The Catholic Book Club discussion
Nominations
>
Current Nominations
Mod
The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress, nominated by Emmy
In the late ’60s, a small group of elite American women convinced an overwhelming majority of the country that destroying the most fundamental of relationships—that of mother and child—was necessary for women to have productive and happy lives. From the spoiling of this relationship followed the decay of the entire family, and almost overnight, our once pro-life culture became pro-lifestyle, embracing everything that felt good. Sixty million abortions later, women aren’t showing signs of health, happiness, and fulfillment. Increased numbers of divorce, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted disease, and drug abuse all point to the reality that women aren’t happier, just more medicated. Building off the scriptural foundations of the anti-Christ, Carrie Gress makes an in-depth investigation into the idea of an anti-Mary—as a spirit, not an individual—that has plagued the West since the ’60s. Misleading generations of women, this anti-Marian spirit has led to the toxic femininity that has destroyed the lives of countless men, women, and children.
Voting History: NONE
Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality by Harold Burke-Sivers, nominated by Jill
Lucid and inspiring, Behold the Man is a unique exploration of Catholic spirituality for men. Much of the literature written for Catholic men focuses on topical issues such as fatherhood and sexuality. While this book does not exclude these subjects, it is the first to present a comprehensive picture of Catholic male spirituality.
Voting History: July 2025: 2; August 2025: 2
Champions of the Rosary by Donald H. Calloway, nominated by Ann
From the best-selling author of the classic Catholic conversion story, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, comes a powerful and comprehensive history of a spiritual weapon: the rosary.
Voting History: April 2025: 3; June 2025: 2; July 2025: 2; August 2025: 2
The Execution of Justice, Elisabetta Sala, nominated by Susan and renominated by Fonch
When Jack Digby’s father is executed for high treason, the boy’s dream life turns into the worst of nightmares; and when he is forced into the murky, ruthless world of double agents and cowardly betrayals, his fate would seem to be already written. As he grows up, however, he discovers that something is wrong with the official narrative concerning his father’s tragic end. It will take time and suffering for him to discover that things are rarely as they seem, that the King’s Men – the greatest playing company of all time – are not just simple entertainers; that our most bitter enemies may turn into our best friends; that, at times, Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair.
Voting History: NONE
Finding Happiness in a Complex World: Rules from Aristotle and Aquinas by Charles P Nemeth, nominated by Rachel
Why, since happiness is so universally sought after, are so many people so miserable? The answer can be found by unpacking the wisdom of two of history's intellectual giants who set out to answer the question that has confounded man from time What makes us happy? Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas existed sixteen centuries apart, yet each reached similar understandings about what makes a person happy and what makes him miserable.
Voting History: July 2025: 2; August 2025: 2
The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful by Joseph Pearce nominated by Fonch
Christ is "the way, and the truth, and the life";, but fallen mankind, although made in Christ's image, is not so pure. Human history—including Church history—is a tapestry woven of three the good, the bad, and the beautiful. This book tells the story of Christendom over two millennia, focusing on what was good, bad, and beautiful in each century. These three threads run through the heart of every person, revealing the pattern of our individual lives. These very same threads bind together the collective lives of men and make up the fabric of culture and civilization. No one saw this three-dimensional form more clearly than Benedict XVI. For him, the goodness of the saints and the beauty of art are the only antidote to the dark thread of evil that runs through history.
Voting History: July 2025: 2; August 2025: 3
The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family by Kevin Wells, nominated by Kristi
In his raw and tender memoir, biographer Kevin Wells pulls readers into the unforgettable story of a parish priest turned hermit, Father Martin Flum, who orchestrated the slow resurrection of his wife, Krista, from the nightmare of her deep wounds and addiction. In gripping fashion, Kevin tells the story of his family’s own long suffering, which culminated in the dark spring of 2020, as a strange fear pressed down upon the world and his wife spent most nights drinking away long-held shame. When a near-universal chorus of politicians, medical professionals, and Catholic clergy megaphoned the command to “isolate,” Kevin couldn’t imagine a more dooming word for his family, his marriage, and the life of his wife. Yet God had other plans. Wells’ honest tale of inner crisis and hope-filled resurrection takes readers on a spiritual rollercoaster, offering a penetrating exploration of the sacramental grace of marriage and the mysterious movement of God in dry, lonely places.
Voting History: NONE
Intercession by Kevin J Haar, nominated by Madeleine
Full of Irish and Catholic folklore, Intercession weaves through the history and myths of Ireland to its thrilling and mysterious conclusion. In a place steeped in legend, Aoife must decide for herself what stories are worth believing and suffer the consequences of those beliefs, for better or worse.
