Too Catholic...?

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Catholig

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Hello,

I’m unsure whether anyone can give me any advise, or anything, but if you can it’d be appreciated.

My situation is that while I don’t think myself “too catholic” some stuff I used to do - used to love to do, BTW - I feel I can no longer do. The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read. The reason is twofold. Firstly, I hate to go the Barnes & Nobles or Borders, because they are unscrupulous as far as morals go. They sell books on Wicca, Homosexuality, Erotica, etc. Secondly, even if I do decide to go to them I feel that if I pick up any book it will probably have swearing, or some sex scene in the middle of the book. I used to read quite a bit as I said, and reflecting many of the books I read weren’t of the best moral standard. The fact that I can’t read anything but apologetics bought at a Catholic bookstore, really depresses me, and not because I hate apologetics (I don’t). It’s just that I want some wholesome fiction…

Again, maybe I’m just whining, but can anyone make any suggestions?

Catholig
 
Catholig said:
Hello,

I’m unsure whether anyone can give me any advise, or anything, but if you can it’d be appreciated.

My situation is that while I don’t think myself “too catholic” some stuff I used to do - used to love to do, BTW - I feel I can no longer do. The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read. The reason is twofold. Firstly, I hate to go the Barnes & Nobles or Borders, because they are unscrupulous as far as morals go. They sell books on Wicca, Homosexuality, Erotica, etc. Secondly, even if I do decide to go to them I feel that if I pick up any book it will probably have swearing, or some sex scene in the middle of the book. I used to read quite a bit as I said, and reflecting many of the books I read weren’t of the best moral standard. The fact that I can’t read anything but apologetics bought at a Catholic bookstore, really depresses me, and not because I hate apologetics (I don’t). It’s just that I want some wholesome fiction…

Again, maybe I’m just whining, but can anyone make any suggestions?

Catholig
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Just a thought, but book stores stock what sells. It is what they need to do if they are going to stay in business. Yes that means stocking some unsavory stuff, but if you refuse to buy books there, then they have no choice but to keep stocking the smut. On the other hand if you go to those book stores and buy good books, and the rest of us do as well, then they will have a reason to expand the quality sections of their offerings and the expense of the smut.

–
Bill
 
You’ll probably have better luck in the popular media section… over there people will give you tons of recommendations regarding fiction which you can enjoy without reservations.

Some suggestions:
G.K. Chesterton didn’t just right apologetics, he also wrote quite a bit of fiction. This includes mystery (Father Brown Stories), and quite bit of wacky British humor (The Napoleon of Notting Hill, The Club of Queer Trades).

J.R.R. Tolkien is a must, of course. The Chronicles of Narnia are also an obvious choice.

I personally really like Elizabeth Moon’s “The Deed of Paksenarrion.” I can’t recommend it as unreservedly as the previous works; if you pay VERY careful attention, you’ll spot a reference to artificial birth control, and an offhand reference to the existence of homosexual relationships. The former shows up in exactly one sentence, the latter is limited only to tacit acceptance. And, of course, it is set in a fantasy world (non-Christian deities). However, it is one of my favorite books, and the above do not detract significantly from the otherwise heroic nobility of the main character, leading generally to an overwhelmingly moral work. Some of her other work is decidedly more lax in morality, though.

If I recall, Victor Hugo may have had some differences with the Church (don’t remember). However, Les Miserables is a masterpiece, though no easy read. While one could read negative commentary about the Church in it, one would have to admit that it was not attacking the Church itself, but the corrupt elements within the Church. Les Miserables also provides whole chapters portraying an exemplary, saintly bishop, and speaks of redemption of the soul, and the merits of lives of contemplative prayer.
 
The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read.
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I feel the same way! In fact, I feel that way about nearly everything I used to do. Music, TV, books, magazines: I find many of them unappealing now.

With regard to reading, I have found many non-fiction, non-apologetics books very fulfilling. I just started “The Future of Marriage” by David Blankenhorn and recently finished a wonderful book by Rabbi Daniel Lapin entitled “America’s Real War.” I find current events seen through the lens of faith quite interesting and edifying.
 
