Recent reads (Summer 2011)

Mountains of Spices by Hannah Hurnard

This book is the sequel to Hinds' Feet on High Places, which I read (and loved) back around the first of the year.  I am reviewing it now and it's been several months since I finished it, but I found it to be a very touching story and even cried at the end (sorry if you think that is lame).  But I won't tell you why because I don't want to spoil it.  If you want to read this book, I would definitely recommend reading Hinds' Feet first or it really won't make much sense at all.  Both allegories were great reads though, I enjoyed this deviation from my usual fare immensely.

Conversing with God in Scripture: A Contemporary Approach to Lectio Divina by Stephen J. Binz

This book was a great introduction to praying with Holy Scripture.  Several months ago I couldn't have told you a thing about Lectio, and then it just kept coming up.  Totally a Holy Spirit thing.  I don't have a whole lot to which I can compare this book, since this was really the first I read about Lectio Divina, but it seemed very sound theologically and I learned a lot.  It was recommended in The Word Among Us, which is a publication that I like.  If anyone else out there has some good recommendations for books on Lectio I am definitely open to suggestions!

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

This book was pure candy, I absolutely devoured it.  Voskamp is not a Catholic author, but absolutely Christian, and some of her ideas were very Catholic probably without her even realizing.  In fact, at the end I was honestly left shaking my head as to how someone could write a book like this, and experience what she experienced and not convert.  But that's neither here nor there I suppose.  I took a lot of good away from this book and am very grateful I stumbled upon it.

Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt

I really liked this book, as I mentioned in this post about poetry.  It reaffirmed to me just how important books are in our home and family, and gave some fabulous book recommendations from infant all the way up through the teen years and beyond.  This book made me nerd-out about reading even more than I normally do.  I also liked the fact that while discussing/recommending mainly secular books, it looked at them from more of a Christian perspective, but without seeming too overboard when it came to things like syndication and controversial books like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings (does that make sense?).  It all seemed very reasonable and balanced.  Hunt also addressed Santa Claus in one of her chapters, and I really appreciated her perspective on that whole "debate".  There was a good section on book recommendations for holidays towards the end of the book, which I found extremely helpful.  I sat down with this book and added lots of new titles to my lists on the library website.  Because I am just weird like that.  If you have young children and appreciate reading, this is a good book to help you further that appreciation while instilling a love for the written word in your children.

Sing like a Catholic by Jeffrey A. Tucker

I wasn't able to read this entire book.  I was late picking it up from ILL due to a misunderstanding on my part so I didn't have it for long, and at the same time was wading my way through several other titles that kept distracting me.  I sped-read the parts that really piqued my interest though (the book is basically made up of about 40 or so "essays" on liturgical music) and can see requesting this book again to read it in a bit more depth  I. LIKED. what it had to say.  I will be completely up front here, 10 years ago I was all for guitar Masses, praise and worship music, you name it.  The jazzier and schnazzier and more contemporary, the better.  I don't know what has happened to me other than to say the older I get the more I tend towards the orthodox/traditional.  It would not hurt my feelings one bit if most of the Mass parts were in Latin, Gregorian Chant was used on a regular basis and the main instrument to aid worship was the organ.  Bring on the incense.  And please, stop the random applause (but that's a whole different rant).  This article really sums up my thoughts on the matter quite well.  Anyways, back to the book...Tucker's style of writing is incredibly witty, even a bit snarky at times, which makes it all the more an enjoyable read in my opinion.  He is spot-on and you can tell he knows his stuff.  I am amazed (and annoyed) - after the small amount that I read - at the huge liberties the American (western) Church has taken with the Liturgy.  It's sad really.  Sometimes I think I would feel more at home in a more Eastern (Catholic) environment.  But who knows.  We have nothing like that in our area so I am certainly happy where I am, but I do often wonder...  Anyways this book would be great required reading (if not as a whole at least in parts) for Church musicians or really anyone involved in the liturgy.

I'm currently reading another Jacques Philippe book, and waiting on Walking With God: A Journey Through the Bible from inter-library loan.  Any other recommendations?

Recent reads (May 2011)

Time for God by Jacques Philippe

This was a good book on making time for prayer.  It was not the most practical in application for a mother with young children, but I still gleaned from it some really good information and knowledge in regards to cultivating a life of prayer.  Definitely worthwhile.

Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe

This book was very good.  It discussed the interior freedom we all possess, reflected on the fact that no one can take this away, all in light of the theological virtues faith, hope and love.  This book was down to earth, practical and inspiring for me.  I really like Jacques Philippe and would highly recommend any of his books (Searching For and Maintaining Peace was the first one I read) to someone looking for a relatively short (and easy!), spiritually edifying read.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

I will first off admit I did not finish this book.  I didn't even read most of it.  That being said, I really do agree with Orenstein's conclusions regarding today's girlie-girl culture (princesses, make-up and spa parties for seven-year-olds, rampant commercialism and materialism, sexiness vs. healthy sexuality, licensed items and the like...basically it's a quite comprehensive analysis of what we're teaching our young girls as a society these days and the long-term repercussions thereof).  The topics she addresses really run the gamut, and I like and agree with much of what she has to say.  I just fundamentally disagree with the way she reaches her conclusions.  I like to think I view feminism in light of appropriate, God-given femininity, where-as Orenstein's (who I believe is actually Jewish) feminist views seem much more secular, for lack of a better term.  I was discussing my thoughts on the whole thing with my husband one evening, and a few days later ran across this article on Oprah by Rachel Balducci.  Her assessment of Oprah really echoes mine of Orenstein.  While a lot of what she says is true, she's missing that Absolute Truth.  The lens through which she looks at things is not the God-given lens through which I have learned to (strive to) filter my life.  This book (what I read of it) was good in that it challenged me to look deeper into why I feel the way I do about all things girl, especially as a mother of a daughter.  If you're looking for something faith-filled that offers a more Christ-like perspective on the topic, this is definitely not your book.  Still, it provided some interesting food for thought.  And now you know.  (You can check out Peggy's blog here if you'd like to find out a little more.)

