The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

I just finished reading "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything" by James Martin, SJ. It's a delightfully readable explanation of Jesuit life lived according the to Rule of St. Ignatius. It explains those things that most of us who don't live a formal religious life don't quite understand, like celibacy, chastity, obedience, acceptance, suffering, vocation. Using Ignatius' own writings and the stories of Jesuit saints from the Order's founding in 1540, Fr. Martin explains the 'Rules' with a light hand and humorous anecdotes. While the subject matter may be heavy, the reading is not. Fr. Martin then goes on to explain how each Rule can be applied in simple ways to the lives of lay men and women. He shares some of the most imaginative and creative ways the Jesuits use to deepen and enrich their faith, and the skills they develop that enable them to live in community in the modern world. I've tried a few of his suggestions and can tell you that they are not only do-able, but that they work! I give this book a big 'thumbs up' for being both entertaining and practical...not necessarily traits you would award a book about religion!

More Stephanie Plum

You're going to laugh. Today I went to the library to return "Twelve Sharp" and check out the next book in the Stephanie Plum series, "Lean Mean Thirteen." I knew they had it; I saw it on the shelf my last visit. Zut alors! It wasn't there. I pulled every Janet Evanovich book from the shelf. I checked both before and after her section, thinking maybe someone had stuck it back in the wrong place. Nothing, zero, zilch... no #13! How unlucky is that? I walked away incapable of choosing "Fearless Fourteen" which was there. Muttering "I just can't read them out of order," I continued to browse. After wandering up and down the aisles and talking hard to myself, I returned and plucked "Fearless Fourteen" from its place. "Each book stands alone," I reasoned with myself. "You can read #13 next time around." With a sigh, my defeated, neurotic read-'em-in-order self checked out. As I walked thru the hallway to the library's exit, I glanced at the books for sale. If the library finds itself with duplicates of books (they receive donated books all the time), they put them on sale, cheap, to raise money for the library. Right there, front and center, was #13, a bargain at a buck for the hardcover copy. I stopped; I pondered. Should I just buy it? NO! that's absolutely neurotic. So, Lucie and I continued our town chores...getting gas for the mower, picking up a dozen farm-fresh eggs at the feed store, and mailing bills at the post office. All the while, #13 was calling my name. Finally unable to resist, I drove back to the library and bought the sucker! As I paid the librarian, I confessed my neuroses. "I just can't seem to read them out of order," I moaned. She commiserated with me..."Me neither," she laughed, "number thirteen must be checked out."

"And by the way," she added as I opened the door to leave, "we have her latest, #16 on the 'new books' shelf"

"No way," I shot back,"you can't tempt me. I've got three more to read before I'm there!"

Yes, I am neurotic!

The Kitchen House

I don't often read newly published books. It takes me awhile to get interested; I usually want to read a couple of reviews or get a personal recommendation from someone especially if it's fiction. I spied "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom at my local library, though, and since this little library has a pretty limited selection (seems like it's mostly romance novels and popular fiction that you can buy at Wal-Mart), I decided to give it a try. It's set on a small Virginia plantation circa 1790-1810. The story revolves around Lavinia, a white servant girl given to a black slave, Belle, to raise. Lavinia comes to love Belle, Mama, Papa, and Uncle Jacob as her family; it's not until she marries the Master's son that she realizes that she must reject her black family in order to exist in the white world. The book jacket describes the story as 'tragic,' and indeed, as I shed tears before I finished the fourth chapter, I knew this description was correct. The story contains love and hate, drug and alcohol addiction, sexual abuse, rape, violence and cruelty that leave the reader gasping. It could all read like a bad melodrama, but the author's skillful use of language and storytelling that has the events revealed from both Lavinia and Belle's point of view keep it grounded and balanced. Life was hard, but there was joy as well. Love was shared irregardless of color. Family was all-important. If your book club is looking for a read to stimulate conversation on race and family, this is a good choice. If you're just looking for a good read, it's a good choice as well.

