Should My Teen Read Twilight?
by Julie Rattey in Reviews on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:00 PM
Stephenie Meyer, a 37-year-old mother of three, does not read vampire novels. She says she “just knows” she is “too much of a wuss for Stephen King’s books,” and she’s “waaay too chicken to read horror.” She also happens to be the author of a hugely popular young adult series called Twilight… about vampires.
One would not expect a vampire series, however relatively tame, to drum up much controversy among the Christian community. It would either be dismissed as irrelevant or condemned as inappropriate.... READ MORE
Just In Time for All Saints
by Daria Sockey in Reviews on Saturday, October 29, 2011 12:03 PM
All Saints Day is nearly here, and with it are three new books about Saints. Each title pretty much explains what the book is about, but I’ll elaborate on each one just a little.
1. Saints for Moms
Perhaps you’ve already heard about our own Lisa Hendey’s A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. There’s certainly been lots of fun buzz about it around the blogosphere. My print review of it will appear in the upcoming Winter issue of Faith & Family magazine. It’s a combination Saints bios and devotional.... READ MORE
Seeking Divine Beauty
by Rachel Balducci in Reviews on Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:00 PM
In Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body, Kate Wicker shares her life-long struggle with body image, how she learned to overcome the distorted truth and see her beauty and worth from the source that matters most: the eyes of God.
This book is a must-read for all women, not just those who have struggled with an eating disorder or an unrealistic quest for perfection. It’s for the woman who is tempted to compare herself to the airbrushed images in a fashion magazine. It’s for the woman who feels... READ MORE
Where Angels Abound
by Daria Sockey in Reviews on Sunday, October 02, 2011 2:43 PM
The memorial feast of the Guardian Angels is not on the Church calendar this year, since it fells on a Sunday. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take some time to remind out children of our heavenly protectors and perhaps start teaching them the traditional Guardian Angel Prayer if they do not already know it.
The action of angels — both good and evil — is a topic that fascinates all of us. The Bible, the writings of the doctors of the Church, and mystical experiences of some of the saints only give... READ MORE
Why We Adopted Harry Potter
by John Granger in Reviews on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:31 PM
I first read a Harry Potter novel so I could explain to my older daughter why we don’t read junk like that. As father to seven children whom we educate at home, I decided we wouldn’t have anything to do with Harry after a coworker had recommended these stories (with no little enthusiasm!) about an English boy who goes to a school to learn witchcraft and wizardry.
We don’t watch television, so I was unaware of the controversy about the books in the Christian community, but I didn’t need much guidance... READ MORE
What's New in Baby Land?
by Lori Hadacek Chaplin in Reviews on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 8:49 AM
This past November I delivered our fourth baby, a chubby 8 lb, 2 ounce boy we named Maximilian Edward.
Several companies gave me the opportunity to road-test their products — most of which are newly on the market. I chose nine products to give our readers the inside scoop. All of these products would make impressive baby shower gifts.
Leave a comment here to be entered for a free chance to win either a free diaper from Fuzzibunz or a 45oz- bag of Rockin’ Green Detergent in the scent of your choice.... READ MORE
6 Picks for Easter
by Lori Hadacek Chaplin in Reviews on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 9:33 AM
Are you planning on something extra special for your children’s Easter baskets?
Check out my Easter basket picks — I’ve gone through a number of Easter products and picked these favorites to share with Faith & Family readers.
As an extra treat for readers, some of these companies have offered their Easter items for giveaway on the blog. Watch Faith & Family Live this week for a chance to win chocolate Easter lambs from the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi and a gardening kit from PersonalCreations.com... READ MORE
Late Lenten Reading
by Daria Sockey in Reviews on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 6:00 AM
Maybe you didn’t get around to picking extra spiritual reading for Lent. Or maybe the choices you made aren’t working for you. Or maybe you’ve been so dedicated to your lenten reading that you’ve already finished what you chose, and need something more. Here are a couple of things that are worth looking into. And don’t forget, you can get them faster by purchasing an e-book edition.
Never Give Up: My Life and God’s Mercy
by John Janaro
Servant Books 2010
Think you have problems? Five years ago... READ MORE
Planned Parenthood to Pro-Life
by Arwen Mosher in Reviews on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 6:00 AM
Abby Johnson’s introduction to her new book, unPlanned, is just two pages.
I knew after one page that the book was going to be unique.
Of course Johnson’s story is an unusual one. She’s a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who walked out of her job and joined the Coalition for Life across the street. She now does sidewalk counseling at the very clinic she used to run.
I bought Johnson’s book because I was drawn to her unusual life story. But it could have been a very different sort of book,... READ MORE
Resolutions for Lazy Catholics
by Daria Sockey in Reviews on Wednesday, January 05, 2011 6:00 AM
Our parish bulletin on January 2 had a message from our pastor reminding us that although New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise, and watch less TV are great, we shouldn’t forget to make a few to improve our spiritual life. He then included a list of these for our consideration.
Lazy person that I am, I had not yet made any resolutions, spiritual or otherwise. Part of it was that I was too busy with other things on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The other part was sheer reluctance... READ MORE