Voting History: August 2025: 2
The King's Achievement, by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Fonch
The brothers of the Torridon family make their way in the world -- the eldest, Ralph, in service to Cromwell and the youngest, Christopher, in service to God and the Catholic church as a monk in the Priory at Lewes. Their paths carry them to completely different destinations and Ralph is instrumental in turning Christopher and his fellow monks out of their monastery. Christopher, however, manages to rise above his pride and anger and ministers to Ralph in his hour of need.
Voting History: July 2025: 2; August 2025: 2
The Letters of Magdalen Montague by Eleanor Bourg Nicholson, nominated by Emmy
When the amoral and cynical J takes up his pen to describe Magdalen Montague, he little realizes the dramatic changes that will soon be wrought in his life. His fascination for this mysterious woman catapults him into a harrowing encounter with Catholicism, conversion, and discipleship. Through the letters, intimate portraits of four souls appear: the loquacious letter-writer J , his virulently anti-religious recipient R , the silently holy Domokos Juhász, and Magdalen Montague herself. The novella boldly addresses themes of grace, faith, evil, sacrifice, spiritual exile, martyrdom of the everyday, and the redemptive power of narrative, all mediated through the deftly-wielded pen of the protagonist. Drawing largely on the traditions of Decadent literature, The Letters of Magdalen Montague presents a profound portrait of humanity s quest for God.
Voting History: NONE
The Light: Who Do You Become When the World Falls Away?, by Jacqueline Brown, nominated by Madeleine
A blinding flash … then darkness. Bria Ford and her three closest friends are stranded on a country highway in the middle of a November night. No phones. No car. No lights. Helpless and hundreds of miles from home, they put their lives in the hands of handsome Jonah Page and his flinty sister, East, strangers who somehow know Bria better than she knows herself. As the group bonds to adapt to a new, yet old, way of life, the secrets of Bria’s past provide them with the means to survive the extremes of Mother Nature, and the even more frightening extremes of human nature.
Voting History: NONE
Oddsfish! by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Fonch
Interwoven with the accurately portrayed events and places of the time are fictitious characters, including the narrator, Mr. Roger Mallock and his cousin and lady-love Dolly. Sent by Pope Innocent XI to Charles' court as a diplomatic representative of the Vatican, Mallock becomes a trusted confidant of the King and acts upon Charles's deathbed wish to give his confession to, and receive absolution from, a Catholic priest.
Voting History: August 2025: 3
Race with the Devil, by Joseph Pearce, nominated by Fonch.
Growing up on the rough streets of Dagenham, England, Joseph Pearce was thrown into a life that led anywhere but to God and salvation. A world of hate and violence was all he knew, until one day he picked up the writings of G.K Chesterton and everything changed. "In Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love" take a journey through the peaks and valleys of one of the most fascinating conversion stories of our time, written first-hand by Pearce himself.
Voting History: June 2025: 2; July 2025: 3; August 2025: 2
This Thing of Darkness by K.V. Turley and Fiorella De Maria, nominated by Emmy
Hollywood, 1956. Journalist and war widow Evangeline Kilhooley is assigned to write a "star profile" of the fading actor Bela Lugosi, made famous by his role as Count Dracula. During a series of interviews, Lugosi draws Evi into his curious Eastern European background, gradually revealing the link between Old World shadows and the twilight realm of modern horror films.
Voting History: June 2025: 4; July 2025: 4; August 2025: 4
Wheat that Springeth Green by J.F. Powers, nominated by Steven R.
This book is a comic foray into the commercialized wilderness of modern American life. Its hero, Joe Hackett, is a high school track star who sets out to be a saint. But seminary life and priestly apprenticeship soon damp his ardor, and by the time he has been given a parish of his own he has traded in his hair shirt for the consolations of baseball and beer. Meanwhile Joe's higher-ups are pressing for an increase in profits from the collection plate, suburban Inglenook's biggest business wants to launch its new line of missiles with a blessing, and not all that far away, in Vietnam, a war is going on. Joe wants to duck and cover, but in the end, almost in spite of himself, he is condemned to do something right.
Voting History: August 2025: 3
Mod
Struck books in the following list have been moved to the voting list.
Please feel free to continue to add new nominations below the list.
21. Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality by Harold Burke-Sivers, nominated by Jill
22. The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen C. Meyer, nominated by Rinstinkt
23. Light From Darkness: Nine Times the Catholic Church Was in Turmoil- and Came Out Stronger Than Before by Steve Weidenkopf, nominated by John
