a tough way to live.

Your friends may use the word obsessed ...

Cull duplicates. If you have two copies of a book, keep the prettier one. If you can't bring yourself to get rid ofyour duplicates, buy a third copy. When it comes to books, two is the loneliest number. Multiple copies of a single title are acceptable. Many many multiples are preferable to two or three; excess makes you look interesting. Your friends may use the word obsessed, but they can't deny your obsession is interesting.

Anne Bogel, I'd Rather Be Reading

I do have duplicates, and more than two, of several books. To be fair, most of those are because I like different translations, such as for Dante's Divine Comedy. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is because I have lightweight paperbacks for reading in bed, a one volume version that has notes written in it (yes, I know, notes), and a third with Tolkien's own illustrations throughout. I can't guarantee I won't buy another one with Alan Lee's illustrations — if I can find such a thing or afford it — but that's for the future to worry about. I also confess to duplicate copies of Uncle Tom's Cabin and Dracula because one copy has notes in it.

 And, of course, the Bible for different translations or commentaries. But the Bible is in a category all its own.

What Else I'm Reading for Advent — 25 Days, 26 Ways to Make This Your Best Christmas

I came across this free at Amazon when cruising for Christmas holiday books back in 2010. It proved to be a very good series of reflections and suggestions for how to make December more meaningful leading up to Christmas. In short, it is a Protestant-style Advent book. Gosh, that is a long time ago and I think I've read it every year.

What makes this different is that the author focuses on linking the spiritual meditations and activities to the familiar holiday songs and things all around us. It was amazingly effective thanks to that and a nice complement to the Catholic Advent reflections that I normally use.

One caveat: the author is not as careful with some of his research as he could be. Just from my general knowledge I spotted two places where he subscribed to popular Christian wishful thinking in the origins of items, namely the candy cane and the Twelve Days of Christmas. We've all come across these in those emails that get sent around every year and then been discredited via Snopes or some other myth-buster site. He uses them effectively nonetheless as there is no harm in reflecting on those items using those faith-focuses. It is just that it would be nice if the author had fact checked better. This also made me a bit wary in trusting some of his other seemingly convenient stories such as that of the Christian origin of the evergreen tree for Christmas. It may be true but if he got the other things wrong, how can I know unless I check all these other facts too?

Regardless, this does not detract too much from the value that these reflections have for the regular Christian who is trying to keep his head in the midst of the regular bombardment of advertising and flurry of activities.

What I'm Reading for Advent — The Art of Advent by Jane Williams

 

I really love Jane Williams' art/devotional books books so I've used this book for Advent for a few years now. (Others of hers I can recommend are Faces of Christ: Jesus in Art, Angels.) Every day of Advent I find food for thought and inspiration. Sometimes the art leads to other reflections than directly on the painting but it is the way that Williams opens up the art, connecting it with Advent, that I love most.

Here's a bit on the Holman Hunt painting, Light of the World.

Holman Hunt's picture is full of symbolism, all of it taking us more deeply into Advent reflection. There are three light sources in the painting, but they all cluster around Jesus. Behind him is the dawn light, struggling to make its way through the dark woods, towards that central figure. Then there is the lantern that Jesus is carrying, a bright, homely light to welcome wandering travelers. And finally, there is the light that shines around Jesus' head, his own inner brightness, from which the other lights take their meaning. Behind Jesus are threatening, twisted trees, shedding rotting fruit to the ground. They are the trees that Adam and Eve ate from, and the tree on which Jesus dies, and all our long family trees, waiting to be lit up and filled with life again. The lantern that Jesus is holding throws a reddish light back on to his cloak, which makes it look similar to the wood of the door. After all, Jesus said that he is the door or the gateway (John 10:7). So we have two doorways, facing each other, as we wait to see whether one will open to the other. ...

Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene

I can't remember where I heard about this take on Don Quixote by Graham Greene but it sounded like a fairly cheerful introduction to an author whose books always sound depressing. And it was. Father Quixote is a descendant of the famous book's hero. Yes, he knows the book is fictional. When he's promoted to Monsignor he goes on a road trip in his aged car Rocinante, with his friend Sancho who is the newly deposed Communist mayor of the town. 

I know just enough broad plot points from Don Quixote to see where Greene uses them in his own updated way for this charming book. The rambling trip and conversation are amusing, thought provoking, and inspiring.

"Are there any good coming of age books?"

My friend Meg asked this question during last week's book club and I could only think of Huckleberry Finn. Which I was loathe to include, as was Meg. Now that's crazy because it is, of course, a coming of age book. But, as it turns out, neither Meg nor I like coming of age stories and we both like Huckleberry Finn.

At the same time another friend, Emily, mentioned Anne of Green Gables, to which I automatically said "No." Now that's even more bonkers because, of course, it also is a coming of age story and a good book. To me, though, it seemed too simple and sweet, without the deep layers of angst that I hate when reading about coming of age.

So I went home thinking about Meg's question and my peremptory exclusions. 

Suddenly I understood why I never liked David Copperfield until the very end where he's wrestling with his marriage ... and is an adult! Right. The whole darned book is coming of age with angst. So much angst. (Not that I don't love Aunt Betsy and Mr. Dick because, you know, Dickens isn't going to let you out of any book without making you love at least some of the people in it.)

Rose and I talked this over and came to the conclusion that  coming of age stories are fairly predictable and boring unless that is just one element of a much more compelling, complex tale. 

Naturally, I made a list. 

