Book Reviews and More

Thursday, 24 September 2026

The Father Speaks to His Children - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio - Enriched eBook Edition

The Father Speaks to His Children:

Enriched edition.

Reflective dialogues on parenthood, identity, and the journey to independence within family ties

Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio
Father Andrea D’Ascanio
DigiCat
ASIN B0B31XW3JP

Note: I have read this at least once a year over the last several years. As part of Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading I have two different eBook editions including the one listed above. Both were revised and enhanced this year, and are now available with new covers.

Review of this edition 2026:

I have read this book as part of Father Mark Goring’s School of Reading, it is the fourth book that I have read that he has highlighted as his book of the month. Father Mark sent out a PDF but I went looking to an eBook version. I did find them on Kindle and Kobo but upon reading the PDF discovered that there should not be. The description of this edition states:

“In "The Father Speaks to His Children," Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio crafts a poignant reflection on the complexities of familial relationships, intertwining personal narrative with philosophical discourse. Drawing on a blend of lyrical prose and introspective dialogue, Ravasio navigates the nuanced interplay between parental expectations and the intrinsic desire for independence. The book is set against a backdrop of contemporary family dynamics, using metaphor and allegory to evoke the emotional resonance of its central themes, making it a notable contribution to modern literary conversations about parenthood and identity. Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, a scholar and writer whose expertise lies in developmental psychology and family studies, brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to her work. Her passion for exploring human connections is rooted in her academic background, which informs both her expressive style and the psychological depth of her characters. This book emerges from her desire to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and the lived experiences of familial love, conflict, and resolution. "The Father Speaks to His Children" is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intricate tapestry of family ties. Ravasio offers readers a chance to reflect on their own relationships, inviting empathy and understanding through her insightful prose. This book is not just a narrative; it is a journey into the heart of what it means to be a part of a family.

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:

- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.

- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.”

You can find a PDF version online, if you search the author and title. This edition does not have the Imprimatur that was present in other editions I have read.

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface

Short Biography of Mother Eugenia Elisabette Ravasio

Testimony of the Right Reverend A. Caillot

The Father´s Message

The Father´s Message 2 (To the Pope)

The Father´s Message 3 (To The Bishop)

The Father´s Message 4

Prayer of Mother Eugenia

This is a fascinating little read. It is only 37 pages in length from title page to a summary by P. Andrea D’Ascanio OFM. It is an easy volume to read and yet it contains a significant amount of important material. I worked my way through this over a few days and over several sittings. Pausing at the end of each message. Taking time to think, reflect and pray. The work concludes with these words:

““God is my Father!” This cry is being heard ever more frequently in today’s world: people are coming to recognize that God is indeed their Father.

Consequently, we feel it our duty to publish a message, given to the world by God the Father through one of His creatures who loved Him so much, Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, and recognized as valid by the Church.

We consider it appropriate to introduce this work by quoting the testimony of a former Bishop of Grenoble, the Right Reverend Alexandre Caillot. In 1935 he set up a board of experts, drawn from various parts of France, to conduct a diocesan enquiry, which lasted ten years.

Its members included the Bishop of Grenoble’s Vicar General, Mgr Guerry, theologian; the Jesuit brothers, Fathers Albert and Auguste Valencin-Amons, who ranked among the foremost authorities in the field of philosophy and theology and were expert in evaluating such cases; and two doctors of medicine, one of whom was a psychiatrist.

We are sure that this message will help people to understand the deep tenderness the Father has for each one of us, and we hope that it will receive the widest possible circulation.””

This whole final section is missing from the digital version. The conclusion by Alexandre Caillot at the time of the revelation states:

“Following the dictates of my soul and my conscience, and with the keenest sense of my responsibility to the Church, I declare that supernatural and divine intervention seems to me the only logical and satisfactory explanation of the facts.

Isolated from all the surrounding features of the case, this essential fact seems to me to be noble, lofty and supernaturally rich: that a humble nun has called souls to true devotion to the Father, such as Jesus taught and the Church has enshrined in its liturgy. There is nothing alarming in this, only something that is very simple and in accordance with solid doctrine.

The miraculous facts which accompany this message could be separated from the main event and its value would still be preserved in its entirety. For doctrinal reasons, the Church will declare whether the idea of a special feast can be considered separately from this particular case involving the sister.

I believe that the fundamental proof of the authenticity of the nun’s mission is shown by the way in which she puts into practice in her life the beautiful doctrine which she was apparently destined to remind us of.

I deem it proper to let her continue her work. I believe that the hand of God is in all this. After ten years of research, reflection and prayer, I bless the Father for having deigned to choose my diocese as the place for such touching manifestations of His love.”

I highlighted several passages while reading this edition. Some of them are:

““God is my Father[ 1q]!” This cry is being heard ever more frequently in today’s world: people are coming to recognize that God is indeed their Father. Consequently, we feel it our duty to publish a message, given to the world by God the Father through one of His creatures who loved Him so much, Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, and recognized as valid by the Church."

"She received only an elementary education[ 5q]. After a few years working in a factory, she entered the Congregation of Our Lady of the Apostles at the age of 20 years. It was here that her great charismatic personality developed, leading to her election as Mother General of the Congregation at the age of only 25."