24. In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz, nominated by Fonch
25. Elfling by Corinna Turner, nominated by Fonch
26. Paradoxes of Catholicism, by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Sergio
27. Wheat that Springeth Green by J.F. Powers, nominated by Steven R.
28. Intercession by Kevin J Haar, nominated by Madeleine
29. The Last Homily: Conversations with Fr. Arne Panula by Mary Eberstadt, nominated by John
30. Oddsfish! by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Fonch
31. The Light: Who Do You Become When the World Falls Away?, by Jacqueline Brown, nominated by Madeleine
32. The Execution of Justice, Elisabetta Sala, nominated by Susan and renominated by Fonch
33. The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family by Kevin Wells, nominated by Kristi
34. The Letters of Magdalen Montague by Eleanor Bourg Nicholson, nominated by Emmy
35. The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress, nominated by Emmy
36. Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas, nominated by Stef
37. Pilgrims by M.R. Leonard, nominated by M.R.
38. The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant, nominated by John Servant
39. Into the Cloud of Knowing e-book edition by Renato Bonasera, nominated by Renato
40. The Orange Dragon Bowl, by Betty P. Notzon, nominated by Betty
41. The Secrets of Successful Financial Planning: Inside Tips from an Expert, by Dan Gallagher, nominated by Dan
42. The Church in the Flesh by Ida Görres, nominated by Susan
43. In the Shadows of Freedom by C & C Spellman, by Chris
44. Building a Civilization of Love: A Catholic Response to Racism by Harold Burke-Sivers, nominated by Jill
45. The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization, by Vishal Mangalwadi, nominated by Mariangel
46. The Sower of Black Field: Inspired by the True Story of an American in Nazi Germany by Katherine Koch, nominated by Katherine
47. The Seven Spiritual Weapons by Catherine of Bologna, nominated by Maggie
48. The Hundredfold: Songs for the Lord, by Anthony M. Esolen, nominated by Joe
49. Pierre Toussaint: A Biography by Arthur Jones, nominated by Kathleen
50. Conversation With Christ: The Teaching of St. Teresa of Avila About Personal Prayer by Peter-Thomas Rohrbach nominated by Sebastian and Fonch
51. The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society by Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III, nominated by Sandralena
52. Ancient of Genes by Dan Gallagher, nominated by Dan
53. The Ghost of Madison Avenue by Nancy Bilyeau, nominated by Fonch
54. Saints vs. Scoundrels: Debating Life's Greatest Questions by Benjamin Wiker, nominated by Emmy
55. Hope Does Not Disappoint (Spes non confundit): Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 by Pope Francis, nominated by Jill
56. Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention by Sarah Clarkson, nominated by Jill
57. Exogenesis by Peco Gaskovski, nominated by Steven R.
58. The Queen's Tragedy by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Fonch
59. The Resurrection of the Son of God, by N.T. Wright, nominated by Frances
60. The Rifle, and Other Stories by Tomás Carrasquilla, nominated by Steven R.
61. Sonnets for Christ the King, J.C.MacKenzie, nominated by Joseph
62. This Is Your Last Warning: An Authoritative End of Days Timeline by Donna Silveira, nominated by Donna
63. Dilexit nos - He loved us: Encyclical letter about the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus-Christ by Pope Francis, nominated by Manuel
64. The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance by Erik Varden nominated by Kristi
65. Catatonia by Courtney Stephen Crane, nominated by Courtney
66. Champion of Valdeor, by Sandralena Hanley, nominated by Fonch
67. The Genius of Christianity or the Spirit and Beauty of the Christian Religion, by François-René de Chateaubriand, nominated by Fonch
68. The Purple Robe, David Dean, nominated by David
69. Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist: The Philosophical Foundations of Flannery O’Connor’s Narrative Art by Damian Ference, nominated by Fergus, Quondam Happy Face
70. War Demons, by Russell S. Newquist, nominated by Fonch
71. Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America by Christian Smith nominated by Jill
72. A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai a Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb by Paul Glynn nominated by Mariangel
73. Bakhita: A Novel of the Saint of Sudan by Véronique Olmi, nominated by Don Mario
74. The Burning Bush by Sigrid Undset, nominated by Fonch
75. The Cypresses Believe in God: Spain on the Eve of Civil War - A Novel (Los cipreses creen en Dios) by José María Gironella, nominated by Susan
76. Invasion '14, by Maxence Van der Meersch, nominated by John
77. The Mango Murders, by Mara Campos, nominated by Madeleine
78. Paul: A Biography, by N.T. Wright, nominated by Jill
79. Vipers' Tangle by François Mauriac, nominated by Susan
80. With Two Eyes Into Gehenna, by Jane Lebak, nominated by Steven R.
81. Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris, nominated by Faith
82. Demoniac, by Nathan Krupa, nominated by Nathan
83. In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz, nominated by Fonch
84. Light From Darkness: Nine Times the Catholic Church Was in Turmoil- and Came Out Stronger Than Before by Steve Weidenkopf, nominated by John
85. The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle: Saint Manuel Gonzalez Garcia by Victoria Schneider, nominated by Catherine
86. Paradoxes of Catholicism, by Robert Hugh Benson, nominated by Sergio
87. GIVE LOVE: A 91-Day Devotional for Searching Catholics by Heidi E. Vincent nominated by Heidi
88. Our Lady of the Sign by Abigail Favale nominated by Emmy
Current Interest List. The Current Interest List operates as follows:
(a) Anyone nominating a book that qualifies may ask that it be added to the Current Interest List in addition to the Nomination List, but only if they (or someone else on their behalf) are willing to volunteer to prepare the initial discussion questions for the book. (If you want to jump the queue, you should have some skin in the game.)