A Catholic Woman's Book of Days by Amy Welborn

I've been trying to read this book daily since I got it around the first of the year.  That doesn't always happen, but it's on my end-table and lately I've been picking it up more days than not.  I really like it.  It is nothing incredibly "deep" or earth-shattering, but sometimes that's OK.  Sometimes that's nice.  Each day has a verse or two of Scripture (sometimes correlating to a feast or saint, other times the scriptures appear to be selected at random) and then a brief paragraph or two meditation/reflection on the selected Scripture.  Very short.  But nice.  I can pick it up here or there, meditate on the Word a bit, and read a Catholic mother's perspective on the particular passage.  Anymore I am trying to really focus on Scripture as part of my reading and prayer time, and this helps with that immensely.  I've also been reading a bit about Lectio Divina, and Welborn's book has been helpful in giving me good passages of Scripture on which to mediate, pray and talk with God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I mentioned last month that I was going to give some JPII a try.  Well, I failed.  Miserably.  I read the first 3-4 chapters of Crossing the Threshold of Hope, and am currently skimming through Love and Responsibility.  Right now though, I just can't do it.  I do not have the brain power to read JPII.  I love what he has to say, and I have love LOVED anything I've read about his writings (by another author).  I feel incredibly grateful for the number of years he was our Holy Father, and am immensely humbled by and in awe of his intellect.  Right now though, my poor mommy-brain just can't handle the real deal.  Maybe someday... 

Currently I am reading Mountains of Spices and Conversing with God in Scripture.  Hopefully I'll be back to review those and others here in a month or so!  Happy reading, everyone!

Recent reads (April 2011)

Inspired by my friend Kansas Mom, I've decided to keep closer track of what I'm reading here on the blog, for my own sake as well as for the purpose of recommending good reads to others.  SO, my most recent reads along with a brief review of each have been: 

Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary Speaks to the World from the Heart of Africa
by Immaculee Ilibagiza

I will be completely honest here, this book did not do a lot for me.  And I absolutely LOVED Immaculee's other two books (Left to Tell and Led by Faith).  There is just something about Marian apparitions...it's not that I don't believe, it's just that I guess I view them as something that is private revelation (which they certainly are) and while some of the messages are timeless and apply to all, I think it is a very gray line and in my opinion some private information is just best left private.  I'm probably not being incredibly articulate, but that's how I feel in a nutshell.  I think I would have done better either not reading this book at all or simply putting it down after getting into it. The book was however interesting, informative and well-written, so if you enjoy stories on Marian apparitions then I would definitely recommend this book.

They Just Don't Get It: Changing Resistance into Understanding by Leslie Yerkes

This was a FAST read.  Like, 45 minutes to an hour and I was done.  It gave some really good insight into relationships and how to deal with people, especially those who may not be of the same opinion as myself.  Definitely a worthwhile read.

The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux

This book was good.  Very good.  It got better the more I read, I found myself wanting to pick it up every chance I got.  The style in which it was written was definitely different than what I'm used to, so it took awhile to really feel like I was getting into it, but once I did, WOW.  Just gem after gem of wonderful, beautiful wisdom.  A must read for any Catholic.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Jacques Philippe

This short (a 1-2 hour read) treatise on internal peace/peace of heart was just amazing.  I actually got this book about a year ago, read the first 20 pages or so...then it sat on my end-table, and in the book basket, and made its way down the basement to my bookshelf.  I'm not sure why I didn't finish it then.  I guess I was just somewhere else spiritually, or maybe God knew how good it would be for me just now.  At any rate, I re-stumbled upon it the other day as I was putting some books up and literally devoured it.  Its message of peace and hope left my heart feeling, well, peaceful and hopeful.  ;-D  It was truly beautiful.  I'd like to quote a bit from the end (don't worry, it's not a 'spoiler').

"If I am still not able to remain at peace when faced with difficult situations, then it is better that I should begin to strive to keep this peace in the easier situations of everyday life: to quietly and without irritability do my daily chores, to commit myself to doing each thing well in the present moment without preoccupying myself with what follows, to speak peacefully and with gentleness to those around me, to avoid excessive hurry in my gestures and in the way I climb stairs! (this really struck me) The first steps on the ladder of sanctity could very well be those of my own apartment!  The soul often is reeducated by the body!  Small things done with love and to please God are extremely beneficial in making us grow."

The whole thing is really just that good. It addresses ways to maintain spiritual peace through all different circumstances and situations.  It heavily quoted St. Francis de Sales, of whom I  found myself quickly becoming a huge fan.  Anyways, I'm definitely intrigued enough to read more Jacques Philippe.

Next up on my bookshelf:

Mountains of Spices by Hannah Hurnard

Crossing the Threshold of Hope by BLESSED John Paul II

I've decided (as you can see) that it's time to give JPII a try. I know I will LOVE what he has to say, his works have just seemed a bit daunting in the past.  I will certainly report back.