#OpenBook: December 2017 Reads

January 3, 2018December 31, 2017 franciscanmom4 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Fiction

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Muller. Basically, this is “Little House on the Prairie” told from Caroline’s point of view rather than young Laura’s. Muller filled in some gaps in the story (I’m guessing by using primary sources, as this novel was authorized by the Wilder Estate) and did well with the attention to historical detail (right down to the question most readers of historical fiction always have but never ask: how did they go to the bathroom?). It got a little tedious and repetitive sometimes, though, especially in the parts where Caroline and Charles’ relationship comes up. If you’re not a “Little House” fan, don’t bother.

One Enchanted Eve by Melissa Tagg. Rylan, a culinary school instructor still smarting from the loss of her bakery and her boyfriend two years ago, can’t stand student Colin, who has the knack for making a mess but also a culinary genius and instinct she lacks, despite her technical skills and knowledge. He strikes a deal to help her wow a local chef in the hopes of reopening her bake shop and brings her home to his family just before Christmas, where both of them must let old wounds heal. Second in a series.

One Enchanted Noel by Melissa Tagg. Third and final in the series, this Christmas romance brings recovering addict Leigh together with Seb, who remembers her at her lowest point. Seb’s in town to renovate the local movie theater for his grandfather’s business so he can earn enough money to save his friend’s ranch. Leigh hopes to kick-start a career as an event planner so she can move on from her job as an assistant manager at a restaurant. Leigh’s teenager daughter, suspicious of her mom’s motives and worried she’ll relapse, complicates everything when she remembers Seb from years ago.

Silver Bells by Deborah Raney. Set in the early 1970s, this novel brings together Michelle, who’s trying to forget the guy who dumped her just before leaving to serve in Vietnam, and Rob, her boss’s son at the newspaper where she’s trying to make a name for herself as a reporter. You can’t help but want the two of them to get together — they’re just so cute. When they encounter one of Michelle’s former schoolmates who’s in an abusive relationship, they’re caught trying to figure out ways to help her that won’t get anyone in trouble. Great dialogue, clean romance (though it’s hard for me to get around the idea that a book set in the 70s is considered historical fiction!) I read this one on Carolyn Astfalk‘s say-so.

A Cliche Christmas by Nicole Dees. Georgia, who lives in Hollywood and writes Hallmark-style Christmas movies for a living, returns to her home town at Christmas at her grandmother’s request to help a little girl with cancer. Problem is, the guy she’d always crushed on is also involved in this project, and she can’t let go of the humiliation she felt the last time they worked together. I read and enjoyed the second book in this series before I knew it was a series — both of these work as standalones.

Calm & Bright by Autumn MacArthur. Returning to his hometown in Idaho to spend time with his 4-year-old son, workaholic Brad can’t strike a good balance between work and parenting, which is what broke him and Maddie up to begin with. A possible new job (requiring even more of his time) and possible reconciliation with Maddie are at odds, as Maddie loves living in the small town where she grew up. Good story of a struggle with priorities.

Nonfiction

A Heart Like Mary’s by Edward Looney. For the past few weeks, I’ve kept this little book tucked in my bag, and I’ve made a special effort to get to the 9 AM Mass a little early instead of sliding in at 8:59, so I can spend a few quiet moments pondering the day’s reflection. With 31 chapters, this book is a month-long mini-retreat that you can start reading anytime. Each day’s entry contains a Scripture passage, reflection, prayer to Mary our intercessor, and an action item: a step toward living with a Marian heart. This book doesn’t feel like it’s “once and done.” I’m not in any hurry to put this one on the shelf and forget about it. (Review copy received from publisher.) I’m running a month-long series of memes based on the prayers in this book.

Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life by Mary Elizabeth Sperry. Some decluttering books are written by people who act like they have it all together. Those books are not for me. Sperry readily admits that she has a lot of work to do, and that her home is not perfectly neat and tidy all the time. I like the connections made between homemaking and the spiritual life. This book addresses necessary topics like spiritual discipline, reconciliation, prayer, and materialism. The best chapter, in my opinion, is the one where the author draws parallels between clutter and sin. (Advance review copy received from publisher; this book will be released February 2.)

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links.

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

"31 Days with A Heart Like Mary's" by Barb Szyszkiewicz (FranciscanMom.com)

31 Days with a Heart Like Mary’s: Day 3

January 3, 2018December 30, 2017 franciscanmomLeave a comment

For the past few weeks, I’ve kept Father Edward Looney’s A Heart Like Mary’s tucked in my bag, and I’ve made a special effort to get to the 9 AM Mass a little early instead of sliding in at 8:59, so I can spend a few quiet moments pondering the day’s reflection.

