Reading Catholic

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Book Reviews

There’s Nothing Like a Convert {my June column, The Catholic Post}

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Following is my book page that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

Are you a spiritual trust-fund baby? Bear with me—it really is a “thing.”

If you’ve heard the expression, “there’s nothing like a convert,” you’ll begin to know what I mean. There really is something special in converts and how they look at the faith with fresh eyes and fresh faith. It really is different being a convert, and we longtime Catholics can learn a lot from that energy and passion. That’s why shows like Marcus Grodi’s EWTN’s The Journey Home  can be so compelling to watch.

It’s like Richard Cole writes in Catholic by Choice, his expressive memoir about converting to Catholicism, that cradle Catholics are like “spiritual trust-fund babies unbelievably rich with a two-thousand-year-old religious culture stacked on another three thousand years of Hebraic culture.”

And, like a stereotype of trust-fund babies, longtime Catholics can be tempted to take for granted our great wealth. Why is that?

Reading one of three recent new memoirs about the conversion process might help us look at our Catholic faith with a fresh perspective.

It wouldn’t be fair to compare these very different memoirs, so here’s a short review of each story:

Catholic by Choice: Why I Embraced the Faith, Joined the Church, and Embarked on the Adventure of a Lifetime by Richard Cole, a writer and poet.

Cole offers a wandering, luminous and complex story. The memoir is especially rich since he was older (49 at the time of his conversion) and so his conversion, and how it intersects with his life and the life of his family, is fascinating, gritty and real. Because he’s a poet, there are a lot of memorable and “quotable” quotes.


Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism In Search of Faith with a Future” by Elizabeth Esther. Esther’s book is a harrowing story of growing up in a fundamentalist cult, and gradually, as a young adult, escaping it.

Even though you know these are all conversion stories, I feel like I should write “spoiler alert!”— when I tell you she that she became, however improbably, Catholic. That’s because it is jaw-dropping how Jesus (and His Mother) drew her to the Church. It’s also amazing to read about what being Catholic means to her and her recovery from her abusive childhood.

Something Other than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It by Jen Fulwiler.

Fulwiler’s memoir tells the story of how she grew up an atheist and lived a happy materialistic existence until she gradually reasoned her way into the Catholic Church, through the writing of her popular blog, Conversion Diary, and various life circumstances.

Fulwiler is a great story-teller—many local Catholic women will remember her talk at the second Behold Conference in 2011. Her funny and clever voice, as she shares the events that drew her to Catholicism, shines through in this narrative.

As I’ve said, it’s not fair to compare the memoirs, as each person’s conversion is unique as a fingerprint. But several common themes, in addition to how well they are written, emerge:

*There are innumerable ways to be Catholic—and thank God for that. How beautiful that our Catholic —universal—faith has so many ways to be a faithful Catholic. Just as the wide variety of saints, different kinds of holiness, there are many paths to and within the Church. Three cheers for holy diversity.

*Jesus really does pursue each one of us intently, mysteriously, and with whatever people, places, and circumstances are at hand. Each of these three memoirs describes the way a diverse cast of characters and situations led them to being Catholic: blog readers, random priests in confession, quiet spiritual directors, fallen-away Catholics, Mary, severe health issues, breakdowns, and so much more. How can those lead one to communion with him and with his Church? Jesus finds a way, and it’s plain astonishing to behold in these memoirs.

*We are all, convert or cradle Catholics, “spiritual trust-fund babies.” As a result, we need to recognize that fact and always fight against complacency. There is so much richness and depth in our faith, we need to spend it and share it with each other and others, instead of leaving it in a vault.

One particular strength of Cole’s Catholic by Choice is that it was published 10 years after Cole first wrote it, allowing him to look back and share how his conversion has played out in his life. Reading his update on how his life looks as a no-longer new convert makes me wonder and wish that both Esther and Fulwiler would update their memoirs 10 or so years down the road, sharing their experiences and what is different, and the same, about being Catholic.

Truly Random Thoughts, Volume 4: Alice, Anne, Money & Science

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This week shows how truly “random” are the things that catch my eye/ear online.  No common thread,  just lots of interesting things to ponder.

