Garlic and Sapphires, Ruth Reichl

Not a course book. A delicious, light read. Pun intended, please hold your groaning.

I picked up this book on a friend's recommendation.  It is the true story of a New York Times restaurant critic who goes undercover to keep people from recognizing her.  She pulls off a slew of fun disguises with complete characters to back them up and discovers the difference that an appearance can make for how the world treats someone.  I loved it because it was fun, light reading, but extremely well-written.  Being a restaurant critic, Reichl has an excellent turn of phrase.  She also lives more through her senses than I do, so it was fun to read such vivid descriptions that I could never imagine thinking, let alone writing.

I thought I would not like a food book -- I can't watch food-TV without feeling both fat and hungry.  However, this book proved me wrong.  Final conclusion: read it!

Springtime in Guatemala, Fr. Paul Aumen

"Violence must be told and retold so that no one will ever forget how horrible it is and how little is accomplished by it.  There must be a better way for all people to live together.  As India's Ghandi so truthfully said, 'There is room on this earth for each one of us.'"

This book was a Christmas gift from my aunt and uncle - and a beautiful gift it was!  I saved it for a Lenten read, which turned into a Holy Week read when Mansfield Park took longer than expected.

Springtime in Guatemala is a memoir of sorts, written by Fr. Paul Aumen, a missionary of the Precious Blood.  He served for 20 years in Chilean missions, then moved on to serve an additional 18 years in Guatemalan missions.  The book is a collection of stories and experiences, about several parishes, the Guatemalan people, and Guatemala's 36-year civil war and genocide.  It's not an overly complex book, and is an (intellectually) easy and quick read.  However, the memoir is full of pain.  Through Fr. Aumen's stories, we see how, through pain, suffering, and death - there is beauty and truth and life.

As I read, I could picture so many of his experiences.  The magnificence of climbing a volcano.  The absolute poverty and violence that  has caused (and causes) so many good, innocent people to suffer.  How alive Antigua is during Cuaresma and Semana Santa.  Words cannot express how beautiful this book was for me, in its heart-wrenching, simple truth.

On Wealth and Poverty, St. John Chrysostom

Yes, I have been reading lately, I promise. I just haven't been blogging... about anything.

This short little book, which I finished weeks ago, contains a collection of sermons given by St. John Chrysostom when he was Archbishop of Constantinople. They focus on the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16: 19-31). Despite the fact that he was preaching to people who enjoyed their wealth (or perhaps because he was), he emphasized, in various ways, the virtues of giving up material wealth and the blessedness of the poor in heaven. He points out eloquently that our material goods came from God and belong to Him, to be used among His children, and therefore one who possesses a superabundance is stealing from the poor. He also explores idea of how God punishes and rewards people in the afterlife according to their actions (not wealth) here.

Love and Responsibility, Karol Wojtyla

Yes, I have been reading for past 7 weeks. At long, long last, I have finished Love and Responsibility, written by our late Pope John Paul II before he became pope. This book lays out the philosophical background for the pope's theology of the body, which he developed more fully during his papacy. I picked up the book because many CCMers have read it or talk about it on a regular basis, and I wanted to have it from the source. I like to know what other people know and be well-informed. So, while I cared about what was written in the book, it was not a topic that resonated with me as much as, say, Irresistibly Revolution.

The book contained dense meditations on the nature of personhood, love, and sexuality, arguing for that order of importance in interpersonal relationships. Wojtyla explains that we have an inherent "sexual urge," which simply means that we are attracted to people of the opposite sex as such. But the way we respond to this urge must recognize other people as persons. He calls this the "personalistic norm." The personalistic norm leads us naturally to love -- a desiring the good for another person. It also keeps us from the sin of utilitarianism, or using other people for our own pleasure, either physical or emotional. Only within the context of love, which keeps us from using the beloved, can we express our sexuality in a full and just way. Wojtyla also explains why the specific context of marriage is the only place where we can act upon the sexual urge without using our partner, and the way birth control stands in the way of the fullness of giving and openness that should exist in the sexual act.

Wojtyla presents a detailed philosophy that rings true with experience, but also describes parts of existence in a new way, which makes for a good read. As I said, however, it is very dense, and the 200-odd pages took me seven-ish weeks to get through, often because I had to force myself to pick up the book, knowing the intellectual task ahead of me... compared to Narnia, which I was reading on the side. However, the ideas should be spread, because our world lacks an understanding of love, and this philosophy helps clear up some confusions that we have.

