Recommended Reading: Jantsen’s Gift, A True Story of Grief, Rescue and Grace, by Pam Cope (with Aimee Molloy).

Recommended Reading:  Jantsen’s Gift, A True Story of Grief, Rescue and Grace, by Pam Cope (with Aimee Molloy). 


An unbelievable story of a woman who changed the world (at least a sizable part of it).  Reading it, you won’t be disappointed!

Recommended Reading: Practicing Peace, A Devotional Walk Through the Quaker Tradition by Catherine Whitmore

Recommended Reading:  Practicing Peace, A Devotional Walk Through the Quaker Tradition.. by Catherine Whitmore. Herself a Quaker, the author shares their 350-year peace tradition  through  hundreds of writings done by fellow Friends.  Dated from the 1600’s to the 21^st century, they speak of personal peace in our day to day living, with others in society and living and promoting peace on  a global scale. Each section ends with questions for the reader on our own peace beliefs and practices. The book is inspiring and thought-provoking and well worth reading.   

Island of Hope, Island of Tears by David M. Brownstone, Irene M. Franck and Douglas Brownstone

Island of Hope, Island of Tears, The Story of Those Who entered the New World through Ellis Island – in Their own Words, by David M. Brownstone, Irene M. Franck and Douglas Brownstone.

This book contains a number of first-hand reports from nearly 15 million European immigrants to the U.S. from 1892 to the early 1950’s. The rigors of crossing the Atlantic and adjusting to a New Land are described in detail, and also amazing stories of a number of them who rose from rags to riches, from illiteracy to university degrees,  from unwanted to international fame, from starvation to plenty, from painful confusion to comfortably adapting to a new life.  Read the book and see how immigration has vastly enriched our nation.

Recommended Reading: The Death of Josseline, Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands by Margaret Regan

In The Death of Josseline, Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands, Margaret Regan tells incredibly sad stories of  men, women and even children  who attempt to cross illegally from Central-America and Mexico into the U.S. through Arizona –and who die in the desert.  Every year thousands of bodies are reported, of immigrants who had trusted and paid great sums of money to irresponsible coyotes” (guides) on the promise of a safe arrival.

Along with the horror of those who died, Regan also tells of heroic attempts to help the sick and wounded who are reported, to hospitals for proper care. Special mention is made of Catholic and social agencies, volunteers and even some border patrols.  But even these immigrants are sent back to their place of origin.

One reviewer said that this book “should be required reading for everyone --  from President Obama…to migrant rights activists.”  

More recommended reading for Advent

Sister Ruth is hard at work on her family history, but she wanted to pass along these recommended books during Advent: Dangerous Memories, A Mosaic of Mary in Scripture, by Elizabeth A. Johnson. One review said:  “If you read only one book on Mary in your lifetime, let this book be the one!

And Advent and Christmas Wisdom, from Henri J.M. Nouwen,

    

Recommended reading during Advent

These books are especially good for the season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming into our world, and realize more fully His constant presence with us: Hymn of the Universe, by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Teilhard de Chardin, The Divine Milieu Explained, by Louis M. Savary, and The Reed of God, by Caryll Houselander. See book covers below:

Recommended Reading

I am not writing book reviews until I get my family history done, but I would like to recommend three excellent books in the St. Clare Library all dealing with the universe, the earth and caring for creation.

Holy Ground, A Gathering of Voices on Caring for Creation, Edited by Lindsay Mosely and the staff of Sierra Club Books, c. 2008

The Universe Story, A Celebration of the Unfolding of the Cosmos, by Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry, c. 1992

Judgment Day, The Struggle for Life on Earth, by Paul Collins, c. 2010

If you've not read them yet, I recommend you try them, they are well worth reading.

Sister Ruth Nistler