The Pope’s Last Crusade by Peter Eisner
This
work of non-fiction will appeal to any history buff and has a local Marylander connection as story
follows the Jesuit priest/journalist, John LaFarge who spent many years on the
eastern shore. LaFarge is best known for marching with Martin Luther King, Jr;
however, this story focused on the events surrounding Pope Pius XI selecting
him to draft the never published encyclical rejecting the Nazi doctrine of
anti-Semitism. Eisner moves the story
along at as steady of a pace one can when writing about writing. By blending LaFarge’s activities and movement
through Europe with the international events of the day Eisner creates an intense
picture of the pressures placed on LaFarge. Eisner also enlightens the reader
with key character details of those within the church who insinuated themselves
into LaFarge’s work in order to derail his efforts. The dark tone is set beautifully
in the first chapter as an ageing LaFarge sets out to tell the younger Jesuit
Priests about the summer he failed his Pope and his people
as to quote Pope Pius XI “we are all Semites.”
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Jordan details the scars of war, societal pressures and prejudices in a
beautifully crafted all too possible work of fiction. This novel makes no
attempt to dull the sins of segregation, the limitations placed on
women or the mental anguish of men who survived combat. The story follows
two families, one black and one white, in the rural south post World War II.
The families provide the reader with a host of characters to hate, pity,
tolerate, cherish, examine and re-examine. By changing the point of view,
the reader is constantly engaged while to story rapidly moves forward
navigating the character’s long arching trials colored with the ordinary joys
of life.
Parable
of Sower by Octavia Butler
Overall the plot unfolds quickly with some meandering
while the heroine, Lauren is on the road towards the middle of the book.
However, the author uses that time to introduce the reader to a few new characters
having killed off a good portion of supporting characters. Lauren is as
steadfast in her belief in Earthseed as is her father in his belief in
Christianity. The supporting cast is presented not just a family/friends
or enemies but as more malleable characters that might be inclined to change
their beliefs for a host of reasons. Butler’s gift for illustrating the
flaws found in humanity in a compelling and well-crafted style is perhaps best
displayed in this series. The story begin in 2030, which is 43 years in the
future from the original publication date. Butler vividly details a bleak
future with a collapsing economy, dangerously flawed religious leaders, a
failed education system and a population addicted to drugs that turn people
into pyromaniacs. In the 23 years since the publication of the novel many of
her imagining have manifested in reality to varying degrees. This novel
provides the readers with ample opportunity to examine many facets of society.