First People: The Early Indians of Virginia, Keith Egloff & Deborah Woodward

We all love the story of Pocahontas, even if we don't want to admit it.  But there's a whole lot more to Virginia Indian history than a mythic princess and her love affair with Mel Gibson John Smith.  And believe it or not, there are still a number of active, thriving Native American tribes in Virginia today, despite the Commonwealth's early 20th century efforts to "erase" Indian identities.

Egloff and Woodward's book is written at about a 6th grade reading level, which made it easy to read during metro commutes.  It offers a simple, succinct history of Virginia Indians from time of Virginia's first inhabitants more than 15,000 years ago to the present day.  Most of the information was drawn from archaeological evidence and the book was also written in collaboration with contemporary Virginia Indians, both of which made me very happy.  I would like to see the information from this book become part of Virginia history curriculum.  And by that I mean, I am making it one of my career goals.

There is a lot more to Virginian heritage than so many of us recognize.   This book is a great way to start learning about a deeper, richer history and to recognize the contemporary implications of 1607 for Virginia Indian communities.

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace, Scott Hahn

Scott Hahn is one of my favorites. Once, for about 30 seconds, I thought there was the tiniest possibility of my marrying his son, and I just about died. Seriously.

Okay, so the second sentence wasn't serious. The first one was, however.

I picked up this book while looking for Letter and Spirit (same author), which I found as well (but didn't finish reading before I left NoVA without PWC library books). Hahn wrote Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace about his experience with Opus Dei. Prior to reading it, I knew very little about Opus Dei except: 1) Dan Brown was wrong and 2) some Catholics I know are part of it. I picked it up to better myself as a Catholic and as a minister-type-person.

This book was a short and quick read -- I finished the 120 pages in two days (neither of which were reading-intense). Hahn basically provided an overview of Opus Dei : its origin and its spirituality and how it affected his journey to the Catholic faith. The center of Opus Dei is the idea of "divine filiation," the Latinate words for "we are the children of God." Our position as children of God permeates every aspect of our lives, allowing us to take the works of daily life and sanctify them for God. Opus Dei offers particular paradigms, strategies, and tools for doing just that, so that ordinary day jobs, family life, and daily routines can center around Christ.

I'm still not sure I quite know what Opus Dei is, other than a personal prelature -- a group of laity and clergy who answer spiritually to the prelate (leader) as well as their diocesan bishop -- and a specific image of how to live out Catholicism that seems particularly applicable to today's world. But I think this lack of knowledge isn't the fault of Hahn, so much as the fact that it is hard to put a life-style into a short book and make it make sense. My sister and I both agreed that the book didn't say much new, per se, about Christianity or Catholicism, but was informative about Opus Dei

Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne

Let's ignore the amount of time, over the last three weeks, it took me to learn how to spell "irresistible," and go straight on to the book. This book is one enthusiastic Christian's rallying cry to return Christianity to his idea of its roots : the simple, self-supporting communities of Acts that lived simply and reached out both materially and spiritually. Claiborne organized his book half around ideas related to his vision of Christianity -- or the revolution, as he calls it -- and half around his own story, how he came to where he is now (or in 2007).

I'm having a hard time writing this review as a book review, because the book spoke to my heart as a Christian. Claiborne essential advocates for the idea that Christianity doesn't merely mean living morally as we pursue the American Dream -- it means dreaming a different driving and clinging to an alternative way of life and an alternative way of being. He describes a peaceful, joyful, Christ-centered, others-oriented, down-to-earth, idealistic, relationship-infused, communal, complete way of being that marks the irresistible revolution. Christians, he maintains, should start this revolution, and it will catch.

Unlike most of my favorite spiritual writers, Claiborne does not come with credentials -- not degrees from Catholic institutions (um, he's not Catholic) nor seals of approval from the Church. He writes playfully, yet seriously, with great emotional appeal, yet grounded. I don't know if he would have convinced me if I had strongly disagreed with his ideas. However, since I was already convinced that as a Christian I should be seeking another way to live my life, I found the book inspiring (hey, I'm not alone) and challenging (but I have a long way to go).

Confessions, St. Augustine

Now that I have finished this book, I can't believe how long it took me to read it. I think, somehow, I have retained the idea that classics, especially non-fiction ones and those in translation, are difficult reads. Lies. However, let me make a few clarifications. I read a 1961 Penguin Classics edition with a translation that was accessible. If I had found another version, I may have found the going a little tougher. Also, I have been a long time at reading this book. I picked it up about a year ago, left my borrowed copy at home when I returned to St. Louis, bought a copy, read it for a bit, got distracted by the Epistles, picked it up again, got distracted by novels, finally decided I needed to finish, and devoured the last five or six books.