"It was she who discovered the first medicine for the cure of leprosy, extracting it from the seed of a tropical plant. This medicine was later studied and developed further at the Pasteur Institute[ 8] in Paris."

"Her superiors, perplexed by the extraordinary nature of the events which occurred during her novitiate, had not wanted to let her stay on in the convent. After some hesitation, they were forced to abandon their plan when faced with the nun’s exemplary conduct."

"She sees every situation clearly and correctly, as if it were a matter of conscience. Her instructions are straight-forward, precise and very practical. She knows each of her 1400 daughters personally, and also their attitudes and their virtues; hence she is able to select those who are most qualified to perform various tasks. She also has an accurate personal knowledge of her Congregation’s needs and resources. She knows the situation in every house and has visited all her missions."

"I find it particularly interesting to note that Mother Eugenia seems to possess a spirit of decisiveness, a sense of reality and a creative will. In six years she has founded 67 institutes and has been able to introduce very useful improvements in her Congregation."

"If I single out her qualities of intelligence, judgment and will, and her powers of administration, it is because they seem to me to rule out definitively all the hypotheses about hallucinations, illusions, spiritism, hysteria or delirium. These were examined during the enquiry but proved incapable of giving a satisfactory explanation of the facts."

"If it is supremely right to show devotion to the Son and the Holy Spirit because of their external manifestations, would it not be right and proper to give thanks to God the Father, as the Prefaces of the Mass require, for the gift He sent us, His Son?"

"The real object of this special feast thus becomes plain: to honour the Father, to thank Him, to praise Him for having given us His Son; in a word, as the message states, as the Author of our Redemption; to thank Him Who loved the world so much that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that all men might be brought together in the Mystical Body of Christ and, together with this Son, become His children."

"After ten years of research, reflection and prayer, I bless the Father for having deigned to choose my diocese as the place for such touching manifestations of His love."

"The painter delights in contemplating the picture he has painted. In the same way, it is My pleasure and delight to come among men, the masterpiece of My creation! Time presses. I wish men to know as soon as possible that I love them and that I feel the greatest happiness in being with them and talking with them, like a father with his children."

"And the greatest means of securing your salvation, despite your falls, is the Cross, My Son’s Blood poured out upon you every moment, if you so wish, both in the Sacrament of Penance and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

"Even if your sins were as repulsive as mud, your confidence and your love will make Me forget them, so you will not be judged! I am just, it is true, but love pays for everything!"

"Raise yourselves to the dignity of children of God and learn how to respect your own greatness. I will then be your Father more than ever, the most lovable and merciful of fathers."

"It is in this intimacy that the outpouring of My love makes My holiness spread into your souls. I fill you with My love, then you have only to ask Me for the virtues and perfection you need and you can be sure that in those moments when God is reposing in His creatures, nothing will be refused you.”

This booklet is an important message in this day and age. For generations raised without fathers, absentee fathers, or fathers focused on work and their own lives. We need the Father in heaven in our lives. For those in parishes with unfatherly priests. …

There appears to be a few variations of this volume available. By different publishers and offered online from different sources. The edition father Mark made available was the 2005 first pdf edition. I have obtained 2 other versions and plan to read them as well, this is one of them. It is an excellent volume and a book I highly recommend!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! You can find a PDF version online, which was the version Father Mark Distributed. A different version is available online here, it contains an icon of the Father on the cover and explanation of the icon.

Various editions of this book:

The Father Speaks to His Children - Edizioni Nidi Di Preghiera

The Father Speaks to His Children - Enhanced eBook Edition - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

The Father Speaks to His Children - Enriched eBook Edition - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

...

In 2025 I read a different eBook edtion:

The Father Speaks to His Children Kindle Edition

Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

e-artnow

ASIN B0CQPC275H

The Father Speaks to His Children - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio - 2023 eBook Editon

Read as part of Father Mark Goring’s School or Reading for info click here.

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Lobster Boy - Rodman Philbrick - aka The Young Man and the Sea

Lobster Boy

Usborne Publishing

ISBN 9780746065099

eISBN 9781409591092

ASIN B00UXA3YJG

The Young Man and the Sea

Rodman Philbrick

Scholastic Canada

The Blue Sky Press

ISBN 9780439856300

eISBN 9780545600309

ASIN B00B9FX1ZG

Lobster Boy - Rodman Philbrick - aka The Young Man and the Sea

First this volume has been published under two different titles in North America it is published as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ in the UK it is published as ‘Lobster Boy’, at the time of the writing of this review there are 27 editions on Goodreads under the former name and 3 under the latter. Apparently Philbrick wanted the ‘Lobster Boy’ title, but the publisher kept referring to as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ and it ended up sticking. And it has been through a wide range of covers over the last 12 years.

A few months ago I was having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said this Freak the Mighty, no hesitation, no pause just an immediate answer. I looked it up later in the day and discovered there was two books in that series and also a movie. While working on the review of the first Mighty book, I found at least a dozen I was interested in just from the titles. So this is the sixth volume by Rodman reading not quite one every other week, and every time I read one the list of ones I want to read grows! I have now compiled a list of all books published by Philbrick, under his various pen names. I enjoyed that first one so much I had picked up 3 other volumes by Philbrick before I even finished it! And by the time I had read three I had picked up nearly a dozen.

