Book Review: The Paradise Project

The Paradise Project

by Suzie Andres
Lake Ariel, PA: Hillside Education, 2015

The calendar says August and the first day of school and all the craziness that accompanies it is looming just over the horizon, but I refuse to relinquish summer. August deserves to be enjoyed for the month that it is, and not just a prelude to fall, which means there is still time to put up one's feet (preferably by the water), sip a cool drink, and enjoy a light, enjoyable read. If you happen to enjoy Jane Austen, I have just the book to recommend.

Suzie Andres, a veteran homeschooler and non-fiction writer, treats us to her first novel, "The Paradise Project." A work in homage to the beloved Austen, this is a modern tale of romance and manners, with some comedy thrown in for good measure.

Elizabeth Benning is in her early 30s, recently unemployed, and in search of a New Year's Resolution. Her brother-in-law Pat (married to Elizabeth's older sister Jane) takes great joy in teasing Elizabeth and having her fail. She had been given two books for Christmas, "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin and "Never Too Late" by John Holt. Having read nothing but the titles of either book, she came up with the "Never Too Late for Happiness Project." Pat suggests that she come up with one activity each month as well as help him with the "Fra Angelico Series" of events that he runs at the local Catholic college.

The novel follows Elizabeth through the trials and travails of each month, made all the more challenging by the appearance of two blonde newcomers - Ralph and Gretchen.

This is a fun read with, of course, a happy ending. Andres is a talented writer who one hopes will grace us with more Catholic fiction in the future.

Movie Review: Old Fashioned

I had seen the romantic movie "Old Fashioned" promoted on my Facebook feed a few months back when it was in theaters, but I don't get to the movie theater much, so I needed to wait for the DVD to come out. It was not what I expected at all, but I was pleasantly surprised. Clay Walsh is a former wild frat boy who has abandoned that life in favor of a quiet role as the owner of an antique shop who has very strict rules when it comes to dating. He refuses to be alone anywhere with a woman and wants to reserve even kissing for marriage. Amber Hewson is a free spirit who rents the apartment above his shop. The characters struggle to develop a relationship and learn valuable lessons about themselves in the process.

It is rated PG-13 and rightly so - there are several conversations about sexuality and both the characters have less than ideal pasts. This movie is a real conversation starter when viewed with teens. One can discuss various ideas and ideals about dating and courtship. While Clay takes an extreme view, this is one area where it is certainly better to err on the side of caution than take the opposite path. It also has important messages about mercy, forgiveness, and being able to start over even when one has made some very poor choices.

While certainly not the best movie ever made, it is a good story with some laugh out loud funny parts and a quality message. Definitely worth seeing and discussing with teens and young adults. 

Eucharistic Miracles of the World

I was doing research for another project and came across this site featuring a Vatican traveling exhibition on Eucharistic Miracles of the World. http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/engl_mir.htm

There is a book available on the miracles as well as links to the .pdf files that make up the posters of the exhibition. These miracles are truly amazing and will help enhance your faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. 

Chime Travelers by Lisa Hendey

Lisa Hendey of CatholicMom.com fame has written two new books for children, the start of the Chime Travelers Series. Published by Servant Books (Franciscan Media), they are aimed at children age 7 - 12. If you don't have any children in that age range, you might want to consider buying a copy for your parish library, or local Catholic elementary school.

When the bells chime, get ready for fun and adventure as you join Katie and Patrick on their travels back in time to far-distant lands. The mysterious strangers they meet along the way turn out to be saints of old who become close friends and help our young travelers understand their faith a little better. Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime? Be ready when you hear the bells chime.

I read these books this weekend and both were delightful - teaching the faith by reaching kids where they are on their faith journey, maintaining a sense of humor, and providing an introduction to the lives of saints. Each book also includes a short biography about the featured saint and discussion questions.

Book 1: The Secret of the Shamrock

When Patrick's mom volunteers him for the cleaning crew at his local Church, he is less than thrilled. He'd much rather be hanging out with his friends or playing with his frog, Francis. But when the bells chime and he ends up in ancient Ireland, he has to trust a shepherd to help him to find his way home.

This story teaches lessons on kindness and the value of prayer, trust in God, and the sacrament of confession, as well as introduces children to the life of St. Patrick.

