Yesterday there was a doctor's appointment in Columbia. Afterwards, since we don't get in town that much (and since October is our biggest birthday month) we stopped by a bookstore-Books-A-Million. I guess it had been a while since I was in a bookstore. There many new releases I hadn't heard of (including a John Grisham novel about football-Playing for Pizza?-and apparently this isn't even his first foray into sports) and trends I was unaware of.
For instance, a recent big hit is: The Dangerous Book for Boys (I had heard of this one). There seems to be an endless slate of similar books. In fact, in an Amazon.com interview with the author the subject comes up:
Amazon.com: It's difficult to describe what a phenomenon The Dangerous Book for Boys was in the UK last year. When I would check the bestseller list on our sister site, Amazon.co.uk, there would be, along with your book, which spent much of the year at the top of the list, a half-dozen apparent knockoff books of similar boy knowledge. Clearly, you tapped into something big. What do you think it was?
Iggulden: In a word, fathers. I am one myself and I think we've become aware that the whole "health and safety" overprotective culture isn't doing our sons any favors.
Related to this trend is the nostalgia cover. I saw many covers which looked like they came right out of the 1940's and 1950's.
And then there was a whole slate of woodworking books I had no time to look through.
I was pleasantly surprised at the good selection of Catholic books available. There were several Ignatius Press titles along with the Catholic 'best sellers'-John Allen's book on Opus Dei and Scott Hahn's series of books from Doubleday. (No Requiem Press titles by the way-but I knew that going in.)
Speaking of Dr. Hahn, I have had Surprised by Truth hanging around here for a long time but never picked it up. I knew several of the prominent Protestant ministers who converted to the Catholicism had gone to Gordon-Conwell Seminary in MA-but am amazed at the numbers: Marcus Grodi, Dr. Hahn, Steve Wood, Gerry Matatics, are there others? At one point during Steve Wood's journey home, he talks with a priest who taught at Gordon-Conwell when it was a Carmelite-run school for boys. They used to pray for vocations there before they closed shop and sold it to the seminary folks. Interesting.....
Okay-how about that best place to eat---It isn't the bookstore.
We very seldom go out to eat, but if we do, we always end up at the same place: The Camden House of Pizza. It is a Greek pizza house and has marvelous pizza (I get mine with no sauce, but even their pizza with sauce rates better than I've had.) They are very friendly. I remember the first time we went there, long before we moved to Bethune (Camden is about 1/2 way between Columbia and Bethune) the young kids got excited because there was a small painting of the Last Supper in the kitchen, which you can see into from the tables. It is a family restaurant and just a joy to eat at-and the food is great (our favorite pizza and at a good price.) And I always have a Greek beer when I am there also. I am not sure if it is so good because it just is or because usually if we are at the Camden House of Pizza it has been a long day in the city and the beer is so welcome. Who knows? I just enjoy it.
Okay, onward....Oremus pro invicem!
3 comments:
EWTN radio talk show host Al Kresta is another Protestant minister who converted to Catholicism...So was Protestant pastor Alex Jones.
I didn't know about Al Kresta (although looking now-his story is in the book too.) I don't know much about Alex Jones-but have been interested to hear him as I have seen his blurbs about him.
Alex Jones brought his congregation with him into the Catholic Church! Impressive. I guess Al Kresta has been asked a few times why he didn't bring his congregation with him (or attempt to) because he mentioned that subject during a talk I heard him give recently.
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