I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a thoroughly personal and yet powerful story of the efforts of one young girl to bring about something that every individual on this planet should have, an education.

Rather than focus on the attempted murder, Malala Yousafzai spends the overwhelming majority of this book telling the poignant story of all that led to that event, and does so in a way that is both child-like and yet insightful and compelling. The fight of Yousafzai and her father – among so many in Pakistan – to resist the Talibanisation of her beloved Swat Valley, which would lead to the forced abandonment of education for girls as unIslamic, reminds those of us who live in the Western post-liberal world that just because we have access to things like education does not meant that everyone does.

I was moved by the story told by Malala, moved not because the Taliban tried to kill her, but because Malala only wants what I have been blessed with, the opportunity to learn and develop knowledge.

If we are to believe her pledge, and I dod, this book is not the whole story of Malala Yousafzai. There is much, much more to come.

And the world will be a better place because of it.

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Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor by Jana Riess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book that made me, literally, laugh our loud. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read, and to journey with the author through her experiment of attempting twelve different spiritual practices across a year.

In doing so, the reader managed to catch glimpses of what each of those spiritual practices involved, both physically and spiritually, and was invited into contemplating whether these individual practices might be something they themselves might find attractive. The author, Jana Reiss, doesn’t hold back from highlighting the difficulties she experienced in attempting those practices, nor does she claim that she was successful in her attempts. In fact, as the title suggests, Reiss believes she failed at each practice she attempted across the year.

The true beauty of Riess’ journey, however, comes in the epilogue – and I won’t spoil it for you.

A highly recommended, fantastically engaging, easily accessible book.

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The Mass by Lucien Deiss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although now clearly dated – the commentary offered is based on the now defunct English translation of the Roman Missal – this books remains a classic look at that liturgical event that Catholics often take for granted, at least in terms of not being aware of the nuance contained in the text and actions.

Lucien Deiss is a master of his subject and it becomes clear in the way in which he leads the reader through the Order of Mass providing insight, commentary and history to the post-Vatican II version of the Mass. It should come as no surprise that Deiss would do so given his long involvement in the study and teaching of the liturgical life of the Catholic Church.

I would highly recommend this book for regular reading by any Mass-going Catholic.

From the back cover:

Father Deiss in this work helps us to discover the rich liturgical celebration of the Mass. He follows the Order of the Mass so that the reader might appreciate this structure and its rhythm, and he explains each part of the Mass with its rites and words. Some of these elements have their roots in the beginnings of Christianity, while others witness to the religious and cultural experience of Christianity through the centuries. Father Deiss tries to help us understand the meaning of the celebration today.

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12 Steps to Spiritual Freedom: Understanding the Christian Roots of Twelve Step Programs by Joanna Thyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

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Seventy-Four Tools for Good Living: Reflections on the Fourth Chapter of Benedict’s Rule by Michael Casey Ocso
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed, and was profoundly challenged, by this commentary on the fourth chapter of the Rule of St Benedict by the Australian Cistercian Michael Casey.

Although the fourth chapter on which he comments might be seen as simply a long list of virtuous acts that the monastic should embrace as part of living the monastic life, Casey’s commentary delves beyond the surface ‘black letter’ reading to give colour and nuance to these actions, setting them in both a community and individual context, and broadening the requirements for attempting to fulfill what is required of the monastic (or those who embrace the Rule of St Benedict in other contexts).

For anyone who values the spirituality of the Rule of St Benedict, this book will become a valuable resource in attempting to understand, and thus live, the significance of the fourth chapter which otherwise might just be a long list of things that are impossible to live up to.

Very highly recommended!

From the back cover:

There is more in Benedict’s Rule than meets the eye. Based on the rules of life of John Cassian and Saint Basil, Benedict invites us to go further back to the scriptural basis of all Christian and monastic living and pursue our spiritual journey by the guidance of the Gospel.

This book of reflections on the tools for good living is intended to be read very slowly, one section as a time. In addition to communicating reflections on each verse of chapter 4, Casey invites readers to:
– continue the process of reflection for themselves
– apply what is written to their own lives
– draw on their own wisdom and insight
– and, ultimately, broaden their experience of monastic spirituality.

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