Summer reading: Gripping account tells past, present of monks kidnapped in Algeria

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If you saw the 2010 film, "Of Gods and Men," you know the true story of the Trappist monks of the monastery of Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine in Algeria.
On the night of March 26-27, 1996, seven of the monks were kidnapped during the Algerian civil war. Although this wasn't clear from the film, the monks were held for two months and were found dead in late May 1996. The identity of their killers remains uncertain to this day.
"The Last Monk of Tibhirine" is an account of life in the monastery today and of the lone surviving monk, Brother Jean-Pierre Schumacher, who escaped execution by beheading. If you read this book you will gain a better understanding of the events that preceded the martyrdom of the seven Trappists than one gets from the film -- excellent though it is.

Summer reading: Marvel's 'Miracleman' hard to believe

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"Miracleman," a 1980s British comic currently being reissued by Marvel, was an attempt at deconstructing superhero cliches. Violent and depressing, the series tells a story that's often as dated and hackneyed as the Superman tropes it seeks to dismantle.
It's too graphic and sexualized for young readers, and too weird and overwrought for older ones.
The title character first appeared in the 1950s, as a British version of DC Comics' verbally self-transforming Shazam; Miracleman's own magic cue being "Kimota!" Three decades later, the property was revived by Alan Moore, an eccentric English writer who would go on to create the celebrated graphic novel "Watchmen." Moore's exalted reputation among fans may account for the deluxe reissue of this earlier work.

Summer reading: Engaging book looks at role of clothing in U.S. Catholic history

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When the new Pope Francis discarded the traditional red papal footwear for simple black shoes, he underscored the power of clothing as a cultural symbol.
This is something Catholics, both clergy and lay, have always understood. From priests' Roman collars to nuns' veiled habits to schoolgirls' blue serge jumpers, American Catholics have long worn visually distinctive attire.
Such clothing has helped create a sense of identity and belonging for Catholics, who historically have sought to find their way in a social landscape ruled by Protestants. For instance, in earlier times, when most priests were foreign-born, the characteristic Roman collar and other specialized clothing helped clergy gain respectability.
Sally Dwyer-McNulty, a history professor at Marist College, has given us an intriguing and thoughtful examination of what Catholics were wearing at different times and why.

Children's summer reading: books on saints, nature and more

These books are suitable for summer reading by children in a variety of age groups:

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"Saint Magnus: The Last Viking" by Susan Peek. Catholic Vitality Publications (St. Marys, Kansas, 2014). 235 pp., $17.95.
Royal bloodlines, brutal 10th-century Viking battles and loyal brotherhood make "Saint Magnus" an unforgettable read. The book tells of the obscure regal saint, a just, gentle and holy heir to the throne of the Orkney Islands of what is now Scotland. St. Magnus faces suffering and trial after trial seeking peace for his kingdom and forgiveness for his brother's heart. His own forgiveness and devotion to God made Magnus a saint, this legendary story excellently told by author Susan Peek makes this story hard to put down. Ages 14 and up.