In his Confessions, Augustine describes his story of gradual conversion and the consequences of it. He shares his life before and after he realized the Truth of the Church, with an emphasis on the process of change. His story covers philosophy, as he seeks the meaning of concepts such as Truth and Beauty; identity, as he seeks to know God in the Trinity and himself; and morality, as he struggles with the lifestyle implications of the Christian Way.

I knew intellectually that people see Augustine as still applicable to the world today, but the modernity of his questions and struggles struck me. He follows the ways of the intellectuals of his time who have twisted the way of truth to make it easier. He prays, famously, "God grant me continence and chastity, but not yet." He longs to give his life to God, but does not go all the way, holds back. And God breaks through all his opposition, partly through the steadfast intervention of his mother.

After his conversion, Augustine begins to chronicle some of the blessing which God has bestowed upon him and to meditate on some lines of Scripture. In fact, he starts with Genesis 1:1a : "In the beginning." After writing at length he moves on to Genesis 1:1 : "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth." He lost my interest for a while as he mused over abstract ideas of time and matter, mostly because he has a tendency to repeat himself seven or eight times over in the section. However, in the last book, he writes that he does not have the time, nor his readers the energy (true!) to go through the Scripture in such detail, and he addresses the six days of Creation in one fell swoop, regaining my interest.

If you are Catholic, read this book. If you are a non-Catholic type of Christian, read this book. Augustine speaks of joining the Catholic Church, but he wrote at a point in history where all our modern denominations did not exist. If you are not a Christian, I still recommend it for an interesting theological and philosophical read. It would be an excellent book for a discussion group, because it has a lot to digest.

And You Are Christ's: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life, Thomas Dubay, S.M.

I borrowed this book from a friend who is reading it as prep for a retreat. The sub-title really tells it all. Fr. Dubay writes about people who dedicate their lives to Christ as celibates. He explains it in terms of love, self-gift, and prayer, and contrasts this approach to ideas of freedom for service. He offers the idea that virginity for Christ is a radical, rich, and loving. The virgin remains single because she is completely given to God, totally in love with Him, and can't imagine anyone else as the focus of her life. He of course goes into detail and pulls on Scripture and the saints, but that is the long and short.

I enjoyed the book, but I think that's mostly because of where I am in life right now. It's an accessible read and insightful, however, if you are interested in the topic.

Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul, Tony Hendra

At the age of fourteen, Tony Hendra was caught having an affair with a married woman.  It was after this event that he decided he wanted to become a Benedictine monk.  Decades later, looking back on a successful career which includes stage appearances with Cambridge Footlights (from which Monty Python got its start), writing credits with National Lampoon, and films such as This Is Spinal Tap, the British comedian recounts his spiritual history and honors the life of the most influential friend in his life: Father Joe. 

From his first meeting with Father Joe in the Benedictine abbey, Hendra knew the priest would have a significant impact on his life.  Although Hendra eventually moved away from a monastic vocation--and even from the Catholic Church--his spiritual advisor remained a rock in his life, helping him through the challenges of marriage, divorce, miscarriage, and substance abuse, as well as sharing the joys of his family and his love of writing.  The comedian's memoir recounts his colorful life with the wit that is characteristic of his writing and pays tribute to the man he holds responsible for securing his salvation.

Candid and inspirational, Hendra’s spiritual narrative articulates the joys and pains which all people experience with profound and humorous eloquence.  It is a fun read that allows the reader see the world through the writer's eyes.         

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig

I really wasn't sure what I expected from this book when I started, but I know it was not what I got between the covers.

Pirsig tells the story of a journey he took with his son across the country on his motorcycle. At first, he lets the reader think the book is about the journey and a few thoughts he has about "classic" (logical) versus "romantic" (aesthetic) ways of confronting the world. Slowly, however, the reader learns that the story actually chronicles his own past, before he was hospitalized for mental instability. But he doesn't care about his past insanity as much as he cares about his past work in philosophy. Part autobiography, part intro to philosophy, and part philosophical treatise, this book heads out in so many directions, a lesser writer and a lesser thinker would have lost track of his trains of thought, and his readers would have watched them collide.

Instead, he manages to tell the story of the journey, to tell the story of his past, and to introduce the reader to an entirely new system of thought within on coherent masterpiece. I didn't agree with all his philosophy, and I didn't understand all of his philosophy (two problems that, for me, tend to be related), but I enjoyed his book. If you're up for a book that makes you think and keeps you entertained, pick up this book. It is a definite commitment, however; it took me two or three times as long as the other books I've read lately, because it requires pauses to process information and is not a book you can read when tired.