Book 2: The Sign of the Carved Cross

Katie is feeling jealous and insecure and so she joins her friends in being mean to the new girl, Lily. But then she finds herself back in 1675 in a Native American village,. Now Katie is the new girl, but Tekakwitha, a young woman with horrible scars on her face, is kind to her and keeps her safe. Tekakwitha is treated poorly by her family due to her Christian faith and she and Katie are forced to run away in the middle of the night.

This story examines how hard female relationships can be for young girls and the importance of being a friend. It also teaches the value of Baptism and 1st Communion as well as introduces children to St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

Laudato Si - Now available in paperback

Laudato Si, The Pope's Encyclical Letter "On Care for our Common Home" is now available in paperback. I just received my copy this week and it is truly worth reading. Don't just get the soundbites from the media - actually read and reflect on what the Pope is trying to tell us. Whether you believe that the earth is warming or not or that human activity has contributed to it or not, taking care of the earth and each other is what we are called to do as Christians. I guarantee that you will find something in this letter worth thinking about, and maybe even be moved to make some lifestyle changes as a result.

If you are looking for a guide to your reading, CatholicMom.com is currently running a series of reflections (I'm working on writing the reflection for Chapter 6 right now).

On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si)

Book Review: When Mockingbirds Sing

When Mockingbirds Sing

by Billy Coffey
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013

Can God speak through a child? What about a child who has never been taught anything about Him? Leah Norcross is a young girl with a stutter. She and her parents have just moved to the small town of Mattingly from Away and are considered outsiders by almost everyone.

Barney, who in his own way is also an outsider even though he has lived in the town forever, makes Leah a birthday present of an easel. After this gift,. she is able to paint pictures with such beauty and intensity, they make everyone take notice. She says that she is just painting what the "Rainbow Man" tells her. When what she paints starts to come true, the town starts taking sides, especially when she paints images they don't want to see and tells them things they don't want to hear. Is Leah a visionary of God or is she evil? Meanwhile, her relationship with her parents, especially her atheist father, and her one friend is put to the test

"When Mockingbirds Sing" is a well-crafted thought-provoking novel that will keep you turning pages. What will happen to Leah and the people of Mattingly? Where does a child's imagination end and reality begin? What will a parent do for a child?

Book Review: Five Years in Heaven

Five Years in Heaven: The Unlikely Friendship that Answered Life's Greatest Questions

by John Schlimm
New York: Image Books, 2015

I am a huge fan of "The Christmas Tree" by Julie Salamon and the movie by the same name which starred Andrew McCarthy and Julie Harris. McCarthy is a landscape architect who works for Rockefeller Center and Harris plays Sr. Anthony who owns the tree that McCarthy wants to use for the famous Christmas tree that becomes a symbol of New York each year. The two form an unlikely friendship, each teaching the other some valuable lessons. The parallels between that story and "Five Years in Heaven" by John Schlimm are many.

Schlimm was 31 years old, had worked in public relations for Tipper Gore when she was Second Lady as well as for Nashville star Naomi Judd. He had gone back to school graduating from Harvard in order to become an English teacher, but had found himself unemployed, living back in his hometown, and working as a sub at his high school alma mater. Rather disappointed at his place in life, his friend brought him to meet Sr. Augustine, the nearly 90 year old sister who worked at the local Benedictine convent's ceramic shop.

Sr. Augustine and Schlimm would develop a close friendship over the next five years. Sr. Augustine would teach Schlimm much about life. Schlimm in turn would help promote her ceramic work, finding new customers and even having her interviewed by the local media.

This book is worth reading because of the lessons Sr. Augustine, who has since gone on to her eternal reward,  has to offer, which Schlimm has lovingly shared with the world. This story also inspired #thankanun day which was held on May 5th to coincide with the book's publication date.

Here is one of my favorite quotes by Sr. Augustine: "What happens in that kiln is out of control once I shut the lid. Just like the things that happen in life. We have no control over the joys and sorrows that come to us. . . .Yet each joy and sorrow is a gift. . . . We can choose whether to let that sorrow destroy us or make us stronger, better people."

You can see examples of Sr. Augustine's work here: http://johnschlimm.com/2015/06/24/the-art-of-sister-augustine/