I have been publishing reviews for 21 years now, first in papers and magazines and then on my blog and other platforms. I continue to read and write reviews because I must. I am a dyslexic bibliophile. I have tagged Scholastic over 450 times on my blog for reviews of books, or for my Top Ten Lists each quarter or year. I was greatly surprised I had not encountered Philbrick, it was absolutely my loss. Back to the book at hand.

The description of the ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ edition states:

“A story of determination and survival from the acclaimed author of FREAK THE MIGHTY. "This thrilling and elegant book ... will hold the interest of even the most stalwart landlubber." -- PW

Twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of everything himself.

But when his dad's boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to buy a new engine. Skiff's lobster traps won't earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the boat -- and his family.”

The description of the ‘Lobster Boy’ edition states:

“Skiff Beaman has a problem. A BIG problem. He needs to fix up his family's fishing boat, but to do that he needs money. A whole heap of money.His father isn't going to help – he can't see further than the next can of beer since Skiff's mother died – and nor is his classmate, Tyler, inventor of the nickname "Lobster Boy".But Skiff can still hear his mother's voice telling him "Never give up". So he comes up with a plan. It's crazy, it's dangerous, and it's going to take all Skiff's grit and strength to win a great battle against the sea. An inspirational and compelling action-packed tale by the internationally bestselling author, Rodman Philbrick.”

About the author in another volume we are informed:

“After years of writing mysteries and suspense thrillers for adults, Rodman Philbrick decided to try his hand at a novel for young readers. That novel, Freak the Mighty, was published in 1993 to great acclaim and stellar reviews. In addition to being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and winning several state awards, it was also made into the Miramax feature film The Mighty in 1998. Rod returns to Maxwell Kane’s story in a sequel, Max the Mighty, a fast-paced cross-country odyssey.

Rod takes young readers to the American West in his exhilarating tale of two brothers on the run in The Fire Pony, winner of the Capital Choice Award, and on to a land where nothing is as it seems in the science-fiction adventure REM World. His thought-provoking novel The Last Book in the Universe, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, takes place in a futuristic world where no one reads anymore. Rod thought back to his New England roots and knowledge of boat building to write The Young Man and the Sea. School Library Journal praised its “wide-open adventure” and “heart-pounding suspense” and named it a Best Book of the Year in 2004.

Rodman Philbrick has also written several spine-tingling series for young readers with his wife, Lynn Harnett, including The House on Cherry Street and The Werewolf Chronicles. Rod and Lynn divide their time between homes on the coast of Maine and in the Florida Keys.”

There are supplemental sections at the end of each edition. For the US edition they are:

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Q&A with Rodman Philbrick

Rod’s Writing Tips

A Sneak Peek at Freak the Mighty

In the UK Edition they are:

A Conversation with Rodman Philbrick

About the Author (In his own words)

Sneak Preview of Fire Pony by Rodman Philbrick

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

More Usborne fiction

A quick check and the text appears to be identical or nearly so.

This story could be considered a school story because of the school age protagonist, but the events take place over summer vacation. But in many ways it is a father son story. It is a story of both of them dealing with loss. And the son, Skiff Beaman, is just trying to keep things up after the passing of his mother. He wants to restore the family boat in the hopes his father will start working again. He wants to fix things, first the boat, then his father. But life at times is a lot harder than many expect. And Skiff is just trying to live by the three rules him mother instilled in him, and her voice reminding him what she would say in different situations.

The volume is clearly written in homage to The Old Man and the Sea, And Moby Dick. It is written in a way that when young readers encounter them later in life they will recognize the echoes. And for us older readers we will se a similar story with very different eyes.

This is another excellent story from Philbrick’s masterful pen. It reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements or Gordon Korman, Tony Abbott, and Dan Gutman. All of whom I loved and have read numerous stories. Because of the various genres he writes in I am beginning to think of him as an American Arthur Slade. I am really surprised I had not encountered the author previously. These first six books are so great; I might just end up reading everything from the author. After reading more Philbrick I am also being reminded more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.

This is another one of those excellent stories for middle grade or tween readers. It is even strong enough for us older folks for I am in my mid 50’s and could not put it down and read it over an afternoon, over several mugs of tea. It is a very moving story, one I can easily recommend. And I know I will be reading more by Philbrick and the various names he publishes under!