On Writing, Stephen King

My little sister loaned me this book, and I am very upset about having to give it back. Stephen King abandoned horror fiction for the length of one book to write about writing. His detour resulted in an accessible, fun-to-read book that covers a variety of topics. The book is part autobiography, part grammar and stylistic lesson, part rant on pet-peeves, and part advice to aspiring writers.

Having read it, I am disappointed that King writes in a genre that I don't enjoy, because I enjoyed his writing and wanted to read more than this short book. He didn't give any advice that I haven't heard, but he wrote it in a way that I liked to hear. If you write fiction, you should read this book; it is inspiring, entertaining, and helpful, a pretty good combination of traits.

The Shack, William P. Young

I absolutely loved this book! It's a story of a father whose daughter is kidnapped during a family camping trip. That is only the beginning however. As one might assume, he falls into a depression that he can't seem to find a way out of. He is invited back to the scene of it all-the moment when he learned that his daughter was dead. He is invited back to look at it through different eyes. Because waiting for him at the shack...is God.

This book is spiritual, but I loved it for its different approach to talking about the mysteries of God-its ecumenical approach if you will. Young encourages his reader to see God in a different way. It is a Christian approach to faith, but it is all-encompassing at the same moment.

It's not a book to "pound through." I often stopped to try to fully wrap my head around what was written. The most interenting part of the book is that it is a true story-true to the person it happened to. It's a great book to read for personal growth, as well as a great bok to read if you're looking for something more spiritual, and not a theology of some sort.

I hope you like it!

The Peacemaker, Ken Sande

Subtitled A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, this is a non-fiction self-helpish book that delves into interpersonal relationships and outlines some biblical guidelines for resolving conflict.

I should start by saying that this is not the type of book I usually read. In fact, if I had not been required to read this book for a summer fellowship, I can pretty much guarantee I would never have cracked the cover. However, I've never been the type of student who doesn't do the reading (hence the reason I suffered through several Mark Twain books in high school), so I decided to make a go of it. Just under 300 pages long, it's a fairly fast read.

I was pleasantly surprised. Early in the book, there's a diagram entitled The Slippery Slope of Conflict. It's a half circle the lays out the "peace-faking" responses (suicide, flight, denial), "peace-making" ones (overlook, reconciliation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, accountability), and "attack responses" (assault, litigation, murder). As a disclaimer, I'm the law student -- litigation is pretty much what keeps my profession in business. So I'll admit to being a tad wary. However, Sande does a great job throughout of distinguishing between circumstances in which litigation is appropriate (and, indeed, may be necessary) and cases where people simply jump the gun (it's amazing what idiotic things people will sue over!).

Additionally, Sande lays out an orderly and consistent approach to examining your own behavior. For my fellow Catholics out there, think of it as an examination of conscience with a twist of pop-psychology. Though at times he gets a little preachy, overall the balance of religious verse with a general analysis of conflict resolution is well-maintained.

My one big criticism is that Sande doesn't venture very far outside of Scripture. His examples work very well if the conflict is between two Christians (especially if they go to the same church), but I don't believe that he adequately addressed how Christians can take advantage of secular institutions, especially if the party with whom they are in disagreement is not a Christian.

So overall, I can't really say that I'd recommend this book. However, if you're looking for some guidance in resolving conflict in your life, this is definitely a good resource. Sande makes a good point when he notes that our society is quick to place people in adversarial relations. The problem with that posture is that it makes us very inward-oriented, when really we should be working in communion with those around us.

This will probably be the only book of this type that I'll review here. But since I had to read it, I figured I'd pass along the title -- maybe it'll come in handy for you someday.

The Evidential Power of Beauty: Science and Theology Meet, Thomas Dubay, S. M.

My parents gave me this book as a present because I'm fascinated by the overlap between science and God/religion/theology. I had to wait until the summer to have time to enjoy it, and overall I found it an interesting book.

The book had a lot more philosophy and theology and less science than I had expected. The first third of the book discusses the concept of beauty. The second third finally got into the science and discussed the beauty of creation and scientific marvels, ranging from the very huge to the very small. The author also discussed the idea of design in the universe and the anthropic principle. The final third of the book focused on the beauty of God.

I found the first part of the book a bit slow, which probably stems mostly from my limited patience for philosophy, although it did raise some interesting thoughts. I greatly enjoyed the second and third sections, which made me more appreciative of the world and caused me to pause and think about the beauty surrounding us.

My only remaining criticism of the book is that it was a bit repetitive. Some of the quotes and ideas were repeated often enough that I thought I was rereading sections. However, I enjoyed this book overall and would recommend it.