Memory Eternal: The Life and Quiet  Ministry of “Ann B.” –Terry Mattingly, Get Religion.  I love “Get Religion”–I don’t recall it as a Patheos blog.  Perhaps that is new?   Lovely story about the religious life of Ann Davis, better known as The Brady Bunch’s “Alice,” who died this week.

Raising a Moral Child-The New York Times.  “People often believe that character causes action, but when it comes to producing moral children, we need to remember that action also shapes character. ”

A New Way to Declutter--Anne at I Need Some Inspiration.  So super glad this real-life friend she has a blog now, finally.  Anne, you just need to put an e-mail button so I can subscribe that way.  Not that I don’t have so many e-mails, but for some reason, it is a way I catch up (at least occasionally) on my favorite blogs.  I felt “inspired” by this post to tackle our own basement, which looks suspiciously like the one in the photo, except not as spacious.

 Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say –– The New York Times

“We have too few college graduates…we have too few prepared for college.”

“Those who question the value of college tend to be those with the luxury of knowing their own children will be able to attend it.”  Hmm.

“Young and Debt-Free!” — Jill and Jeremy Tracey, WCIC-FM.  I found this mini-interview–about a young couple who paid off $42,000 in student loan debt in two years– inspiring and challenging in a good way.  The couple used the Dave Ramsey principles to pay off their debt on super low incomes, and it just shows it can be done . I read Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money, the newest Dave Ramsey book (from the library, natch).  I find his approach interesting–for me, it’s not the “be all and end all” on financial health, but he does have good things to say about living within your means, especially for people who have gotten into serious debt.  The book itself was a little padded, and could have worked better as a much shorter read.  I am making a note to write a post along these lines–there really “ought” to be a Catholic book for young people about financial literacy and  stewardship, and there isn’t.

“Spiritual and Secular Mix in Case for Sainthood” –New York Times.  “Saints are intercessors in heaven, but they’re also models to emulate. They live lives of heroic virtue. So the idea is to have as many models as possible.” I reviewed the book The Miracle of Father Kapaun last year– it was a very compelling read.

“Why You Hate Work” The New York Times. Such interesting info graphics here. One great quote: “THE simplest way for companies to take on this challenge is to begin with a basic question: ‘What would make our employees feel more energized, better taken care of, more focused and more inspired?’ It costs nothing, for example, to mandate that meetings run no longer than 90 minutes, or to set boundaries around when people are expected to answer email and how quickly they’re expected to respond. ”

“Why Science and the Humanities are Better Together” –NPR Science Friday. I listened to this podcast on a run recently, and I found it fascinating and informative.  Walter Isaacson is interviewed here about giving the prestigious Jefferson Lecture, and how he recalls going to see Walker Percy give the lecture more than 20 years ago.  Since my husband is a big fan of Walker Percy, and met him on several occasions, Isaacson’s admiration and homage to Percy in his own lecture was compelling to me.  I hope to listen to the entire lecture soon.

What have you been reading or listening to this week?

Random Thoughts, Vol. 3: The Good Books for Kids Edition

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If I had a nickel for every time that friends have asked me for book suggestions, I would have … well, a lot of nickels.

But I do feel bad that I don’t often have an organized list. Often, perfectionism gets in the way–I want to share the best ten, or twenty, or hundred, books for kids, all color-coded and age-appropriate.  And –surprise!–those lists don’t write themselves.

So to get started, here is one list, very random. Because it is quite random, I’m making it part of the “random thoughts” series.

This is actually the list from one of the early years that my daughters and I hosted a Girls Book Group  at our house.   Even though they were read as part of a “girls” group, all these books are totally appropriate and would be enjoyed by both boys and girls–yes, even Baby Island and The Penderwicks.  Many times, if you like the book we read, you will often enjoy other works by the same author.

Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments!

Andrew Clements is really the gold standard author when it comes to “school stories.”    Just a few weeks ago, one of my kids brought home a book from the “new book” section, and we both gave up on reading it after a few chapters.  As I said, “It’s like someone trying to write like Andrew Clements but not succeeding.”

Frindle is possibly his best, but I have some other Clements favorites, and (a few) that are not-so-favorite.  I’ll try to do a post on great Clements books soon.