Books by Rodman Philbrick:

Max the Mighty Series:

Freak the Mighty (1993)

Max the Mighty (1998)

…

House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. The Haunting (1995)

2. The Horror (1995)

3. The Final Nightmare (1995)

…

Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Night Creature (1996)

2. Children of the Wolf (1996)

3. The Wereing (1996)

…

Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Strange Invaders (1997)

2. Things (1997)

3. Brain Stealers (1997)

…

Wild Series:

1. Wildfire (2019)

2. Wild River (2021)

3. Wild Wave (2024)

4. Wild Blizzard (2026)

…

Other Books:

Shooting Star (1982)

The Black Moon (1989)

Brothers and Sinners (1993)

The Fire Pony (1996)

Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)

The Mighty (1998)

The Last Book in the Universe (2000)

Dark Matter (2000)

Rem World (2000)

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)

Coffins (2002)

The Young Man and the Sea (2004)

Lobster Boy (2005)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)

Listening To Kids In America (2011)

Zane and the Hurricane (2014)

The Big Dark (2016)

Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)

We Own the Sky (2022)

…

Written as William R Dantz:

Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)

The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)

Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)

Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:

The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)

…

J.D. Hawkins Series:

1. Shadow Kills (1985)

2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)

3. Paint It Black (1989)

4. Walk on the Water (1991)

…

T.D. Stash Series:

1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)

2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)

3. Tough Enough (1989)

…

Written as by Chris Jordan:

Randall Shane Series:

1. Taken (2006)

2. Trapped (2007)

aka Lost

3. Torn (2009)

4. Measure of Darkness (2011)

…

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

St. Michael and His World - Mike Aquilina

St. Michael and His World

Mike Aquilina

Scepter Publishers

ISBN 9781594170508

eISBN 9781594170546

ISBN B0HGHRF48S

This was one of two volumes by Mike Aquilina I received the same day. I literally flipped a coin to see which I would read first, and started the second as soon as I finished this one. That other volume is ‘The Church Fathers For Our Time’. To date I have read 16 volumes form the pen of Aquilina, and have at least that many on my ‘to be read’ list. I have yet to read anything from his masterful pen that was not well worth the read and this is another excellent read. Over the years I have read several volumes about Saint. This one is a most excellent offering. It is a follow up to St. Joseph and His World and St. Patrick and His World which are both worthy reads as well. But back to the volume at hand.

The description of this book states:

“The great wings of the Archangel Michael overshadow all human history. He is mentioned in three books of the Bible, but the Church Fathers and ancient rabbis saw him in many other places, unnamed, hidden in plain sight. In St. Michael and His World, Mike Aquilina explores the biblical record alongside its interpretations from antiquity, unveiling a history - from creation to the end - in which St. Michael is a constant and active presence.

But this is not a book about mythology or pious legend. Drawing on Scripture, rabbinic texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, patristic writings, Coptic tradition, and Islamic sources, Aquilina traces how the Church's greatest archangel has captured the imagination of believers across two millennia. From Daniel's visions to the vision that inspired Pope Leo XIII to revive his devotion in the modern age, St. Michael emerges not as a distant heavenly abstraction, but as a figure central to how Christians have understood spiritual warfare, divine providence, and the cosmic struggle between good and evil.

For those seeking to understand the invisible warfare that shapes human history, or for those simply curious about one of the Bible's most enigmatic figures, St. Michael and His World offers both scholarly depth and the kind of compelling storytelling that makes history come alive. It is a book for anyone who has ever prayed "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle" – and wants to know the full measure of the one they were calling upon.”

About the author we are informed:

“Mike Aquilina is a popular author of Church history, especially the study of the early Church Fathers. He is executive vice-president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a research center based in Steubenville, OH. He is a contributing editor of Angelus News and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He hosts “The Way of the Fathers,” a podcast produced by CatholicCulture.org. Aquilina is the author or editor of more than seventy books, including St. Joseph and His World, also published by Scepter.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction

1: Sources for the “Life” of an Angel

2: What Is Michael?

3: St. Michael in the New Testament

4: Between the Testaments

5: Michael Among the Rabbis

6: Michael in the Age of the Fathers

7: The Special Case of the Copts

8: St. Michael in Islam

9: St. Michael in the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages

10: The Eclipse of Devotion

11: The Revival

Bibliography

I highlighted a number of passages while working through this book some of them are:

“He cuts a swashbuckling figure against the Roman skyline. Michael stands armored and tall as he sheathes his sword atop the ancient monument now named for him: Castel Sant’Angelo.”

“But, according to later accounts, Pope Gregory looked up and saw the archangel Michael looming above the monument, sheathing his sword. It was a clear sign that the plague was over. It was a clear sign, too, that hell’s outpost in the city had been exorcised. Hadrian’s demons had been driven out by the Prince of the Angels.”

“And in the eleventh century the people of Rome raised a wooden statue of the archangel on the very top of the tomb. The statue has had many successors, first in marble and now in majestic bronze. From the ninth century onward, the “castle” has borne the name of the “Holy Angel” rather than the debauched emperor.”

“Michael appears in significant places in the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New. He plays a starring role in the books produced “between the testaments”—the pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism. He plays a prominent role in the fevered imaginings of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the library discovered at Qumran in Israel in the mid-twentieth century. Michael makes his appearances in the Talmud, the earliest records of Rabbinic Judaism. He appears in the works of the Apostolic Fathers, the first Christian authors after the generation of the apostles.”

“Thus, for Jews and Christians in the ancient world, devotion to St. Michael was a matter of consequence, and it remained so for believers in the ages that followed.”

“The title is cheeky, but the purpose is serious. For his world encompasses our own, and his life is bound up with our lives, collectively and individually.”