(b) To qualify for the Current Interest List a book must be "timely" (as determined by the moderators in their discretion) and must have been published within the 12 months prior to the month in which the voting will be held. Examples of "timely" books would include Encyclicals, potentially other Church documents, books by senior Church officials, books addressing current affairs from a Catholic perspective. The moderators will determine whether books should be included on the Current Interest List. The Current Interest List is not expected to have books on it all the time and is not anticipated to ever have a large number of books. The moderators may adjust the criteria to ensure this is the case.
(c) Each month the top book on the Current Interest List will be added as a supplemental 16th book on the Voting List, while keeping its position in the normal Nominations List.
(d) If the book from the Current Interest List is not selected as the BOTM, it receives at least two votes, and otherwise still qualifies, it will be dropped to the bottom of the Current Interest List. The 3rd time a book from the Current Interest List is included in the Voting List and not selected as the BOTM it will be dropped from the Current Interest List, though it will remain in its position on the Nomination List. If it is selected as the BOTM, it will be removed from the Nomination List. If a book from the Current Interest List gets only one vote, it will be dropped from the Current Interest List, but will retain its position on the Nomination List. If it receives no votes, it will be dropped from all lists, though, of course, it may be re-nominated, and if it still qualifies, may be placed back on the Current Interest List.
Current Interest List:
1. Dilexit nos - He loved us: Encyclical letter about the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus-Christ by Pope Francis, nominated by Manuel
2. GIVE LOVE: A 91-Day Devotional for Searching Catholics by Heidi E. Vincent nominated by Heidi
3.
I nominate The Light: What Do You Become When the World Falls Away? by Jacqueline BrownA Catholic-slanted apocalyptic novel set in modern times. Four young college friends set out on a road trip, but are interrupted on a deserted highway by a blinding flash of light which renders their car, all their phones and devices useless because the power grid has been destroyed all over the US and most of the world. As they begin walking aimless toward the unknown, trying to make sense of what just happened, they meet up with two people, a brother and sister whose car has likewise broken down. They are a few miles from home and invite the four to join them, and what they learn from the family that takes them in is evidence of God's providence at work in the main character, Bria, who coincidentally was born in the farm next to this family, and they recognize Bria because she looks very much like her mother, who died in childbirth and was the best friend of Charlotte, the mother of the family, who embraces the four as their own while they adjust to a new way of life without electricity or technology or any means of connecting to the world around them. The characters are appealing, the themes profoundly spiritual as well as universal, and the workings of God's plans for each of them unfolds as each embarks on a journey--some on a physical exploration, but all are affected by what their adventures reveal about themselves and the people they thought they knew. (I have reviewed this and the sequel here and on Amazon.)
I would like to nominate: With Two Eyes Into Gehenna by Jane LebakJane Lebak.
It is very different than any that have been books since I have been a member and would love to follow the discussion on it.
My name is David Dean and I have been a published writer (amongst many other things) for the past thirty years; mostly in crime fiction. My own most cherished work, however, is my novel of Catholic fiction entitled, "The Purple Robe". It's published by Tumblar House Press, a small Catholic publisher, and concerns a young priest investigating a purported holy relic in the jungles of the Yucatan. I hope some of you might consider giving it a read. I've attached a link for your convenience. The Purple Robe
I nominate
Sonnets for Christ the King
by Joseph Charles MacKenzie. A collection of traditional lyric poems of Catholic inspiration that James Sale of the Royal Academy (London) has called "major poetry by a major poet." Amazon is offering a compelling discount for the deluxe hardcover. The companion audiobook is performed by northern English stage actor Ian Russell.Sonnets for Christ the King
I wish to nominate 2 collections of short stories by Catholic author Roger Thomas:The Last Ugly Person: And Other Stories: Numaris, the Purging, I Have Slaved for You
and
The Ghosts of Midgard Manor: And Other Stories
I would love to have discussion story by story through these two volumes.
Steven
I nominate Demoniac. I'm the author, and would be willing to do a free kindle giveaway for the group if that is desired.
John wrote: "I've decided to slightly alter the way we move up books from the nominations to the Nominations List for voting. Since Fonch and I are the most prolific and, shall we say enthusiastic, nominators o..." I nominate "Pierre Toussaint" by Arthur Jones, a biography of a man born into slavery in Haiti who became a benefactor to the poor of all races in early 19th century New York City, is a candidate for sainthood, and who along the way was the hairdresser to the wife of Alexander Hamilton.