With 31 chapters, this book is a month-long mini-retreat that you can start reading anytime. Each day’s entry contains a Scripture passage, reflection, prayer to Mary our intercessor, and an action item: a step toward living with a Marian heart.

Pray a bit of today’s prayer from A Heart Like Mary’s with me:

Read the rest of this series.

Copyright 2018 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are my own.

31 Days with a Heart Like Mary’s: Day 2

January 2, 2018December 30, 2017 franciscanmomLeave a comment

Pray a bit of today’s prayer from A Heart Like Mary’s with me:

Read the rest of this series.

31 Days with a Heart Like Mary’s: Day 1

January 1, 2018December 30, 2017 franciscanmomLeave a comment

Pray a bit of today’s prayer from A Heart Like Mary’s with me:

#OpenBook: November 2017 Reads

December 6, 2017December 3, 2017 franciscanmom1 Comment

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. I added a new category, Christmas stories, this month because I am all about reading Christmas novels and novellas. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Fiction: Christmas Stories

Best of All Gifts by Sheila Cronin. Two Thanksgivings ago, I read Sheila Cronin’s The Gift Counselor, a perfect Christmastime read. In that story, we meet Jonquil, a young widowed mom who has carved out a unique job as a department-store gift counselor. She helps customers examine their motivation for the gifts they give, while advising them on good gift choices. Jonquil uses data gathered at work for her thesis so she can complete an advanced degree. Jonquil’s story continues in Best of All Gifts, in which we find that her work nemesis is assigned to be her assistant, her new thesis advisor seems to have it in for her (and she’s inexplicably attracted to him), and the father who disappeared when she was eight years old resurfaces. And there’s more: Jonquil’s son has a very scary health crisis and she just isn’t sure that Claude, the contractor she began dating in the first book, really wants to marry her. And Thanksgiving is coming. Read my full review.

Christmas at Gate 18 by Amy Matayo. A Sports Illustrated cover model tired of being objectified for her looks (but not tired enough to quit her job) meets a Hollywood executive when they’re both stranded in the Dominican Republic due to a late-season hurricane just before Christmas. I enjoyed the story. I didn’t so much enjoy the attempt at “chemistry” between the two that mostly devolved into Colt’s objectification of Rory. It wasn’t very explicit, but it definitely took away from the message the rest of the story seemed to be trying to convey.

Fiction

They See a Family by Amanda Hamm. Kay reaches out to her friend William for help when an accident kills Kay’s sister and brother-in-law, leaving their baby and toddler in her care. Kay and William had been friends for a long time, and both harbored unspoken crushes. As they navigate the pitfalls of caring for two young children and dealing with Kay’s grief, each tries to figure out how to reveal the feelings of growing love to the other — even as they cook up a plan to become a family out of necessity. Highly recommended. (Advance review copy received from author; book coming in late January.)

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter. When Noah finds out his ex had never followed through on filing their signed divorce papers, he angrily demands that she set things right. Josephine, who admits the fault in both the failed marriage and messed-up divorce, tries to go one step further and deliver the paperwork to his remote ranch to save him a trip to town. Then the two are stranded due to car trouble and snowy weather, and Josie makes mistake after mistake as she tries to help the two of them out of increasingly difficult circumstances. Finally, when they find themselves in a true crisis, Josie opens up about her harrowing past. This is an intriguing story, well-paced, with lots of flashbacks and a loose end or two.

The Odds of You and Me by Cecilia Galante. Bernadette “Bird” has less than two weeks to complete her probation for writing bad checks to pay for diapers and food for her young son. A single mom with a complicated history with her mom, Bird is trying hard to make a new start when she discovers her former coworker James, a badly-injured fugitive with a stolen gun, hiding in her local church. Bird must grapple with the dilemma of whether to help him as he once helped her, while balancing her job, parenting, her grief about some events in her past, and her difficulties with her mother. This book contains a few inaccurate representations of what the Church actually teaches.

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella. This author never disappoints — she puts terrific characters in believable situations, and she lets them (and the reader) feel just the right amount of discomfort. When a young couple’s doctor tells them on their tenth anniversary that they’ll probably live long enough to be married 68 years, they panic: how will they keep it fresh? But their manic, hilarious (and expensive) attempts to surprise each other come dangerously close to breaking them up. A fun read. (Netgalley review.)

