the dissident has arrived. i can’t really take much of the girly books, Austen et al. nicolas sparks makes me twist my hair-- how did that guy get published? ever? don’t like most so-called Christian writers because the writer part of the title is too weak. bud macfarlane’s books weren’t too well written either, but by the time he got to House of Gold his writing had improved enough for me to think that a good story, well told.
so if you’re still reading this post, here goes:
anything by Kurt Vonnegut. i laugh till i cry. bad words. skip breakfast of champions because his drawings might not inspire
all short stories and
Wise Blood by hefty, left-hook, catholic flannery oconnor.
the moviegoer by another catholic, walker percy. i suggested it to my book club. everybody quit it. this book deserves a better chance.
anything john steinbeck.
Grapes of Wrath was so worth the time it took to read it.
John Paul the Great by Peggy Noonan was one of the best books i ever read. when JPII met the punk rocker in the vatican, i cried. i cried many times during the reading of that book. everyone should read this. likewise JPII’s
Crossing the Threshold of Hope.
Sts Faustina and Therese of Lisieux were already mentioned.
Divine Mercy in my Soul seems to me less a page-turner book, more a contemplative, prayer book. a bedside book, this.
another suggestion, how about get a DVD player in your room or by the couch? rent or buy everything Shakespeare by the Royal Shakespeare theater or Thames Shakespeare Company (
amazon.com). it’s all wonderful (except for the Thames Romeo and Juliette. Juliette started out shrill and just got worse from there.) my favorite, Twelfth Night. too much fun.
invite your friends to come deliver weekly thursday (a random pic) morning tea and rosary gatherings.
tell your friends to deliver surprise parties to you, including neat stuff for your kids to do.
there are people right in the town where you live who would love to have a weekly Scrabble death match.
write poems and a prayer journal.
get a harminica. play it. often. badly done blues and bedrest. like peanutbutter and jelly.
pray for our addicted son. another worthy use of time. that’s why i’m closing down now. gonna go pray for him.