An Open Book: November 2018

I’m linking up with Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. This month I have been reading a wide variety of books, which were given to me for review, as gifts, or simply roused my interest.

10 Wonders of the Rosary by Donald Calloway, MIC  (Coming soon)
10 Wonders of the Rosary by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC has a message that is more powerful than any other I have read concerning the Rosary. He introduces his subject matter by describing his fascination with the Seven Wonders of the World as a youth. Through prayer, he discerned that the rosary contains at least ten important and significant wonders. And, unlike most of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world which collapsed or have fallen into ruin, these wonders are everlasting and indestructible!

10 Wonders of the Rosary contains ten chapters. Each chapter describes a particular wonder and contains insights into the wonder:
1) a short story about the wonder,
2) an explanation of the wonder,
3) an example of the wonder in action, and
4) words of wonder from popes and saint.

At the end of the book, there is a bonus wonder and a short addendum.

This book captured my attention and held it from beginning to end. This can be a daunting task for a non-fiction author, but Fr. Calloway is an excellent writer. Even after staying up late reading this book, I felt compelled to pray an extra rosary due to the powerful and captivating saint quotes about the rosary. All of the miraculous stories were amazing! While I was already familiar with some of the rosary stories, Fr. Calloway told them in a fresh way, including little-known, but priceless details.

If you would like to discover new reasons to motivate you to pray your rosary daily or to pray with more fervor, 10 Wonders of the Rosary is a must-read for you! It will set your heart on fire for the rosary!

Facing Cancer with God’s Help: A Personal Journey by Jean Carol Martin

When I was initially diagnosed with cancer on September 17, 2018 – almost two months ago – I wanted to talk with someone about it. I wanted to hear from others what it was like for them. Since the process slowed down considerably after I was referred to two oncologists, I read this memoir written by Jean Carol Martin who taught high school theology. It is her personal journey about how she grew closer to God through her suffering.

Martin writes clearly and honestly about her experiences, her fear, her suffering, and about all the support she received from her family and community. It was difficult for me to relate to her story, as she had a very intimate, tight-knit family to help ease the pain and the financial concerns that such a devastating experience can create.

It was difficult for me to relate to this memoir, as I had already been suffering for many years with chronic pain and fatigue and the new pain of cancer, which reached its peak this past summer with severe financial problems and a multitude of other stressors. Also, I am the sixth of seven family members to contract this disease. My two younger sisters and my father died from cancer. The few family members who remain on this earth live a long distance from here and are not as close as I would like them to be. I was not feeling the consolations from the medical community, who were delaying my treatment. Nor was I feeling the love from my family or my community until fairly recently.

Nevertheless, God was always there for me – I just did not feel His presence. But faith is not about feelings. I daily surrendered to His will, rather than my own. This is what has eventually turned things around for me. I would go into more detail, but that is another story.

This was an interesting read, but I have to say honestly that it depressed me. I wanted a story which contained more struggles and conflict. I wanted a book written by someone who was in a dark place, like St. John of the Cross, only a modern day person, who overcame the dark night of the senses. Maybe I was expecting too much. There are not many Catholic devotionals or inspirational books available in this area, as I have searched high and low. Perhaps, someone you know will have to change that.

In summary, Facing Cancer with God’s Help: A Personal Journey was a good read, but I think most of us don’t live such idyllic lives and need a stronger, more powerful message.

Debbie Macomber: Choir of Angels

Choir of Angels by New Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber was a gift from a friend. This might surprise you, but I had never read any of her books before. I am not a big reader of secular fiction, especially New York Times bestselling authors. This volume contains three books which helped to distract me from own problems recently.

Debbie Macomber is a name I recognized from watching Hallmark movies. I enjoy most of the movies on the Hallmark channel as they are usually family friendly and uplifting. They are not always Christian, but they are not afraid to mention God and prayer. All three books in this volume deal with Christmas and mention God and prayer. They also describe the adventures and humorous antics of three mischievous angels, who come to earth to help humans solve their problems. The three angels are: Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy. They are physically beautiful, empathetic creatures, willing to do whatever it takes to assist miserable humans caught up in sin, sorrow, and the everyday problems we all face. Their humorous antics take the edge off the heaviness of the stories and make them more interesting.

I enjoyed each of the Christmas books, but I would have to say that the last one was my favorite. Where Angels Go is a more complex plot, containing three separate stories. Each angel is assigned a family with their own serious problems during the Christmas season that they need to resolve in a subtle way. It was like trying to solve a mystery to determine how each angel would change humans stuck in their way to be transformed into the loving creatures God created them to be.

Macomber is an amazing writer and I can easily understand why her books are bestsellers if Choir of Angels is her typical fare. I could not put this volume down. It was inspiring, uplifting, and had me laughing out loud!

Charlotte’s Honor: Great War – Great Love Book 2 by Ellen Gable

On October 23, 2018, I was honored to participate in the Virtual Book Tour for Ellen Gable’s new book, Charlotte’s Honor: Great War – Great Love Book 2. Ellen Gable is an award-winning, bestselling author of nine books, contributor to numerous others, and publisher/editor of 20 other books.

Charlotte’s Honor, Great War – Great Love Book 2 is a beautiful historical romance that also doubles as a Christian book of virtue for both adolescents and adults. The main character in Charlotte’s Honor serves as an exemplary model of virtue. Charlotte Zielinski is not perfect, but she is a wise woman of extraordinary virtue. A courageous and compassionate young woman, Charlotte tenderly and zealously cares for the sick and the dying, reading to them and praying for each of them. Throughout the novel, Charlotte deals with the challenges presented to her with charity, patience, piety, perseverance, and self-sacrifice.

You can read my full review HERE.

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