YA/Children’s

Julia’s Gifts by Ellen Gable. Prepare to be charmed! I loved Julia’s hopefulness, shown that December of 1917 when she spent nearly all she had on a gift for someone she had not yet met. These gifts figure significantly in the story — because she brings them to a war zone with her, in the hopes that she’ll get to give them to her one true love. Instead, she finds that she’s called to sacrifice them in ways she never imagined. This is a well-researched piece of historical fiction about a time period that’s often overshadowed by the World War II era. This was written for the YA audience, but adults will enjoy it too. Read my full review. (Advance review copy received from author.)

Caleb and Kit by Beth Vrabel. Caleb has cystic fibrosis and the burdensome care routine and restrictions that keep him alive are getting him down and causing problems with his peers. In the summer he meets Kit, a girl his age who’s pretty much on her own. The two of them form a secret friendship where they can both take a break from the burdens each of them bears. Beautiful novel for middle-school students, with a sensitive treatment of what it’s like for a young teen to live with a chronic illness — and for his family.

Nonfiction

Tied in Knots: Finding Peace in Today’s World by Greg Willits. This is a book I’ll probably revisit again, with highlighter in hand. I appreciate Willits’ openness about his own struggles with anxiety and what it has cost him. However, I was distracted by all the personal stories and I know I missed the crux of the book because of that. It was too easy to get carried away by the personal accounts. This book begs for a second read, this time with less concentration on Willits’ own story and more on the advice he offers. The end of the book features a useful guide to the Rosary and the Novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.

Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything by Anne Bogel. I love all things personality theory, so I was prepared to love this book. But it was really more of a beginner’s guide; I’d read many of the books Bogel used as resources for this book. There wasn’t much in there that was new to me, and I don’t think the book really kept the promise it made in the subtitle. I’d have called it “a beginner’s guide to seeing the world through the lens of personality.” Bogel spent a lot of time sharing what she discovered about herself with each form of personality theory, but there wasn’t much on what everyone else can learn.

The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections from Pope Francis by Diane Houdek. The reflections begin with a gratitude-themed essay that is perfect for Thanksgiving and continue through Advent and the Christmas season. Each entry in this book is only a couple of pages long (so you won’t feel stressed-out trying to keep up with it) and has three parts: a quiet reflection from Pope Francis, followed by “A Christmas Reality” — a reality check from the author on how to live out Pope Francis’ teaching, and “Your Christmas Gift Today,” an action item that’s not something so taxing that it will cause you to feel you have yet another obligation on a day that’s already packed with things to do, places to go, and stuff to check off your ever-growing list. Read my full review. (Advance copy received from publisher.)

Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison. This book about the plight of foster children in very difficult circumstances was written from the point of view of a foster mom. She’s very honest about her wish to be able to save all children who are facing extreme family challenges, even when she knows she’s spread too thin already. She’s also honest about the occasional error in judgment — which, let’s face it, we all make as parents. But it’s clear that she is operating from a true love of children and a wish to give kids who’ve had a horrific start in life a chance at a better future. Due to its sometimes graphic nature, this book is for older teens and adults.

The Catholic Hipster Handbook by Tommy TIghe is packed with plenty of Catholic inside baseball without making the reader feel unworthy. This book won’t teach you how to be a cool Catholic. Instead, it revels in what’s cool about being Catholic and invites the reader to revel in it too. Tommy Tighe gathered together 15 cool Catholics, many of whom you’ll find speaking and tweeting and writing and hosting Catholic radio shows, to help put this handbook together. Read my full review. (Advance reading copy received from publisher.)

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

Favorite Things, and a Wish or Two: Christmas Gift Guide

November 26, 2017November 25, 2017 franciscanmom1 Comment

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made via these links benefit this writer. Thanks!

I love reading gift guides. They’re a peek into what other people treasure. In case you’re in need of gift ideas, I figured I’d share some of the things I use and enjoy most. Unless otherwise noted, all of the items in this guide are things I’ve purchased (or received as a gift) and that I’d wholeheartedly recommend. There are a few wishes on there as well, because that’s just fun.

I didn’t include anything in the “books” category, because my book reviews are all over this blog, and there’s just so much space and time to write!

