Mockingbird by Walter Tevis Only the mockingbird sings at the edge of the woods. Why have I never heard of this magnificent book before? Thank goodness my mother, 80 years old and never afraid of a Kindle Daily Deal, read it and commanded me to do likewise. In the 25th century all the work is done by robots, the ones that haven’t broken down. Mankind stumbles along in a drugged stupor, trained from birth to avoid thinking and that “privacy... Read more
Ah spring book season, when the new growth of authors and publishers sprout at the mailbox, unexpectedly delighting book reviewers. I love it. I won’t get a chance to read these as fast as you deserve to hear about them. But they did pass the first chapter test and make it onto my “to read” stack, so here’s a heads up. Tweeting with God: # Big Bang, Prayer, Bible, Sex, Crusades, Sin, Career . . . by Michael Remery Ok,... Read more
Imagine my delight in seeing two of my favorite science fiction/fantasy authors among the 2015 Hugo Award nominations. I like their writing just that little bit more because they’re Catholic. So sue me. CONGRATULATIONS guys! I hadn’t made my April book purchase yet so dropped John C. Wright’s The Book of Feasts and Seasons into my Kindle. Several of the stories he’s nominated for are from that book. What sf reading Catholic wouldn’t love this concept? … a beautifully mind-bending stroll... Read more
Megillat Esther by JT Waldman Esther’s story is set during the Babylonian Exile, when the nation of Israel was overrun, Jerusalem sacked, and the people taken into slavery. The Jews were scattered over the Babylonian empire and some of the king’s men schemed to wipe them out. The king had his own scheme–get rid of his unsatisfactory queen Vashti by, in essence, holding a beauty contest. Esther, a humble Jewish woman, was one of the many brought to Shushan (the... Read more
A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac: Cultivating Your Faith Throughout the Year by Margaret Rose Realy I’m not a gardener. In fact, I’m so not a gardener that I realized I don’t have a single plant growing in my home. I have a few container plants on the front porch which I remember to water when we’re in the middle of the blazing Texas summers. (Do you hear that? I think we can hear Margaret Rose’s heart breaking right now.) And... Read more
Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon Anne Frank’s story of hiding in occupied Amsterdam from the Nazis has had several treatments in several different mediums (all based on the diary that she wrote while in hiding). I was excited to discover this graphic-novel treatment at my local library. While most versions focus on the time hiding in the attic, this book gives a full overview of Anne’s life, starting with the... Read more
The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb Genesis is the source for many illustrated books. Noah’s Ark is probably the most popular story in toddler books. Other stories are less kid friendly (like Noah’s drunken nakedness) and even less graphic friendly (like the genealogies). This book depicts the entire fifty chapters and aims at a mature audience. It’s a big ambition with mixed results. Crumb does a great job communicating the emotional impact in the stories through the expressions... Read more
When I see a book about about the scientific evidence for God I have some trepidations. Especially since there are many ways this can go badly. So when I received The Reality of God: The Layman’s Guide to Scientific Evidence for the Creator by Steven R. Hemler for review I had that in the back of my mind. Since it was from Saint Benedict Press I should have known not to be concerned. This book is rather straight forward and... Read more
“Do you think that doing the right thing will always be pretty?” I really loved Rosamund Hodge’s first book Cruel Beauty (my review here). I was not sure how she could possibly match it, especially with a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood which is a fairy tale I’ve never cared for much. I am happy to say that Crimson Bound is a compelling story just as fresh, just as exhilarating, just as complex, just as stay-up-til-midnight-reading-as-fast-as-possible engrossing. While being... Read more
Bergoglio’s List – Nello Scavo This book investigates the time from when Fr. Jorge Bergoglio was 39 years old and on. In the multiple biographies I have read on him I have seen some mention of the work he did to get people out of prison and out of the country. It is fascinating the degree to which this happened and it was not just a couple of occasions. The book estimates he saved 100 people from torture, imprisonment, and... Read more
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