Three novels with Catholic themes make for engaging winter reading

(CNS photo)

Reviewed by Nancy L. Roberts | Catholic News Service

This trio of novels with Catholic themes offers plenty of engaging wintertime reading.

In "A Clean Heart," John Rosengren creates memorable characters such as Carter Kirchner, a substance abuse counselor at a drug treatment center for teenagers. Besides the usual challenges of helping his young clients navigate the road to sobriety, he also must deal with the heavy drinking of his boss, Sister Mary Xavier, which threatens both her well-being and the center's. Then his mother is suddenly hospitalized with advanced cirrhosis, the result of her long-standing alcoholism.

McHenry author shares two years of witness at ‘a peculiar institution’

Reviewed by Sharon Boehlefeld | The Observer Features Editor

Several years ago, a book club I belonged to opted to read a collection of the records of Lewis and Clark from their expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

I must admit, I didn’t get the book finished by our discussion, but I wanted to read it all. As it happened, we scheduled the discussion to coincide with the launching of the expedition, which was on May 14, 1804.