For your listening pleasure

The Oh Hellos Family Christmas Album. My older son introduced me to this, saying he knew I’d love it. He’s right. It’s not even Advent, but I’m already playing this. Very homespun sound with tight harmonies. The album has four movements, each of which are medleys of familiar tunes. Play it on repeat — but not on shuffle, since it tells a story. My only complaint? I wish it were longer!

Anna Nuzzo: Be Love. If you didn’t discover this in 2014 when it came out, be ready to enjoy it now! Subtitled “Songs of Faith, Hope & Love,” this album has my very favorite Anna Nuzzo hymn: “Memorare.” The music is very peaceful and prayerful, with simple piano accompaniment.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Eve and Other Stories. This is the album we cue up every year when we decorate the Christmas tree. I can’t help but conduct an imaginary orchestra during some of the more dramatic pieces. (No, I will not put that on Facebook Live.)

A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. This is my daughter’s favorite study music during final exams. It’s also just about the only jazz I’m willing to listen to. Enjoy this as background music during Christmas dinner.

Movie Time!

A Charlie Brown Christmas, because it’s not Christmas without watching this one. Who doesn’t love Snoopy’s doghouse decorations and Linus’ creativity in turning his blanket into a costume? And then there’s the best moment in any Christmas movie ever: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It must be this version — the one with Boris Karloff singing, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” My favorite moments? Anything involving Max — watch his facial expressions. They’re priceless. And I’d love to learn the song the Whos sing, even after they find that their Christmas gifts and decorations have been stolen.

It’s a Wonderful Life: the ultimate Christmas romance. Yes, I said romance. When Jimmy Stewart promises to lasso the moon … I do love this movie. George Bailey seems so real, and you really want things to turn out well for him and his family. This version offers both black & white and colorized versions of this iconic holiday movie.

The Year Without a Santa Claus. I’m including this one because it’s my husband’s favorite. Always a weather buff (even before he majored in meteorology in college) he gets the biggest kick out of the Heat Miser and Snow Miser. We still watch this one every single year, just because it’s fun.

Last Holiday. Not really a Christmas movie but my daughter and I enjoy this sweet rom-com every year during Christmas vacation. Here’s the story: Cautious Georgia learns she has only a few weeks to live, so she cashes in her carefully-saved retirement funds and decides to take her dream trip to a European resort. Meanwhile, the shy coworker who’d been crushing on her doesn’t want to let her slip away.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Not for the kids, but oh, so funny. Our family tradition is to watch this one either on the day when ~~Clark~~ Hubs hangs up the outdoor lights or on his last day of work for the calendar year. We know half the lines and laugh at the jokes and gags before they even happen. There’s a little bit of Clark in all of us at Christmas, and watching this movie is a good way to get rid of some of that tension.

In the Kitchen

Instant Pot 6-qt 7-in-1. This is the model I have. I’m still learning how to use it, but so far I’ve had good success with it. The sauté function is terrific for browning roasts before slow-cooking or pressure-cooking them, and this appliance makes it easier to cook potatoes for mashed potatoes (and you can mash them right in the cooking insert!)

OGGI utensil holder. I’m short on drawer space in my kitchen, but I have more wooden spoons, spatulas, and other utensils than anyone reasonably needs. This stainless-steel utensil holder accommodates an awful lot of my tools, is easy to clean, and looks pretty on the countertop, too. It measures 7 inches in diameter, and it’s heavy enough that it won’t tip over even if you have a lot of whisks and ladles hanging over the edge.

Cuisinart Chef’s Classic cookware. I purchased this cookware two years ago to replace some worn-out Farberware, and I never looked back. It’s dishwasher-safe, oven-safe to 500°, and the pots feature tapered rims for easy pouring.

Sheet pans, because sheet-pan cooking is a thing and you can never have enough of them! I’m a fan of these made-in-USA NordicWare half-sheet pans. I use them for cookies, roasting vegetables, and sheet-pan cooking — plus they make great trays in a pinch! I also have a couple of the quarter-sheet size. Sometimes I’ll have one half-sheet and two quarter-sheet pans in the oven all at once. Cover in foil for easy cleanup.

Drink Up

Aeropress. Make individual cups of coffee quickly and without a lot of mess. You can adjust the brew time to customize the taste of your coffee. These are easy to use, easy to clean and don’t take up a lot of space on the counter. If, like me, you don’t have a large kitchen, this is a big consideration!

Milk frother. This Marhet frother is about the third one I’ve tried and it’s lasted longer than the others. I heat the milk in the microwave, froth it, and then add coffee for a fake “latte” that makes a nice treat. I usually replace the batteries once a month if I use the frother daily.

