Book Recommendation

It proved impossible to select quotes from Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather, to give a feel for the book. Indeed, the first half of the book was interesting enough for me to keep reading, never paced slowly enough for me to even consider quitting it or call it boring. Yet a few times I wondered why it made Al Kresta's list of edifying literature, or why it was considered a masterpiece of American literature. But, in the second half of the book, I came across a passage that would move me so much that I thought, "Wow! I've got to put this passage in my post." Then I'd go back and re-read the section and realize that I'd have to write a lot of background to put the passage in context enough so that my intrepid readers would be able to see what made that quote noteworthy. Then the same thing happened with the next passage that I wanted to quote, and the next, and the next.

After I read the last line I closed the book and just sat still basking in it, "Wow! That was beautiful."

Book Recommendations

After Holy Week I wanted to read something light and frivolous, so I picked up Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett. This is third book in his Discworld series, a series which, if you like Fantasy novels and have a sense of humor, you've waited too long to start. These books have been compared to Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, only Pratchett does a much better job of it. The Discworld series is actually worth reading apart from its comedic value. Start out with The Color of Magic and see if you don't agree.

Next I chose a book from Al Kresta's recommendations (he has not steered me wrong yet), The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder. I hesitated because a synopsis of the plot made me think the book would be a bummer. Instead, this book was quite charming and in the end edifying and profound. As one of the characters says, "Now learn...learn at last that anywhere you may expect grace."