I would like to nominate to "Champion of Valdeor" by Sandralena Hanley. Steven R. McEvoy wrote a good review of This book i have totally faith. Mariángel posted a post me speaking about to nominate some book by Patricia Asedegbega. I Will write to Asedegbega in case that she wanted to nominate some of her books at This moment i could not buy any book although my birthday It is to close i asked for to my sister the present "The myth of the Hitler's pope" by David G. Dalin and i will delay buying books. I did not know if i nominated previously but a good book would be "Burning bush" by Sigrid Undset but before we must Read the prequel "Wild Orchid". Burning bush is my favorite Sigrid Undset's novel.
I would like to purpose the novel of the new members of Catholic Book Club Russell S. Newquist "War Demons" a lot of Friends Adam Lane, Declan Finn and Richard Paolinelli have spoken very good about This novel.
The Orange Dragon BowlI am the author of this book and I have used this route to possibly bring the book to the attention of Catholic readers, upon the suggestion of Manuel Alfonseca.
When 15-year-old Julie Tyler wakes up on page one of THE ORANGE DRAGON BOWL she has no idea that that night she’s coming face-to-face with evil. It starts with an un-pitted black olive‒laced bean salad brought to a candle-lit mother-daughter dinner at her school. It’s meant to do harm, and does. That same night Julie and her mother barely escape a deadly gang fight. Then someone at Julie’s school begins a nonstop campaign of vicious back-stabbing, mean pranks, and academic sabotage. Nothing is spared to make her life hell at school. Meanwhile, Julie’s mother is diagnosed with a very serious type of breast cancer that almost kills her. And Julie’s father’s reputation as a once highly regarded assistant district attorney is dragged through the mud. Is the same demonic force behind all these vile deeds? What has unleashed it, and why? This tale is played out against a pro-Catholic, pro-life, pro-conservative values, pro-family, and pro-tradition background. This book is suitable for both YA and adult readers. It has received nine 5-star reviews since it was published in October.
I purpose the Rhonda Ortiz's novel "In pieces" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... nowadays Rhonda Ortiz is the main editor of the Chrism Press, which is publishing Interesting Christian fiction https://chrismpress.com/about-us/ besides Mss. Ortiz has very good ideas to improve the Catholic Fiction genre. I share with you an article about This topic published in Catholic World Report https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2... It would be an excellent suggestion for Catholic Book Club.
I would like to nominate my book, The Arrow That Flies By Day. It is a story about overcoming the obstacles in your path to achieve your dreams and find redemption even if your failures are always before you. You can see a preview at https://www.johnservantbooks.com/.
I nominate again The Burning Bush by Sigrid Undset (It is the sequel of the Wild Orchid and The Burning Bush is much better and much more religious than Wild Orchid).
I am nominating Wheat that Springeth Green by J.F. Powers. Powers only published 2 novels and several collections of short stories. Both his novels are about priests. And both won the national book award many years apart. A version of this short story is one of the chapters in the book. http://bookreviewsandmore.ca/2005/12/...
Ah. Well, then I would like to nominate my novel, Ancient of Genes. I have noticed very strong interest among Catholic readers and it could make for a lively discussion. There were interesting reviews from Catholic thinkers when it firts came out long ago. These may be found in the front matter by using tge Look Inside feature at online stores or at many physical stores. Thanks for considering my nomination; hope self-nomination is allowed. God bless!
Am I allowed to nominate my new Catholic science fiction novel, Our Lady of the Artilects?Father Gabriel Serafian, an exorcist who left his former life as a neuroscientist and coder, finds himself caught up in a conspiracy of global – and possibly supernatural – dimensions.
Climate change has altered coastlines, and Nigeria's brutal, sectarian civil war has modified the maps. Artilects, artificially intelligent androids, are luxury items, and most of the human population injects noetic implants to enhance cognition and treat mental illness.
On the eve of reconciliation between China and the Roman Catholic Church following a half-century-long cold war, a number of the artilects experience a Marian Apparition. Believing it to be a hack, authorities hope to contain the potential scandal. But their plans are upended when an artilect belonging to Amari Okparu – the wealthiest man in Africa and major benefactor of the Church – shows up at Our Lady of Nigeria Basilica, claiming to be possessed. A diverse team, including tough-as-nails imperial Praetor Namono Mbambu, Ilham Tiliwadi (a Uyghur Sufi), a Filipino Emperor, and Serafian's ex-fiance, an astrophysicist named Sarah Baumgartner, join Serafian to help unravel the mystery of the Apparition and the possession.
Our Lady of the Artilects, a mind-bending supernatural science fiction novel, is “the Exorcist meets Westworld,” with a dash of Snow Crash in the tradition of thoughtful Catholic science fiction like A Canticle for Leibowitz.
Such a great group! I’d like to nominate IN THE SHADOWS OF FREEDOM, published last year, and coauthored by my wife and me. It is a work of Catholic dystopian fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
——————
The United States is finally a meritocracy, where the best and most capable rise to the top. Existing laws and regulations continue to be repealed, and freedom is the mantra of the people.
