This page features book reviews from our Parishoniers!

Review from Susan Mule of The Storm of Fire and Blood by Taylor Marshall

Wow! Taylor Marshall has once again managed to mesmerize me with his tale of St. George (Jurian) and his compatriots in a time when Christianity was new and feared. No stories, since those of Tolkien, White, and Lewis, have brought me so deeply into another world -- only this world, while seemingly flavored with fantasy, also has the truth of faith woven in a way that could have truly happened. Somehow, Marshall's story has blended all of the elements and magic of all the great fantasy classics, while remaining uniquely its own story -- completely new and fresh and original. In fact, this unification of myth, fantasy and history almost needs it's own genre: Historical fantasy.

I never would have imagined that an author could somehow weave the dawning of the Arthurian legends into a story about St. George or that an author could make the Saints and Martyrs of the early Church into real people through the very act of fictionalizing them. It is so difficult to write a review of a novel of this magnitude without giving away spoilers -- and in a novel so filled with unexpected revelations and plot twists, it is important not to spoil the surprise. So, suffice it to say that Storm of Fire and Blood picks up right where Tenth Legion of the Night ends. Jurian, Menas, and Constantinus are on a boat to Britannia so that Jurian can fulfill his mission with Excalibur. He is haunted by visions of a beautiful woman with the sword and of the sword being set into a stone. Information comes to Jurian that brings everything he knows into turmoil. Casca is still a danger to Jurian and to all of those he left behind in Rome as Jurian struggles to succeed in his mission. Ultimately, this is a story of true love, but perhaps not the kind of true love story we are most used to reading. This is the story of the kind of love that endures in the face of death and beyond.

As a librarian, I am often recommending these books to older children and adults! I have several readers anxiously waiting for me to order the final book for the library and I only wish we had the budget for multiple copies. Overall, my only sadness regarding this story is that, because it is a trilogy, the story has come to an end. I hope that Taylor Marshall will present us with more of his wonderful fiction and weave another magical tale.

Review from Jane Braun of The Immaculate Heart of Mary and God’s Plan for America
By Luiz Sergio Solimeo
            This small, but well packed book continues where St. Louis de Montfort leaves off in promoting devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as seen through the message of Fatima and the light of the wars and disasters of the 20^th Century.
            As stated in chapter three: “In the Old and New Testaments, the heart is the place where man meets God, an encounter that becomes permanent, effective in the human heart of the Son of God” (p.18). Thus the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the symbol of Jesus Christ and devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart emphasizes the co-redeeming love of the Mother of God.
            Through Mary’s Immaculate Conception, she reaches the highest degree of perfection; total fidelity to God—expressing goodness, sweetness, and inexhaustible mercy. The book steps the reader through aspects of this devotion and promotes consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It further covers “‘explosion of pride and sensuality’ that inspired the whole chain of ideological systems’ that has been feeding the process of Christendom’s destruction.” (p. 63P(. The conclusion covers the Reign of Mary. This book is recommended for all adults and older teens.
           
 
Review from Jane Braun of “Between Heaven and Hell: a Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C.S Lewis, and Aldous Huxley.“ By Peter Kreeft.

 The book is in the St. Laurence library and the author Peter Kreeft is a professor of philosophy at Boston College. The three men referred to in the title all died on the exact same day and the premise of the book is “what happens after death?”
They all have different opinions with regard to philosophy and religion. Lewis is the traditional theist; Kennedy is the modern humanist, and Huxley has the viewpoint of a traditional pantheist.
            Lewis argues for the divinity of Christ, the reality of truth, and the difference between the Creator and his creation. Kennedy prefers a more “grey” view of life with “no absolute black and white thinking.” Huxley argues from a Buddhist tradition. From logic, psychology, and Sacred Scripture, Lewis persuasively states that “vincible ignorance is a less technical term for dishonesty. I mean deliberately looking away or changing truth when it threatens you.”
            If provides clear understanding for truth (p.27), authority (p.30), causality principle (p.36) and proofs of God and the divinity of Jesus (starting p. 37). The book is short, understandable and important for today. It is recommended for reading from high school age through adult.
 

Review from Jane Braun of True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort

            This title gives an in depth examination of the role of Mary and the Holy Spirit in the salvation of mankind. Through evocative descriptions of spiritual nourishment and fruitfulness, the reader comes to see the importance of Mary in the formation of saints. “It is Mary alone to whom God has given the keys of the cellars (Cant. 1:3) of divine love and the power to enter into the most sublime and secret ways of perfection, and the power likewise to make others enter in there also.” (p.25)
            The book gives a detailed description of false and true devotion to Mary with an understanding of both interior and exterior practices associated with this devotion. True devotion consisting of giving of self to Mary, in order to belong to Jesus through her. (Details starting on p. 77). This section of the book reviews the nature, motives, effects, and practices relating to devotion to Mary.
            The book concludes with the steps in preparing for Consecration, additional prayers, and information on the rosary. This book was written in the early 18^th century and as such is longer and deeper than more recently published ones. That being said it is a gem for encouraging Devotion to Mary.

 

Here is a teen book review from Jack Eumont of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis:

          
            The Screwtape Letters are about an older demon writing letters to a younger demon about how to win over the soul of a man. The older demon gives insight on how to outsmart the man and get him to do his bidding. He commonly refers to God as "The Enemy". It was a good story to relate to someone'e life because we are constantly being tempted by the devil. This book gives you an idea from a demon's viewpoint and helps you to notice when you are being tempted to sin. It is a great book on morality and temptation that is unlike any other book because it is from such a different perspective. I liked the story because it was interesting to read about God from a different viewpoint and form my own ideas about how people could be tempted. This book is appealing to teens because every day we go through situations of temptation. This book helps you recognize those situations and gives you a better understanding of how to overcome them.