My God and My All by Elizabeth Goudge is a beautifully written biography about an extraordinary holy man.

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge was originally published in 1959 under Saint Francis of Assisi. I had read one other book on this popular saint sometime ago, however, what was different about Goudge's book is the beautiful writing style which vividly brings Francis and his age to life.

Goudge who was a popular novel writer who died at the age of 84 in 1984, did a wonderful job writing this biography of Francis who was born in the 1180s. Using her skills as a novelist she used the many stories and sources available about St. Francis to create this excellent moving biography of one of the Catholic Churches most favorite sain

At first, I wondered whether Goudge was going to strip away all the supernatural from Francis' story, ignoring the miracles and healings that are attached to him, like so many of the writers about saints do today. However, the author does include miracles and healings attributed to him.

Although she writes this biography like a novelist, Goudge never "invents" anything using poetic license. Whenever she speculates, she lets us know. She weaves Francis' life into the early Medieval history of Italy and Europe with ease.

My God and My All is a modern masterpiece that is beautifully written about an extraordinary holy man who revitalized the Church twelve hundred years into it's existence.

Anyone can read this well crafted book. Elizabeth Goudge was an Anglican, her father being an Anglican priest. All Christians should relish this wonderful book, but, unfortunately they won't. As a Catholic I found this book to be very refreshing, informative and beautifully written.

(I received a copy of this book for an honest review from Handlebar.)

Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II [Blu-ray]

  Amazing Modern Classic!, April 28, 2015

Red Cliff is an exceptional film. It is a modern day classic the Lawrence of Arabia of our time. John Wu has directed a masterpiece. The photography is just stunning. Although there are a lot of computer generated shots they blend seemlessly into the film and only enhance the motion picture elements.

The storyline is based on a telling of a historical event in Chinese history that is widely known in China but not so much outisde of Asia. Wu has enhanced the traditional storyline with his own additions. What is amazing is how fast this movie goes. Despite it being something like five hours long, one is spellbound with the acting, visuals and effects. The film is not slow or boring at all. I watched it again and finally ordered a copy of my own because this is such a wonderful film that I will definitely watch it over and over again through the years.

John Wu has out done himself with this truly great work of cinema. I only wish I had seen it on the big screen in the theater. The acting is terrific and even though there is not an English track and one has to "read" the movie, it is not too overwhelming to read since there are many extended visuals. I highly recommend this excellent film of the first order. It's great fun!

Thank you for reviewing Pius XII and the Holocaust

  Well Done Work, August 22, 2015

The book is a well written and well researched look at the so-called controversy on Pope Pius' alleged silence during World War II in relation to the Nazi's systematic imprisoning and killing of Jews. Snachez makes a reasoned analysis of the available facts and paints a realistic picture of Pius.

In some ways the author gives too much weight to some of the critics of the pope since some were obviously contrived and used false and manipulated evidence to prove their thesis (Hitler's Pope). He also doesn't seem to give too much weight to the many priests and religious who helped the Jews and later said that Pope Pius had instructed them to do so.

Apart from these gripes, I think the book is a good starting place for people who think they know what Pope Pius XII actually did or didn't do in relation to the Jewish Holocaust.

Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind (New Expanded Edition) by J. Heinrich Arnold

Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind (New Expanded Edition) by J. Heinrich Arnold is a book that every Christian can use on a daily basis. The book is totally grounded in the Bible and New Testament.

Arnold writes about various issues that people face in the world today and examines how one might respond to these issues using the word of Christ and the Bible.

I found it to be a very interesting and informative read. It might be best to read it slowly so as to absorb the writings and the wisdom of each entry and think about them. This expanded edition contains even more insight and writings by Arnold using letters and other source materials.

The back of the book contains a good "Index of Bible References." Anyone who wants to follow Christ and live closer to his teachings and the Bible should spend the time and read Discipleship published by Plough Publishing House.

(I received a copy of this book for review from Handlebar.)

Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America’s Greatest Virtue by David J. Bobb

There is one thing for certain humility is lacking today. Whether it is in regards to politics, entertainment or family and friends, humility is a rare commodity. David J. Bobb,  the executive director of citizen education for Hillsdale College, does a service to this age with his book Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America’s Greatest Virtue.

