Book Review: The Path to Rome by Hillaire Belloc

The Path to Rome by Hillaire Belloc

Belloc made a pilgrimage from France to Rome, vowing to travel on foot and live a simple life. This story tells that tale along with lots of asides and other anecdotes thrown in. He made the pilgrimage around 1900, so a long time ago when money and technology and infrastructure were much different. He had language barriers along with the physical barriers of rivers and mountains (like the Alps!). He made some plans, like mailing money to post offices in various cities, but he traveled mostly as a vagabond. He slept in the countryside or at inexpensive inns (or in people's barns), talking with the locals as best he could (he knew French and Latin, but not German and barely Italian).

Belloc has a whimsical and light-hearted style. The narrative meanders a lot as he goes down occasional philosophical or theological rabbit holes. That reminded me of The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy, which I like a lot. Occasionally he throws in a second voice, a sort of heckler, that he has mini-dialogues with, usually for humorous purposes. That reminded me of Jim Gaffigan's self-heckling, which I like a lot. He includes some sketches he made of the mountains, trees, and structures he drew along the way, though he says in the text that he's not very good. I found the travel descriptions a little dull and he is right about the pictures. The book is over 400 pages and at the end I felt like it could be edited down to make it tighter and more enjoyable.

Mildly recommended--I don't regret reading it but I will probably never read it again. Lord of the Rings does a much better job wandering through the countryside in an interesting way.

Book Review: Holy Ghosts by Gary Jansen

Holy Ghosts or How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night by Gary Jansen

Gary Jansen is a writer and publisher in New York who had an extremely colorful year in the 2000s when he finally decided to deal with a problem in his house. The house is over a hundred years old and his parents bought it when he was five. It was a fixer-upper that had a lot of creaky parts and some colorful history. He lived in the house all the way up to his marriage in 1999. He wound up buying the house, somewhat reluctantly, a few years into the marriage. It helped his parents and got them out of her parents' house. In 2007, he started experiencing weird phenomena, especially in his son Eddie's room. He'd feel an electric shock go up his spine, as if he stepped on an exposed wire. The house still creaked. Occasionally he and his wife would see things out of the corners of their eyes. Soon, Eddie didn't want to sleep in his room. With an increase in odd activity and a flood of memories of childhood oddities, including his mom's instance that there was a woman in the front room, he started researching ghosts both in secular writings and in Catholic theology in an effort to figure out what to do. 

His story, which is true, is full of odd and spooky moments as he relates his predicament. It's also a nice look at people who take the existence of ghosts seriously (both Catholic and non-Christian), a group Jansen did not initially belong to. He writes well and gives a lot of history of his area and his family, making him a very sympathetic person. Plus, who doesn't worry for a family plagued by odd events that can't be explained rationally? The resolution is unexpected and a bit anti-climactic, but very satisfying.

Recommended. This is no sensationalistic diatribe, just an honest story.

Book Review: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

This autobiographical story chronicles Dan Santat's first trip to Europe during the summer between middle school and high school. Middle school was a terrible experience for him, highlighted by having to read a poem in front of all the students and doing a less than stellar job. Kids that age think they make funny comments but really come off cruel. So Dan's self-esteem was very low going into the trip. The trip was a mixture of kids from his small town middle school and other schools across the United States.

His experience in Europe was one of discovery. As the title suggests, he tried a lot of new things, some good (like Fanta soda and kissing a girl), some not so good (like beer and stealing a bike). He met a lot of new people and learned a lot along the way. Most importantly, he learned more about himself and became comfortable with who he is. He even let Amy (the girl he kisses) watch him sketching, something he didn't even let his mom do (the book is a graphic novel).

The story is sweet and relatable. Everybody has some negative memories from school and has faced the challenge of being yourself when you don't even fully know yourself. The honest portrayal of the good and bad things he did makes him easy to like and to understand. The reader learns more about Dan and is comfortable with who he is. It's a heartwarming, well-told story.

Highly recommended--this is a great coming-of-age story, all the better because it is true.

Book Review: The Shadow of His Wings by Gereon Goldmann

The Shadow of His Wings by Gereon Goldmann, OFM

This almost unbelievable true story recounts the early life of Gereon Goldmann. As an altar boy, he dreamed of becoming a missionary to Japan. Growing up in 1920s and 1930s Germany was not too difficult until he was drafted in his early seminary years to fight in World War II. Since the seminarians were well-educated, they were recruited for the SS. With their natural reluctance to kill (they weren't just seminarians, they were also Franciscans), the seminarians were put in communications roles. The position enabled Goldmann, who knew how bad the ideology of the Nazis was, to safeguard anyone who would be a target of a secret raid, like churches with precious vessels and the Eucharist. Goldman did not stay in the heart of Germany for long. Assigned to go to the eastern front, his role switched to a medic. Through Providential circumstances, he did not go to the Stalingrad disaster but was reassigned to France. He spent the war tending to German soldiers and arguing with his leadership about Nazi ideology. He was disinvited from the SS but continued to serve, eventually being captured in Italy and sent to North African prison camps. All the while, he tried to get ordained so that he could provide more substantial spiritual service to the dying. Through the prayers of several friends and acquaintances back home, he survived many bad circumstances and was ordained with the permission of the pope.

