Just a few
recommendations from bookworm to bookworm...
The Beggar's
Banquet
By Regis Martin
As always, Dr. Regis Martin is a delight to read. The Beggar's
Banquet, a collection of reflections original given to a
community of monks, combines deep theological reflection; poetry from
the likes of Dante, T.S. Eliot, and Gerard Manley Hopkins; and
delightful spots of humor. While we are all beggars before God, we
can be certain that when we open our hearts and minds to Him, He
provides a banquet beyond our wildest imaginings. Dr. Martin helps
his readers grasp the wonder and the delight of God's great gifts.
The House on
the Strand
By Daphne du Maurier
I didn't expect to like this book. It was an assignment for a class,
but it turned out to be an interesting read. While the psychological
time travel motif only partly worked for me, I enjoyed the author's
portrayal of medieval life and the connections between the modern and
medieval characters. Most successful, perhaps, was the book's
exploration of addiction and the effects of immoderate attachments on
individuals and families. Overall, I would recommend The House on
the Strand to readers who don't mind feeling a bit uncomfortable
at times as they explore difficult issues and all the foibles of
humanity past and present.
Tolkien: Man
and Myth
By Joseph Pearce
J.R.R. Tolkien's Catholicism stands at the heart of his sub-created
world. In Tolkien: Man and Myth, Joseph Pearce explores the
subtle yet beautiful ways in which Tolkien's faith shines through his
fantasy. Pearce also delves into the fruitful literary friendship
between Tolkien and C.S. Lewis; Tolkien's love of family and rural
life; and the delightful and illuminating concepts of true myth and
sub-creation. If you love Tolkien, read this...seriously.
Jesus Appeals
to the World: From the Writings of Sr. Consolata Betrone
By Lorenzo Sales, IMC
An unceasing act of perfect love... This is what Jesus asked of
Sister Consolata, and this is what stands at the heart of Jesus
Appeals to the World. Jesus appeared to Sister Consolata, a
Capuchin nun, over a period of several years, instructing her on how
to make the unceasing act of love using the formula “Jesus, Mary, I
love You! Save souls!” Jesus also taught her to give a smiling
“Yes!” to everyone; to thank God for everything; and to purify
her mind of useless thoughts and her speech of useless words in order
to focus entirely on loving Him. While not everyone is called to the
intensity of Sister Consolata's mission, we are all called to love
God and our neighbor, and through this book, Jesus speaks to our
hearts about the form this love is to take in our own lives.
Doors in the
Walls of the World
By Peter Kreeft
We human beings are not alone, and the material world that we live in
is not all there is. What we don't see is far more real and far more
wonderful than what is visible to our physical eyes. In Doors in
the Walls of the World, Dr. Peter Kreeft shows us how we can
catch marvelous glimpses of the “moreness” within and beyond our
human story. As always, Dr. Kreeft packs his writing with material
for deep reflection, including the subtleties of natural and
supernatural and the effects that our smallest prayers, words, and
actions can have on the whole world. Prayerfully reading this book
is an excellent way to recover some of the wonder and joy we all tend
to lose as we try to navigate the craziness of our world.
Happy reading!
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