Bobb treats his subject skillfully and chose his autobiographical portraits well. Some of the people used as examples I was quite familiar with George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are two of them, but I learned about a different aspect of their personality when seeing them through the focus of their humility. The thesis of Bobb's book is that these figures weren't great people despite their ability at being humble, but because of it.

Most people aren't naturally humble and when you factor in people who are spirited or powerful or who are driven, humility could look to be a failing, but like Jesus who chose to be humble unto death, these famous figures of history all strove to be humble along with their other strengths and features.

Also covered in the book are James Madison, Abagail Adams, and Frederick Douglass as well as others. I highly recommend this book Humility. It encouraged me to strive to be more humble in my own life. And it comes at the right time in our society and hope that Bobb might consider writing a second book examining other leaders in history who have have displayed the, oh so rare trait, of humility.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton by Joan Barthel is NOT for Faithful Catholics!

I was prepared to read a biography of the Roman Catholic saint Elizabeth Seton but was extremely disappointed right from the beginning of the book. Starting with the Forward I realized that this was just a book about the life of a Catholic saint. No, the Forward to this book was written by a noted Leftist and homosexual marriage advocate Maya Angelou, which for me is inappropriate for a book on someone who is revered for her Catholic faith and holiness.

If this wasn't bad enough the author Joan Barthel started off trashing Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church. The prepublication materials include this line, "Elizabeth began the fight for woman's rights in the church that is still being fought today, and the publication of her story could not be more timely." This says it all. The audience for this book are the Catholic heretics, anti-Catholics, and liberals. The same people who call the Catholic Church "misogynistic" (despite the fact that the Church reveres Mary and hundreds of women saints for their holiness in the Faith) will cheer at the misguided and idiotic nonsense that one can get from this useless pseudo biography.

So, the bottom line is this is NOT a biography on a Catholic saint, it is instead a Left-wing propaganda piece in the guise of a biography.

The Pope and Mussolini by David I. Kertzer Review

Unfortunately, The Pope and Mussolini is just another Vatican hit piece. The propagandist in this case, David I. Kertzer, cherry picking bits and pieces of information to shape his thesis of the wicked Catholic Church supporting, backing and actually creating dictators like Mussolini and Hitler. As Jack Taylor would say, "Gob-shite!"

The book is a bit like a partisan Democrat writing the history of the Republican Party. "Lincoln was a RACIST! He said it would be better for the blacks to move back to Africa!" Of course, this imagined Leftist author would forget to mention the 100 years of murder, torture and subjugation of the blacks in the Democrat controlled South of the United States.

Random House is publicizing this book by saying such things as this, "Shows how Pius XI's Secretary of State betrayed the pope to become his successor, Pius XII, also known as Hitler's Pope." Referencing John Cornwell's well refuted book Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII. The Myth of Hitler's Pope: Pope Pius XII And His Secret War Against Nazi Germany by Rabi David G. Dalin totally destroys the whole Soviet inspired thesis of Pius XII being buds with Hitler. Doesn't matter to Random House, though, or this "author" Kertzer.

Some of Kertzer's other books include, The Unholy War: The Vatican's Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism, Prisoner of the Vatican: The Popes, the Kings, and Garibaldi's Rebels in the Struggle to Rule Modern Italy, and The Pope's Against the Jews. I'm glad to see that he doesn't have an axe to grind or anything.

Since religion and anti-Semitism seems to be so close to Kertzer's heart I looked real hard for a book on Hitler's Mufti, Haj Amin al-Husseini or Communism & anti-Semitism. I shouldn't have wasted my time, his anti-Semitism books are ALL only aimed at the Catholic Church!

He does seem to like to write about labor and Communism seeing that he's written, Family Life in Central Italy, 1880-1910: Sharecropping, Wage Labor, and Coresidence, Comrades and Christians: Religion and Political Struggle in Communist Italy, and Politics and Symbols: The Italian Communist Party and the Fall of Communism. My conclusion: Just another Leftist trashing Catholicism for the Cause. Enough said.