Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer

Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer

368 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the “city-girl” struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.

But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.

The Life of Thomas More by Peter Ackroyd

 The Life of Thomas More by Peter Ackroyd - 480 pages, ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

A highly-detailed biography of Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor of England who was imprisoned in the Tower of London and ultimately beheaded for his refusal to accept King Henry VIII's claim of supremacy over the Pope and the King's marriage to Anne Boleyn.

I watched A Man for All Seasons (1966; dir. Fred Zinnemann) back in March, and was unexpectedly charmed by the witty dialogue and the intense conviction with which Paul Scofield portrays Thomas More.  As the film is a fictionalized adaptation of historical events, I was curious how accurate it is, so I picked up The Life of Thomas More by Peter Ackroyd.  Although I enjoyed reading the book, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for the casually curious.

I got the book in May, and finally finished it a whole seven months later.  It's a bit of a brick -- although the copy I read was only 405 pages, with 75 pages of appendices, the book still seemed much longer than it was.  That is in no way a condemnation of Peter Ackroyd's writing; his prose is clear and engaging, and he makes a lot of interesting observations and connections (there is an entire chapter comparing Martin Luther and Thomas More, for example, and Ackroyd finds a lot of similarities between the two, despite their very heated disagreement in regards to religion).  Ackroyd, however, has a tendency to go into almost superfluous amounts of detail -- I didn't get to where A Man for All Seasons starts until late October.  Granted, The Life of Thomas More tells More's entire life story, while A Man for All Seasons focuses only on his final six years or thereabouts.  Even so, I thought Ackroyd spent a few too many chapters discussing More's childhood and young adulthood.  The high level of detail Ackroyd gives to More's career as a lawyer makes sense, as it informs so much of More's behavior, writing, arguments, and his character as a whole.  There are far fewer connections made between More's childhood and adulthood, which makes the length and amount of chapters focusing on More's childhood seem excessive.  

The other issue I have with the book, which I hesitate to even call an issue, is Ackroyd's penchant for direct quotes.  He frequently quotes primary sources verbatim, complete with untranslated Latin and Early Modern English spellings.  One of the final chapters is just the transcript of Thomas More's trial in its entirety, without any commentary whatsoever.  While having so many direct quotes from primary sources is nice, it does make the book less readable.  I've read my share of Shakespeare and Latin texts, but it was still difficult to constantly switch back and forth between Ackroyd's commentary in present-day English and the primary sources in Latin and Early Modern English.  It might be a good idea to keep Wiktionary handy to help translate the Latin, or the Google Translate app if you just want a rough translation quickly.  

Despite my complaints, I did find the book interesting enough to finish.  I particularly liked how balanced Ackroyd's perspective on More is.  He discusses More's surprisingly-progressive views on the importance of education for women, as well as his clever satire in Utopia and his other writings.  He talks about More's love for bawdy jokes, and the many probably-apocryphal stories of his witty remarks to defendants at trial.  Most of all, though, Ackroyd portrays More as a person who was deeply frightened by the changing world around him, so much so that he was willing to give up his life for what he believed.  In short, Ackroyd writes about More the man rather than More the martyr.  He picks apart the stories and rumors that have been passed down through generations of biographers, and notes whether there is any evidence of truth behind the legend.  While I do see some of the real Thomas More in Paul Scofield's portrayal from A Man for All Seasons, his More is a bit too heroic, too perfect.  Ackroyd emphasizes that, despite More's cleverness and celebrated conscience, he was still just a flawed human being like the rest of us.  

You could say The Life of Thomas More is a book for all seasons, considering how long it took me to finish it.  I realize I keep harping on that, but I want to emphasize that this is not a book most people would pick up for a casual read.  It's a bit of a slog, really, but it's a fascinating slog.  Hardcore fans of Tudor history, people with a lot of time on their hands and a solid working knowledge of Latin and Early Modern English, and incredibly-persistent people who want to know everything about Thomas More for some reason may want to give it a try.  For everyone else, though, the Wikipedia page and/or A Man for All Seasons would probably suffice.

Heavy Are the Stones by J.D. Barker

 

Heavy Are the Stones by J.D. Barker - 312 pages

Ten days to keep a lie.
Ten plagues if you deny.
Ten ways to watch them die.

Five years ago, when Detective Jena Campbell put the Leviticus Killer behind bars, she locked her darkest secret away with him. Something never meant to surface. Something better left to rot with the madman who had destroyed so many lives.

When a strange man calling himself Azrael appears on social media with threats to unleash ten plagues, ten deaths, in ten days, unless Leviticus is released, Jena is forced to reopen that door and face her past.

Unable to share what she knows, she turns to the only man who can help her find Azrael before he kills again, the man she condemned. Jena quickly learns the only thing more terrifying than facing him, is facing herself.

J.D. Barker does it again-another awesome book!  This is a great read-if you like thrillers I would highly suggest checking out his books.  There is not a dull moment!  

The God Engines by John Scalzi

The God Engines by John Scalzi, 136 pages

This novella is short, brutal, and I didn't see the end coming. 