Amanda Burrow, a talented painter, moves to New York City to attend an elite art academy. Once there, she falls for self-assured Ethan Ramsey, a staunch member of the National Citizens Party: the nation’s ruling faction. The NCP seeks to banish anything—or anyone—that might jeopardize an individual’s autonomy.
Amanda’s habitually dull and depressed world is turned upside down by her newfound relationship with Ethan. Yet as the NCP heightens its persecution of those who oppose its agenda, will Amanda find true freedom and discover her own identity in a new and increasingly merciless society?
——————
Steven McEvoy and Andrew Gillsmith (who are both part of this group) have positively reviewed the novel on Goodreads.
I’d be happy to provide everyone in the group who would like to read it a free ebook copy.
More info on the series can found here: https://spellmanbooks.com/
Thanks for the consideration!
I would like to nominate "Intercession" by Kevin Haar, with apologies to the author for being late to review it--hopefully will have it out within the week, we've been in and out of town, and playing catch up in between. It's a lovely book, set in a remote Irish island, with parallel protagonists with little in common and a masterful mix of religious faith, superstition, and folklore, all coming together in the end.
I nominate The Rifle, and Other Stories -Tomás Carrasquilla - Translated by ML Clark I struggled with this collection of stories by Columbian Catholic author available in English for the first time. I would love to see other responses to the stories and Catholicism as presented. Note: for transparency I have known the translator and publisher for several years.
I nominate Finding Happiness in a Complex World: Rules from Aristotle and Aquinas. In these enlightening pages, Dr. Charles Nemeth synthesizes the judgments of history’s two greatest thinkers to present for you a life plan that inevitably leads to a happy human existence, whatever your ethnicity, religion, or citizenship.
This book was recommended on the blog Rorate Caeli. I have not read it, but I would like to read it with the book club. The Execution of Justice by Elisabetta Sala https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/202...
The Vipers' Tangle by Francis Mauriacfrom Amazon description: Mauriac’s best novel.”—Catholic World
“A lucid and penetrating study . . . Mauriac proves himself as good a storyteller as he is a psychologist.”—The New York Times
“A most admirable and exciting novel.”—New StatesmanThe masterpiece of one of the twentieth century’s greatest Catholic writers, Vipers’ Tangle tells the story of Monsieur Louis, an embittered aging lawyer who has spread his misery to his entire estranged family. Louis writes a journal to explain to them—and to himself—why his soul has been deformed, why his heart seems like a foul nest of twisted serpents. Mauriac’s novel masterfully explores the corruption caused by pride, avarice, and hatred, and its opposite—the divine grace that remains available to each of us until the very moment of our deaths. It is the unforgettable tale of the battle for one man’s soul.
Hello everyone, Thanks to Manuel for the permission to nominate my own book for consideration. It is called "Into the Cloud of Knowing" and the ebook version can be found here if the US - https://amzn.asia/d/6pVIC8o or in Australia - https://amzn.asia/d/6pVIC8o
I have been grateful for the official reviews received.
I also have book video trailers that provide a visual of the book's themes which are non-fiction and cover a range of Catholic topics and experiences of God.
www.renatoantonio.com
Thanks
I would like to nominate Exogenesis by Peco Gaskovski."Out of the collapse of Old America rises Lantua, a glittering thousand-mile metropolis where drones patrol the sky and AI algorithms reward social behavior. The most compliant citizens enjoy the greatest privileges, the poorest struggle to rise up the echelon system, and criminals are subjected to brain modification. Birthing and genetic quality are controlled through mass embryonic selection, with fetuses grown outside the body in artificial wombs—a technology known as exogenesis. But rebellion is brewing. Lantua struggles to control the Benedites, a rural religious people who refuse to obey one-child regulations. Each February, Field Commander Maelin Kivela oversees the forced sterilization of Benedite teenagers, a duty she carries out with unflinching zeal—but this year comes with a shock. After escaping an ambush by insurgents, Maelin returns to the city to choose one of over three hundred embryos to be her child, only to come face to face with a secret that will tear her life apart and alter the course of her civilization."
Jennifer S. Bryson recently finished translating The Church in the Flesh by Ida Friederike Görres; it is published by Count Media. https://clunymedia.com/products/the-c... or https://www.amazon.com/Church-Flesh-I.... Conveniently, she sent me a study guide that could be used by the book club, found here https://www.idagoerres.org/books."Across six refreshingly candid 'letters,' Ida Friederike Görres develops a conversation aimed at a clarified, renewed, and strengthened faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. Affirming truth and rejecting error, Görres explains the incarnate nature of the Church and the necessity of the sacraments; the historical reality of the Church and the persistence of Tradition; the simplicity of the reason to believe in the Church: namely, Jesus Christ, the One who issues the invitation to faith; the necessary 'nuisance' of morality in the Church’s mission; the kingship of Christ as the basis for the Church’s triumphs and tribulations; and the saints as the living proof of God’s salvific power and purpose.”
