Catholic Fiction

The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson

Jody Rakis — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:51:44 PDT

reviewed by Jody Rakis The novel, The Priest and the Peaches, is the story of five children left to manage on their own. It is a story about love and blind faith. A faith that was taught to them by their parents and by their priest. It is a faith that a lot of us [...]

Lessons in the Journey by Patrick Dawson

Ellen Gable Hrkach — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:47:28 PDT

reviewed by Ellen Gable Hrkach Lessons in the Journey by first-time novelist Patrick Dawson is the hopeful and moving story of Elizabeth “Liz” Finch, a pediatric surgeon. At the beginning of the novel, she learns that her 14-year-old daughter has been shot and is not expected to live. The book is told mostly in flashbacks [...]

Pro Luce Habere, volume II, by Krisi Keley

Ellen Gable Hrkach — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:38:35 PST

reviewed by Ellen Gable Hrkach The second volume of Pro Luce Habere (To Have Before the Light) is an incredibly compelling read. Valery continues to be haunted by the darkness and death he has seen in the human world around him. Yet he is unable to escape the sense of wrong in what he’s become so [...]

A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark

Roy Peachey — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:50:58 PST

reviewed by Roy Peachey Muriel Spark’s A Far Cry from Kensington is a playful, clever and occasionally disturbing comic novel. It is also a book about the publishing industry but it’s far from being a self-obsessed media novel. There is a strong satirical element to the book but there are also some great characters and [...]

The Soul Reader by Gerard Webster

Tannia Ortiz-Lopes — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:31:19 PST

reviewed by Tannia Ortiz-Lopès The Soul Reader is the long-awaited sequel of the award winning book, In-Sight, from extraordinary Catholic author Gerard Webster. In the first book, Mr. Webster introduces three main characters: Ward McNulty, a prominent syndicated political columnist; Carrie Hope, an outstanding reporter and news anchor; and Chet Garner, Democrat State Senator and [...]

Cheapskates and Jimmy Bench Press by Charlie Stella

Steve Weatherbe — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:34 PST

reviewed by Steve Weatherbe Wow, just after finishing Pelecanos’ The Cut, I come across someone writing in a similar vein, Charlie Stella. I’ve read two of his novels now. Cheapskates and Jimmy Bench Press, set in Brooklyn, and sharing many of the same characters, though not the same protagonists, which is Pelecanos’s style too. The heroes [...]

Warning Miracle by John Klee

Tannia Ortiz-Lopes — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:29:27 PST

reviewed by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes Warning Miracle is the first book of the Right in Front series by John Klee. It is a futuristic story based on the Apparitions of our Lady of Carmel in Garabandal, Spain and her messages to 12-year-old Conchita Gonzalez from 1961 to 1965. [N.B.: This apparition has not received Church approval. There are documents about [...]

The Cut by George Pelecanos

Steve Weatherbe — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:09:30 PST

reviewed by Steve Weatherbe I’ve read several novels by George Pelecanos, all dark, all thrillers, all set in poorer parts of Washington D.C., but I never expected to be reviewing one of them for this site. That’s because Pelecanos has never shown much interest in the Christian faith, neither as a belief of his protoganists [...]

Tristan’s Travels by Karl Bjorn Erickson

Jody Rakis — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:53:27 PST

TRISTAN’S TRAVELS illustrated by Kimberly Erickson reviewed by Jody Rakis Tristan’s Travels is written for young adults. It’s the story of a seagull who thinks of himself as part chicken since he was adopted by a hen when he was young. He had been hit by an airplane propeller while flying and now is afraid to try [...]

The Red Priest’s Annina by Sarah Bruce Kelly

Arthur Powers — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:22:42 PST

reviewed by Arthur Powers 1721. Mantua. Fourteen year old Annina Giró’s talent for singing is recognized by the Duke of Massa Carrara, who offers to sponsor her studies. Leaving her family, she goes to Venice, hoping to study with Antonio Vivaldi—priest and composer—called the “red priest” because of the color of his hair. In Venice, [...]