I'm including two classic coming of age tales because I encountered them at just the right age to love them always. And they manage to be legitimately good books even without lots of other elements.

• Treasure Island
  Pirates! And ... no, that's it - Pirates!
  
  
• Anne of Green Gables
  Classic
  
  
• Little Women
  Classic
  
  
• Kim
  Adventure, espionage, and exotic India from all walks of society
  
  
• Northanger Abbey
  Deliciously fun satire of Gothic novels. And romance!
  
  
• To Kill a Mockingbird
  Small town life in the South, racial injustice, and the best father in the world
  
  
• Huckleberry Finn
  Road trip, adventures on the Mississippi, and racism
  
  
• Citizen of the Galaxy 
  Slavery, beggars, exotic far-off worlds, spaceships, espionage
  
  
• Dune
  Giant worms, interplanetary intrigue, and trying to spot the coming messiah
  
  
• Harry Potter (books 1-7)
  Super villain, wizards, magic, Muggles —you already know why this is fun and also great
  
  
• The Giver
  Fascinating utopian/dystopian society.
  
  
• The City (Dean Koontz)
  Supernatural horror with plenty of jazz
  
  
• The Jungle Book / The Graveyard Book
  Take your pick since Neil Gaiman wrote Graveyard in homage to Jungle. Raised by animals or ghosts, running from a tiger or a hired killer, encountering mysteries and wonders in a world that isn't human.
  
  
• Jane Eyre
  All things gothic and mysterious. Avoid the attic!
  
  
• Something Wicked This Way Comes
  The creepiest carnival ever. Do not — I repeat "do not" — ride the merry-go-round.
  
  
• Ender's Game
  Giant alien insects want to invade Earth. Who can possibly save us?
  

I finished Les Miserables!

 

I finished!!!

It took three months and so much skimming but I'm glad I read it, although I will never read it again. And I'm very impressed that the Les Miserables movie (Hugh Jackman) did such a good job of carrying through important characters and themes. In fact, if I hadn't seen the movie about 5 times I would occasionally have gotten lost in the novel. As it was, I was fascinated at the places where the plots diverged between the two with both still carrying the same message. In fact, I wound up being surprised that the movie's ending was so overtly religious when the book handled religious elements in that spot with much less emphasis.

At any rate, much as with Crime and Punishment — huzzah! My whole day is one of triumph!

Digging into the roots of our faith

I just figured out that I'm partway into a pilgrimage in seeing just how far back the roots of our faith reach into Jewish tradition, history, and overall context. (Hint: it goes all the way back to the beginning and all the way to the top).

Its so exciting! And you know what that means. I've got to share the good stuff with you.

As we know I've lately been digging into the Psalms (and beginning tomorrow, some of canticles too!) with the help of the Church Fathers and other commentaries. 

That and the strong recommendation from The Burrowshire Podcast led me to dabbling in the Liturgy of the Hours which, in turn, led me to Saint John Paul II's and Pope Benedict's excellent homilies on the psalms and canticles. 

Topping off my deep immersion in Jewish and Old Testament context was Rabbi Sacks' essays Genesis: The Book of Beginnings. I'm now about halfway through his essays on Exodus which are similarly eye opening in connecting Catholicism to Jewish context.

Suffice it to say, I recently realized that God had positioned me for a deep, deep dive into connecting the Old Testament with Jesus. It is so fascinating to see how far back (like all the way to the beginning) that Jesus' priesthood stretches, how much deeper the liturgical readings are linked than the obvious connections we can see, and to feel it all come together.

Recently it all came together in a perfect storm of resources from author John Bergsma.

First, my daughter Rose alerted me to a Pints with Aquinas podcast episode where John Bergsma talks about the Biblical basis for the priesthood of Jesus. This had some stunning connections which make so much sense once someone has pointed them out. Bergsma recently wrote Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood which went straight onto my wish list after seeing the sample and hearing that podcast episode.

I am not surprised at considering that Bergsma's collaboration with Brant Pitre (another excellent author who shows "Jewish roots" connections) on A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament is a simply wonderful scholarly overview of contemporary understanding of the language, literature, history, and culture of the ancient Hebrews. This was a big investment for me but well worth the money. I love it.

But Bergsma's been busier than I realized. Looking around on Amazon for the priesthood book I also came across two other treasures.

I approached the first discovery warily. I've got devotionals the follow the daily and Sunday Mass readings. This would have to offer something different and I felt as if most devotionals tended to fall into the same few general categories. 

However, The Word of the Lord: Reflections on the Sunday Mass Readings for Year B delighted me by focusing on the readings from a deep connection to scripture that wasn't held down to the excerpts that the liturgy uses. Bergsma's background as a Biblical scholar comes to the fore in identifying unifying motifs and intriguing connections that you don't see a lot of the time. I splurged on it as my book to buy this month and it is truly wonderful for anyone who loves Bible study and the Sunday Mass liturgy.

Bergsma's connection with the Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible is simply in writing the introduction (as far as I can tell). But I'm grateful to have this Bible called to my attention. Rose got her own copy so I've been able to see it up close and it is on my wish list now.

Here's why.

I've used the same Catholic study Bible (1980) since I converted. It's got the accumulated notes of 20 years from Bible studies, commentaries, and anywhere else that I found something I was afraid I'd forget. I like having all these notes in one place, but I hate having nowhere to write. And as you can see, some of these pages are full!

The pictures and reviews of that notetaking Bible make me itch to begin transcribing everything into a place with enough room.