So excited for each of you. Lots of wonderful books!
Kelsie: Helena is amazing and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. One of my top 20 last year. Also love the book press-Andrew got me my first when we were dating and a second one post marriage. I always press my books after reading and commonplacing and it adds a lovely bit of ritual to my literary life.
Hannah: that is the prettiest edition of Wuthering Heights I’ve ever seen. I’m due for a reread-last time I tried I was pregnant and it was just not what I was in the mood for (this was the same pregnancy where I had a crying fit after rereading Where the Red Fern Grows so I was super emotional that go around haha). And Andrew’s favorite nonfiction of Wendell Berry is probably that collection!
Jess: I LOVE the Every Sacred Sunday journal. I’ve been on a break from it because with where my kiddos are at right now it hasn’t felt possible, but I plan to go back to it when they’re older/better regulated during mass.
I was excited to read my Wendell Berry book anyway, but then I went back and listened to some old Close Reads Year in Reading podcasts and David and Heidi both said it’s the best thing he ever wrote so now I’m even more excited and probably need to pick it up now!
I think maybe I have heard of Epstein but haven’t read anything by him yet. Soon to go shopping for my Christmas books and I think this is going to be one of them. Thanks again for the tip!
His essay (in the above book) on A Literary Education sold me on him as a writer! And I've only heard people rave about The Novel, Who Needs It? (which also, what a great title!)
These are some great stacks! My book purchases for myself have been liberal lately (ha!) so I kept my requests at Christmas to 2 books-- The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life, by Clare Carlisle and Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi (recommended by Erik Rostad @ the Book of Titans Substack who said, "A publisher gifted this book to me saying she read it 5 times in a row. I've also heard that it has made grown men cry.") Love to see Elizabeth Taylor in your stack, Kelsie, (I loved Mrs. Palfrey and followed it up with A View of the Harbour, which was also top-notch). Jason Baxter's book as well as Michael O'Brien's Island of the World have been on my radar so hoping we might get Jess's reviews on those this year. :)
I've had it on my list forever but haven't read it...I was inspired by Jess' stack to maybe try it soon. I LOVED Strangers and Sojourners, but then the rest of the series I had mixed feelings about. Have you read them?
Yes, but it's been a long time. I did re-read Plague Journal recently and it reads like a dystopian novel. The father, an editor, is accused of publishing things against the 'powers that be' and there are ramifications for his family because of it. Father Elijah is one I re-read frequently and my only complaint about that one is it's not longer! I think I really love this one because the protagonist is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who became a Carmelite priest (I am enamored of the Carmelite spirituality) - and he faces the Antichrist - lots of redemptive suffering and suspense in this. There's also a deathbed conversion scene in which Father Elijah is instrumental, and it's a vivid scene of a twisted man who lived a depraved lifestyle. The Father's Tale is epic; see what happens when the protagonist tells God, "Do whatever you want with me." It's about a man's search for his son, and God's search for the father - and God's search for both of them. The Fool of New York City and The Lighthouse are 2 recent books of his that I loved. The Fool of New York City explores themes of trauma and identity, and The Lighthouse explores themes of loneliness and isolation. I don't know exactly how to categorize them. I even read Voyage to Alpha Centauri, but it reads a bit more like science fiction and that's not my genre - but it has the fact that Michael O'Brien authored it going for it.
I think you just became our Michael O'Brien resident expert! I've only read his nonfiction: Landscape of Dragons. Actually, full story: my mom read it while homeschooling us, and used it as a guide to our reading life. Since then, I've read it for myself and used it as a guide for our family. I have yet to read his fiction, but it comes highly recommended by Peter Kreeft and a family friend who is also a priest. So I'm excited!
Landscape with Dragons has been a Godsend. The lists of books in the back have been especially useful in helping me find good books for my children over the years.
So excited for each of you. Lots of wonderful books!
Kelsie: Helena is amazing and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. One of my top 20 last year. Also love the book press-Andrew got me my first when we were dating and a second one post marriage. I always press my books after reading and commonplacing and it adds a lovely bit of ritual to my literary life.
Hannah: that is the prettiest edition of Wuthering Heights I’ve ever seen. I’m due for a reread-last time I tried I was pregnant and it was just not what I was in the mood for (this was the same pregnancy where I had a crying fit after rereading Where the Red Fern Grows so I was super emotional that go around haha). And Andrew’s favorite nonfiction of Wendell Berry is probably that collection!
