Book Review: The Virtue Driven Life

Fr. Groeschel brings his wisdom to bear in an exposition of the seven main virtues of Christian life. Beginning with the four cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice), Groeschel explains their human characteristics, and how they can be elevated by grace to a supernatural level. For the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity), he explains how they flow from God's grace. Examples from life pepper the text, making for clear examples and keeping the material interesting. A good introduction to the important virtues for anyone interested in the Catholic faith.

2009 Reading Challenge

It's that time of year! I'm doing some things differently for '09 than I did in '08, namely:

• Less books. I'm aiming for 25.
• Less categories. I'll have 5.
• On-the-go book list, instead of writing out ahead of time what I plan to read.

My five categories are:

1. Theology
2. History
3. Literature
4. Arts
5. Sciences

I'll try to update my reading in my left sidebar. I did that for most of '08, but let it slide the past few months.

Read Something Good

Aquinas & More's Catholic Summer Reading Program is back. Why not pick up a good book?

Reading Challenge

This is my first time doing a year-long reading challenge. I love, love to read. I have no idea if I'll finish, but it never hurts to try!

My list of categories and books (a work in progress):

Classics

1. Don Quixote
2. The Three Musketeers
3. The Divine Comedy
4. The Canterbury Tales
5. Middlemarch
6. A Journal of the Plague Year
7. Pygmalion
8. Bleak House
   

Mysteries

1. The Woman in White
2. The Tale of Hawthorn House
3. The Railway Detective
4. Murder on the Celtic
5. The Frost Fair
6. Miss Seeton Draws the Line
7. Death of Corinne
8. Death of a Garage Sale Newbie
   

Book Club (TBA)
My library has a book club in the spring and fall, usually 5 titles each time. The spring ones will be announced soon, the fall ones not until around August or September. I plan on reading at least eight of them, whatever they are.

Homemaking

1. Back to Basics
2. Storey's Basic Country Skills
3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
4. Fast Food Nation
   
5. The Self-Sufficient Life
6. Five Acres and Independence
7. Root Cellaring
8. Barnyard in Your Backyard
   

Biography & Memoir

1. Christmas Remembered
2. The Life of James Cardinal Gibbons
3. The Life of Christ (Sheen)
4. The Last Days of Socrates
5. The Journey that Saved Curious George
6. The King's Good Servant, but God's First
7. Characters of the Reformation
8. Witness to Hope
   

Spiritual & Religion

1. Introduction to the Bible
2. St. Therese, a Treasured Love Story
3. Introduction to the Devout Life
4. The King, Crucified and Risen
5. Fatima, the Great Sign
6. The Wonder of Guadalupe
7. Saints and Other Powerful Women in the Church
8. Jesus of Nazareth (Benedict XVI)
   

History

1. How the Irish Saved Civilization
2. The Old World's Gifts to the New (finished 1/4/08)
   
3. Empire State Catholics
4. Great Heresies
5. The Histories (Herodotus)
6. Bible History
7. The Story of the Church
8. Iron Fleet: the Great Lakes in World War II
   

Home Education (Theory, Methods)

1. Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home (finished 1/7/08)
2. A Thomas Jefferson Education
3. We and Our Children
4. The Trivium
5. Climbing Parnassus
6. The Devil Knows Latin
7. A Charlotte Mason Eduation
8. For the Children's Sake