Labyrinth

I just finished a novel that brought back such memories for me. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse is set in southwest France, the Languedoc, in and around Carcassone. It's a book replete with medieval history, Crusaders, the Cathars and legends of the Holy Grail. While it's fiction, Ms. Mosse has done extensive research on the period she writes about, i.e. the 13th century. The story is what she calls a 'timeslip;' it moves back and forth between the 13th century and the 21st century. Various characters are mirrored across the millenia. Alice Tanner is an ancestor of Alais Pelletier du Mas and bits of memory of Alais' life in medieval France haunt Alice's thoughts and dreams. Competing secret societies seek the Grail; Alice as a volunteer on an archaelogical dig in the Sabarthes Mountains stumbles on clues that will lead everyone to the Grail's mysteries. 21st century murder and magic mimic the mayhem of the 13th century. Does Alice really 'stumble' or is she lead by the influences Alais, Guilhem and Escarlmonde across the centuries? Is she able to bring rest and peace to the restless souls who protected the Grail from the onslaught of the only Crusade mounted inside France? Is there a way for her to avenge the deaths of thousands of Cathars burned by order of the King of France and the Pope? If you love medieval history, this novel is for you. Fictional characters in a story interwoven in real history and real people. And it will be even more meaningful if, like me, you've visited this part of France, climbed the pog to Montsegur and journeyed through Cathar land.

To The Nines

I can't believe that I haven't shared Stephanie Plum with you! She's the main character in the Janet Evanovich 'Numbers' mysteries. No, this isn't great literature, not even close, but the entire series is a great romp through murder, mayhem, and mystery with a couple of hot guys thrown in to spice up the action. Stephanie Plum is your average Jersey girl..she has a slightly dysfunctional family, two really sexy men in her life, a job being a bond enforcement officer that kind of pays the rent, and a penchant for attracting the weirdest characters you can imagine. Oh yeah, she also has a knack for getting her cars blown up and her partners & protectors in trouble. She lives with Rex, her hamster and keeps her gun in her cookie jar. Her best friend and sometimes partner is Lula, an ex-ho who manages to squeeze into spandex of every hue. If there's a way for bond enforcement to wrong, Stephanie has found it. And she also finds murder in all her adventures. Stumbling through mishap after mishap, Steph's life is full of edgy violence and terrifying villains. Yet, she's funny, her exploits are hilarious, and frankly, I don't know why no one has made a TV series out of her adventures. Anything that creeps me out and makes me laugh uproariously has got to be right for prime time. You don't have to start with "One for the Money" to enjoy these mysteries. Pick a number and go for it. After you read a couple, send me an email. Are you a Morelli or a Ranger fan???

Lunch in Paris

You're probably wondering if Red Bell Reads has been reading lately! Yes, of course, Red Bell Reads lives to read. But nothing worthy of sharing has come along...that is until 'Lunch in Paris.' It's almost summer and this would be a delighful summer read. If you're vacationing/living somewhere with a great Farmer's Market and a kitchen to work in...all the better. Read the book; share in Elizabeth's journey to Paris, to love, to cooking in a tiny, tiny apartment with minimal utensils, but a wealth of imagination and appetite. The story is funny and romantic. There are several laugh out loud scenes. The recipes that the author includes will keep you paging through the book long after you've read the last page. I tried  'Poached Cod with Wilted Leeks and Homemade Mayonnaise.' Okay, it didn't turn out exactly right, but that was my fault. I substituted regular mustard for Dijon (which I didn't have), but it was still yummy. And just why have I never poached fish before?? Easy and delicious. I'm a convert. I'm anxious to try the 'Lamb Shanks with Orange and Star Anise' and the 'Summer Ratatouille.' If you buy the book, let me know which recipes you try!

Irish Mexican Music?

Red Bell Reads likes other things besides books, you know...like music and movies. Especially music that ventures 'outside the box.' And what could be more outside the box than Irish Mexican music? Yet, the Chieftains and Ry Cooder pull this off beautifully in their brand-new CD, San Patricio. I love the Chieftains and have 3 other of their CD's; I've been known to tap my toe to Mexican music as well, so when I heard an NPR piece about this CD, I said 'why not?' The music in it is based on a little known piece of history from the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. A group of 'displaced, downtrodden, and devil-may-care' men from many nations led by Capt. John Riley fought on the side of the Mexican army under the command of General Lopez de Santa Ana. (Yes, that General Santa Ana who defeated Davy Crockett and others at the Alamo.) Called the San Patricios and reviled by America as traitors, most of the company was made up of Irishmen. Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains has arranged traditional Mexican and Irish songs and written others that capture what must have been the mood of those Mexican-Irish camps. Both cultures are alive with music;it's not a stretch of the imagination to blend the two together. The songs are both lively and hauntingly melancholy. As usual, the Chieftains have invited others to perform with them: Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Lila Downs, Los Folkloristas, and others. Liam Neeson recites "March to Battle." A highly recommended addition to your World Music collection.