The book ends with an overview of his post-war years when he went to Japan and served as a missionary with great zeal. He worked with the locals to build parishes and social service centers to help the poorest in Tokyo. 

The first part is compiled from various sermons and writings of Fr. Goldmann. The second, smaller part is compiled from shorter writings he made and eyewitness accounts of his activities. Both parts are very inspiring, full of drama and grace. His story is an interesting insight into a holy, humble, hard-working, and hard-headed man. He is a great role-model of integrity in the most dire of circumstances.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: The Confessions by Saint Augustine

The Confessions by Saint Augustine translated by Rex Warner with an introduction by Vernon J. Bourke

In this classic autobiography, Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) tells both his life story and his spiritual journey, with a lot of theological and philosophical reflections along the way. He uses the word "confession" in a very Catholic sense--the book is addressed to God and is an explanation of the things he has done.

Augustine starts with a detailed description of his memories of childhood, growing up the son of a Christian mother (St. Monica) and a pagan father (Patricius Aurelius). He grew into a secular intellectual, hoping to teach the art of rhetoric. He fell in with the Manichean crowd. Mani taught that the world was dual, deriving from a good spiritual principle and a bad material principle. Those two principles are in conflict. As Augustine grew older and moved to Italy to further his career, he learned more about the paradoxes in Manicheanism and slowly discovered the beauty and the truth of the Catholic faith. He realized which of his friends helped his search for truth and which were holding him back in ignorance. After a long time of living the "high life," which included mistresses, an illegitimate child, and the accolades of his fellow intellectuals, Augustine came into the church thanks to the influence of Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan and great orator for the Faith. Augustine's mother rejoiced at his conversion and the narrative of Augustine's life ends with his sorrow at her death.

Augustine describes his spiritual journey in detail, especially admitting his moral failings and how they hurt both him and his mother, though he was unaware of the pain until much later. He's surprisingly frank about doing bad things just to get away with them and being addicted to sexual pleasure. He quotes Scriptures often and has an ongoing monologue with God, not to justify his actions but to review them in light of his later understanding (the whole confession thing). The final two chapters are an extended reflection on the creation account in Genesis.

The writing is so honest and straightforward that a reader naturally sympathizes with Augustine and is fascinated with his life. Even though he lived 1600 years ago, the problems are familiar--not appreciating parents, the allure of an easy and public life, the need to tame one's own will for one's own good. He has genuine struggles and comes to a better place. His life is an inspiration and is well worth reading more about.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way by John Paul II

Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way by John Paul II

In this follow-up book to Gift and Mystery, which gave memories and reflections about his early priesthood, John Paul II writes about his memories and reflections of being a bishop in his native Poland. He goes through his acceptance of the call and the ordination ceremony, dwelling on the significance of different details, like the meaning of the mitre (the bishop's hat) and crosier (the bishop's staff). He writes about his life as a bishop, which was very challenging under the communist government of the 1950s and 1960s. He traveled a bit and participated in Vatican II. His daily life as a bishop included visiting parishes and working with various religious organizations in the diocese, along with providing the sacraments to his flock. He writes warmly about the traditions of Catholic Poland, their favorite saints, and the various other priests and bishops who had an influence on his life.

The book reads rather quickly. It's not an in-depth meditation about the episcopacy, but an nice historical, personal, and theological overview. He describes his own experiences, how those helped him to be a better shepherd to his flock and made him ready to become pope. I found it interesting and inspiring.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: As You Wish by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

This heartfelt memoir of the creation of the film version of The Princess Bride is told mostly from the perspective of the main star, Cary Elwes. He played Westley, a farm boy in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Buttercup (played by Robin Wright). Westley is kidnapped by a pirate and eventually returns to rescue his love from an evil prince who conspires to use her as an excuse for war. The movie had a disappointing performance at the box office when it was released in 1987. It became a cult hit on VHS and is loved by everyone who has ever had the good fortune to see it. Elwes describes how he was cast as an unknown for a book he'd loved since childhood. He describes everything up to the celebratory 25th anniversary screening in New York City.

