Bleeder

Bleeder by John Desjarlais

Does Father Ray, have the stigmata? That is one of the central questions that one asks when starting the book Bleeder. This ends up being more of a red herring, than a central part of the book. Reed, the main character in the book, spends most of his time trying to find the killer. John Desjarlais also brings into the story Reed's interest into Aristotle's philosophy which gives him a common bond with Fr Ray who is also an avid student of philosophy. This makes a more compelling bond between Fr Ray and Reed then an overt attempt to convert Reed. Bleeder has a good start but does not follow it through to the finish with elements such as how Aristotle's philosophy is answered in the Catholic Church. I also found it distracting when Reed starts remembering Peggy his past wife. especially when the first glimpse of it places the character, Reed, in seemingly immoral situation. For example, when Casey first invites Reed to stay over on pg 181 one first thinks that he is sleeping with Casey, when he is actually is remembering his wife. Whether he is Catholic or not it does not set a good precedence for his character. I also am a little confused with the burglary mentioned in the crime report, I do not remember seeing it anywhere before and then it suddenly appears. Also I see no mention of Casey’s maiden name before the end it would have been nice to have the hint appear earlier in the book, unless of course I missed it. On the other hand, one of Sophia Institute's other new fiction titles, Awakening, by Claudia Cangilla McAdam, is a lot more promising. It follows a teen girl back into the time of Jesus and broaches the question why did Jesus have to die? Enjoy October!

Action, Adventure, Amour and Adonai

"The summer storm lit up the night sky in a jagged display of energy, lightning bouncing, streaking, fragmenting between towering thunderheads. Sara Walsh ignored the storm as best she could, determined not to let it interrupt her train of thought...What she was writing was disturbing enough. The six-year-old boy had been found. Dead." (Danger in the Shadows, by Dee Henderson, pg 7)

This is the prequel to the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson. This series follows the O'Malley family, a family by choice not birth, as they fulfill their duties as: a US Marshall, hostage negotiator, forensic pathologist, firefighter, paramedic, trauma psychologist, and doctor. Each book follows one of the siblings as they encounter an antagonist in their job which requires more than they're equipped to handle individually but will require the strength of God, their family, and a potential love interest. These books are well written and have you glued to the pages from start to finish this series also allows one to continue to follow each member of the family through the whole series beyond their individual book. This ties them all together nicely while providing incentives to read the whole series. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have.

Chick-Lit

"His arm isn't slung around my shoulders like he's declaring me his property nor is it awkwardly lying there like a cold, cut-off cow tongue." (Latte Daze, pg 91). This is a line from new book in a series by Erynn Mangum who has also written the Emma inspired, Lauren Holbrook series. They are fun reads that can be enjoyed, like dessert after a bad day. They are light, funny tales about young women who face the basic questions we all face every day, what do we want to do with our lives, what to wear, should we exercise more, should I really have eaten that second bowl of ice cream(just kidding!!)? While not great or spiritual literature they are uplifting and very funny.

To thine own self be true...

This quote taken from Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78, is good advice but, from a Catholic perspective lacks depth and can be a slippery slope. We were not made to be robotic imitations of each other yet, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. This can be difficult as we have all experience in our own families when our different temperaments clash. For example, I am one of the few introverts in my family and I recharge myself by spending time alone each day. I need to balance this out by making sure I spend time with the extroverts in my family because that is how I show that I care for them. A great book to read about the different temperaments is called The Temperament that God Gave You, by Art & Laraine Bennett. It does a good job of explaining the four basic temperaments of Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic and Phlegmatic from a Catholic perspective including each temperaments strengths and weaknesses as well spiritual gifts and weaknesses that one can look for. It also provides examples of interactions with other temperaments especially in regards to parent and child as well as spousal interaction. Another book entitled, The Five Love Languages, by Dr Gary Chapman has also been very useful for me in finding the best way to love my family and friends. By showing my love to them in their primary love language whether that be quality time, gifts, touch, words, or acts of service.

Skipping to the end of a book, is okay.

Skipping to the end of a book is okay. Unless of course it is for school or it is required reading. I used to think that in order to be a good reader you had to read every single word on every single page. Now unless a book hooks me from the start and I want to read every word on every page I skip to the end of the book because I am not going to waste my time reading a book that does not interest me. On the other hand, books like Regina Doman's fairy tale novels are worth reading from start to finish. What I like about these books is that they combine fairy tales that we have heard all our lives with Catholic ideas and morals. The "bad guys" are those characters who have no morals or a well formed conscience. Yet, these novels also show the good characters struggling with their own temptations and moral dilemmas. I highly recommend these with the caution that the second two books in the series, Black as Night and Waking Rose, should be read by teenagers of maybe 16 and up becuase they deal with more complex moral issues that might not be understood by the younger reader.

A lovely summer afternoon.

After a busy morning that included family and a princess party nothing is more relaxing then reading a good book. I recently checked out a book from the library called Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes, by Robin Jones Gunn. This is the most recent book from the Sisterchicks series. They feature friendships, adventures, a good laugh, and simple spiritual insights. These books celebrate the beauty, the necessity, and the support of good friends. While not "Catholic" books they are not anti-catholic and the spiritual ideas offered so far seem to be sound and they are an enjoyable read.

Greetings

My name is Nina, and I am a bookaholic. I have spent most of my life reading all sorts of books, searching for new authors, recommending them to friends, and filling my bookshelves. Since there are so many choices even in the Christian fiction market, I would like to share some of my favorites with you. One of my most recent reads has been, The Closets All Mine: From a Seraphic Single, by Dorothy Cummings. It is a collection of her early blogs and stories from her blog: Seraphic Singles. Which itself is weekly filled with more stories and good advice on the single life. It is a refreshing look at the Single life as a vocation, which has not been out of focus the last few years. When we talk about vocations at CCD, at Church, or in youth groups the main focus tends to be on marriage, the priesthood, and religious life. These are all wonderful vocations but no one seems to mention or talk about single life and that leaves singles like me feeling a little left out. St. Paul talks about how those who are single are better able to look after the affairs of the Lord because they do not have any other major commitments such as family to look after. Even for those who are just in the single state for the moment The Closets All Mine: From a Seraphic Single is worth the read.