S’well bottles really do keep beverages cold; I’ve had ice cubes last 24 hours in it! My daughter gave me one of these for Christmas last year. I’ll drink water if it’s icy cold, and I carry this bottle around with me everywhere. These bottles look nice and are easy to clean.

The only thing I didn’t like about the S’well bottle is the cap. The screw top had no handle, so it wasn’t easy to carry the bottle around, and it required two hands to open the bottle and drink. I discovered this Iconiq Pop-Up Straw Cap that fits the S’well bottle. I can slide one finger through the loop and tote that bottle around even with full hands. It’s easy to flip the top up to drink.

Gadgets and Fun Stuff

Kindle Paperwhite. This is my second Kindle. I have a tablet with the Kindle app, but the Paperwhite’s lighting is much easier on my eyes. Being able to change the lighting as well as the font size is a game-changer, and since the Paperwhite isn’t backlit, it’s easy to use outdoors even in full sun.

Bluetooth earbuds. It’s nice having earbuds that are not tethered to your phone with a cord; I always got tangled up with that! These are great for walking and comfortable to wear. They recharge pretty quickly too.

A pencil wrap that holds up to 72 colored pencils, gel ink pens or markers is great for the coloring-book fan. I bought this one because I liked the way it looks, and that it folds up to about the size of a paperback book. It doesn’t come with pencils, so make sure you fill it!

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners are my new favorite pens, and they come in a terrific range of colors. They don’t bleed through most paper and they dry very quickly, so they’re almost smear-proof.

This sturdy Baggalini hobo tote is great for travel or just running errands. It has pockets on both sides as well as front and back, and a key fob on the inside as well as a small change purse. I have it in charcoal (like you see here) but it comes in tons of colors. Mine is bright pink on the inside, which is nice because you can see things in it — they don’t get lost at the dark bottom of the purse. This bag is big enough to hold an iPad Mini either inside or in the front pocket, and my S’well bottle fits in the side pocket.

Fill the Stockings with Socks!

These are my favorite socks–they’re so soft and comfortable. They’re a little higher than a crew sock; perfect for booties if you like wearing those. They’re all-cotton but have that ragg pattern like many wool socks, so if you like this look but don’t like itchy socks, these are for you!

I also like these fun patterned socks. I already own a set of these Flora & Fred Nordic-patterned socks, but I wish-listed the pattern pictured here too! These are a thinner and slightly shorter sock, great with a dressier shoe or loafer and super cute.

For the Kids

Playmobil Nativity Set. Let your kids play with this Nativity set! They can arrange the figures and animals however they like. If your kids are anything like my kids, the Fisher-Price School Bus will arrive at the manger for a field trip … but that’s fine!

Wits & Wagers is a fun party game that mixes trivia with bets to see which person has the right answer — which is always a number. You can win the game without even getting one question right! It’s quick to play, too. There are other editions of this game, but this Family Edition is fun for kids and grownups.

Advent Wreaths

These are in the “wish” category. We have an Advent wreath that has been in Hubs’ family since he was a kid — so we’ll never get rid of that. The plastic greenery is getting kind of tired, and I’ve tried to spiff it up by adding a few embellishments. That’s probably the best I can do. But since a girl can dream, I like these three …

Journey to Bethlehem Advent wreath — this is a very pretty Advent wreath. I like how they show it filled with ornaments on the inside; I’d never considered doing that, but it looks lovely.

Anticipation Advent wreath — this one is carved wood. Love the look!

Believe Holy Family Advent wreath — this is so cute!

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Best of All Gifts

November 24, 2017November 18, 2017 franciscanmom1 Comment

I’m all about the Christmas novel (and novella). Follow me on Goodreads in the fall and winter and you’ll see that a big chunk of my fiction reading falls straight into the holiday-read category. There’s no shame in that; these are light reads, with sweet stories that pair perfectly with a white-chocolate mocha, fuzzy socks and a warm blanket.

Two Thanksgivings ago, I read Sheila Cronin’s The Gift Counselor, a perfect Christmastime read. In that story, we meet Jonquil, a young widowed mom who has carved out a unique job as a department-store gift counselor. She helps customers examine their motivation for the gifts they give, while advising them on good gift choices. Jonquil uses data gathered at work for her thesis so she can complete an advanced degree.