The book follows the tone of the movie. It is sincere and heartwarming. Elwes goes through a lot of growing pains as an actor (some literally as he describes various accidents on set). The rest of the cast and crew were as committed as he was to making a fine product, so they worked together as a family. They achieved some cinematic magic, though they weren't sure of it at the time. The other actors contribute little snippets, as does director Rob Reiner, author William Goldman, and producer Andy Scheinman. The reader is probably best served by seeing the movie first, not because of spoilers but to drink in the richness of their experiences. Reading the book certainly made me watch the movie again.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass

This autobiography tells the story of a man born into slavery in rural Maryland in the late 1810s. The exact date or year of his birth is unrecorded, something that was part of the dehumanizing of the humans brought from Africa, bought by Americans, and beaten into submission. Born Frederick Bailey, he was separated from his mother Harriet and raised by his grandparents until six years old. His father is suspected to be Aaron Anthony, the white owner of Harriet Bailey. Again, no record was kept. In 1824, Frederick was sent to work on the family plantation where he witnessed and endured many brutalities. 

Through circumstances he was sent in 1826 to Baltimore to work for Thomas Auld, a son-in-law of Anthony. Sophia Auld (Thomas's wife) started teaching young Frederick to read and write. Once Thomas found out, he forbade it. But the seed was sown and the stifled intellectual curiosity of Frederick began growing in leaps and bounds. He found ways to learn more on the streets of Baltimore and developed craftsman's skills, eventually becoming a ship's caulker. He went through another round of plantation life where he was hired out for a year to Edward Covey, a man with the reputation as a slave-breaker. He almost succeeded but he and Frederick came to blows one day and Frederick bested Covey. Unable to admit his defeat, Covey let Frederick finish out the year. Frederick moved on to another plantation where he taught his fellow slaves reading and writing on the side. A failed escape attempt saw Frederick nearly beaten to death. He wound up back in Baltimore, where he planned his escape from enslavement.

He fled north in 1838 along the Underground Railroad to New York City, where he changed his name and married Anna Murray, a freed black woman he had met the previous year. He went over to New Bedford where he changed his name to Frederick Douglass and worked as a day laborer. He began speaking at abolitionists' meetings about his experience. At this point, the narrative of this book ends.

The book is a very articulate and compelling chronicle of the horrors of slavery. Douglass does not sensationalize what happened to him and he acknowledges the rumors of much worse treatment further south. Still, the treatment of slaves is unconscionable and is rightly called out in the book.

I skipped the introduction by Robert O'Meally as is my custom with books (no need to get the interpretation before reading the text). I forgot to go back and read it so I can't comment on its value or insights. The book is so well written and so important that I will probably buy it. The narrative reads quickly (it's just over a hundred pages), is engaging and important.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: A Fire Story by Brian Fies

A Fire Story by Brian Fies

Brian Fies was one of the countless victims of the wildfires that hit Northern California is October 2017. He is a cartoonist and immediately began drawing his experience and publishing it on the web. That work became a minor hit and has been expanded into a full-length graphic novel. He starts with waking up to the smell of smoke in the early hours of October 9. He and his wife grabbed a few thing when the evacuation was called. They assumed they'd come back in a couple of hours, at most a couple of days. The fire came right through their neighborhood, completely destroying their house. He goes on to describe his personal recovery effort and how his life was changed by the loss of practically every material possession he had.

His story is very moving and full of surprising details. He remembers a lot of the stuff he'll never have again, including all of his work up to that point. He and his wife start to get new stuff thanks to the generosity of friends and family. Government and relief agencies were mostly good though in the book he gives prominence to the moments of bureaucracy and frustration. Fies is forthright about his anger and occasional misjudgments. At one point, people are waiting at the post office to get the mail that can't be delivered anymore. The workers had a system where people had to wait for their numbers before getting whatever mail might be available. Fies was pretty mad at one worker until the worker's wife came to drop off lunch for him since the worker hadn't eaten since the previous day. The worker was also a fire victim. Fies shows a very human response to a very difficult and unusual situation.

Recommended.

Book Review: This is Orson Welles by Orson Wells and Peter Bogdanovich

This is Orson Welles by Orson Welles and Peter Bogdanovich, edited by Jonathan Rosenbaum

Film director Peter Bogdanovich conducted several interviews with Orson Welles from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. The plan was to publish the transcripts as an autobiography. The project sat on the back burner for them and the book was only published in 1992, seven years after Welles' death. Bogdanovich turned the project over to an editor to complete. The book includes an in-depth chronology of Welles' career in radio, theater, and film, along with an appendix summing up the cuts and changes to The Magnificent Ambersons, Welles's film just after Citizen Kane.

