Kindle Meme

Mac McLernon of Mulier Fortis received a new Kindle and decided to create a meme in regards to book recommendations.

So, here are the rules. You post the rules and a link back to the person who tagged you. You also tell them that they’ve been tagged on their own blog, rather than just hoping they’ll discover it for themselves. Then you decide what three books are essential reading for anyone with a Kindle. Reasons would be good, but not essential. Then you tag five people.

She then tagged me with this meme.

Now providing book recommendations is right up my alley, but limiting me to three books is rather cruel. As a book addict I go through that many books in a week.  As ebooks go I have close to 600 on my iPad, almost all of which I have read.  Oh well I will give it a shot even if I bend the rules a bit.

First off this is not Kindle specific, just book recommendations which also are also available as ebooks. Plus ven Kindle books can be read on tablet apps and Windows and Macs.

So to bend the rules a bit I will provide three  recommendations in three categories. These recommendations are also not my canonical opinion, but more of what comes to mind and there are many many alternatives I could add to the suggestions.

Apologetics:

1. New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy by Fr. Robert J. Spitzer S.J. On my mind since I recently reviewed it and I just found it so excellent.
2. Theology and Sanity
   by Frank Sheed. Just so good and the explanation of the mystery of the Trinity is the best one I have ever read. I could also add all of Frank Sheed’s books on this list especially “To Know Christ Jesus”.
3. Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft & Fr. Ronald K. Tacelli.  As an atheist coming to faith this book so helped me out in seeing I hadn’t just totally gone off my rocker.  The Summa-style format is very helpful and Peter Kreeft is another author that I can easily suggest reading all he has written, voluminous is it is with maybe one or two exceptions.

Literature with a explicitly Catholic elements:  (Though a Catholic novel certainly does not mean explicitly Catholic elements):

1. A Postcard From the Volcano: A Novel of Pre-War Germany by Lucy Beckett.  Just loved this novel and another one that remains with me afterwards.
2. A Cry of Stoneby Michel D. O’Brien.  While I have enjoyed almost all of his books including his latest. This one sticks out for me with a character so rich and so demonstrative of the path of sanctity.
3. And to throw in one from my favorite genre of SF  Eifelheim by Michael Flynn. First contact of aliens involving a priest – what more could you want? Well how about one where the idea is taken seriously and won’t make you cry with bad theology.  I really need to read this again I so enjoyed it.  I recently finished up reading all of Mr. Flynn’s books and while the fact that he is a serious Catholic is a bonus, the fact that he is a great SF writer is what counts.  His latest book continues on an excellent series, but the last book of his I read “The Wreck of the River of Stars” was wonderful and haunting.

Spiritual Reading:

1. Transformation in Christ by Dietrich Von Hildebrand.  Called by many his greatest work among great works this book is a serious and practical look at the path to holiness.  It made me the saint I am today, well actually I think I need to reread it again and in fact I think I will do so this Lent.
2. The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila.  I just love love love St. Teresa of Avila whose marvelous wit and common sense really comes through and brings the spiritual life to you in such a way as you don’t just think of the way of perfection as something limited to the great saints.  While you can find free copies of this online I recommend the translation from the Institute of Carmelite Studies which has all their books available for Kindle, Nook, iBooks and at only $.99.
3. While Orthodoxyby G.K. Chesterton might not normally be considered spiritual reading, I see it as such.  Spiritual reading opens you up to truth and worship of God.  I try to rad Orthodoxy annually since it is such a polyvalent book of me.  Chesterton’s insights just keep appearing even from previously read texts.  The thought that I might never had read Chesterton, especially Orthodoxy rather scares me.

Now who should I inflict, I mean pass this meme on to? Well how about my fellow book addicts:

Happy Catholic

The Thin Veil

Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora seqor

Domine, da mihi hanc aquam! (Since father is always hawking his readers to buy him Kindle books)

Aliens in this world (Whose book suggestions populate my shelves both actual and virtual)