https://www.goodreads.com/es/book/sho...The Cypresses Believe in God by Jose Maria Gironella. "Considered by many critics to be the greatest novel about the Spanish Civil War, this classic work by Spaniard Jose Maria Gironella is an unbiased account of the complicated events, movements and personalities that led up to the war. Beginning in 1931, Cypresses covers the next five years of political unrest, culminating in the explosion of the brutal war that wreaked such great havoc on Spain and its citizens. In his epic novel, both gripping and suspenseful, Gironella deftly portrays the human conflict, both internal and external. The most influential philosophical movements of the 20th century are embodied in various characters. Through them, the reader is introduced to every faction involved--ancharist, communist, Catholic, royalist, existentialist, and others."
I read this many years ago, and loved it. It's time to reread this great book, especially in light of the heavy hand tactics of the current Spanish government and persecution of Catholics
I would like to nominate the book: The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen C. Meyer
The New York Times bestselling author of Darwin's Doubt and Intelligent Design scholar presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.
...in his two bestselling books, Signature in the Cell and Darwin's Doubt, [Stephen C. Meyer] helped unravel a mystery that Charles Darwin did not address: how did life begin? and offered further scientific proof to bolster his arguments on the history of life and our origins, concluding that life was designed.
In those previous books, Meyer purposely refrained from attempting to answer questions about "who" might have designed life. Now, in The Return of the God Hypothesis, he brings his ideas full circle, providing a reasoned and evidence-based answer to the ultimate mystery of the universe, drawn from recent scientific discoveries in physics, cosmology, and biology.
Meyer uses three scientific points to refute popular arguments put forward by the "New Atheists" against the existence of God:
The evidence from cosmology showing that the material universe had a beginning.
The evidence from physics showing that, from the beginning, the universe was been "finely tuned" to allow for the possibility of life.
The evidence from biology showing that since the universe came into being, large amounts of genetic information present in DNA must have arisen to make life possible.
In analyzing the evidence from these three fields, Meyer reveals how the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind--but the existence of a theistic creator.
I don't know if Meyer is Catholic, but he certainly is religious. I haven't read this book, or any other of his books, but I have listened to several of his debates and have found his arguments very strong.
I'd like to nominate the book 'Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist: The Philosophical Foundation of Flannery O'Connor's Art' by Father Damian Ference. It is a study of the influence of Saint Thomas Aquinas on this epochal American chronicler of the skewed morality of the Deep South.
Nomination for The Sower of Black Field: Inspired by the True Story of an American in Nazi GermanySUMMARY FROM THE BOOK:
Throughout the Third Reich, millions of Germans pledged allegiance to Adolf Hitler. In the Bavarian village of Schwarzenfeld, they followed an American citizen.
As he struggles to rekindle the faith of a guilt-ridden Wehrmacht veteran, a morose widow, and her grieving teenage son, Fr. Viktor Koch, C.P. is haunted by self-doubt. What is driving him to stay in the Third Reich? Is he following a higher plan, or the mystic compulsion of his German heritage? Exposed to American ideals, his parishioners grow restless under Nazi rule. Relying upon his ingenuity to keep them out of prison, Fr. Viktor solicits aid from an unlikely intercessor--the Nazi charity worker who confiscated his monastery for state purposes.
In April 1945, American liberators make a gruesome discovery: the SS have left a mass grave of concentration camp victims on Schwarzenfeld's borders. Enraged by the sight, the infantry commander orders the townspeople to disinter 140 corpses, construct coffins despite material shortages, dig a grave trench, and hold a funeral ceremony--all in 24 hours. If they fail to fulfill this ultimatum, he vows to execute all German men in town.
Fr. Viktor has to pull off a miracle: he must convince his countrymen that his followers are not the enemy. Their humanity is intact. And most of all, they are innocent.
“A compelling exploration of faith and resistance in the face of oppression.” –Kirkus Reviews ("GET IT" rating)
"The historical context, characters, and faith-keeping actions make for a memorable read." -Reedsy Discovery
"Faith in God, and the testing of that faith, is interwoven through the novel... A picture emerges of people caught up in a conflict not of their making, resisting as they can from its evils, and finding strength in the courageous example of their pastor." - Chanticleer Book Reviews ("BEST BOOK," 5 STARS!)
Current interest list, Saint Catherine of Bologna, The Seven Spiritual Weapons,
The God of the Abandoned Tabernacle
Mod
Saint Catherine of Bologna, The Seven Spiritual Weapons,
The God of the Abandoned Tabernacle"
Hi Maggie,
I'm afraid The Seven Spiritual Weapons does not qualify for the Current Interest List. To be on the list a book must have been published in the last 12 months. I will add it to the Nominations List, though.
And I'm afraid I can't find The God of the Abandoned Tabernacle. Do you have the author's name?
