Two inspired to remember 2020 in different ways

Reviewed by Sharon Boehlefeld | The Observer Features Editor

A pair of Catholic teachers from the Rockford Diocese were inspired by the pandemic to record the historic year of 2020. But they went about it in quite different ways.

Layla Groleau’s “Worst Case Scenario Best Life Ever” is a volume of vignettes about two dozen people, the challenges they faced and the ways they overcame them.

The Aurora resident attends St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Sugar Grove,

She opens with a reflection on what inspired her to write the book, saying, “What I have noticed, and I’m not alone, is that the pain, suffering and isolation which so many people are experiencing have prompted self-sacrifice, compassion, and an outpouring of love — such as this generation has never seen.” 

Among the stories she shares is "Distilling for Good," about Whiskey Acres near DeKalb. Owned and operated by Nick Nagels, and Jim and Jamie Walter, she talks about their decision to stop making whiskey and switch their operation to hand sanitizer. (See stories in The Observer on April 28, 2017, and May 15, 2020, to learn more about the history of the operation.)

When they realized such a change could be a way Whiskey Acres could support first responders during the pandemic, they did what they needed to -- including jumping a variety of health "hoops" and calling on the aid of a state legislator -- so they could bottle the needed sanitizer.

Three novels with Catholic themes make for engaging winter reading

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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.

Former Lutheran makes case for becoming Catholic

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 Robert C. Koons, the author of this remarkable book, is professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, and he declares that he makes no claim to being a theologian. A lifelong Lutheran (Missouri Synod), he became a Catholic in 2007.

His slim volume is a detailed explanation of why he believes that being Catholic makes more sense, historically, scripturally and theologically, than being Lutheran or, by extension, any other kind of mainline Protestant.

New books for teens, kids focus on morality, Bible, Jesus

 The following books are suitable for Christmas giving.

"The Spider Who Saved Christmas: A Legend" by Raymond Arroyo, illustrated by Randy Gallegos. Sophia Institute Press (Manchester, New Hampshire, 2020) 38 pp., $17.95.

Every so often a Christmas book stands out among the rest. "The Spider Who Saved Christmas" is not only the charming retelling of the legendary origin of tinsel, but it also gives readers a renewed opportunity to know and appreciate the trials the Holy Family faced after Jesus' birth. This is the tale of how a spider, both feared and fearful herself, saved the baby Jesus from King Herod's murderous soldiers with her intricate web. This also is a story of a gentle Mary, the watchful Joseph and the baby they all work to protect. The pictures beautifully illustrate the wonder of God's design in creation. Ages 4-10.

'Pray and Work' - Author of popular mystery novels has personal story of faith, grace

(CNS photo/Susan Furlong 

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Catholic Post)

By Tom Dermody | Catholic News Service

 "The source of justice is not vengeance but charity."

This quote from St. Bridget of Sweden appears just before Chapter 1 of Susan Furlong's latest mystery novel, "Shattered Justice."

But you won't find "Shattered Justice" in your local Catholic bookstore. The third and final installment of Furlong's popular Bone Gap Travellers series, like its predecessors, is gritty crime fiction.

Msgr. Barr’s ‘Skellig’ Continues The Saga of Conor Archer

Conor Archer, the young man imbued with fantastical powers is back in “Skellig,” Msgr. Eric Barr’s sequel to his earlier book “Roan.”

Released in March, just as the COVID crisis was closing bookstores and other retail outlets, publishing in e-book and  paperback formats made the launch easier on fans who wanted copies right away. 

Categorized as science fiction, fantasy and urban fantasy, the book opens with a prologue set on a “glorious All Saint’s Day, a beautiful autumnal morning after such a night of horror.” 

The night of horror was where we left Conor, after a battle as dramatic and deadly as anything in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.

Although we don’t see Conor in the opening prologue, we see the legacy of the Halloween night battle on Conor’s friend Jace and the others left behind in southwest Wisconsin.

Conor, however, was Ireland-bound and as the first chapter opens, we find his new story beginning much as did his first tale. The scene is an Irish pub where two women watch as what appears to be a dreadful comet heads right towards them.

Conor soon turns up in a conventional way, via jet to Shannon airport, and heads into the Irish countryside to explore his past and encounter his future. 

Coming Next

Expected to be ready in late spring, “Gods in the Ruins: A Vatican Archives Thriller”  is Msgr. Eric Barr’s next work of fiction.

— Sharon Boehlefeld, features editor