“Writing a biography of any flesh-and-blood figure is demanding. Writing a biography of an angel, however, is harder still. An angel is a pure spirit and has no material body. He leaves no footprint, carries no identification, maintains no bank account, pays no utility bills. He writes no letters and receives no postcards. He has no DNA.”

“Our evidence for the life of Michael is actually extensive. For a figure without a footprint, he has left a deep impression. Across centuries and cultures—especially, though not exclusively, among believers formed by biblical religion—he has been an object of fascination, devotion, and theological reflection.”

“The Book of Daniel presents Michael as the great prince who stands guard over God’s people (Dn 10: 13; 12: 1), whereas the Epistle of Jude and the Book of Revelation depict him as the leader of the heavenly hosts in their conflict with Satan (Jude 9; Rv 12: 7–9).”

“Scripture does not give us a cult of Michael fully formed, but it gives us the person and mission that make such a cult intelligible and legitimate.”

“Used prudently, rabbinic sources help the historian distinguish what is pre-Christian inheritance from what is distinctively Christian development. They can illuminate the continuity and discontinuity between Jewish and Christian understandings of Michael, while always remaining subordinate to Scripture and tradition.”

“Closely united to Scripture is Apostolic Tradition, the living transmission of the Faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although no explicit, detailed cult of St. Michael can be traced directly to the apostolic age, the early Church’s angelology reflects a continuity with Jewish belief purified and reoriented by Christ.”

“Michael is consistently presented not as an independent divine power but as a servant of God, acting always in Christ and subordinate to Christ. This theological framework is an authoritative lens through which later sources must be read.”

“Patristic references to St. Michael—whether in homilies, biblical commentaries, or polemical works—are especially valuable when they are widespread, consistent, and integrated into doctrinal teaching.”

“Claims of private revelation associated with St. Michael occupy the lowest rung of authority. Even when approved by the Church, such revelations do not belong to the deposit of faith and demand no assent beyond prudent acceptance.”

“A Catholic history of devotion to the archangel Michael is neither credulous nor reductionist. It respects the Church’s hierarchy of truths and sources, allowing Scripture and liturgy to speak with full authority, the Fathers with venerable weight, and popular traditions with sympathetic but critical attention.”

“If the Old Testament lays the foundations for biblical angelology, the New Testament brings it into sharper focus. The Gospel narratives open with a flurry of angelic activity, as heaven seems to lean close to earth at the dawn of the messianic age. Angels announce the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, appear in dreams to Joseph, sing to the shepherds, and guide the Magi. The invisible world presses visibly upon history.”

“Michael’s power is real, but it is derivative. He conquers not by his own might but by fidelity to divine command. In this way, Jude presents Michael as a pattern for Christian spiritual warfare: confident, courageous, and utterly submissive to God.”

“By the end of the Second Temple period, devotion to Michael was already well developed. He was guardian, mediator, warrior, lawgiver, and intercessor. Far from being a late Christian invention, Michael stood at the heart of Jewish spirituality centuries before Christ. The New Testament did not invent Michael or inflate his role—it revealed his mission in its fullness.”

“The Church Fathers did not invent a new Michael. They recognized him. They discerned his role in Scripture, traced his activity through salvation history, and bore witness to his continuing and powerful ministry in the Church.”

“In Coptic Christianity, devotion to St. Michael was not an ornament of theology but part of the fabric of daily life. His feasts structured the year; his image guarded churches; his name filled prayers, sermons, and stories. Through many centuries of persecution, foreign domination, and cultural change, the archangel has stood as a symbol of divine protection and ultimate victory.”

“Whether standing armored above the dragon or silently distributing God’s mercy through rain and harvest, Michael exists for one purpose alone—to proclaim, in wordless fidelity, that there is none like God.”

“One of the most striking features of medieval devotion to St. Michael is geographical. His shrines rise not in valleys or city centers, but on heights—mountaintops, rocky promontories, and remote islands.”

“To medieval Christians, the symbolism was clear. Michael was the sentinel of the heavenly city, standing between order and chaos, heaven and earth. From the heights, he guarded what lay below.”

“Michael’s monasteries were often situated at liminal places—on borders, near coasts, or atop mountains—where the natural world itself suggested vigilance. The archangel’s presence sanctified these margins, marking them as places claimed for God.”

“Its significance should not be exaggerated. Yet neither should it be dismissed entirely. Across widely separated regions, Christians repeatedly chose similar kinds of places—high, remote, exposed—for sanctuaries dedicated to the same heavenly guardian.”

“The dedication to St. Michael was deliberate. Skellig Michael is a place of thresholds—between land and sea, safety and danger, time and eternity. It is a place where vigilance feels natural and necessary.”

“In this renewal, we see not merely nostalgia but a rediscovery of the cosmic horizon of Christian faith in its most ancient and classic form. We receive a reminder that the battle is real, the help of heaven is near, and the story of angelic devotion is far from finished.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. It is very well written. It is engaging and entertaining. Aquilina does an excellent job so highlighting what might be legend and why, and what comes from various traditions. The chapter on ‘St. Michael in Islam’ was particularly insightful. With each new chapter I was more deeply engrossed in the material and how Mike presented it. The only thing I would have loved would have been a chapter on popular devotion to Saint Michael today and coverage of the Saint Michael Chaplet and Saint Michael’s Lent.

