Archive for Reviews
Book Review – Magnificat
Posted by: | CommentsI had never heard of the “magazine” Magnificat before joining the reviewer program at The Catholic Company. So, it was one of the first books I chose to review.
Magnificat is a small book that consists of morning and evening prayers for each day of the month, as well as the daily Mass. These prayers and readings are taken from the Liturgy of the Hours…so it’s actually an aid in praying daily and staying connected to the Church at the same time. It’s a beautiful little book, adorned with religious art on the cover.
As so often happens, once I had the book in hand, I started noticing how many others also had it. On a regular basis now, I see individuals at mass with their copy of Magnificat. And, my daughter now subscribes to it!
I must admit that I did not read the whole thing…yes, that means that I did not follow each day’s prayers. You see, I’m one of those people who has trouble sticking with a daily regimen like that. I simply keep forgetting. 
However, I can see how valuable it would be to my prayer life if I got in the habit of using it daily and putting aside time specifically for reading/praying it. It would actually be perfect for those who spend time in adoration (another thing I’m trying to develop a habit of doing!). It would be very pleasant and beneficial to spend an hour (or so) in adoration, praying and, also, reading…
God bless and bring you peace,
Manya
This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Magnificat.
Book Review – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
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It’s summer and I’ve been doing more reading! (Life is good. 
) What is it about summer that seems to create the perfect reading atmosphere? I don’t know, but I’ll take it…
So, what do these book reviews have to do with being divorced, Catholic moms?! Well, nothing. Not directly, anyway. Isn’t escapism great, though? AND, this book also reminds us that, even though we’re going through difficult times in our lives, others have gone through (and are going through) so much worse. If they can get through such things, we certainly can get through this…
So…
My daughter works at a library so she keeps us supplied with an endless variety of books and DVDs (did I tell you that life is good?!) When she comes across something that she thinks one of us would be particularly interested in…or something she’s heard good things about….she grabs it and makes a “gift” of it to us. It was my turn last week and, when she got home from work, she presented me with a book with the strangest title I’ve ever seen: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie
Society
What?! Potato peel pie? And what could a strange pie have to do with a literary society?
Yes, I was immediately intrigued.
It happens that another of my daughters had read this book before and was excited to find out that I was now reading it. She believes that we need to visit Guernsey…and who am I to argue?
So..about the book.
It’s thoroughly delightful! I intend to buy a few copies to send to women in my life who I think would really enjoy it. (Yes, this is a “chick book.”) Honestly, I can’t think of one woman in my life who wouldn’t. This is going to be expensive…
The story takes place just after the end of WWII. The main character, Juliet, is an author living in London who wrote lighthearted pieces (for the newspaper) that helped to lift spirits during the war. One day she received a letter from a man who lived on the island of Guernsey, which lies off the coast of England. It seems a book of hers, which he thoroughly enjoyed, came into his possession and he wrote to her (her name
and address being inside the cover) with the hope that she could tell him of more books written by the same author. Being a lover of books (and a very nice person), she was only too happy to help him out, and they struck up a correspondence. One thing led to another, and soon she was corresponding with several of the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.
Juliet is in need of an idea for her next book and wonders if the stories the society members share with her just might be the ticket. You see, the island of Guernsey was occupied during the war and they had quite a few stories which, overall, had a different twist to them than the stories of the occupation in London had. This, simply by virtue of it being a completely different environment than London.
At any rate…
The entire book is a compilation of letters…no chapters…just letters. This can make it very difficult to put
the book down because you keep telling yourself, “Just one more letter….”
I’m not going to tell you what a potato peel pie is or why it’s part of the name of their literary society. Nor am I going to tell you how and why a bunch of farmers, fishermen and various other country folk started a literary society in the midst of an occupation in the first place! You’ll need to find these answers on your own. I promise the discovery process will be worthwhile and enjoyable. (Actually, if you click on the image above, it will take you to Amazon where there’s a cool video of the co-author, and I’m sad to say that she gives it away….:0/ However, knowing about the title certainly does not spoil the book!)
