David Russell Mosley

Ordinary Time
24 October 2016
The Edge of Elfland

Hudson, New Hampshire

Dear Readers,

Today I just wanted to share with your the books I’ve been reading lately. They’re a combination of new reads and old.

Joseph of Nazareth by Federico Suárez

The first book on my list was given to me by my spiritual director. In this book Suárez seeks to meditate on the little that Scripture tells us about the adopted father of our Lord. It has been an interesting book so far. Perhaps one of the most interesting things he’s suggested, based on Augustine, is that Joseph’s chaste (here chaste meaning, in part, totally without sex) marriage to Mary was that height of conjugal love. What’s more, and what is so wonderful to read. Suárez makes sure that we understand that Joseph staid with Mary because he loved her as a husband loves his wife.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

This one is a re-read for me, though it is only my second time through it. If you haven’t read this wonderful work of historical fantasy (which imagines the presence of magic during the Napoleonic wars), I highly recommend it. Clarke does an excellent job of capturing the voice of the nineteenth century. The text is all about magic and yet at times feels more like a textbook or history book than fantasy (particularly since there are numerous footnotes). I have been wondering lately what role the loss of Catholicism in England plays in this book and may write a post about it at another time.

King Arthur’s Death: The Middle English Stanzaic Morte Arthur and Alliterative Morte Arthure by Larry Dean Benson (Editor)

This book I’m reading in part for Signum University’s Tolkien and Tradition course, for which I am a preceptor. But let’s just say I am not at all sorry to be reading it. The book is precisely what it says it is, two versions from the late middle ages of the death of Arthur. One is written in rhymed stanzas and the other is alliterative. Both are in Middle English. In part because of this reading, I think I will be embarking on a new writing project, but I’ll tell you more about that another time.

Love, Henri: Letters on Love, Hope, Faith, and Vocation by Henri J.M. Nouwen

This book I’m reading for a “book club” here at Patheos. I have to admit, and I’ll say more about this later, that Nouwen is not one of my favorite authors. Nevertheless, I’m a huge fan of reading (and writing) letters. Nouwen’s letters allow us to see a side of him I’m not sure comes out in his books.

I’m also technically reading a few other books (as in they’re listed on my goodreads as being currently read) but I’m not focusing on them right now. But what about you? What are you reading? Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? Let me know.

Sincerely,
David