In this story, gods not only exist; they are powerful and war with rival gods. The defeated gods are enslaved and forced to be living engines for the starships of the faithful--humans who worship the conquering god. The captured gods begin to rebel, Captain Ean Tephe realizes the problem is bigger than he ever imagined. 

Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo

Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo -- 221 pages

This books details how Jinger Vuolo's faith has changed over the years.  It was interesting to read the process of how and why her faith changed.  I liked that it stressed that you should question and investigate a church and its beliefs before joining.  While this book is mainly of interest to those who watched the Duggar reality tv shows, it does contain some good advice for all.
 

Unfollow; a Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelphs - Roper

 Unfollow, a Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church

 by Megan Phelps - Roper - 289 pages

At the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper began protesting homosexuality and other alleged vices alongside fellow members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Founded by her grandfather and consisting almost entirely of her extended family, the tiny group would gain worldwide notoriety for its pickets at military funerals and celebrations of death and tragedy. As Phelps-Roper grew up, she saw that church members were close companions and accomplished debaters, applying the logic of predestination and the language of the King James Bible to everyday life with aplomb―which, as the church’s Twitter spokeswoman, she learned to do with great skill. Soon, however, dialogue on Twitter caused her to begin doubting the church’s leaders and message: If humans were sinful and fallible, how could the church itself be so confident about its beliefs? As she digitally jousted with critics, she started to wonder if sometimes they had a point―and then she began exchanging messages with a man who would help change her life.

A gripping memoir of escaping extremism and falling in love, Unfollow relates Phelps-Roper’s moral awakening, her departure from the church, and how she exchanged the absolutes she grew up with for new forms of warmth and community. Rich with suspense and thoughtful reflection, Phelps-Roper’s life story exposes the dangers of black-and-white thinking and the need for true humility in a time of angry polarization.

STAND by EK Jonathan

Stand by EK Jonathan - 349 pages

This is the conclusion to the "Flee" trilogy.  The author brings satisfying conclusions to all the characters.  This trilogy makes you think about what you would do in the same situation.  Would you listen to directives?  Especially when obedience could mean your life.  I am looking forward to seeing what the author writes about next.

An Unseen Angel by Alissa Parker

An Unseen Angel by Alissa Parker, 179 pages

So many books have been written about school shooters and the situations themselves, but not much is ever written about the victims and their families.  Alissa Parker's daughter, Emilie, was one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting.  The book is so beautifully written and so filled with details of what they as a family were going through that day.  And, what they went through immediately afterword.  I can't even imagine the pain Alissa and her husband and her two other daughters were feeling.  On her path to peace, she met with the shooter's father and found forgiveness.  This book was not only Alissa's story but one I am sure other victim's of mass shootings may find comfort in reading.  Unseen Angel is a gift to the reader on how to find peace and strength.  This book will make you cry.

The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack by William P. Young, 252 pages

I listened to this book as a playaway, but I also read along in parts.  I had been planning on reading this book for years, and I finally got around to it.  With the movie coming out a few months ago, I thought this would be the perfect time to do it.  I did not want to know anything about this book before I started it and to that I held true.  I had no idea what this book was about before I began it.  I was surprised by the plot.  However, I did know the major plot revolved around a very young girl turning up missing in the woods while camping with her Dad and siblings.  What I did not know or expect was what happened next. This book is about the father Mackenzie and his faith and relationship with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit.  It is also about his relationship with his own father and accepting the fate of his young daughter.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green-215 pages

I enjoyed reading this book, although it was probably my least favorite of John Green's novels. It's not because I didn't like it, but because I just like Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, and Looking for Alaska more. It is a lot to compete with. That being said, it is still a good read. I enjoyed Colin Singleton (the protagonist), Hassan (Colin Singleton's best friend), and Lindsey Lee Wells (a secondary protagonist). Colin is a child prodigy who has been in a relationship with 19 Katherines, 18 of which dumped him (he later remembers he dumped 1 of them). He and Hassan decide to take a road trip and and up in Gutshot, Tennessee where they meet Lindsey Lee Wells and her mother Hollis (and other, less important, characters). It forever changes Colin's and Hassan's lives. My favorite part of the novel is the witty, albeit oftentimes unbeknownst to the character who says it, humor, such as using fug as a tribute to Norman Mailer. I would recommend this to anyone who likes John Green. I wanted to read this last month for travel, but did not get around to it, so I decided to read it now.

Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction by Candace Cameron Bure

Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction by Candace Cameron Bure - 210 pages

I read this for a church book club.  It follows her season on Dancing with the Stars and the Christian conviction she had to maintain while participating.  The most interesting part was the behind the scenes stories of the show.  Each chapter usually started with some behind the scenes stories and then moved to what I would almost consider Christian lessons learned during that event and a Bible study / devotion on that lesson.  I think it would actually be better read as a devotional as she gives Bible verses to explore and questions to consider.

The Secret Chord - Geraldine Brooks

The Secret Chord - Geraldine Brooks - 320 pages

This is the (fictionalized) story of King David's life, from start to finish.  If you're in the mood for something lushly written about warfare, power, polygamy, and betrayal, this is definitely for you.  If you're looking for a story that lays heaping praise and golden light on biblical figures, this is not for you. David is a deeply flawed character, even in the eyes of his prophet narrator and lifelong friend and companion Natan.  He's arrogant and thoughtless with his wives, blind to the flaws of his many children, and often shortsighted about the long term consequences of his actions large and small.  But he's also the shining unifier of his people, builder of great cities, and an accomplished musician.  His story is really the story of his legacy, built over a lifetime of bloodshed and rare remorse.

MSCHMITT--- Prayers for a Small Child Illustrated by Eloise Wilkin 17

 MSCHMITT--- Prayers for a Small Child Illustrated by Eloise Wilkin 17

An illustrated edition of daily prayers for children to read. With rhyming couplets this book is a quick read that will keep a little one's attention.

MSCHMITT--- God is My Shepherd I am His Lamb Dandi Mackall 36

MSCHMITT--- God is My Shepherd I am His Lamb Dandi Mackall 36

A religious tale of reassurance to a little one as they encounter everyday life and the ups and downs that come with it.

The Lives of Great Christians

The Lives of Great Christians

By Great Courses

Presented by William R. Cook

12 Discs

I greatly enjoyed The Lives of Great Christians. William R. Cook, a Catholic himself, took an unbiased view of over twenty four great men and women of the faith.  Professor Cook spotlighted these great christians; Augustine, St. Patrick and the Conversion of Ireland, Franics of Assissi, Clare of Assisi, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Martin Luther King and Teresa of Calcutta and many more.

I was familiar with about half of the individuals he profiled. However, he spoke about one gentleman, Maximilian Kolbe, whom I was unfamiliar with. Personally, his life story was the most inspirational.  Maximilian was a Franciscan friar, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in a German camp, during World War II.

I would recommend this audio CD to anyone.

The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead & The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer-308 pages

This is the second book in Pfeffer's Last Survivor's series.  In the first book, Life as We Knew It, an asteroid has collided with the moon which knocked it closer to Earth.  Because of the different gravitational pull, all sorts of natural disasters happen and you find out how a family in Pennsylvania deal with the hardships.  In The Dead and The Gone, the perspective if from a teenage boy living in New York City and the things he must do to take care of himself and his two sisters after the moon is hit.  I was hesitant to read this because I liked Life as We Knew It so much and really felt that it could have been a stand alone.  I don't think this lived up to the first novel, but it was nice to read a different perspective.

"Are You There ALone?"The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates

"Are You There Alone?" The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates by Suzanne O'Malley, 279 pages.  I don't usually read true crime stories but I do read a lot of biographies.  I choose to read this book recently when I read in the news that Andrea Yates had requested the right to attend church.  I remembered her crime had something to do with her religious beliefs and that the crimes happened right before 9/11.  I was interested in discovering if there was more behind her awful crime.  There was some interesting background on how she and her husband had met and their decision to live in a bus temporarily and home school their children.  The book dove into her psychological background, her commitments to mental institutions, and her depression and medications, and how a month before she drowned her children she had actually filled a bathtub also with a similar intent.  Although her crime is unspeakable, the book gave background to what may have driven her to such a tragic crime. Her words echoed throughout the book she was not a good mother and she had damaged her children and she was told by Satan to kill them.  A very, very sad tale.                                      

The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam #2), by Margaret Atwood

The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam #2), by Margaret Atwood, 448 pages

This story takes place in a near future, where corporations run the world, most animals we know are extinct, and science has achieved god-like power.  The story centers around a small cult-like group, called the Gardeners, who shun the system and believe that a waterless flood will soon come and wash away the evil and give the world a new start.  It is told from the point of view of Ren and Toby, two women who take different life paths but find themselves in a similar predicament, and the preachings of their one-time leader.

I listened to this on CD, so I didn't realize that it was the second book in a trilogy.  Surprisingly, though, I didn't feel like I was missing anything until the very end.  And even at that, I was okay with it.  The audio narration was very well-done, and I'm glad they went with 3 narrators since there were alternating voices.

When She Woke, by Hillary Jordan

When She Woke, by Hillary Jordan, 341 pages

This book is sort of an adaptation of The Scarlet Letter, but set in a dystopian future America run by fundamentalist Christians.  When Hannah Payne is discovered to have had an abortion, she is forced to wear red.  But in this world, "criminals" like her are genetically altered so that their entire body turns the new shade and then let out into the world to survive.  Hannah must find her way in a society that knows her crime at a glance and shuns her for it.  She must also learn to resolve her feelings towards her ex-lover, Aidan Dale, Secretary of Faith and revered pastor.  This book is aimed at adults, but could also be of interest to some young adults.  The themes of religion and politics, modern feminism, and prejudice of every kind sound like they would be oppressive, but they make it a thoroughly thought-provoking read.