I finished this book just yesterday and was terribly saddened that I had. I feel like I’ve lost a good friend….(don’t you love it when a book is like that?!)
Manya
P.S. As I was on Amazon.com getting the image of the book to add to this post, I found out that the author, Mary Ann Shaffer has passed away. I have lost a friend…. 
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Catholic Book Review – Hiking The Camino
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Hiking The Camino – 500 Miles With Jesus by Father Dave Pivonka
If you like to walk…a lot…no, I mean A LOT. And you like Catholic experiences. And you like to travel. Then you’re going to love this book.
I DO happen to love walking, Catholic experiences AND travel, so…true to my words above, I loved this book. (I must be clairvoyant.) But, in all honesty, I think you’ll like it even if you’re a couch potato and home-body!
Father Dave’s 10 anniversary of his ordination was on the horizon (2 years away, to be exact). He wanted to celebrate it in a special way but wasn’t sure just how to do that until one day someone mentioned to him that they were going to walk a part of the Camino de Santiago. She said she wasn’t going to hike the whole thing, because that would take a month!
The Camino is an ancient pilgrimage route that begins in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, at the cathedral where St. James is buried. It does indeed take approximately one month to walk the entire route.
Intrigued, Fr. Dave began to research the Camino. He quickly decided that to go on a pilgrimage, by walking the ENTIRE route, would be the perfect way to celebrate his 10th anniversary and, also, the perfect way to thank God “for allowing [him] to be a priest…” He gained the permission and support of his Franciscan religious superiors and, also, convinced his classmate, Father Joe, who would also be celebrating his tenth anniversary, to join him.
This book chronicles the trials and tribulations (and exultations) of Fathers Dave and Joe over the course of their Camino adventure. At 135 pages, it’s a quick read. And it’s totally delightful. I just love reading books by priests who are ‘down to earth’ and show us just how much like “us” they are. This is that kind of book.
These priests LOVE being priests. They LOVE their faith and God and do not hesitate to show that. They’re also men that any of us can relate to. And Father Dave is funny! Throughout the last several chapters, I laughed out loud several times and just had to tell whichever child was nearby at the time all about why I was laughing. (okay, so your family members may not be thrilled with you as you read this book…if you’re anything like me, anyway. )
This story is about Fr. Dave’s extremely long walk…his pilgrimage…his “human-ness”…and his faith, before, during and afterwards. It’s a good story. And it has a good moral.
I told my family that there was nothing complicated about the Camino. All I had to do was get up each day and walk. At times it was very hard, while at other times it was a great joy. But it was never complex.
This is the case in the spiritual life, too. If you want to receive the prize prepared for you from the beginning of time, you only need to keep walking. There will be times when it will be tremendously difficult, and every part of you will cry out for you to stop. But you mustn’t.
Take a moment and be still. Pray for the strength to go on and begin walking again. The grace will be there, and you can do it. Small steps. One foot in front of the other.
That’s a wonderful metaphor for this journey we’re all on, called life. And, a great lesson for how to handle those times in life that are particularly difficult. (hmmm…do you know anyone who is going through a particularly hard time in their life? ) And here’s another quote that speaks to us…Catholics who have suffered through divorce and are either in that horrid place of feeling we’ve completely lost our way OR in that wonderful place where we’ve come through hell and found our way again.
What the world needs more of are pilgrims heading to the house of the Father, pilgrims who will follow in Christ’s footsteps. If you know the way, then have the courage to lead someone who doesn’t. If you are lost and don’t know where you are going, find someone who is on the right path, and hold on till you can walk by yourself.
I love those quotes, but don’t get the wrong idea. This book is not page after page of religious “stuff.” It’s the story of all the day to day things that young Fr. Dave encounters on the trail, including the other people he meets along the way, with an undercurrent of faith which occasionally rises to the top. Kind of like my life and, I’m betting, yours, too.
I HIGHLY recommend it. I also want to hike the Camino…any takers? Maybe we could make it an SQPN field trip!
**********
I wrote this review not only because Iwanted to share this book with you but also because I’m a member of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. You can get more info about this book here: Hiking the Camino.