The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle by Victoria Schneider
The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family, by Kevin Wells. I enjoy Wells' frequent contributions to Catholic publications online, and this book sounds excellent. From the Amazon product page:
"In his raw and tender memoir, biographer Kevin Wells pulls readers into the unforgettable story of a parish priest turned hermit, Father Martin Flum, who orchestrated the slow resurrection of his wife, Krista, from the nightmare of her deep wounds and addiction.
In gripping fashion, Kevin tells the story of his family's own long suffering, which culminated in the dark spring of 2020, as a strange fear pressed down upon the world and his wife spent most nights drinking away long-held shame. When a near-universal chorus of politicians, medical professionals, and Catholic clergy megaphoned the command to "isolate," Kevin couldn't imagine a more dooming word for his family, his marriage, and the life of his wife.
"Yet God had other plans. Wells' honest tale of inner crisis and hope-filled resurrection takes readers on a spiritual rollercoaster, offering a penetrating exploration of the sacramental grace of marriage and the mysterious movement of God in dry, lonely places.
"In the journey from darkness to light, three lives--Krista, Kevin, and Father Flum--became forever entwined. It is a deeper kind of love story. The chapters on the fits and starts of renewal unfold like the piecemeal opening of a tomb. The Hermit is a true account of marital survival, a holy priest, redemption, and even the miraculous, where imprisoned shame and sin are transformed into the joy of freedom."
I nominate in the name of Sebastian Fricke Conversation with Christ by Peter Thomas Rohrbach.
Hello! I have a couple books I'd like to nominate...This Thing of Darkness --a chilling Catholic horror novel featuring the late Bela Lugosi
The Letters of Magdalen Montague-- a short, but beautiful story told through letters written by an agnostic who is slowly becoming influenced by a pious woman he falls in love with
I highly recommend Secret of the Holy Face by Fr. Lawrence D. Carney III. A must read to conquer Communism with a simple prayer :Show us Thy face, O Lord, and we shall be saved.
I'd also like to nominate: Saints vs. Scoundrels: Debating Life's Greatest Questions. This book is based on a show on EWTN and it's a delight to watch every week!
I hope there's not a limit on how many we can nominate! I'd also like to add The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress. It sounds like a really fascinating one!
Mod
Don Mario, I read Bakhita last year. Excellent suggestion.I would like to nominate Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas.
Hello! I'm a Catholic author who is currently publishing my debut novel Pilgrims:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
A sci-fi retelling of Augustine's Confessions, it is about a washed-up Latin teacher who gets thrust into the center of humanity's first contact with Catholic aliens.
The reviews so far have been outstanding (from Catholics and non-Catholics alike) and the audiobook (coming 11/15) is superlative - a credit to Catholic art as a whole.
Christopher Ruocchio, bestselling author of The Sun Eater (and fellow Catholic) said "Leonard balances big-idea science fiction with thriller-like pacing, and blends each with his Catholic faith to stunning effect. A striking debut. I couldn’t put the book down.”
I'd love to nominate PILGRIMS for the list!
Fonch wrote: "Interesting curiously in the discussion of Voyage to Alpha Centauri we are discussing about catholic science fiction."There is actually a movement of sci-fi authors at the moment who are trying to bring God back to the genre. The reductive materialism endemic to Golden Age works was really more of a historical anachronism than it was a keystone.
In many ways the genre feels exhausted, played out because it decided to pretend religion didn't exist. Readers are hungry for plots that take religion seriously rather than just straw-manning faith as some sort of village atheist version of "science vs. religion" pyschodrama.
This provides some amazing opportunities for writers. There are so many rich veins to mine in the imaginative world of sci-fi if we just took this essential part of the human experience seriously.
And meanwhile, if the fiction is done right and not in a preachy way, then it is a great opportunity to evangelize a genre that has been a swift path to deconversion for many.
I hope you'll consider giving my book a chance.
Pope Francis - Hope Does Not DisappointSarah Clarkson - Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention
Erik Varden, The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance
please add Why Religion Went Obsolete by Christian smith
The Catholic Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Our Lady of the Sign (other topics)Our Lady of the Sign (other topics)
GIVE LOVE: A 91-Day Devotional for Searching Catholics (other topics)
GIVE LOVE: A 91-Day Devotional for Searching Catholics (other topics)
The Light: Who Do You Become When the World Falls Away? (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Abigail Favale (other topics)Heidi E. Vincent (other topics)
Heidi E. Vincent (other topics)
Eleanor Bourg Nicholson (other topics)
Jacqueline Brown (other topics)
More...
The moderators will try to keep this thread to one page. If your nomination doesn't have any information other than the title of the book it will be deleted after it has been added to the Nomination List. If you include other information, such as the reason why you think it would be of interest to the group, we will leave your nominating post in place until the book has been removed from both the Nomination and Voting Lists.