This is an excellent volume and has eclipsed many I have read about this saint and his times. This volume and series are ones I recommend often.

This is another excellent volume. Anyone from a high school level or on could easily engage with it. It would be a wonderful addition to any home, school, or church library. I can easily recommend this and the companion volumes, and hope that Mike continues the series with more books. I can easily highly recommend this book!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina click here.

Other posts about Saint Michael:

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo Ontario - A Photo Essay

St. Michael The Archangel: History, Lent and Prayers - Maria Alinne Costa

Nine Days with Saint Michael - Andrew Offer, O.P. and Jonah Teller O.P.

Saint Michael the Archangel Through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Schmit O.Praem and Fr. Peregrine Fletcher O.Praem

St. Michael and His World - Mike Aquilina

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Prayer of the Day Prayer to Saint Michael

Prayer of the Day A Litany of St. Michael

Prayer of the Day Litany in Honour of St. Michael

Prayer of the Day A Saint Michael Prayer

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo Ontario - A Photo Essay

...

Books by Mike Aquilina:
A Year with the Angels: Daily Meditations with the Messengers of God
A Year With The Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living
Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers'
Faith of Our Fathers: Why the Early Christians Still Matter and Always Will
Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist
Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life
Ministers & Martyrs: The Ultimate Catholic Guide to the Apostolic Age
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: With St. Thomas Aquinas
Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You
Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics
Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols
Sweet Gridlock: Selected Love Poems
Terms and Conditions: Assorted Poems
The Apostles and Their Times
The Church and the Roman Empire
The Fathers of the Church Bible
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
The Mass of the Early Christians
The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow
The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
The Way of the Fathers: Praying With the Early Christians
The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church
Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Why Me? When Bad Things Happen
Yours Is the Church: How Catholicism Shapes Our World

The Church and the Roman Era

The Holy Mass

Work Play Love

St. Joseph and His World

St. Michael and His World

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Books co-written by Mike Aquilina:
A Pocket Catechism for Kids - Fr. Kris Stubna
Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth - Dion DiMucci
Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Gruber
Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians - Scott Hahn
Praying the Psalms the Early Christians - Christopher Bailey
Saint Monica and the Power of Persistent Prayer - Mark W. Sullivan
Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changed the World and Can Change It Again - James Papandrea
Something More Pastoral: The Mission of Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Ann Rodgers
Take Five: Meditations John Henry Newman - Fr. Juan Velez
Take Five: Meditations Pope Benedict XVI - Fr. Kris Stubna
Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius - Fr. Kris Stubna
Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents' Guide - Fr. Kris Stubna
The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today - John Michael Talbot
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Doubter's Novena: Nine Steps to Trust the Apostle Thomas - Christopher Bailey
The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence - Christopher Bailey
The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in Honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. - Kenneth Ogorek
The Holy Land: A Guide for Pilgrims - Fr. Dave Halaiko
The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions - Regis J. Flaherty
The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The World's First Christmas: Jubilee 2000 - Regis J. Flaherty
Weapons of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Father John Hugo - David Scott
What Catholics Believe: A Pocket Catechism - Fr. Kris Stubna

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St. Joseph and His World - Mike Aquilina

St. Patrick and His World - Mike Aquilina

Monday, 21 September 2026

The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker - Spenser Book 1

The Godwulf Manuscript

Robert B. Parker

Bantam Books

Penguin Random House Canada

ISBN 9780440129615

eISBN 9780307569561

ASIN B00309SD02

The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker - Spenser Book 1

Recently I read the Mysterious Profiles series piece Spenser. And now I am planning to read or read again many of Parker’s novels. I read many in my late teens and early 20’s but that was before I kept a list of everything I read, and even longer before I started reviewing. I can admit I have been a long time spencer fan. My Father loved the TV show and I have fond memories of watching the series as a youth. I even enjoyed the updated Mark Wahlberg Spencer Confidential movie and had hoped they would release more. In my youth I read a lot of Robert B. Parker books. A roommate and I bought them read, traded and swapped at the used book store. That was a few years before I started keeping a list of everything I read, or started writing reviews. Recently I watched the Jesse Stone movies and decided to look into the books. It led down a rabbit hole. I believe Parker published 71 works during his lifetime. A few of his series have been continued by others, both before he passed and since his passing. There appears to be about half as many books as he wrote in his series now written by others. I believe Parker wrote 40 novels in this series and 17 more have been penned by others, including one finished by his long time agent.

But back to the volume at hand. The description of this volume states:

“Spenser earned his degree in the school of hard knocks, so he is ready when a Boston university hires him to recover a rare, stolen manuscript. He is hardly surprised that his only clue is a radical student with four bullets in his chest. The cops are ready to throw the book at the pretty blond coed whose prints are all over the murder weapon but Spenser knows there are no easy answers. He tackles some very heavy homework and knows that if he doesn't finish his assignment soon, he could end up marked "D" -- for dead. From the Paperback edition.”