The interviews follow Welles' career mostly in chronological order with a focus on the movies on which he worked. Welles has plenty of fun stories about productions and heartbreaking tales of conflicts with studios. Welles made a big splash in radio with The Shadow and The War of the Worlds broadcast. He came to Hollywood with a lot of ambition and naivety. He had full artistic control over Citizen Kane, resulting in a challenging masterpiece that was divisive in Hollywood. He was working on a special project in South America while Ambersons was being re-edited by the studio. The bad blood over its handling sent Welles out of the studio system as a film maker. He had to scramble to find financing for his projects, often acting in other films or courting foreign investors to get the money he needed. The interviews end discussing Touch of Evil (1958), though they do chat about his work in the 1960s and 70s throughout the book.

Bogdanovich is clearly a good friend and admirer of Welles, so he never presses too hard on difficult subjects (though Welles does occasionally complain about returning to the same topics, like Citizen Kane). Welles lives up to his reputation for bon homie and a certain fullness of himself. He's a talented guy and he knows it. He loves the craft of filmmaking (and art in general) and holds to his own principles and opinions. He's an interesting fellow though not entirely sympathetic. I had the impression that his side of the story was only one side and a lot wasn't said about the other side of the story.

I didn't read through his career or the Ambersons material, so I can't comment on those. I found the book a bit long (322 pages of interviews, another 210 of unread supplementary material) and a bit one-sided. If you're a Welles fan it's worth reading once.

Book Review: On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Few authors are as prolific and successful as Stephen King. In 2000, he published this book, part autobiography and part writing advice. The memoir covers his early years, from childhood until he broke his addictions to booze and drugs. King does not give a thorough or strictly chronological biography but "snapshots" of moments influential in his writing. The details of his dirt poor childhood, his school life, and his marriage are interesting. Always his writing and struggles with publishing are present, giving unity to an otherwise non-linear narrative.

The second larger section of the book is devoted to the act of writing. He uses the metaphor of a toolbox to describe the various things a writer needs to be successful. He discusses the nuts and bolts like those found in Strunk and White's Elements of Style (basic grammar and style choices). He shows the importance of crafting good dialogue and building good characters. Plot is not his greatest concern in writing; he often lets the story flow naturally from the characters he's created and the interesting situations they struggle through. He's a great advocate of writing a first draft and then letting it sit for several weeks if not months. After a while, he comes back to the work fresh, probably with a better idea of the themes (which can suggest scenes or details to add) and with a better likelihood of cutting what doesn't work (after a couple of months the work is less your baby and more a work in progress that needs some trimming to make it better). King also discusses his workspace and work plan, showing how they contribute to his productivity as a writer.

The book is an easy, interesting read and very inspiring for writers. It is aimed at fiction writers, but even a blogger can find the advice and stories useful and motivational.

Book Review: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The impending American holiday brought to mind this review that never got posted. The timing (the eve of July 4th) is quite nice, though I have something else planned for the actual holiday!

I somehow stumbled across this book while browsing around the Kindle free book section and downloaded it last summer. I think I started reading it in the fall, and only just finished it in January. It's been slow going, though mostly because I used it as a "five minute read" while waiting in line or for a show to start. The book is full on interesting stories, covering Franklin's life up to 1757. So it does leave out his involvement in the American War for Independence.

But the rest of his life is very interesting indeed. We've all heard stories of how Franklin formed the first library in the colonies and the first volunteer fire company anywhere. Getting to read the details of how and why he did those from his own recollections is fascinating. As are his many other schemes, such as getting the streets of Philadelphia paved and employing street sweepers to keep them clean. The sheer amount of practical ideas he came up with and implemented is amazing. He is an example of entrepreneurship in an age when opportunities seem quite unlikely.

He started out quite simply, the 17th son of a candle maker in Boston. He was to be an apprentice of one of his brothers, a printer, but things did not go well. He fled Boston, first to New York City, then to Philadelphia. Through thrift and industry he built a good living for himself. More importantly, he built a good reputation so that he was sought out for advice by the local government and served several times in public offices.

He presents himself as always considering the public well-being. He instituted several philosophical societies, where men would discuss important issues in a civilized manner and share their books on various topics (leading into the first public library he established). He fostered good citizenship through these groups. When the men realized that they could lose all their possession in home fires, Franklin proposed a volunteer society that would be ready to form a bucket brigade to fight fires. Even more, he had a scheme to raise money to equip a vehicle with supplies for fighting fires, thus inventing the first fire engines.

Franklin is also quite candid about his religious views. He wound up as a non-sectarian Christian, embodying the best virtues he could imagine and practicing them deliberately. His unassuming style comes through in his writings--he's honest and straightforward about his successes and failures.

The book isn't very long (151 Kindle pages) and gives a good feeling of what his life was like. I highly recommend it.

SAMPLE QUOTES

In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen. [p.87]

I grew convinc'd that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I form'd written resolutions, which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I lived. [p. 51]