Jonquil’s story continues in Best of All Gifts, which is just the right novel to enjoy now — at Thanksgiving time. Jonquil’s work nemesis is assigned to be her assistant, her new thesis advisor seems to have it in for her (and she’s inexplicably attracted to him), and the father who disappeared when she was eight years old resurfaces. And there’s more: Jonquil’s son has a very scary health crisis and she just isn’t sure that Claude, the contractor she began dating in the first book, really wants to marry her. And Thanksgiving is coming.

My favorite character from The Gift Counselor, Rita, doesn’t get very much face time in this story, but we do get to meet Jonquil’s grandmother, who is lovable and wise.

Grab a cup of tea and a slice of pumpkin pie and savor this well-told story. You’ll love Best of All Gifts.

Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This post contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchase through these links helps support this blog. Thank you! I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Catholic Fun from Ave Maria Press

November 17, 2017October 29, 2017 franciscanmom1 Comment

Celebrate the fun of being Catholic with two clever offerings from Ave Maria Press.

Tommy Tighe’s Catholic Hipster Handbook reminded me of what I love about handbooks.

True confession: when I was in high school, The Preppy Handbook came out. My high school was preppy long before Lisa Birnbach told the rest of us how to imitate the real deal, complete with detailed drawings of what to wear for all occasions. I studied that book relentlessly, though it was clear from the subtext that as alligator-logo shirts and Weejuns weren’t in my budget, I wasn’t worthy to be among those who were to the manor born.

The Catholic Hipster Handbook is packed with plenty of Catholic inside baseball without making the reader feel unworthy. This book won’t teach you how to be a cool Catholic. Instead, it revels in what’s cool about being Catholic and invites the reader to revel in it too.

Tommy Tighe gathered together 15 cool Catholics, many of whom you’ll find speaking and tweeting and writing and hosting Catholic radio shows, to help put this handbook together. One of my favorite essays was Tommy’s own “Take a fresh look at that rosary” which encouraged readers to explore other forms of the rosary and chaplets. I’d add the Franciscan Crown to Tommy’s list of rosary-based prayer alternatives. Lisa Hendey details the must-have apps: I love the way she uses Evernote! And Anna Mitchell’s essay on the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) is excellent as well. And and and …

This isn’t a book you need to read start-to-finish. Skip around. Open at random. The only thing this book doesn’t have (that I wish it did) is a detailed table of contents that includes the title of each essay. In a book of this nature, that would have been very helpful.

Who should read it: anyone who’s into history, trivia, and great stories — and who possesses a healthy sense of humor.

Speaking of trivia, reading The Catholic Hipster Handbook will prove very handy when you open up Catholic Puzzles, Word Games, and Brainteasers. (It’s not cheating if you read the Handbook before you do the puzzles! It’s priming your brain!)

Matt Swaim included puzzles of all kinds in Catholic Puzzles. If crosswords aren’t your thing, there are plenty of anagrams, code scrambles, word-link puzzles, and more. Do you like a challenge? Try the word search with missing vowels.

Some of the puzzles are quick to complete, like “Misspelled Books of the Bible” (of course I did this one first!) and “Scrambled Partner Saints.” Others, such as “Alphabet Fill-Ins,” will take a while.

When you’ve filled in all the blanks in Catholic Puzzles, Word Games, and Brainteasers, you’ll be relieved to note that there’s a Volume 2 with even more Catholic-puzzle fun.

Who will love it: teachers, youth-group leaders, and anyone who enjoys puzzles! Pair it with a pack of mechanical pencils for a terrific gift.

Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This post contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchase through these links helps support this blog. Thank you! I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Julia’s Gifts

November 10, 2017November 8, 2017 franciscanmom3 Comments

When you open up Ellen Gable’s newest novel, Julia’s Gifts, prepare to be charmed.

As you continue reading, prepare to weep a little — and smile a little more.

Julia’s Gifts begins in Philadelphia during World War I, but the scene quickly shifts to France as the plucky twenty-year-old protagonist gamely makes her way to the battlefront to serve in a field hospital.

Before crossing the Atlantic, however, Julia is busy purchasing Christmas gifts for her family. Years before, when her mother suggested that she begin to pray for her future spouse, Julia decided to take things one step further and make or purchase a Christmas gift for her beloved each year. She already has two pairs of hand-knit socks, plus a leather-bound pocket notebook, stashed away; this year, determined that this will be the year she meets her beloved, she overspends on a beautiful engraved pocket watch.