I do not believe this was one I previously read. And I was surprised that Spenser bedded a mother then her daughter. Based on reading this and having read all the Reacher novels, Spenser was a precursor or architype that Reacher took to the next level. It starts with Spenser at the office of a Dean and being tasked with tracking down a stolen manuscript that is being ransomed back to the university. During the case Spenser has a few encounters with the police, a very rich family and some key players on campus. He also has a brush with the mob. He has a pretty good idea what is really happening and by who, but he needs to find the proof. And after taking a second retainer even though he believes the two are linked he will have divided loyalties. How many bodies will pile up as Spenser unravels the case.

For anyone who has read others of the books or watch the old TV show that ran from 1985 to 1988 with 65 episodes. There were also 4 made for TV movies set later that aired between 1093 and 1995.

While researching a previous review I discovered that Parker was a lapsed Catholic, much like the character Spenser. Based on what I had read of his works, I had just assumed he was a Catholic with some concerns. I even read that spencer’s morality and philosophy was mirroring Parker’s. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. Even though I read many when younger with all the Parker books out there I have a lot I just added to my ‘to be read’ pile!

I am glad I picked this up as my second foray back into the works of Parker after about 30 years. It was fun to return to the character Spenser. It was quick, dark, witty, and leaves you wanting more. It is a good volume in a great series. I really enjoyed it, and look forward to other offerings from Parker’s pen.

Books by Robert B. Parker:

Spenser Series:

1. The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)

2. God Save the Child (1974)

3. Mortal Stakes (1975)

4. Promised Land (1976)

5. The Judas Goat (1978)

6. Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)

7. Early Autumn (1980)

8. A Savage Place (1981)

9. Ceremony (1982)

10. The Widening Gyre (1983)

11. Valediction (1984)

12. A Catskill Eagle (1985)

13. Taming a Sea-Horse (1986)

14. Pale Kings and Princes (1987)

15. Crimson Joy (1988)

16. Playmates (1989)

17. Stardust (1990)

18. Pastime (1991)

19. Double Deuce (1991)

20. Paper Doll (1993)

21. Walking Shadow (1994)

22. Thin Air (1995)

23. Chance (1996)

24. Small Vices (1997)

25. Sudden Mischief (1998)

26. Hush Money (1999)

27. Hugger Mugger (2000)

28. Potshot (2001)

29. Widow's Walk (2002)

30. Back Story (2003)

31. Bad Business (2004)

32. Cold Service (2005)

33. School Days (2005)

34. Hundred-Dollar Baby (2006) aka Dream Girl

35. Now and Then (2007)

36. Rough Weather (2008)

36.5. Chasing the Bear (2009)

37. The Professional (2009)

38. Painted Ladies (2010)

39. Sixkill (2011)

42. Silent Night (2013) (with Helen Brann)

Spenser: A Mysterious Profile (2022)

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Jesse Stone Series:

1. Night Passage (1997)

2. Trouble in Paradise (1998)

3. Death In Paradise (2001)

4. Stone Cold (2003)

5. Sea Change (2005)

6. High Profile (2007)

7. Stranger in Paradise (2008)

8. Night and Day (2009)

9. Split Image (2010)

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Sunny Randall Series:

1. Family Honor (1999)

2. Perish Twice (2000)

3. Shrink Rap (2002)

4. Melancholy Baby (2004)

5. Blue Screen (2006)

6. Spare Change (2007)

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Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch Series:

1. Appaloosa (2005)

2. Resolution (2008)

3. Brimstone (2009)

4. Blue-Eyed Devil (2010)

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Philip Marlowe Series:

Poodle Springs (1989)

Perchance to Dream (1991)

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Novels:

Wilderness (1979)

Love and Glory (1983)

All Our Yesterdays (1994)

Gunman's Rhapsody (2001)

Double Play (2004)

Edenville Owls (2007)

The Boxer and the Spy (2008)

Surrogate (1982)

...

Sunday, 20 September 2026

Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz - Orphan X Book 1

Orphan X

Orphan X Book 1

Gregg Hurwitz

Minotaur Books

ISBN 9781250758798

eISBN 9781466876514

ASIN B010M4T5C2

Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz - Orphan X Book 1

This book and series was recommended to be by a co-worker. He was surprised with how much I read that I had not read anything by Hurwitz, And specifically this series. So, I thought I would give it a try, while on a road trip. It was so hard to put down!

The description of this volume states:

“Who is Orphan X?

The Nowhere Man is a legendary figure spoken about only in whispers. It’s said that when he’s reached by the truly desperate and deserving, the Nowhere Man can and will do anything to protect and save them. But he’s not merely a legend.

Evan Smoak is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past. Chosen as a child, he was raised and trained as an Orphan, an off-the-books black box program designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence asset: An assassin. Evan was Orphan X―until he broke with the program and used everything he learned to disappear. But now someone is on his tail. Someone with similar skills and training who will exploit Evan’s secret new identity as the Nowhere Man to eliminate him.”

About the author we are informed:

“Gregg Hurwitz is the author of the New York Times bestselling Orphan X novels. Critically acclaimed, his novels have been international bestsellers, graced top ten lists, and have been published in thirty-two languages. Additionally, he’s sold scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Hurwitz lives in Los Angeles.”

