It is a gray and dreary day here with a mix of rain and sleet. This type of day makes me think about my favorite books. It is the perfect kind of day to tuck in with a favorite book and a peppermint mocha. Yeah, still working on that coffee addiction. Thank Our Lord for his patience on the path to holiness.
Here are some of my favorite books. They are both fiction and non-fiction.
1. Til We Have Faces- CS Lewis. This is my all time favorite novel. I re-read it every year. It is the re-telling of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. Wonderful book!
2. The Seven Storey Mountain-Thomas Merton. The most profound autobiography I have ever read. I re-read it every couple of years. It is the conversion of a secular modern to Trappist Monk. It is a beautiful book!
3. The Great Divorce-CS Lewis. The story of a visit to Heaven by those who are in Hell. It shows brilliantly how we condemn ourselves.
4. Persuasion-Jane Austen. Most people put Pride and Prejudice at the top of their Austen list, but Persuasion is my favorite. It is about second chances, overcoming pride, forgiveness, and enduring love.
5. Rediscovering Catholicism-Matthew Kelly. I have to credit this book with helping me to return to the fullness of the Catholic Faith. This book showed me that the meaning of life is to be a saint and that the Catholic Faith is the best guide on our journey to holiness.
6. Bridging the Great Divide-Fr. Robert Barron. I have struggled greatly in my current Diocese with remnants of the “spirit of Vatican II”. Fr. Barron’s book helped me to better understand the philosophical and theological underpinnings of these mistakes and how to focus on the beauty of the Faith.
7. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven-Dr. Peter Kreeft. Like all sinners I need to be converted to Heaven. Our former parish priest recommended this book to me to help me better understand Heaven. I took it with me on a retreat to a Trappist Monastery and it really helped me with a lot of my questions. Plus, Dr. Kreeft is brilliant!
8. The Lamb’s Supper-Dr. Scott Hahn-This book is about Scripture and the Mass. It is part of how the Catholic Church understands the Book of Revelation as the Heavenly Liturgy. This book completely changed my understanding of the Mass. It showed me how we step into the supernatural, into Heaven, at Mass. This book would change so many lives, if people would read it. Mass is not boring, it is our foretaste of Heaven!
9. Space Trilogy (Out of Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength)-CS Lewis-This series is amazing. It is about the Fallen nature of man and how he struggles with evil.
10. Lord of the Rings-JRR Tolkien- Not much needs to be said. A brilliant book about the path of holiness, how the small can fight evil, how evil never expects the weak to win, love, hope, I could keep going.
These are just a few books that I really enjoy. There are so many wonderful books that I have read over the years. What are some of your favorites? I am always looking for suggestions. Advent blessings!
Swimming the Depths 
Yes, Persuasion is an excellent read! Lovely list. One of my favorite books is The Cunning Man by Robertson Davies.
I will have to check it out. Thanks!
I love times a billion, The Great Divorce. Read it in a day while cooking three meals for my family, cleaning, the usual. That good. Attached to my hip like a breastfeeding baby!
Great list!
Cristina
I agree it is so good!
I just wrote a blog post on the 2 best gifts you can give: Books and journals. I’d love to get a good list of favorite authors, books and used bookstores in the comments if you wouldn’t mind participating! The link is at: http://reclusiverachel.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/2-gifts-that-will-last-a-lifetime-and-beyond-under-20/
Thank you!