The Legacy of Vatican II by Massimo Faggioli My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book of essays had its genesis in a conference organised by Boston College that bore the same title as this book, and which was held (in 2013) to celebrate two events: the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second… Continue reading Review: The Legacy of Vatican II
Month: August 2017
Review: Spy in Chancery
Spy in Chancery by Paul Doherty My rating: 4 of 5 stars This third edition of the Hugh Corbett series sees our eponymous hero thrust from his quiet life as a clerk of the Chancery of Edward of England (he'd been promoted since the events of the previous adventure) into the lofty realms of political… Continue reading Review: Spy in Chancery
Review: Crown in Darkness
Crown in Darkness by Paul Doherty My rating: 3 of 5 stars Another historically set mystery to be confronted by our hero, Hugh Corbett, clerk to the King's Bench, this novel sees Corbett thrust into international intrigue along with the expected murder and mayhem. Sent into Scotland after the untimely death of King Alexander III,… Continue reading Review: Crown in Darkness
Review: Satan in St Mary’s
Satan in St Mary's by Paul Doherty My rating: 3 of 5 stars And so I met Master Hugh Corbett, a clerk in the court of the King's Bench, who is entrusted with a special mission by England's Chancellor, a mission which draws Corbett into the world of intrigue, treason and the black arts. As… Continue reading Review: Satan in St Mary’s
Review: The Reeve’s Tale
The Reeve's Tale by Margaret Frazer My rating: 4 of 5 stars Margaret Frazer provides another tour de force in this volume in the continuing Dame Frevisse Medieval Mystery series, with intrigue, murder and the complexities of medieval manorial life very clearly on display. Finding herself thrust unexpectedly into a position she'd rather not occupy,… Continue reading Review: The Reeve’s Tale
Review: Cathar
Cathar by Christopher Bland My rating: 3 of 5 stars An engaging enough story, mixed with the religious and political history of the Languedoc region of France and the determination of the Catholic Church to eliminate any and all elements of Catharism from the face of the earth. There was a good mix of historical… Continue reading Review: Cathar
Broadwater Beach
To occupy a weekend's afternoon, I went for a drive armed with my camera in the general direction of a beach. I had originally thought Evans Head would be the destination, but instead I ended up at Broadwater Beach... https://doohandiscourse.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=K88pMN&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=1&playButton=1&randomize=0&speed=20&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=3
Casino’s River
I've photographed the Richmond River flowing through my home town of Casino before, yet it always draws me back to have a look. This particular visit was in the middle of the day, and the colour and sunlight didn't disappoint. https://doohandiscourse.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=RHhsWV&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=1&playButton=1&randomize=0&speed=20&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=3
Review: The Maiden’s Tale
The Maiden's Tale by Margaret Frazer My rating: 4 of 5 stars This has to be the best of the series that I've read so far, drawing the named protagonist out of her Benedictine house (although for good reason) and into the heady waters of statecraft, espionage and intrigue. Oh, and there is murder along… Continue reading Review: The Maiden’s Tale
Review: The Tempest-Tossed Church: Being a Catholic today
The Tempest-Tossed Church : Being a Catholic today by Gerard Windsor My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was decidedly not what I was expecting when I purchased it and started to read it. Rather than an examination of all the woes confronting the Catholic Church in contemporary Australia, I was presented with an… Continue reading Review: The Tempest-Tossed Church: Being a Catholic today
Auckland 2017 – The Last Day
And so I come to my last morning in New Zealand. An 'earlyish' start so that I could finish packing, and finish getting the flat in some semblance of order before heading off. It wasn't a rushed morning, and I managed to achieve my 'target' departure of 11am. My plan in choosing such a time… Continue reading Auckland 2017 – The Last Day
Review: Panic
Panic by David Marr My rating: 4 of 5 stars I don't always agree with David Marr when he speaks or writes in the public forum. At times I find his pontificating just a tad smug and self-righteous, worthy of the kind of epithets applied to him by some of his opponents on 'the Right'.… Continue reading Review: Panic
Auckland 2017 – The Fourteenth Day
My last full day in Aotearoa New Zealand started with a few household chores undertaken in preparation for my departure tomorrow. Essentially this was a last round of washing, and some removal of garbage to the wheelie bins. Once these essential tasks were undertaken, and while the washing was finishing, I went in search of… Continue reading Auckland 2017 – The Fourteenth Day
Auckland 2017 – The Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Days
So, gentle reader, you may be wondering why I haven't been reporting on my continuing adventures here in Auckland the last few days. And you may be further wondering why when I resume my reportage I've 'lumped' three days into one. The answer to the first source of wonder is simple: I got lazy in… Continue reading Auckland 2017 – The Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Days
Review: Liturgy and Personality
Liturgy and Personality by Dietrich von Hildebrand My rating: 3 of 5 stars At the heart of this new edition of Hildebrand's 1933 treatise is a recognition that only through participation in the liturgy for the sake of recognising the liturgy has having a value unto itself are individuals able to be drawn towards the… Continue reading Review: Liturgy and Personality