I know what you mean. I love reading too (not that I have much time for it anymore since becoming a mommy, lol). Fiction novels are my favorite, but the references to immoral behavior are so prevalent. Not surprising since they mirror our culture. Depending on the book, I can usually still enjoy the story. What I find really upsetting are the anti-Catholic references that come out of nowhere and have absolutely nothing to do with the story. I’ll be reading a book with a great plot, interesting characters, and lots of suspense and then BOOM, right in the middle is a blurb about prists being pedophiles or the Church being a greedy organization of power hungry celibates. ARGGGHHHHHH!!!
One secular author that has yet to disappoint me though is Dean Koontz. I really enjoy most of his writing and have not yet been offended by his books. His “Odd Thomas” series is great!!! I even recently came across an article comparing the character to a saint. (Might have been in the popular media forum?).
So don’t depair!!! There is still good fiction out there (and movies and tv shows). We just have to look a little harder.
malia
 
I would also recommend C.S. Lewis (an Anglican). He wrote a number of Apologetics works, as well as some non-fiction: his space trilogy, Till We Have Faces and the *Narnia *series.
 
Feanaro_s_Wife said:
One secular author that has yet to disappoint me though is Dean Koontz. I really enjoy most of his writing and have not yet been offended by his books. His “Odd Thomas” series is great!!! I even recently came across an article comparing the character to a saint. (Might have been in the popular media forum?).
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There’s a reason that you haven’t been offended by his books. Dean Koontz was just interviewed in “The National Catholic Register”. He’s definitely an author that Catholics can put on their “safe” list (and he’s written a lot of books).

-Greg
 
Paulo Coelho’s books are amazing! There are some stuff that would raise eyebrows (goddess worship, premarital sex, prostitution) but he presents the Church in a very positive light and shows people coming back to God and faith through love and forgiveness. I’ve read Eleven Minutes, The Fifth Mountain, and By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept. He writes very beautifully and I couldn’t put the books down.

I do like Chesterton, Lewis, and Scott Hahn. I also want to try Ann Rice’s book Christ the Lord Out of Egypt and I want to get my hands on more of Coelho’s books. I love to read but sadly, there is a lot of stuff that is sinful. Romance novels tend to be trashy (not all but the ones I’ve encountered are) and there is a lot of stuff that bashes the Church. That aside, there are also a lot of books I do like to read. I like reading Shakespeare and Jane Austen and I love poetry too.

There are plenty of options out there. Just keep your eyes open and God will guide you:)
 
Catholig said:
Hello,

I’m unsure whether anyone can give me any advise, or anything, but if you can it’d be appreciated.

My situation is that while I don’t think myself “too catholic” some stuff I used to do - used to love to do, BTW - I feel I can no longer do. The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read. The reason is twofold. Firstly, I hate to go the Barnes & Nobles or Borders, because they are unscrupulous as far as morals go. They sell books on Wicca, Homosexuality, Erotica, etc. Secondly, even if I do decide to go to them I feel that if I pick up any book it will probably have swearing, or some sex scene in the middle of the book. I used to read quite a bit as I said, and reflecting many of the books I read weren’t of the best moral standard. The fact that I can’t read anything but apologetics bought at a Catholic bookstore, really depresses me, and not because I hate apologetics (I don’t). It’s just that I want some wholesome fiction…

Again, maybe I’m just whining, but can anyone make any suggestions?

Catholig
Click to expand...
I picked up a collection of Father Brown’s Mysteries at Barnes and Nobles along with CS Lewis Books and I have bought Scot Hahn books there and writings of JPII and PB XVI and Intro to a Devout Life by St Francis de Sales, Imitation of Christ, well the list goes on. I shop there figuring if they don’t move good Christian/Catholic material they will quit selling them. If they quit selling them, then non-belivers will never by chance see those titiles, and it was by “chance” I have picked up some the most important books that help lead me to the Church and grow spirtually.

