I Thirst

This is a book that I am going to need to sit down with a few more times to really get it's meaning and message. This book is one of the most high concept and detailed devotionals I have read (it's also the first one that's exclusively Catholic). Father Joseph Langford penned this book about Mother Teresa's devotion and understanding of Jesus' thirst and ties it back to the bible. It's really powerful and I really enjoyed listening to the accompanying video series on Hallow, it helped break it down and make it more understandable. My small group has been reading and discussing this book each week. I've enjoyed it and I definitely plan on reading it again so I can hopefully absorb the message even more. 

The Wonder

Donoghue, Emma. The Wonder. 10 CDs. unabridged. 13 hrs. Hachette Audio. ISBN 9781478911753. $30. 

Donoghue (bestselling author of Room), weaves a magnificent and haunting tale of a young Irish Catholic girl fasting herself to death and a nurse determined to save her. Eleven year old Anna O'Donnell is purported to have eaten nothing for months; Lib Wright an English nurse, is sent over to a small Irish village to see if the rumors are true and the girl is truly subsisting on nothing. Refusing to believe, Lib is determined to end the hoax within days but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the "living wonder." Putting her skepticism aside Lib is determined to help the girl, regardless if she is a fraud or not. There is something ominous about a young girl determined to waste away and Lib is convinced that something is amiss. This thriller starts off with a slow burn but quickly picks up speed as the relationship between Lib and Anna deepens and it becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems. The story comes alive with an impeccable narration by Kate Lock, who expertly narrates both English and Irish accents to such an extent that it's easy to get lost in the story. Another great read from a seasoned author, an absolute must listen!  - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

The Drop

I made the mistake of watching the movie trailer first so I can only picture Tom Hardy as Bob and James Gandolfini as Cousin Marv. Honestly though, I don't think that's a bad thing. I mean, have you seen Tom Hardy? Yowza! That was one of our main reasons for picking this for book club, because we knew we'd have a great movie to look forward to as well!

This book is quite short for Dennis Lehane novel, in fact, this was originally a short story entitled "The Animal Rescue" that Lehane expanded, and then wrote a screenplay for (his first), at the request of a producer. The resulting story was released at the same time as the movie.

If the movie is half as good as the book, I am going to love it. "The Drop" is phenomenal, it's easily one of my favorite crime/thriller reads of the year. It's gritty, engrossing and totally packs a punch at the end. For being so short, there is some amazing character building. Bob, the bartender and animal rescuer is awesome. Why don't I have a Bob in my life? Tom Hardy seems like an ideal fit to play him. I don't want to summarize the book too much and give it away. Just trust me on this, read it!

Dad is Fat

Having been a major fan of Jim Gaffigan for years I was delighted when I found out he was writing a book. I made sure to pre-order this bad boy so I could get the sweet signed book plate, terrifying valentine's day mask, and other little goodies. Pretty good deal if you ask me!

Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud multiple times and it really reminded me of Bill Cosby's, "Fatherhood." Jim Gaffigan has provided a collection of hilarious essays on parenting and child rearing that will have you howling with laughter. Jim is the proud father of five children, in a two bedroom apartment, in a fifth floor walk up in New York City. Trust me, hilarity ensues. Coming from a large, crazy, Catholic family I really related with a lot of his stories and empathized with him. If you're looking for a quick and funny summer read then this is definitely the book for you!