I loved Julia’s hopefulness, shown that December of 1917 when she spent nearly all she had on a gift for someone she had not yet met. These gifts figure significantly in the story — because she brings them to a war zone with her, in the hopes that she’ll get to give them to her one true love. Instead, she finds that she’s called to sacrifice them in ways she never imagined.

Because I enjoyed Julia’s story so much, I was happy to learn that this is the first of a trilogy called “Great War Great Love.” Here’s what you can expect from the next two books:

Charlotte’s Honor is Book #2 and takes place at approximately the same time as Julia’s Gifts, but focuses on a different female protagonist, Charlotte, who finds her purpose in life when she begins working in the death ward and holding men’s hands as they die. She is attracted to Canadian Dr. Paul Kilgallen. During an advance by the enemy, everyone at the field hospital evacuates, except for Charlotte and Dr. K. They remain hidden in the basement of the chateau to take care of the terminally ill men and those soldiers who can’t be moved. Charlotte becomes convinced that Paul is her own “beloved.” But when she loses contact with Paul, she fears not only for his safety, but begins to doubt his love for her. Charlotte’s Honor will be released in late 2018.

Ella’s Promise is Book #3 in the series. It is about the daughter of German immigrants, Ella, an American nurse who (because of the time period) was discouraged from continuing on in her studies to be a doctor. She works as a nurse for three years in Philadelphia but reads medical books every opportunity she gets. During the Great War, she travels to Le Treport, France to work at the American-run hospital. She meets her own beloved in the last place she would expect to meet him. Ella’s Promise will be released in mid-2019.

Julia’s Gifts is written for a YA audience and will appeal to young teen readers as well as adults. Be assured that while it is a historical romance, it is a “clean romance” and you can feel safe handing it to your daughters to enjoy — as long as they have the stomach for the inevitable description of war injuries.

Read the first few pages:

December 17, 1917

The bustling streets of Center City Philadelphia shimmered with electric lights, heralding that Christmas was near. Julia Marie Murphy lifted her head and gazed upward. The night sky was filled with snow clouds, the air brisk. She pulled on her gloves and buttoned the top of her coat. Her thoughts turned to her future husband. Dear God in heaven, please protect my beloved.

Tens of thousands of American men had already enlisted to fight in this “Great War.” The gentlemen that Julia knew seemed anxious to join, and Julia thanked God that her three brothers were too young to fight.

In a few short weeks, it would be 1918. All of her father’s friends and acquaintances expected the war to end soon, hopefully before the middle of the year. But 1918 held far more significance for Julia. This would be the year that she would turn 21.

She approached Lit Brothers department store, admiring the display windows that were outlined with colored electric lights. Julia was thankful that it was Monday. If it were Thursday, the ban on electric lights (in support of the war effort) would mean the windows would be dark.

Julia stared, transfixed, through the window at the tall display. Shimmery red fabric hung from a back wall, a beautiful sterling silver pocket watch lay on top of a cylindrical pedestal. Her eyes widened when she saw the price tag: $12.25, almost 20 percent of her annual salary. But it was beautiful and every man needed one. The price notwithstanding, this would be a perfect gift for her beloved. Yes, it was extravagant, especially during wartime. Yes, there were less expensive items she could purchase. It didn’t matter. This was the ideal gift.

After purchasing it, she took it to the engraving department on the second floor. Behind the counter, the tall, lanky middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache smiled. “What would you like engraved on this?”

“To my beloved, next line, all my love, Julia.”

His eyebrows lifted. “I’m certain the gentleman would prefer to have his Christian name engraved on this lovely timepiece. Don’t you agree?”

“Well, yes, I imagine he would. But I don’t really know his name or who he is yet.”

The man’s mouth fell open and he stuttered. “I’m..I’m…s…sorry, Miss. I…I don’t understand. You’ve bought an expensive pocket watch for someone you don’t know?”

Julia sighed. She shouldn’t have said anything.

“Please just use the words I gave you.”

The man nodded and regarded Julia with an expression of suspicious curiosity, a look one might give a person in an asylum.

“How long will it take?”

“For the engraving? Ten days. Sorry, Miss, but you won’t have it in time for Christmas.”

“That’s all right.” Julia turned and walked a few steps and heard the salesman mumble, “Now there’s an odd girl. Buying a gift for someone she doesn’t know. Tsk tsk.”

Sighing, she checked her own wristwatch and hurried out of the store to begin the three-block walk to her trolley stop. If she didn’t get there in time for the five p.m. streetcar, she would be waiting half an hour.