Understood Betsy is one of my favorite books of all time.  We own multiple hard copies, and I have it in Kindle format and audio CD format. This is great to read-aloud to your children, just so you don’t miss out on how terrific this book is in every way.

When we read Understood Betsy for Girls Book Group, we made applesauce and butter, and the girls did virtually all the work themselves.  Wonderful.

 

All of Rumer Godden’s books are tinged with melancholy, but they are so worthwhile.  I’m not sure why I chose The Doll’s House rather than, say, The Kitchen Madonna.  I think it may have been one of the few in-print Godden books for kids at the time.  I think we made homemade dollhouse furniture as the girls do in the book.

Carol Ryrie Brink is amazing–I can’t think of any of her books that I do love and begin laughing and quoting when I call to mind a title. Baby Island is hilarious and improbable and so, so funny-two sisters who like to “borrow” babies are shipwrecked on a desert island with four babies.  I just now noticed it’s available on Kindle, and even though I can probably recite entire passages of it, it’s likely I will order a Kindle version at some point.

The Toothpaste Millionaire is the only Jean Merrill book I’ve enjoyed, but it’s really fun and worth reading, especially for an entrepreneurial-minded kid.

The Penderwicks is practically perfect in every way, a series that’s a worthy successor and homage to such fun old classics by authors such as E. Nesbit and Edward Eager.  There have been three so far in the series, and I was expecting the fourth to be published this spring, but it looks like it’s not coming out until 2015.  So hard to wait!

I am biased since I know author/adaptor Nancy Carpentier Brown in real life.  She actually visited our Girls Book Group and spoke with the girls about writing, G.K. Chesterton, and life in general, a memory we all cherish.  But it really is a great introduction for young people to Chesterton’s mystery series.

I love Jean Fritz, and The Cabin Faced West is one of her many terrific books.  I can’t recall why I chose this one in particular, but it mixes fiction and history so well you don’t realize how much you are learning about the Revolutionary time period.  She will be 99 later this year, and she is still writing! Wow.

Many, many more books to come, and future posts can be found under the “books for kids” category.  I will also try to make a tab of great kids books for easier “finding.”  Thanks for your patience as I get through these.

A note from me: this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click through to Amazon from any of the links, and order a book (s), I receive a small amount.  It doesn’t change your cost, but helps support this blog.

Meet a Reader: Christine Dennis

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How you know me:

I am the Board President of the Women’s Care Center in Peoria. The Women’s Care Center is a community outreach that assists pregnant women, families and children in need and provide emotional and practical resource assistance. I’m married to Clyde Dennis; we have three daughters and we belong to St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Peoria Heights.

Why I love reading:

I love reading because it’s very relaxing. I can visualize the message of a book in my own personal way. I also love that I learn something every time I open a book.

What I’m reading now:  

God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila by Claudia Mair Burney.

I love this book because it’s both entertaining and intimate. There’s something timeless about St. Teresa of Avila: her day-to-day practical journey, the reality of her sufferings, and the trials she experienced in her life. St. Teresa’s incredible divine teaching on prayer and worship I found refreshing and amazing. Author Claudia Mair Burney has such a sense of humor and charm to her writing that she makes it down to earth. This book would be good for anyone to read, whether Catholic, Christian or otherwise. It’s just a great read.

My favorite book:

I would have to say God Alone is Enough because of how it has affected me spiritually.

But another wonderful book I read recently is the memoir of Mary Higgins Clark, Kitchen Privileges. It is so inspiring to read about her strength of character.

 

I can identify with her fashion background since that was my field before the Lord touched me for other work. Mary Higgins Clark had perseverance in the male-dominated fashion industry in the 30s and 40s, and then later became a writer to support her family after she was widowed at a young age. She went through incredible suffering in her life, and her Catholic faith helped her to overcome many troubles. She writes with elegance and mystery, and I appreciate that.

A Book for Moms and A Book for Heroes {my May column, The Catholic Post}

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On the book page of the current print edition of The Catholic Post, I have two mini-reviews under “other recent reads.”  I’m sharing them here.

A book for moms:

Momnipotent: The Not-So-Perfect Woman’s Guide to Catholic Motherhood by Danielle Bean. Bean is also the editor of Catholic Digest magazine, and the author of several previous books for moms.

Bean’s books have always been marked by a generous amount of encouragement and spiritual uplift, and “Momnipotent” really excels in that. Especially enjoyable are the thoughtful commentary and advice that follows each short “quiz” that completes each chapter.

I confess that at first glance, I didn’t think Momnipotent is for me, but I’m very glad I read it. While I do highly recommend this book as best for moms of younger children, even the more “seasoned” among us can benefit from the concepts Bean covers, primarily the reminder that mothering is vital, hard, work, and worth doing well.

A book for those who value heroism:

Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves by Jason Evert


Last month’s canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII had me seeking out books by and about the two popes. Since it was new to me, I was awed by the depth and richness of “Journal of a Soul,” John XXIII’s spiritual autobiography, and I also enjoyed revisiting some of John Paul II’s books, chiefly “Crossing the Threshold of Hope.”

Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves is an enjoyable and readable biography, reminding readers just what a remarkable man John Paul II was and why he is known as “the great.” What really works well in this book is Evert’s organizing much of book into St. John Paul’s five “loves”: young people, human love, the Blessed Sacrament, the Virgin Mary, and the Cross.

Reading His Five Loves had me pondering the deep heroism that ran through all the aspects of St. John Paul’s life, and how he demonstrated it from his earliest days to his infirmity at the end of life. This book is a great introduction to the life St. John Paul, as well as a reminder that we are all called to heroism in our lives, and how that heroism looks will be unique to each individual. And at just over 200 pages, His Fives Loves is a bit more accessible, but just as inspiring, as the definitive biography of John Paul II: George Weigel’sWitness to Hope

Much More than a Virtual Holy Land Pilgrimage

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Here is my column that appears on the book page of this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post. 

Most everyone who knows me is aware that high on my “life list” is a whole-family Holy Land pilgrimage, once all my children are teenagers (should my husband and I survive parenting teenagers. But I digress.).

I’ve heard from those who have been on a Holy Land pilgrimage that it can be life-changing and spiritually transformative.  I’m a little scared but also truly excited by the prospect. Since my own pilgrimage is still several years away, I seek out books, shows, and other resources about people who share their Holy Land experiences, so I can virtually-if a little enviously-follow along for now.

No surprise, then, that I would gravitate towards James Martin, S.J.’s newest book, Jesus: A Pilgrimage. But this is a remarkable book by any measure, and for just about every reader.

Fr. Martin, the cultural editor of America magazine and a gifted spiritual writer, tells the story of Jesus through selected Gospel stories, woven through his own faith life and his travel to the Holy Land.

But throughout and within, this book is energetically about the person of Jesus, what makes Him so attractive and compelling to Martin, and to those who follow Him.

Jesus: A Pilgrimage is kind of like an extreme version of Ignatian contemplation, or prayer using the imagination. Fr. Martin picks out key moments in the Gospels and tells those stories through his own Holy Land travels and musings. It is a simple concept, but by no means a simple book-it’s rich in stories, wisdom, and inspiration.

As Fr. Martin shares, when he was asked by a friend what he could say “new” about Jesus:

“ ‘I’ll write about the Jesus whom I’ve met in my life. This is a Jesus who hasn’t been written about before.’ It may be similar to hearing a friend tell you something expected about a mutual friend. ‘I never knew that about him,’ you might say wonderingly. Seeing a friend through another pair of eyes can help you appreciate a person more. You may end up understanding your friend in an entirely new way.”

Read this book to get a fresh and timeless perspective on Jesus, and be inspired to look at Him—and your faith— in a new way.

If you’re also intrigued by visiting the Holy Land as I am, you might be interested in the “The Faithful Traveler” DVD series by the young husband/wife team of David and Diana von Glahn . The series has aired on EWTN, and with the charming Diana as a host, virtual travel through the Holy Land is enjoyable and edifying.  I’ve written  about this series before.

Some notes, post-column:

**I actually read and wrote about Jesus: A Pilgrimage before I realized that my column would appear in print just as Pope Francis was about to be in the Holy Land.  I’ll be following along, and I do think this book would make an excellent companion to it.

**I also wrote about several other “recent reads” in my print column, but I will share those as separate posts because they are unrelated to the “Holy Land” theme of this post.