While researching this review I discover that Hurwitz has also written extensively for comics, both for DC and Marvel. And that fits well with how this story played out. I have described it as a mashup of Person of Interest with The Equalizer (the TV Show) and Jack Reacher.

Evan Smoak has been trained from a young age. He has a specific skill set. He began to question his missions and the people running them. So he has decided to help those who have nowhere else to turn. Doing so one case at a time, by word of mouth. But people have started noticing the work of the Nowhere Man, and in this volume have set a trap for him. Soon Even finds himself working 2 cases, one real and one a trap. Can he figure it out in time? Can he still protect the innocent. And who is really after him.

This story is high octane action adventure mixed with some mystery! It is a story that sinks its teeth and does not let go. It has the meticulous planning and high tech of Person of Interest, it has the skills and mastery of both Reacher and the Equalizer.

It was hard to put down and with 12 novels and 6 published short stories there is a lot to read. It is an excellent volume that leaves you wanting more. Fortunately there is a lot already available and one more announced.

A great read!

Books by Gregg Hurwitz:

The Tower

Minutes to Burn

Do No Harm

The Crime Writer (aka I See You)

Trust No One (aka We Know)

You're Next

They're Watching (aka Or She Dies)

The Survivor

Tell No Lies

Don't Look Back

The Delivery

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Evan Smoak Orphan X Series:

1.0 Orphan X

1.5 Buy a Bullet

2.0 The Nowhere Man

3.0 Hellbent

3.5 The Intern

4.0 Out of the Dark

5.0 Into the Fire

5.5 The List

6.0 Prodigal Son

7.0 Dark Horse

8.0 The Last Orphan

8.5 The Recital

9.0 Lone Wolf

10.0 Nemesis

10.5 The Code

11.0 Antihero

11.5 The Damage Man

12.0 Last Man Standing

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The Rains Brothers Series:

1.0 The Rains

2.0 Last Chance

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Tim Rackley Series:

1.0 The Kill Clause

2.0 The Program

3.0 Troubleshooter

4.0 Last Shot

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Saturday, 19 September 2026

Sleep No More - Guy Hale - The Shakespeare Murders Book 4

Sleep No More

Shakespeare Murders Book 4

Guy Hale

Bullington Press

ISBN 9781068363382

eISBN 9781068363399

ASIN B0FZJVTSB5

Sleep No More - Guy Hale - The Shakespeare Murders Book 4

I picked up the first volume in this series for a few reasons. First over the last several years I have become a big fan of mystery books coming out of England, Ireland and Scotland. I have read most volumes from the likes of J.D. Kirk, Alex Smith, K.T. Galloway, and J.E. Mayhew and am always willing to give another author a try. Second my kids and I are huge fans of Shakespeare and we attend the Stratford Festival in Ontario often and typically go to all the Bards plays each year. Third I have been reading some other Shakespeare based fiction lately like Ted Neill’s Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Series and the Shakespearean Shorts from Pettyfeather Publishing. Volume one was highlighted in a Kindle blast of books on sale I might be interested in. I loved that first volume and almost started the second offering as soon as I finished that first one. The first three were great reads and this one took it to the next level. About the author on his site we are informed:

“Guy Hale was born in Worcestershire, England. His first job was as a Professional Golfer. He also played Rugby and raced motorcycles until his mid-twenties. When this failed to kill him he started writing plays, mostly two handers which he performed in pubs and assorted venues with his mate, Andy.”

This was an excellent story I am now planning on reading everything in print from Guy Hale. My friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I love I try and read everything they have in print. But I am getting ahead of myself, back to the volume at hand.

The description of this volume is:

“Act The Way To Dusty Death

Sir Morris Oxford lies critically wounded in Stratford Hospital. Oliver Lawrence, whose cunning plan put him there, thought his revenge was complete but it takes a lot to kill a King

Boundless ambition collides headlong with the cold fury of revenge as we enter the final scene of this tragedy. There can be no hiding place for those that harbour secrets. As Toby Marlowe and Fred Williams try desperately to catch their killer, a huge storm surges into Stratford and drowns all hope of a happy resolution.

On the dark streets of Stratford, something wicked this way comes!”

This story is set in the 1970s Stratford-upon-Avon and is a police procedural. This story features elements mainly from Macbeth. Felix has doubts, regrets and fears his days are numbered. He creates a sort of insurance policy, locking his journal away in case something happens to him. Oliver is pushing the limits even he begins to suspect he goes too far. Sir Morris initially survives the stabbing during the live production of Julius Caesar. So he comes up with a new plan and a hot diversion because of the police protection. Oliver remains at large, executing his plans. And seeing his revenge through to the bitter end. Detectives Toby Marlowe and Fred Williams are willing to do almost anything to catch him, including working with the press, and trusting Whomper yet again.

I will say pay close attention to the chapter titles some are terribly clever. The characters in this series are excellent, and they just keep getting better. The plot surprising and fresh, though this one is much darker. And the book leaves you The reader surprised. The ending can be interpreted a few ways. And I cannot but wonder if we have yet to see the last of Oliver and his dastardly deeds? This is an excellent read I can easily recommend it and the whole series!