This year Julia was determined that she would meet her beloved, the man for whom she had been praying these past four years. Why hadn’t she met him yet? Some of her friends were already married. Her beloved was out there and she would find him. Yes, 1918 would also be the year that she would meet her beloved.

Each December, Julia wondered what she would buy her beloved for Christmas. Last year, she searched different stores but found nothing special. She finally discovered — and bought — a brown leather pocket journal at a specialty store at Broad and Bigler Streets. She didn’t know whether her beloved would be the sort to write in one, but it seemed like an appropriate gift, especially since it had a delicate leaf embossed on the cover. The year before, she had bought a sterling silver Miraculous Medal because her beloved would be Catholic.

That first year, her mother suggested that she begin praying for her future husband. After a few weeks of doing so, Julia felt inspired to do more. It had been the week before Christmas, so she decided that she would buy or make him a Christmas gift each year until they met. With no job and no money that year, Julia knit him two pairs of socks, one blue-green and one green-brown, with finely-made yarn that her mother had given her.

The fact that she had made or bought gifts, and had spent hard-earned money for her future husband, had not pleased her father as he thought it too impractical and sentimental. Her mother, however, had declared that it was a beautiful gesture. Of course, if Mother knew how much she had spent on the most recent gift, she was pretty certain her mother wouldn’t be happy.

Julia’s Gifts is available on Kindle and in paperback from Full Quiver Publishing.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchase through these links helps support this blog. Thank you! I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.
Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Fierce like Francis

November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 franciscanmom2 Comments

While all Secular Franciscans follow the same call, to live a Gospel life in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, every Secular Franciscan follows this call differently, according to his or her own abilities and state of life. Every Secular Franciscan has a particular way in which we can say that he or she is like Francis.

Eileen was fierce like Francis.

Despite the many difficulties, health crises, and hardships she endured in her later years (or maybe because of them), Eileen was not about to waste time thinking but never acting. She challenged us: are we doing enough? Are we praying enough? Are we listening to God enough? What is God telling us to do?

Sometimes Eileen would come to a Secular Franciscan gathering and ask bold questions, seemingly out of nowhere. But those questions were born of her deep faith and constant prayer. When she was not physically able to do more, she always prayed and contemplated.

In Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious, Pat Gohn noted,

The good of the Gospel is that it leads us to new life in Christ and, ultimately, eternal life in heaven. This gospel of life has a very practical application for Christians. A woman’s influence in the world consists of being a guardian of life. We give witness to it in our very nature, and that should extend to the moral leadership we have wherever we live and work. (161)

Indeed, Eileen was a mother and grandmother, giving witness to the gift of life; but her work did not stop there. Eileen had a deep concern for the unborn, and she participated in the March for Life as she was able. Throughout the year, she worked to keep the cause of the vulnerable unborn in the public eye by writing letters to the editor of our local newspaper, many of which were published.

St. Francis had many fierce moments in his life: his embrace of the leper, his journey to Egypt with the aim of converting the Sultan, his refusal to stay in the fine monasteries he’d advised the brothers not to build, his renunciation of his father’s wealth. Some might call these reckless moves, but they were not at all reckless. They were born of faith and prayer and a wish to live up to very high ideals. They required courage and fierceness.

Giotto_di_Bondone_-_Legend_of_St_Francis_-_6._Dream_of_Innocent_III_-_WGA09125 — The dream of Pope Innocent III: Francis holds up the Lateran Basilica with his shoulder. Giotto di Bondone [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Early in his ministry, St. Francis traveled to Rome to receive papal approval of his rule of life. Pope Innocent III hesitated in granting this approval, thinking that Francis’ way of life was impractical. But according to legend, Innocent dreamed he saw Francis propping up the Basilica of St. John Lateran with his shoulder — and this convinced him to give his blessing to the Franciscans. It’s fitting, then, that we celebrate Eileen’s life today, on the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the first physical church building and the symbol of the Church that Francis had set out to rebuild.

Not all of us are courageous enough to be fierce like Francis. But Eileen was, and all of us who knew her are better for her boldness.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS
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FranciscanMom

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#OpenBook: December 2017 Reads

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Nonfiction

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31 Days with a Heart Like Mary’s: Day 2

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31 Days with a Heart Like Mary’s: Day 1

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#OpenBook: November 2017 Reads

Fiction: Christmas Stories

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YA/Children’s

Nonfiction

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