Sally Read

Before Austen Comes Aesop

Arts & Literature

“Blomquist expresses a rarely acknowledged truth: that great children's books are no less great than their grown-up counterparts and skipping over them does a disservice to our children and ourselves. It's worth buying this book for Blomquist's list and summaries of the children's canon alone!”

Death in Black and White

Fiction

“I seriously could not put this book down. The characters are intensely believable, the dialogue sizzles, and the plot has brilliant twists and suspense. Best of all is the voice, which guides us through the whole thing—that of Father Christopher Hart. Funny, intelligent, and very human.”

Doctor and Patient

Work, Money & Leadership

“In these succinct writings von Speyr considers how a Christian doctor can best serve her patients. For von Speyr, the third person in the doctor-patient relationship is always God. The importance of prayer, and how to effectively welcome this divine presence in a health-care setting, is helpfully teased out.”

In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes

“European sights, anecdotes of saints and pilgrims, and marvels of providence are in abundance in this book, but it's the wry humor and great humility of the author that holds it all gloriously together. I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard. Recommended for armchair travelers and real travelers in search of the best holy tours in Europe.”

Leonie Martin

History & Biography

“An essential read for anyone with a devotion to the Little Flower or with an interest in the science of the saints. It shows that problematic behavior in children can happen in any family, and that our imperfections can be very much a part of our journey to sanctity. A deeply moving book.”

Our Lady of the Sign

Fiction

“In this intensely psychological story, Abigail Favale shows us, with great perception, the mind of her female protagonist. We come to understand this character’s wounds, her past, and her present, and we see a spiritual sign for her future. A deliciously atmospheric, and occasionally spine-tingling, read.”

Pondering the Permanent Things

Arts & Literature

“The themes are weighty, but Howard's tone is always engaging and accessible. Artists and writers in particular will feel encouraged by his clear and inspiring insights regarding their vocation.”

Salt and Light

History & Biography

“A great number of Catholics today must be married or intimately related to those who do not share their faith. This was the case for Élisabeth Leseur. Her response is a valuable lesson for us all, and its fruits are a touching testimony to God's action in our lives.”

See No Evil

Fiction

“Set in bygone England, this involving murder story addresses important moral questions and, in places, moves the reader with its evocation of war-wounded Europe and the impact of mass violence on the consciousness of a generation.”

Symbol or Substance?

Fiction

“For one riveting evening we are invited to eavesdrop on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Billy Graham. Rarely have I learned so much while being so entertained. Perhaps this book's greatest achievements lie in Kreeft's tender analysis of what unites the different churches, his gift of charitable listening, and his singular ability to illuminate.”

The Art of Michael D. O'Brien

Arts & Literature

“O'Brien's time spent as a writer of Byzantine icons has influenced all his work: these pieces are indeed 'windows to heaven'.”

The Great Discovery

History & Biography

“Reading this book is akin to listening to husband and wife at a kitchen table, and they are truly humbling and charming company. Their resolve to convert to Catholicism is a staggering testimony to quiet courage in Christ.”

The Lighthouse

Fiction

“The austere, authentic, and solitary world of The Lighthouse captured me entirely. O'Brien's tale has the beautiful and luminous nature of a parable: through its engaging and gentle story the reader is led into poignant and deep considerations concerning redemption, and just how alone, or not, it is possible for a man to be.”

The Song of Ascents

History & Biography

“Song of Ascents is one of those deeply satisfying books that looks at different people in various times and places and sees, within seemingly disparate narratives, the hand of God. Tom Hiney is an absorbing and engaging writer, and by the end of the book the reader feels not only the frisson of coming closer to the divine, but also the sense of having made a new friend.”

The Stag with Crystal Horns and Other Tales

Fiction

“Grace Fitzpatrick’s fairytales will appeal to grown-ups as much as to children. Witty, wise, and strangely compelling, these stories are steeped in folk-tale tradition, but manage to be startlingly fresh at the same time. There are morals to be had within these pages, but the author is deft enough, and funny enough, for her timeless messages not to be heavy handed. Perfect for children’s bedtime stories. And perfect for grown-ups who may like a little classy comfort reading when they can’t sleep.”

This Thing of Darkness

Fiction

“This book is easy to pick up and hard to put down, but there is nothing straightforward about it. By turns witty, thought-provoking, puzzling, gut-wrenching, disturbing, and sad, this novel ultimately engages deeply with the faith—but there is nothing facile or superficially soothing here.”

This Transfigured Chapel of the Threads

Arts & Literature

“Written with Sarah Law’s usual precision and grace, these poems take us deep into the spiritual struggles and epiphanies of one of the greatest saints in modern history. Through recording the unseen moments, the unrecorded thoughts (always as fruit of long research and discernment), Law’s work brings us to a marvelous closeness with Thérèse. This is poetry of quiet and extraordinary power borne of great contemplation—and it stokes great contemplation in the reader.”

Undaunted Joy

Christian Living

“I loved this book. It both moved me to tears and made me chuckle; it will forever color the way I see life. I highly recommend becoming a part of Shemaiah Gonzalez’s revolution of joy!”