Of course I support Catholic bookstores and other Catholic book sources.

I
 
Greg72 said:
There’s a reason that you haven’t been offended by his books. Dean Koontz was just interviewed in “The National Catholic Register”. He’s definitely an author that Catholics can put on their “safe” list (and he’s written a lot of books).

-Greg
Click to expand...
I love Dean Koontz, too. I’ve been reading him for years and have always been impressed by the quality of his writing as well as the strong moral stances of his various characters. I was especially impressed with the Odd Thomas books (I’ve only read the 1st 2 so far), and with the fact that Stormy and Odd made no apologies for the fact that they were both 20-something virgins who wanted to wait for one another on their wedding night.

I am also waiting eagerly for the 3rd installment of Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein series-- a very, very well done reworking of the story.

Another fabulous series to read is Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.
 
I don’t know if anyone has suggested this author yet, but Michael O’Brien is AWESOME!!! He’s DEFINITELY a devout Catholic, his writing reflects it through and through. Search him through an internet supplier if you can’t find his books in your local bookstores. Totally wholesome, faith-building fiction!

I’m also reading some Issac Asimov, his Foundation series, and his short stories about robots. I don’t know if it has any smut in it, but his writing style seems to indicate that there won’t be any.

Good luck, and God bless! ^^
 
Catholig said:
Hello,

I’m unsure whether anyone can give me any advise, or anything, but if you can it’d be appreciated.

My situation is that while I don’t think myself “too catholic” some stuff I used to do - used to love to do, BTW - I feel I can no longer do. The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read. The reason is twofold. Firstly, I hate to go the Barnes & Nobles or Borders, because they are unscrupulous as far as morals go. They sell books on Wicca, Homosexuality, Erotica, etc. Secondly, even if I do decide to go to them I feel that if I pick up any book it will probably have swearing, or some sex scene in the middle of the book. I used to read quite a bit as I said, and reflecting many of the books I read weren’t of the best moral standard. The fact that I can’t read anything but apologetics bought at a Catholic bookstore, really depresses me, and not because I hate apologetics (I don’t). It’s just that I want some wholesome fiction…

Again, maybe I’m just whining, but can anyone make any suggestions?

Catholig
Click to expand...
I love going to Barnes and Noble and Borders. They are in business to make money, so of course they stock a very wide selection of reading and listening materials. I know they have whole sections on topics that I find to be offensive, so I stay out of those sections. I do not feel bad about spending my money in such stores, though, because while they do offer some things that are offensive, I find they also offer a great deal that I do not find objectionable in the least.

Now, there are certain authors and genres that I know to stay away from. For example, I used to love Anne Rice’s vampires novels, (and before I returned to the Church, I enjoyed them for the explicitness as well as the stories). Since returning to the Church (and more specifically to Confession) I can no longer read them because I realized that they were a cause of me committing actual sins of my own, and then because I finally realized that sex is not something that should be treated so cavalierly. I know that if I pick up a Vampire novel, I will be placing myself in a near occasion to sin. So, as compelling as I find Lestat, I will stay away from those books.

That being said, I do not forbid myself all works of fiction in the off-chance that there may be something with which I don’t agree, or find objectionable, in the novel. When I do come across passages that are lurid, or otherwise explicit, I have trained myself to simply skip over them. I have found that they rarely, if ever, actually enhance the story, so I am not missing anything by not reading them.

I think the key is to be able to discern which authors, books and magazines are fine to read, and which ones are best to completely avoid. You are not expected to give up reading all works of fiction, but you are expected to be able to discern what is good for you and what is not.

Don’t avoid the larger chains of booksellers just because they carry items that you find offensive; simply learn not to go into those sections, and to pass by those books, that you find objectionable.
 
Mary Higgens Clark is another modern author - who happens to be Catholic - and writes suspense fiction that many people enjoy.
 
There’s tons of great books by saints that are devotional and very edifying and not concerned with apologetics.
 
