Catholic non-fiction book reviewers

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Catholic non-fiction book reviewers

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1eschator83
Editado: Jan 9, 2017, 11:26 am

I'm debating with myself (akin to fighting an unarmed person) about opening a new group called Catholic non-fiction reviewers. My motive is to encourage Catholics both to read and to share their views on Catholic non-fiction books, in a place that's easy to find yet hopefully doesn't attract a lot of spam.
I'd like to see good books more widely praised, and problem books questioned. OK-I admit that I think there was much merit to the ancient Church Index, but agree there is just too much stuff out there today to critique everything.
Please comment herein if you would read, join, or contribute to a review group. If you have concerns, suggestions, objections, or encouragement, please post that too.

2John5918
Jan 3, 2017, 2:38 am

Thanks, eschator. I read a lot of Catholic non-fiction and it is always interesting to see what others have to say about it. I think we had a whole thread on Walter Kasper's excellent book Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life when it first came out a couple of years ago. Currently I'm reading Richard Rohr's The Divine Dance: The Trinity and your transformation, which is also excellent.

I suppose it's the term "reviewers" which puts me off a little. I don't really have the time or the interest to write detailed reviews. I would be happy to contribute short impressions or comments on some of the books I read, but not full-scale reviews.

32wonderY
Jan 4, 2017, 4:49 pm

(Thanks John)

Why not use this group? It's already got a cast of potential characters.

I'd be glad to go back and re-new my acquaintance with any number of my books.

42wonderY
Jan 6, 2017, 9:07 am

>1 eschator83: Eh? Any new thoughts? You prompted me to at least revisit some of the posts in this group, many of which actually do discuss Catholic non-fiction.

I would ask Tim if he could check with the group creator to see whether we can change the settings so that anyone can join without an invitation. I must have dropped the group at one point, because I had to ask someone for an invite again so I could post.

5eschator83
Jan 6, 2017, 9:05 pm

>3 2wonderY:+4-2wonderY: I am delighted by your enthusiasm and encouragement to support Catholic non-fiction reviews, and/or perhaps just discussion and commentary. I've been thinking of a new group partly because I'd like the new group subject and description of its intent to be very clear, and also because I hope this apologetics group could be a good place to discuss not only the purpose and methods of apologetics, and apologetic books specifically, but also to compare and discuss the effectiveness of specific apologetic logic and arguments.
Somehow I joined this group without any problem; I wonder if perhaps you had at some point withdrawn from the group and maybe that made it more complicated to rejoin.
Let's hope some others will offer to contribute Catholic non-fiction reviews or commentary. I suspect that many are reluctant to express any reservation or concern about a Catholic author or work (although I hope if they want they can focus on their favorite books). I think there are other books that claim to be Catholic, but are not, and these deserve to be protested. A pet peeve is the Bokenkotter History of the Church.

6John5918
Jan 6, 2017, 11:14 pm

>5 eschator83: I suspect that many are reluctant to express any reservation or concern about a Catholic author or work

I doubt whether this will be the case for regular posters on LT!

I think there are other books that claim to be Catholic, but are not

This perhaps opens a conversation on what is meant by a "Catholic" book. A book written by a Catholic? A book about Catholicism? A book critiquing Catholicism? A book discussing Catholic teaching or the Church but not necessarily agreeing with it all? A book floating controversial ideas about Catholicism? A book pushing the boundaries of Catholic thought? A biography of a prominent Catholic? Or only books which set out Catholic doctrine in its most rigorous and limited form?

these deserve to be protested

Is the purpose of a review to protest? I rather think it is to analyse and critique a work. Protesting is a different process.

7eschator83
Editado: Jan 8, 2017, 12:29 pm

I'd like to create a place where it would be easy to find comments or discussion of books I'd be interested--specifically Catholic non-fiction. It wouldn't be my intent to closely define or control what type comments would be posted, other than respectful and decent.
Impulsively, I already tried opening a new group 'Dreamers', to discuss books about the significance, if any, of dreams, but it hasn't turned out to be a roaring success. So, my purpose in this thread was trolling for others who might contribute to a Catholic non-fiction group, and to learn if perhaps somewhere here there already is something like that.
I understand I can search specific books, authors, and even specific topics, but it can be pretty time consuming.
Cardinal Kasper was quite a prolific writer--I can't recall having heard of him before, but added him to my wish list.

8John5918
Editado: Jan 7, 2017, 11:15 pm

>7 eschator83: I already tried opening a new group... but it hasn't turned out to a roaring success.

Perhap go back to the suggestion in >3 2wonderY: to use this Catholic Apologetics group rather than creating a new group, at least initially until you see how it goes? Maybe you could open a new topic within this group with a title like "Catholic Non-fiction Reviews" or however you want to phrase it, and let's see what sort of response there is. You might kick it off with a couple of reviews of your own.

If the response is so overwhelming that it becomes clear that a new group would be viable, then we can always link back to the reviews in the original trial topic.

9eschator83
Editado: Jan 28, 2017, 10:28 am

Perhaps a viable interim compromise would be to add reviews and/or discussion here of some more books on Apologetics, to see if it least these members might comment further in a field in which they have already expressed interest. See my next post on Msgr Glenn's Apologetics. I've just begun reading it, and have some concerns, so admittedly it probably isn't a great start.

10BrBearOFS
Jul 30, 2017, 12:43 pm

This thread, like many things in our Holy Church appears to be finely gridinging to a closer conclusion. I am an Author of a book that is listed here. (" Canticle Reflections ") The subject matter is the Canticles of the Bible. I wanted to share a little insight into the Non-Fiction Author process. If there are other Non-Fiction authors here, I would also welcome their input on the matter.

Let me start by saying that it is interesting that there is not a huge number of us out there. It is difficult at best, and an excercise in humility and patience at best to publish a Non-Fiction work, particularly as a new author who is not a member of the clergy.

My book, has an Imrpimatur, by my local Bishop and was primarily written for the those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office or for those who are just curious about the Canticles in scripture.

Authors are always looking to have people to review their work. I once had a friend who told me " You have not, because you ask not.. " This is not only true of reviewers, but of Catholic Consumers in general. If all you want to read is Young Adult Fiction, then if you build it .. they will come..

Peace be with you..

Mark R. Banschbach, OFS

" Reflections of a Secular Franciscan "
http://brotherbearsfo.wordpress.com

"Canticle Reflections "
https://www.amazon.com/Canticle-Reflections-OFS-Mark-Banschbach/dp/1523756268/re...


11John5918
Jul 30, 2017, 1:10 pm

>10 BrBearOFS:

I also wrote a non-fiction book, The Voice of the Voiceless, about the role of the Church (ecumenical, not only Catholic) in the Sudanese civil war of 1983-2005. It was published by a Catholic publishing house in Nairobi, Paulines Publications Africa, which is run by the Daughters of St Paul. It was great fun working with the sisters on it. We didn't seek an imprimatur as it hardly seemed relevant, but I included a joint foreword by both Catholic and Anglican archbishops, so I know my archbishop approves of it.

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