The Last Catholic in America

The Last Catholic in America
by John R. Powers
E.P. Dutton, 1973
ISBN 0829421300
The Last Catholic in America, like Catholics by Brian Moore, has been recently re-published by the Loyola Classics Series.   
The Last Catholic is typical of the many “I Survived Catholic Schools” memoirs about parochial school life before Vatican II.  It’s humor is affectionate and genial.  However, it [...]

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Franny and Zooey

Franny and Zooey
by J.D. Salinger
Little, Brown and Company, 1955
ISBN 3-316-76954-1
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger (which is actually two longish short stories published together as a novel) is not what’s usually thought of as “Catholic Fiction.”  However, I have a tradition of giving it to my nieces and nephews when they receive Confirmation, along with [...]

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Jon Hassler

Even though I’ve already suggested one book by Jon Hassler (Dear James), since he has recently passed away, I would like to honor him with another entry.  All of Hassler’s works are eminently worth reading, but three of my personal favorites are The Dean’s List, Simon’s Night, and North of Hope.
The Dean’s List is the [...]

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“First Confession” by Frank O’Connor

“First Confession”
by Frank O’Connor
Sometimes you go through periods when you just can’t find anything to read.  You’re stressed; you’re busy; you’re a little overwhelmed.  When you find the time to sit down and relax with a good book, you can’t choose one.  You pick up one book, read a few pages, put it down; you [...]

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The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
by Muriel Spark
J.P. Lippincott, 1962
A visitor to Sister Helena of the Transfiguration, formerly Sandy Stranger and now a cloistered nun renowned for the publication of her work in psychology “The Transfiguration of the Commonplace,” asks her “What were the main influences of your school days, Sister Helena?  Were they literary [...]

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Kitty from the Start by Judy Delton

Kitty from the Start
Judy Delton
Houton Mifflin, 1987
ISBN: 978-0395428474
Should you be looking for a nice Christmas or First Communion gift for a young girl, Kitty from the Start by Judy Delton would be a good choice.  Kitty herself is in third-grade, but the book should appeal to readers from 3rd-5th.  Good second grade readers could enjoy [...]

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