I just can’t stop buying books about the Church!😃 History, traditions, devotional…I feel like I have 30 years of catch-up work to do!😛

Okay, so I’m a history junkie as well. But the more I read about the Church, the more I realize its impact on Western Civilization! It’s sort of like watching one of those James Burke Connections episodes.
 
Thank you for starting this thread 😃 . I too love to read, fiction and non-fiction.

There are a number of good mystery authors too, Agatha Christie, Miss Marple series, Cat Who series, Sneakie Pie Brown ones (sorry, somehow this early in the morning my brain isn’t remembering the authors).

I have a few Dean Koontz books in the box of books I brought home from my moms house this Christmas that I haven’t gotten to yet. It makes me quite happy that I don’t have to worry about their content.

I also have Dan Brown’s book but I don’t want to read that one alone. I want to have my family read it with me but my husband doesn’t want to - he is very much a non-fiction only reader.

Brenda V.
 
Catholig said:
Hello,

I’m unsure whether anyone can give me any advise, or anything, but if you can it’d be appreciated.

My situation is that while I don’t think myself “too catholic” some stuff I used to do - used to love to do, BTW - I feel I can no longer do. The one example is reading. I used to read quite a bit, but any more I feel that I can’t find anything to read. The reason is twofold. Firstly, I hate to go the Barnes & Nobles or Borders, because they are unscrupulous as far as morals go.
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I hear you. B&N is in business to sell books, so they sell what people will buy. I used to go to the bookstore once a month and load up–mysteries, history, classics, cookbooks, whathaveyou. Was given a B&N giftcard for my birthday and could not find anything there I wanted to read. Mysteries now are either violent depictions of criminal sexual violence, the more perverted the better, or advancing the lifestyle of the “detective” whether that is a lesbian, a slut, a drunk or a cat. History is so non-critical and revisionist, and biographies must expose the subject as a closet homosexual or they don’t sell. I have a diet from my nutritionist, so I don’t even buy diet or cookbooks any more. I ended up buying some of those expensive journals with blank pages to use as scripture journals, some stationery and notecards, and some calendars with religious and nature pictures I can use for CCD.

I just cannot read the way I used to, with 5-6 books at a time. For a while I switched to spiritual and apologetics books, and read them the same way, greedily, rapidly. Now I can’t even do that anymore. I don’t even enjoy the newspaper, or Catholic publications (I used to subscribe to at least 20). I read what I want on-line, and don’t have to worry about recycling.

I have all the reading material here already I will need for a lifetime. Excellent bible studies (I work through one book of the bible in a year, I no longer have an urge to read the whole bible as quickly as possible). Writings of our current and late popes. von Hildrebrand. Monastic fathers. Ignatius, Aquinas, Francis and Clare, Teresa, John of the Cross, deSales, Therese. I follow the counsel of the Rule of St. Benedict and read one spiritual book at a time, slowly, meditatively, using lectio divina. My speed reading days are over. For relaxation I re-read the classics, I received a hardcover oxford U set of Jane Austen a couple of years ago, for instance. Am working on Dostoyevsky just now, but slowly.

I also can barely watch TV anymore. So-called history programs just raise my blood pressure they are nothing more than history-as-gossip, very little solid research and almost no truth. Mysteries are gore and violence, not true mysteries. Bible-based programs are merely vehicles to attack Christian doctrine. Even EWTN, most of it is what I watch for work, to preview programs I may use for CCD and RCIA or adult ed. But I cannot relax in front of TV except maybe with really good old movies, but I just went through the program guide for the next week, and there is nothing I care to watch. I have to fight to carve out spare time, and that time I covet for prayer and contemplation, I just feel as I get older, I don’t have time to waste on frivolous music, books, entertainment that is not positive and worthwhile.

found a one-volume Kirsten Lavrensdatter in a rummage sale, that will be my next project when I have some reading time, after CCD, Confirmation and 1st communions, and VBS, are over.
 
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