Weekly Book Talk, Holy Week and New Baby Edition

Mar 31, 2015 at 11:00 am

Book Notes 720 x 340 medium blue outline and medium blue pen _ Notes light blue (2)

Well, well, well. I’m baaaaack…and with a sidekick. (In case you missed it, I had the baby a bit early.) I’ve had a chance to do some reading in the last few weeks that has been nothing short of delightful…and not just because I’ve had a baby in my arms while I’ve been doing it.

Many of the books I’ve been reading are advance copies, so I can’t link to pre-orders or anything, but I want to capture my thoughts about them while they’re fresh in my mind. So keep your eyes out for these books…and yeah, I’m sure I’ll be mentioning them again, as they get close to publication time.

033115 Weekly Book Talk

Recent Reads

Blessed Children, Special Fathers, by Randy Hain (Emmaus Road Publishers, Expected Publication June 2015)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is a gift. Randy Hain has pulled together a number of dads of special needs children and between their chapters, he has shared interviews and wisdom. This book is a look inside the head of dads and, as a mom, I loved getting this look inside. This book is going to be the kind of book that I think everyone should probably read, moms and dads alike.

Specter, by John Desjarlais (fiction, Chesterton Press, expected release spring 2015)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I’m a John Desjarlais fangirl, and given the chance to read the latest of his novels, I jumped. Really high. And loudly. Brace yourself: this is a great book that you’ll be sorry to see end (just like his others). Fast paced, great characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing.

Soul Provider, by Shirley France (expected publication Fall 2015)

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I heard Shirley speak and have had the opportunity to get to know her personally a bit (we have the same spiritual director). Her story is powerful and a wow read.

The Catholic Drinkie’s Guide to Home-brewed, by Sarah Vabulas (Liguori Publications, expected publication June 2015)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve been a Catholic Drinkie fangirl for many, many years. In fact, the Catholic Drinkie was born in a blogging class I was teaching. Well, here’s the book, folks, and it’s just as great as you would expect it to be if you’ve been following Sarah’s work over the years. This is going to be the kind of book you buy two copies of: one for yourself and one for a gift (maybe more than one for a gift, come to think of it).

Cruel Beauty, by Rosamund Hodge (YA fiction, Balzer + Bray, 2014)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was my guilty pleasure postpartum reading and OH, what delightful wonderful great reading it was! I actually bought this book, and then I hunted down the author for a copy of her new release (which I’ll be reading soon and very soon).

Wonderfully written, tightly plotted, and a delight all around. It’s YA, and I’d call it good for your 8th grade and up kids, and maybe for kids younger than that, too, but I always hesitate on age recommendations. I think my fourth-grader is a bit young for some of this.

The Working Catholic Mom, by Mary Wallace, Ph.D. (Emmaus Road Press, expected publication 2015)

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Our own Mary Wallace has taken a topic near and dear to my heart and written a book about it. (She has a blog on this topic, too.) Her treatment of it is excellent and I can’t wait to see the book in my hands. What I read of this advance copy was refreshing and wonderful and something I’m looking forward to sharing far and wide.