Jess: I LOVE the Every Sacred Sunday journal. I’ve been on a break from it because with where my kiddos are at right now it hasn’t felt possible, but I plan to go back to it when they’re older/better regulated during mass.
This is a serious book haul ladies! Well done! Love all the Wendell Berry :)
I was excited to read my Wendell Berry book anyway, but then I went back and listened to some old Close Reads Year in Reading podcasts and David and Heidi both said it’s the best thing he ever wrote so now I’m even more excited and probably need to pick it up now!
Jessica, I'd be interested to hear what you think of Jason Baxter's book. I felt that it didn't live up to its title but was really unfocused.
Oh this is good to know! I got it for myself and was planning to read it ASAP. Will come back for more conversation!
Same plan here!
Thanks for alerting me to Joseph Epstein’s THE NOVEL, WHO NEEDS IT? Happy New Year!
I’ve only read a few pages so far, but it is fantastic!
I think maybe I have heard of Epstein but haven’t read anything by him yet. Soon to go shopping for my Christmas books and I think this is going to be one of them. Thanks again for the tip!
https://amzn.to/4a0FPe5
His essay (in the above book) on A Literary Education sold me on him as a writer! And I've only heard people rave about The Novel, Who Needs It? (which also, what a great title!)
Good, good books! So many I can't wait to hear your thoughts on!
These are some great stacks! My book purchases for myself have been liberal lately (ha!) so I kept my requests at Christmas to 2 books-- The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life, by Clare Carlisle and Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi (recommended by Erik Rostad @ the Book of Titans Substack who said, "A publisher gifted this book to me saying she read it 5 times in a row. I've also heard that it has made grown men cry.") Love to see Elizabeth Taylor in your stack, Kelsie, (I loved Mrs. Palfrey and followed it up with A View of the Harbour, which was also top-notch). Jason Baxter's book as well as Michael O'Brien's Island of the World have been on my radar so hoping we might get Jess's reviews on those this year. :)
Both of those books sound intriguing!
I'm glad you liked another Elizabeth Taylor book...I am excited to dig in!
I'm sure you will hear us all talk about Baxters book coming up and I am also excited to hear Jess' review of O'Brien!
Island of the World! I absolutely love that book (and just about anything Michael O'Brien writes).
I've had it on my list forever but haven't read it...I was inspired by Jess' stack to maybe try it soon. I LOVED Strangers and Sojourners, but then the rest of the series I had mixed feelings about. Have you read them?
Yes, but it's been a long time. I did re-read Plague Journal recently and it reads like a dystopian novel. The father, an editor, is accused of publishing things against the 'powers that be' and there are ramifications for his family because of it. Father Elijah is one I re-read frequently and my only complaint about that one is it's not longer! I think I really love this one because the protagonist is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who became a Carmelite priest (I am enamored of the Carmelite spirituality) - and he faces the Antichrist - lots of redemptive suffering and suspense in this. There's also a deathbed conversion scene in which Father Elijah is instrumental, and it's a vivid scene of a twisted man who lived a depraved lifestyle. The Father's Tale is epic; see what happens when the protagonist tells God, "Do whatever you want with me." It's about a man's search for his son, and God's search for the father - and God's search for both of them. The Fool of New York City and The Lighthouse are 2 recent books of his that I loved. The Fool of New York City explores themes of trauma and identity, and The Lighthouse explores themes of loneliness and isolation. I don't know exactly how to categorize them. I even read Voyage to Alpha Centauri, but it reads a bit more like science fiction and that's not my genre - but it has the fact that Michael O'Brien authored it going for it.
I think you just became our Michael O'Brien resident expert! I've only read his nonfiction: Landscape of Dragons. Actually, full story: my mom read it while homeschooling us, and used it as a guide to our reading life. Since then, I've read it for myself and used it as a guide for our family. I have yet to read his fiction, but it comes highly recommended by Peter Kreeft and a family friend who is also a priest. So I'm excited!
Landscape with Dragons has been a Godsend. The lists of books in the back have been especially useful in helping me find good books for my children over the years.
My husband found out about Book Press all on his own and got one for me. Definitely happy!
My parents got me one without me knowing it existed and I loved the creativity!