CatholicMom-booknotes-logoLast week, much to my children's delight, we woke to SNOW. In our part of Ohio, this is NOT normal.

It's back to sunny fall this week (thank GOODNESS!), but I'm now officially in curl-up-and-drink-tea mode. And this week's reads are worthy of some fine tea and great conversation!

Recent Reads

Real Men Pray the Rosary: A Practical Guide to a Powerful Prayer, by David N. Calvillo (Ave Maria Press, 2013)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

What a book! Men, get this. Read it. Do what it says. Women, you too. I think the clincher for me was the last chapter, which was written by Calvillo's wife and addressed to women. All in all, a good read and one to share wide and far.

Dear God, I Don’t Get It, by Patti Maguire Armstrong (Liguori Publications, 2013, middle grade fiction)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

Lucky for me, I read fast, because my eight-year-old has a sense of when I'm reading a book she'll like. This is one of them: it's perfect for her, and though I don't have a middle grade son, I think this book would work for either boys or girls. It's cute, in the "I'm an adult reading a kids' book" way, without being cutesy. It's a book I'll be marking to share with others for sure.

Current Reads

Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest, by Donald H. Calloway, MIC (Marian Press, 2013)

Don't let the cover of this book fool you: it's not a quick read. It has good writing and great concepts, but it's not quick (at least not for me). I meant to finish it over the weekend, but as you can see...nope. Part of it is that I catch myself sort of mulling over the quotes at the end of each section...and that's a good thing. It just doesn't lend itself to reading it fast.

Ora et Labora et Zombies, by Ryan Charles Trussell (fiction, in letters!)

Oh, joy of joys. I had something like 15 of these letters (yes, there's a letter a week, each one an installment of the story) and I sat down one afternoon, curled between a dog and a fuzzy blanket, and just read and read and readI don't even LIKE zombies. Doesn't matter. If you aren't already turned on to Trussell's brilliance, check out the interview I did with him a while back.

Up Next

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Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families, by Patti Armstrong and Theresa Thomas

I've been meaning to read this book...and it is finally in my hands (well, almost). I expect it to be delightful and sweet, and I'm sure that I will think better about the world when I'm done with it. And if not, I'll throw it across the room and eat some chocolate. (Yes, I'm kidding!)

Here's a bit about it:

Big Hearted gives you an inside look into the triumphs, struggles, joys and sorrows of ordinary families with generous hearts. It invites you to witness extraordinary love in ordinary moments like the simple cooking of a meal or the hug between a teenaged brother and his baby sister. Just like your family, these families experience pain, setbacks, and challenges. And just like your family, they also experience love and immeasurable blessing through their commitment and care for each other.

What have YOU been reading lately?

*Are you on Goodreads? I'll see you there!

Curious about what my ratings mean? Here's an explanation of what the stars mean to me.

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard