Tag: Reading

What’s On My TBR List?

Posted on by Trinity in Bookishness, Reading
piled books on brown wooden shelf

I’m happy to report that I’ve spent a large portion of the past few months with my nose in a book–that is to say, 2021 is off to a great start! I don’t think I’ve ever actually made a TBR list before, but because I’ve been so busy recently, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t lose track of the books I want to read in future. On this list, you will find books old and new, bestsellers and hidden gems, mostly fiction but with a few nonfiction selections thrown in for good measure.

I love C.S. Lewis’ introduction to Athanasius’ On the Incarnation, where he writes, “It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones.” Certainly very good advice. I tend to skew a bit more to the other extreme, preferring dusty old books to shiny new ones; but taking Lewis’s advice to heart, I’ve made an effort to include a good balance of both old and new books in the list below.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

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This book is subtitled Some Instructions on Writing and Life, which is right up my alley. It’s been hailed as “a modern classic” and “One of the funniest books on writing ever published.” As an aspiring writer still growing into my voice, I’m hoping I can learn from Lamott’s experiences and maybe even absorb some of her writerly wisdom through osmosis.

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

I’m definitely expecting this to be a HEAVY read–but I love Chesterton enough to attempt it anyway. So far I’ve read his excellent biography of St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as The Man Who Was Thursday and The Club of Queer Trades, and I’m currently working my way through The Complete Father Brown Stories. I’m hoping I’ll have time to delve into this book over the summer, when I don’t have schoolwork to worry about.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk-Kidd

I must admit, this is one of those rare instances when I watch the movie before reading the book. I did enjoy the movie, and I’ve since heard some glowing recommendations for the book, so I went ahead and added it to my TBR list. I would describe The Secret Life of Bees as a story about the power of female friendship, with a dash of Marian theology. I’m excited to see how well the movie compares to the novel!

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

I have fallen head-over-heels in love with Wendell Berry’s writing since reading Jayber Crow, and I’m currently reading (and adoring) his poetry. It seems that Hannah Coulter is Berry’s best-loved novel; I’m eagerly anticipating it, and also waiting for the perfect time to read it–I want to be able to really savor it and soak in the words.

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Speaking of Wendell Berry: thanks to him and some other wonderful poets, my love for poetry, which lay dormant for a long time while I engaged in other literary pursuits, has been rekindled. I’m thinking that Mary Oliver’s work will be perfect for my next poetic adventure.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Helen Keller lived an extraordinary and inspiring life, overcoming the dual challenges of deafness and blindness to become the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, and going on to author many books, essays, and speeches. Her biography has been on my TBR list for a long time, and I’m looking forward to learning more about her.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This book was extremely popular a few years ago when it first came out, and Reese Witherspoon even picked it out for her book club. I don’t really keep up with new releases and bestsellers (I prefer to wait until the hype has died down), but this one has continued to garner rave reviews. It’s described as “an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder.” Sounds like an excellent summer read!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Whew, that’s a long title! I’ve heard such good things about this novel from readers whose opinions I value greatly. It’s set on the German-occupied island of Guernsey, in the English Channel, during World War II. It’s also an epistolary novel, which is one of my favorite genres/writing styles. And apparently it’s also a Netflix series now? Anyhow, it sounds absolutely delightful and I can’t wait to read it!

Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers

Sayers’ Gaudy Night was one of my favorite books of 2020, so of course the sequel to that story made it on this list! I just can’t get enough of Harriet and Peter–they’re witty, real, and well-developed characters–and Sayers writes delicious mysteries that are the perfect blend of plot and suspense.

The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera

Another book that had its moment in the limelight, I saw The Awakening of Miss Prim recommended in Sarah Clarkson’s Book Girl. It’s a “tale of literature, philosophy, and the search for happiness,” and is set in a remote French village “against a backdrop of steaming cups of tea, freshly baked cakes, and lovely company.” Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? I think I’m going to save it for when I’m craving a nice cozy book to read.

The Life You Save May Be Your Own by Paul Elie

This is a fourfold biography of Flannery O’Connor, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, and Walker Percy, authored by Paul Elie, who is currently a fellow at Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. I’m already an admirer of Flannery O’Connor, and hope to read Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain someday, so I’m looking forward to learning more about the people behind the pens.

Monday Miscellany: Midwinter Musings

Posted on by Trinity in Bookishness, Reading

Happy Monday, friends! Evidently we’re doubling up on the alliteration today. I’ve been in a very cozy mood lately–“the bleak midwinter” always seems to awaken some kind of hibernation instinct in me. Really, though, it doesn’t feel particularly bleak. There have been plenty of sunny days here and even the chilly gray days are beautiful in their own way. It’s the best time of year for curling up with a book to warm your heart and a hot drink to warm your stomach. This week I’m sharing some hygge-inspired finds to help you enjoy the season.

Good Music

Everything about this music video is exquisite. From the lovely lullaby-esque song, to the artful watercolor animation, to Anne Akiko Meyers’ beautiful playing… all the heart-eyes. It’s a balm for the soul, and a timely reminder that spring will come again.

Good Art

I recently discovered Loré Pemberton on Instagram and her style of art is right up my alley. Folk art is just so delightfully cozy, isn’t it? This piece in particular is perfect for winter: the cool tones; the still, quiet beauty; and of course the warm red coat.

Good Words

I’ve been reading a ton this month! I just finished Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as well as A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter, and I’m currently reading Perelandra, the second book in C.S. Lewis’s space trilogy. I’m also still slogging through Les Mis. Seventy-two percent done, only twenty-eight percent to go!

As far as digital reading goes, I enjoyed this post from Blessed is She, which discusses some ways to avoid winter burnout in your spiritual life.

That’s all for this week! Stay happy, healthy, and hopeful. ❤️

From My Commonplace: Autumn Vibes

Posted on by Trinity in Reading

Autumn is here! I’m not sure why, but I don’t think I’ve ever fully appreciated all the joys of the season until this year. The beautiful colors, chilly breezes, coziness and comfort–oh, and SWEATERS. Did I mention I love sweaters? As someone who’s perpetually cold, I am thrilled to be back in a season where bundling up is once again sartorially acceptable. But mostly I love fall because it’s nature’s last hurrah before the winter hibernation. And no one writes better nature descriptions than L.M. Montgomery. Don’t even try to argue with me. She describes the stunning Canadian scenery in almost every chapter of every one of her novels, and she does it both deftly and lavishly, transporting you to the very spot she describes. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite Montgomery “word-pictures,” of Prince Edward Island in autumn.

But everything in the landscape around them spoke of autumn. The sea was roaring hollowly in the distance, and the fields were bare and sere, scarfed with golden rod, the brook valley below Green Gables overflowed with asters of ethereal purple, and the Lake of Shining Waters was blue-blue-blue; not the changeful blue of spring, nor the pale azure of summer, but a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all moods and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquility unbroken by fickle dreams.

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

Reveling in the Reading Life: A Book Review

Posted on by Trinity in Book reviews, Reading
Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life: Clarkson, Sarah, Clarkson, Sally: 9781496425805: Amazon.com: Books

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Sarah Clarkson’s Book Girl, an exploration of what it means to be, as Sarah terms it, “a woman who reads,” to delight in the world of books. This was one of those books that you force yourself to read slowly so that you can savor every word, and it became an instant favorite. Sarah somehow articulated so much of what I feel as a reader and wove a narrative that was at once personal and universal. It’s safe to say she’s a kindred spirit–and as Anne Shirley says, “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

Aside from the beautiful writing (which alone would be reason enough to read this book), the booklists that Sarah has compiled are fantastic. They include some of my personal favorites as well as books that I hope to read one day, and many more. It’s a literary treasure trove! Even if you’re not a huge reader, I would still recommend checking out this book. It’s not preachy, and you just might find yourself inspired to delve into the magical world of books.

More than anything else, this book made me incredibly proud and grateful to be part of the sisterhood of women who have found solace and inspiration in the written word. Like Sarah, my life has been shaped by stories, and my identity has been largely formed by the characters in my favorite books, who demonstrate the virtues to which I aspire and help me to better understand myself, my place in the world, and the struggles I face.

I’m talking about books like L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, whose heroine taught me to be fully alive to the wonder and beauty of the world and to put the best of myself into whatever I do.

Books like Jane Austen’s literary masterpieces, enthralling and yet completely human, filled with rich insights into the workings of society and the vicissitudes of love.

Books like, well, everything by C.S. Lewis, which help me to know and love God better and artfully reveal the relationship between the Divine and the ordinary.

Books like Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, which I am still reading, slowly but surely, and in which I can already begin to see taking shape a story about how grace works over the course of a lifetime.

Books like George Weigel’s Letters to a Young Catholic, which made me fall in love with this beautiful, universal Church and inspired me to delve deeper into the treasures of my faith.

These are just some of the books whose sharp, poignant beauty has made me catch my breath, whose truth has thrilled my heart, who have made me laugh or cry (and often both). Without them, I would not be the person I am. Book Girl is a book for both book lovers and would-be book lovers. Although Sarah wrote primarily about her own life, so much of what she had to say resonated deeply with me. If you are a bibliophile or even if you wish you liked reading more, this book is for you.

What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on by Trinity in Book reviews, Reading

It’s been quite some time since I posted a good old-fashioned book review. Our public library shut down back in March and is only just beginning to reopen, so a shortage of new reading material has been a bit of a problem. I mean, I know it’s insignificant compared to the hardships that so many others are facing right now, but I can’t deny that it’s annoying. Especially since we’re spending a lot of time cooped up inside at the moment. All I can say is, thank goodness for free ebooks, fast Amazon shipping, and our amazing local indie bookstore. I think I would have gone crazy without them.

Who Does He Say You Are?

This was one of my Lenten reads and it did not disappoint. I highly, highly recommend this one for every woman (teen and up) who desires to enrich her faith life. This book contains so many beautiful insights and will give you so much food for prayer. It’s challenging in the very best way, and as comforting as a hug from your best friend. I can see myself coming back to it again and again when I just want a good Scriptural reflection to direct my prayer.

Continue reading “What I’ve Been Reading” →

Seeking Objective Truth

Posted on by Trinity in Reading

I wrote this piece for school, and decided it would be a good one to share here. Please keep in mind that this was written with limited time and the ideas haven’t been fully fleshed out. I think it’s a really important and compelling issue to explore further.

The heresy of heresies was common sense. And what was terrifying was not that they would kill you for thinking otherwise, but that they might be right. For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable–what then?

George Orwell, 1984

In this passage from Orwell’s 1984, the protagonist wrestles with the discrepancies between his own personal experience of truth—things he sees with his own eyes, hears with his own ears, and knows within his heart—and the “truth” as determined by the Party. This raises an interesting and important question: what is truth? The dictionary defines the word as “the body of real things, events, and facts,” or “a judgement, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true.” Opinion, on the other hand, is defined as “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter,” or “belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge.” In the modern worldview there is quite often significant confusion between truth and opinion. Truth is objective; opinion is subjective.

When we lose sight of this fact, everything descends into chaos. People believe that there is more than one “truth,” or try to force others to accept their personal opinions as truth. Our chronic unwillingness to offend only serves to exacerbate the problem, resulting in intellectual paralysis. Being respectful of the views of others is always important, but insisting that there is more than one “truth” and that everyone is right only leads to confusion. As a culture, we have lost sight of the idea of objective truth.

The solution to the problem is deceptively simple: critical thinking. How do we distinguish between objective truth and personal opinion? By using our minds to actively seek the truth. If we want to really know what is true and what is not, we must be truth-seekers. This requires not only an inquiring mind and a firm grasp of basic logic but also a healthy sense of self-esteem. We are told again and again that we should trust the experts, the scholars, and the scientists. While their insight can be very valuable as we search for the truth, overemphasizing its importance leads us to believe that we—lowly, stupid mortals as we are—cannot come to the truth on our own. This is the greatest obstacle we face on the quest for objective truth, and a great injustice to our abilities.

Monday Miscellany: Unexpected Graces

Posted on by Trinity in Catholicism, Liturgical year, Reading

HE IS RISEN!!! ALLELUIA!!!!! Easter is 50 DAYS LONG and I’m so happy to have a reason to celebrate. As we experience the joy of His Resurrection all over again, I’ve been reflecting on how many unexpected blessings have come out of this pandemic. Catholics everywhere are experiencing a renewed love and appreciation for the Sacraments. We’ve all been given a much-needed break from the busy-ness of our everyday lives. The Christian community as a whole has drawn closer together. Divisions have melted away, and people of all races, faiths, and political viewpoints are standing together in solidarity and lifting each other up instead of tearing one another down. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this happened during the liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter. Things may be hard right now, but God is bringing new life to so many barren places.

Continue reading “Monday Miscellany: Unexpected Graces” →

Which Jane Austen Hero is the Ideal Man?

Posted on by Trinity in Reading
Photo by Elaine Howlin on Unsplash

There are so many things to love about Jane Austen: razor-sharp wit, penetrating satire, and intricate storylines among them, but perhaps what really keeps readers coming back again and again are Austen’s complex, endearing, and realistic characters. Many a devoted Janeite has self-identified with the independent Lizzy Bennet, the practical Elinor Dashwood, the self-assured Emma Woodhouse, the imaginative Catherine Morland, or the humble Fanny Price.

Just as we tend to gravitate toward one of Austen’s heroines, we also tend to have a favorite leading man. In this post, I will be attempting to make an unbiased evaluation of three of Austen’s heroes: Mr. Darcy, Mr. Tilney, and Mr. Knightley. I’m pretty sure that’s impossible though, so if you disagree with my conclusions, or I’ve left your personal favorite off my list, feel free to make your case (civilly, of course!) in the comments. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Continue reading “Which Jane Austen Hero is the Ideal Man?” →