Meet a Reader: David Bibb

Following is the monthly feature that appears in the print edition of The Catholic Post, featuring a Peoria-diocese reader.

How you know me: 

I taught biology and physics at Hoopeston Area High School for many years before I left to become principal at St. Mary’s Grade School in Westville. Though retired now, I’m still active in CCD, high school youth group, RCIA, and facilitating a prayer group at Holy Family Church in Danville.

I’m also a fourth degree knight in the Knights of Columbus. Since I’m a convert from the Methodist Church, my faith in the Catholic Church and Her teachings is strong and deep. My wife and I have four daughters and 12 grandchildren.  Our son is a seminarian in the Peoria Diocese currently at Mount St. Mary Seminary at Emmitsburg, MD.

Why I love reading:

I enjoy the quiet solitude of reading and entering into the scenes of the stories through my imagination. I am not a speed reader. I’m deliberate and always looking to gain something. I read about the Civil War with a sense of awe and reverence for the people that were there.

Most of my reading focuses on three areas: American history, particularly the Civil War; Pleasure, mostly two authors, Larry McMurtry and Michael D. O’Brien; and Spiritual growth and formation. I’m usually reading a book or two from each area at the same time. My grandchildren don’t understand why reading books on my Kindle doesn’t give me the same pleasure yet as a book in my hands. I’m trying!

What I’m reading now:

Currently I’m in the middle of Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin, SJ and am engrossed with his descriptive writing and thorough explanations of events in Jesus’ ministry.

I am early in Stand to It and Give Them Hell: Gettysburg as the Soldiers Experienced it from Cemetery Ridge to Little Round Top, July 2, 1863 by John Michael Priest. It is the battle of Gettysburg as experienced by the soldiers.

The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O. I’m journaling as I read this one.
My favorite book:
It is difficult to choose just one since I’ve read and enjoyed so many over the years. Here are three books I couldn’t put down:

Lonesome Dove; by Larry McMurtry ;

Voyage to Alpha Centauri Michael D. O’Brien’s most recent book—very intriguing;

and Fire Within by Thomas Dubay, S.M.—I keep returning to this book.