June 2009: Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat

From the age of four, award-winning writer Edwidge Danticat came to think of her uncle Joseph as her “second father,” when she was placed in his care after her parents left Haiti for America. And so she was both elated and saddened when, at twelve, she joined her parents and youngest brothers in New York City. As Edwidge made a life in a new country, adjusting to being far away from so many who she loved, she and her family continued to fear for the safety of those still in Haiti as the political situation deteriorated.

In 2004, they entered into a terrifying tale of good people caught up in events beyond their control. Brother I'm Dying is an astonishing true-life epic, told on an intimate scale by one of our finest writers.
--Synopsis from Barnes and Noble.com

This heartbreaking true-life account has won multiple awards, including the 2008 Christopher Award in the category Books for Adults.

Click here for a discussion guide for this book, published by the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

May 2009: Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice

Anne Rice has written magnificent tales of otherworldly beings: novels that explore the realms of good and evil, love and alienation, pageantry and ritual, each a reflection of her own moral journey. Now, in a powerful and haunting memoir—her first work of nonfiction—she writes about her own life as a Catholic.

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Click here to read reviews, excerpts, etc. at Anne Rice's website.

April 2009: Charming Billy by Alice McDermott

Alice McDermott tells the story of Billy Lynch within the complex matrix of a tightly knit Irish American community in modern day New York City. Themes of alcoholism, faith and family are explored in this work of fiction, published in 1998.

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Click here to see a reading guide for this book.

February & March 2009: Apostle in a Top Hat: The Life of Frederic Ozanam, by James Patrick Derum

A man convinced of the inestimable worth of each human being, Frederic served the poor of Paris and drew others into serving the poor of the world. As founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, his work continues to the present day.

This book is a biography of Frederic, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997.

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January 2009: Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To, by Anthony DeStefano

Anthony DeStefano has once again drawn his readers into the mystery of God's love and invited us to reflect more deeply on our relationship with Him. In a simple yet profound way, Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To offers insights, and indeed a practical wisdom, that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with personal prayer. I recommend this book to any and all who are searching for a fresh perspective on the meaning and value of a life of prayer, and, ultimately, for a more fulsome encounter with the Living God.

Cardinal Renato Martino
President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Vatican City, Rome

For more information on this book, see the official website: http://www.tenprayers.com/home.htm

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December 2008: Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy, by Rumer Godden

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Find this book in the Allen County Public Library catalog.

November 2008: The Diary of a City Priest, by John McNamee

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Find the film version of this book in the Allen County Public Library catalog.