Reviews by Christine

Christine’s review of The Word in Your Heart by Francis Etheredge

A Pilgrimage into Truth and Beauty

In this collection of prose, poetry, and prayer, Francis Etheredge, bioethicist, theologian, and philosopher, invites us on a pilgrimage through words and pages, interweaving meditations on the Virgin Mary as protective mother to all, the truth of the human person, and the challenges young people face in today’s materialistic and divisive world. The common answer to these vital questions is found in the Word implanted in our hearts, meaning Holy Scripture to be sure, but also the action of God in history and today, the Word made flesh who dwells among us… Read Christine’s full review.

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Christine’s review of Unfolding a Post-Roe World by Francis Etheredge

A Call for Human Rights for the Unborn

In Unfolding a Post-Roe World, bioethicist and theologian Francis Etheredge updates his earlier work, The ABCQ of Conceiving Conception, by considering the Supreme Court of the United States ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson which stated, “abortion… destroys an unborn human being,” overturning the Roe v. Wade (1973) decision supporting abortion rights. Today, science (biology, embryology, genetics) defines human conception as occurring from the moment of fertilization; this first instant of fertilization begins a continuous development, culminating in showing forth this person from conception. Thus, defined as a human being, the embryo shares the same human rights as you and I, the right to life being paramount… Read Christine’s full review.

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Christine’s review of Within Reach of You: A Book of Prose and Prayers by Francis Etheredge

Praying into the Presence of God

When do prayers become poems and poems become prayers? When they are addressed to God who is present and listening. In Francis Etheredge’s third volume of his trilogy of prose, poetry, and prayer, he turns prayer into poetry and poetry into prayer, shining light onto words as pathways into the presence of God. As in the previous two volumes, he introduces the prayers with meditations… Read Christine’s full review.

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Christine’s review of Francis Etheredge’s Honest Rust and Gold

Words Torn from Tears of Grace

Francis Etheredge has gifted us with a second volume of prose and poetry in Honest Rust and Gold, a collection that flows easily between pieces, between chapters, and between sections: “Before,” “Awareness,” “Technological Leaping,” “Grace,” “The Sacraments,” “Writing,” and “After.”

To be honest, we are rusty creatures, you and I, and we need polishing. We want to shine like gold, and we cannot do this on our own. But if we enter these pages of grace, we will leave awakened and changed, polished by our Creator… Read Christine’s full review of Honest Rust and Gold

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Christine’s Review of The Prayerful Kiss by Francis Etheredge

Profound, Touching, and Beautiful

The title of this stunning collection of prose and poetry, The Prayerful Kiss, references Psalm 139 which begins, “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me” (KJV), exploring God’s creation of man. And so, in his first meditation, Francis Etheredge asks, “When does conception begin?” Does it begin with a kiss, a prayerful, intentional kiss, a kiss that is open to life in the context of marriage?

Mr. Etheredge has gifted us with a profound and touching collection of paired meditations and poems. Drawing on his own life of searching for meaning, searching for vocation, and searching for God (sometimes without knowing it), the words ring true, seeded in the pain and joy of his own fallen humanity… Read full review of The Prayerful Kiss

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Christine’s Review of Dutchess County, by Michael De Sapio

A Tale Worth Telling

DUTCHESS COUNTY: A SCREENPLAY is a moving, cinematic, meaningful biopic of Washington Irving (1783-1859), credited with being the first American “Man of Letters” and the Father of the American Short Story. We glimpse a pivotal time in American history—pre-Revolution to post-Revolution, the “Age of Reason” to the “Age of Romanticism.” Irving bridges the Old World of Europe and the New World of America. He influenced many of the nineteenth century English great writers—Scott, Dickens, Thackeray—and in America, Longfellow. American literature gained respect (finally, and perhaps grudgingly)…”  Read full review here: DUTCHESS COUNTY REVIEW

Christine’s Review of The Wisdom of Ambrose, by Susan Prudhomme

In this delightful fantasy by Susan Prudhomme, empty-nester Susan Anderson seeks to find her true identity among the lofty and silent redwoods of Northern California.  She crosses into another world, a parallel time, and meets Ambrose, a large brown bear. Read Christine’s full review of Wisdom of Ambrose.

Christine’s Review of War in Heaven, by Charles Williams

In Charles Williams’ supernatural thriller War in Heaven, an exquisitely constructed story pits three good characters against three evil ones in the protection and attempted destruction, respectively, of the Holy Graal (old spelling of Grail), discovered in the English village of Fardles, or Castra Parvulorum, the Camp of the Children. Read Christine’s full review of War In Heaven.

Christine’s Review of The Children of Men, by P.D. James

The year is 2021 and the setting is England. No children have been born since 1995, for man has become infertile… Read Christine’s full review of The Children of Men.

Christine’s Review of The Death of a Pope, a Novel, by Piers Paul Read

This literary thriller addresses weighty and timely themes: not only challenges to belief in an unbelieving world, but the devastation of AIDS and sexual license, the disparity between first and third worlds, rich and poor, and the role of a Church guided by tradition. Read Christine’s full review of The Death of a Pope.

Christine’s Review of Father Elijah by Michael. D. O’Brien

“I read Father Elijah ten years ago, and recalled how refreshing it was to read a story set in the late 20th century that was infused with the sacramental acts of God. I also recalled not being able to put it down. Would the book be as I remembered?… Read Christine’s full review of Father Elijah.

Christine’s Review of The Forest by Susan Prudhomme

Author Susan Prudhomme begins this wonder-filled tale with these tantalizing words:

The Forest lies in velvet mystery on the face of mountains and valleys, its mists spreading amongst the ridges like a sleeping, purring beast.

We soon enter the world of Timkin Tanwarrel and join him on his great adventure. Timkin is a Menchian, one of the little people of the forest, cousins to humans. Read Christine’s full review of The Forest.