The Mom Weekly Volume 21: December 19
I was having a bit of a rant to select friends and family after my book group last weekend, when one woman (whose suggestions I usually love!) mentioned a book by an author whose writing I actively loathe.
This author’s books are one that often is given out to parishioners in various Catholic Churches at Christmastime. The books are terrible, mostly for being hackneyed, cliched pablum. While there doesn’t seem to be anything contrary to the faith in them, I find them so uninspiring as to be actually repellent.
The company distributing such books must do excellent marketing to get parishes to consider and even do this kind of a book giveaway. But I find this approach counterproductive. Reading a “meh” book about the faith would not have most clamoring for more.
Still: finding a book that could be relevant and interesting to even type of person in a parish is a tall order. As a general rule, it could be classified as a fool’s errand.
A Thought Experiment
Fool’s errand or not, it is an interesting thought experiment: If you could get everyone in a parish or other group to read one book, what would that book be?
What if you could choose only fiction? What if you could only choose non-fiction? What if you could only choose a children’s book?
I can think of quite a few non-fiction books that I think many people should read, but not all of them would be suitable for an entire parish.
The one that comes most to mind is Sherry Wedell’s Forming Intentional Disciples. I reviewed that book here.
As far as fiction, so many books come to mind. And it is fun to think about it.
What kind of book would you choose? Let me know!
Remember how much I love you,
Mom
Interesting/Notable
Jolabokaflod -The Read-Aloud Revival
“During Jolabokaflod, you gift members of your family with new books, and everyone drinks hot cocoa and spends the whole of Christmas Eve reading.”
if this doesn’t sound like something designed for our family, I don’t know what does.
Pulled Out Beyond My Capacities—Leah Libresco
An Action Item: Have you set any goals for the new year?
I’m re-reading Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever, which is a helpful book in getting inspiration for planning for a great year ahead.
Hyatt is all about making “SMART” goals (specific, measurable, action-oriented, and time-bound). His company has a series of journals to help with that. He separates that into 10 different areas of life: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, marital, parental, social, vocational, avocational, and financial.
As I began re-reading, I realize that there too much complexity in his system. In particular, 10 categories of life are too many categories to be keeping track of.
So in advance of 2024, I am contemplating this: a list of things I would like to have completed before the end of the year. I can also break those down into smaller chunks, as Hyatt suggests. But I honestly think just having the last will keep me accountable, especially if I try to keep the list handy and refer to it every week or so. I’ll keep you posted.
So, what are you doing to plan for next year?
What are you doing this weekend?
This weekend (Sunday, actually) is Christmas Eve, so I think we will skip the “what are you doing this weekend?” section this time.
I’m looking forward to so much about Christmas, especially having you all home. I am also excited for our annual watch of “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” This year (it’s been awhile) we can maybe re-watch the Alistar Sim 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol.”
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