New July Reads
Posted Mon, 07/17/06
I have two more books on my stack to read this summer:
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Mick: The Real Michael Collins by Peter Hart
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The Rosary: A Journey to the Beloved by Gary Jansen
I've always wanted to read a detailed account of Michael Collins' life. I enjoyed the movie of the same name, which probably whetted my appetite for more. I have a feeling "Mick" will be a comprehensive biography of the man himself.
Here is a brief history of Collins from Wikipedia:
Michael John Collins (Irish name Mícheál Eoin Ó Coileáin; 16 October 1890–22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as Director of Intelligence for the IRA, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of the Provisional Government and as Commander-in-Chief of the National Army.
He was assassinated in August 1922, during the Irish Civil War. Although most Irish political parties honor him, members and supporters of the political party Fine Gael hold in particular respect his memory.
"The Rosary" isn't so much a read but rather a refresher of the origins of the rosary. It's a small book that offers a "short introduction to a prayer that has touched the life of millions."
From the History Book Club:
The Rosary is a popular and often misunderstood prayer that the faithful, the broken, the curious, and the weary have turned to for more than 700 years. "Though traditionally considered a Catholic act of devotion," author Gary Jansen contends, "the Rosary with its primary focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, is ultimately a Catholic, or universal, prayer—one that can appeal to Christians of all faiths and denominations." In a book that is practical and reverential, The Rosary attempts to cut through the myths of this sacred prayer and get to the heart of the matter—which is an ecumenical, meditative journey that illuminates the teachings of the New Testament.
Derived from the Latin word rosarium, or rose garden, the Rosary, popularized by St. Dominic in the 12th and 13th centuries, is a form of prayer, traditionally said with the help of beads. Many children and adults have balked at the repetition involved in saying the Rosary. However, Jansen argues, it is the repetition that makes the prayer a powerful tool for mediation and contemplation. Written for Catholics and Protestants and divided into two sections, The Rosary offers useful instructions on how to get the most out of this spiritual exercise of repeating prayers and includes a visual and scriptural journey through the mysteries of the Rosary—including excerpts from the New Testament and reproductions of famous paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt and Raphael.
I have a lot of reading to do.
Tags: Books & Reading