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Divorced. Catholic. Now What?
Posted by: | CommentsI’m a big fan (that’s an understatement) of Jennifer & Greg Willits’ Rosary Army Podcast. In episode #196 of their podcast, they interviewed Lisa Duffy and Vince Frese, the authors of the book Divorced. Catholic. Now What? - Navigating Your Life After Divorce.
I just finished reading this book and am anxious to tell you all about it. Well, not ALL about it – you’ll need to read it yourself to get the WHOLE story – but I definitely want to tell a little about it along with my impressions of it.
The authors are both Catholics who have experienced divorce. You can read more about them here.
The book consists of 251 pages split into 17 chapters. So it’s a fairly short book but it’s jam packed with important information! I wish I’d had this book 6 years ago when my divorce was final…or even before that when I was separated. At any rate, I’m very glad to have it NOW!
As you can tell, I liked this book and HIGHLY recommend it to YOU. But why?
Being a practicing Catholic is not an easy ‘role’ in our society. I would venture to say that it becomes even more difficult after a divorce. I mean, Catholics aren’t supposed to divorce! I’m sure that anyone who goes through a divorce feels like something of a failure but a divorced CATHOLIC?! Good grief…now there’s a failure for you. (No, I don’t think this is true – just giving a possible impression)
On top of that, if you’re TRULY practicing your faith, you know that you can’t remarry in the Church unless you first receive a Declaration of Nullity of your marriage (yet another ‘trial’ to face) – and if you’re a truly practicing Catholic, you definitely don’t want to marry outside of the church.
So, here you are divorced and experiencing the hell and loneliness of that. Society tells you to pursue relationships as soon as possible in order to bolster your self esteem and soothe some of the horrid loneliness and rejection that you feel. Not only that, but you’re told to also pursue sexual intimacy in those relationships for the same reasons and, again, as soon as possible. And, actually, those suggestions sound like just what you need and want!
But wait…you’re Catholic…a practicing Catholic…so not all of those options are really options for YOU. (and for good reasons) BOTHER! Now What?!
Lisa and Vince did an amazing job of covering every aspect of what a divorced Catholic goes through. The Church’s position is also detailed and explained very well. Then they go on to suggest ways of navigating all the trials and tribulations of divorce while remaining true to the faith. This book is inspirational and motivational…and challenging.
My divorce was final 6 1/2 years ago. I received a Declaration of Nullity 2 years ago. I haven’t remarried but hope to one day. In the meantime, I want to remain true to my faith and this book has helped me to be stronger. I’m sure I’ll need to reread parts of it for a ’shot in the arm’ now and then (i.e. often!).
You know how it’s very comforting to be in the company of people who share beliefs that are very important to you? This is what this book did for me…it made me feel supported and it reaffirmed my beliefs – beliefs that are looked upon as rather ‘bizarre’ in our society. It also challenged me but gave me hope at the same time.
I know that’s all very ‘general’ so here are some details…
Each chapter follows the same format:
- An introduction to the subject of that chapter
- “The Case” – a short narrative from a person about their experience regarding this subject
- A discussion of the subject
- “Concluding Thoughts”
- “Now What?” – a discussion of some steps you might take next
- A “Meditation” consisting of a bible passage, a prayer, a “petition,” a little more discussion, then a closing prayer.
- A “Resolution” – a shorter “Now What?” section consisting of just one ‘next step’
- And, finally, “Suggested Readings”
I thought the prayers & petitions, which were very short and to the point, were right on target and I plan to return to them.
I’m also looking forward to reading some of the books listed in the “Suggested Readings” sections (look for more book reviews in the future!).
Now that I’ve read my copy through once, I’m eager to pass it on to a close friend. I think I’ll be ordering a couple more copies to have on hand to give away to friends who find themselves experiencing this hell called divorce.
If/when you also read this book, please let us know YOUR thoughts on it!
Manya
P.S. By the way, something that Lisa and Vince did a great job of (but that I didn’t in this post) is in emphasizing the wonderful strength and support that’s to be found in our faith! Seek it out.
