The Long Loneliness
by Dorothy Day
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Read in February, 2008
Quotes:
"It is not easy always to be joyful, to keep in mind the duty of delight."
"We need to make the kind of society," Peter [Maurin] had said, "where it is easier for people to be good."
"As I write this there is less than a hundred dollars in the bank, the line of men stretches to the corner [. . .] How can we go on? We are as sure as we ever were that God can multiply the loaves, as He has sheltered the homeless these many years."
At fi...more
"It is not easy always to be joyful, to keep in mind the duty of delight."
"We need to make the kind of society," Peter [Maurin] had said, "where it is easier for people to be good."
"As I write this there is less than a hundred dollars in the bank, the line of men stretches to the corner [. . .] How can we go on? We are as sure as we ever were that God can multiply the loaves, as He has sheltered the homeless these many years."
At fi...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
people inclined to stand there in awe
I'm not sure where to begin with this one. She comes across as such a real person, not a mystic, not a saint, but someone who lived a thoughtful and sincere life.... Someone who made some very difficult decisions in pursuit of what she saw as right.
I found myself marking down passages for further review throughout the book. Passages about how men and women act differently in social movements, bread riots, the draw of worship and ritual, law, creation, charity versus justice, "eat w...more
I found myself marking down passages for further review throughout the book. Passages about how men and women act differently in social movements, bread riots, the draw of worship and ritual, law, creation, charity versus justice, "eat w...more
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Read in January, 1977
In many ways this is a difficult book - Dorothy was nothing if not difficult. Her reduction of Christianity to a lived pattern of daily actions (pray, feed the hungry, clothe the naked) leaves not much room for those things most of us view as essential (no matter how much she listened to the opera on the radio, or read Dostoevsky). It's a hard knock life.
But, oh, the joy that came like an oil strike from those years of intensity!
I was in New York City the night she died, riding a cab up...more
But, oh, the joy that came like an oil strike from those years of intensity!
I was in New York City the night she died, riding a cab up...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
spiritual activists and catholics/christians
Dorothy Day is very inspiring to me. She founded the Catholic Worker. First it was a publication talking about the issues of the time (the 30's, 40's ?) and then they created Hospitality Houses to serve and house the homeless. She took the teachings of Jesus to heart, and practiced them in a very real way, and even defied the Catholic Church from time to time in her radical criticisms of society and capitalism, and the way the Catholic Church often skirted social justice issues. Other churches g...more
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recommends it for:
catholics and neophytes
"She was, as she tells it- and she is unabashed in the telling- quite pragmatic about college. She lazed about,. soaking up her neighborhood, skipped classes that held no interest, seemed to find in friendship her real awakening. Officialy speaking, she turned in a tolerable performance...worked so to speak her own side of the street." Introduction by Daniel Barrigan.
Sounds like I'm reading about myself. I think it was a great telling of her life without sounding too preachy. It ma...more
Sounds like I'm reading about myself. I think it was a great telling of her life without sounding too preachy. It ma...more
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Read in June, 2008
I feel horrible only giving this two stars. Dorothy Day was an amazing person, but I didn't feel like this book gave me a very good perspective or understanding of what she was all about. She was a journalist by trade and the book often read like a dry recounting of events--even when she was recounting amazing things. I wouldn't mind reading a biography about her or a book about the Catholic Worker Movement. Perhaps I would've enjoyed this more had I read something else about her first.
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Read in June, 2007
This was a great book by catholic social activist and co founder of the catholic workers movement Dorothy Day. Being an autobiography, it was awesome to see the transformation that this woman's life took. Inspiring to see the road Dorothy Day traveled as she discovered her purpose in life. The book challenges action on the part of christians to love your neighbor as yourself, and above yourself. Now I want to go live in a hospitality house and care for the poor and homeless!
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Read in December, 2007
this is dorothy day's autobiography. i read it because i wanted to know what drove her, and to tell the truth, i didn't really get that out of it. she's a journalist, and that comes across in the book -- it's a chronicle of events in her life, sprinkled with some philosophy. granted what she chose to include is somewhat telling (she writes in depth about a time of happiness in her life that led her to God), and i'm glad i read it, but i found it a very dry read.
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Read in May, 2007
A lovely and inspiring memoir by the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. The book is a timely reminder that radical social justice can indeed be lived in our society and that justice arises out of simple acts of kindness and love.
I especially enjoyed Day's account of her conversion and the intellectual questions she posed to herself. I wish the book included more details of day-to-day life at a Catholic worker house.
I especially enjoyed Day's account of her conversion and the intellectual questions she posed to herself. I wish the book included more details of day-to-day life at a Catholic worker house.
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Read in April, 2005
recommended to Booklady by:
Sr. Jan Futrell
It tells the story of the life of Catholic social activist Dorothy Day. It was required reading for our Spiritual Classics class. At the time, it seemed an odd choice to me. But in retrospect I believe Sr. Jan wanted us to see/learn the importance of active faith or faith-in-action. Dorothy Day's life was a constant series of choices for God, not so much between good and evil but between 'the good' and 'the better'.
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This book, an organic predecessor to Donald Miller, is well-written and very honest. The joining of Catholicism and what is basically a social communism does much to materialize a religion of Catholicism that has everything to do with reaching people where they live. As it is also written by a woman, it did much to reveal to me how the same ideas are viewed from the different perspectives of people who might share the same beliefs.
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Read in May, 2008
This book was illuminating to me as it talked about a time in American history that I've known very little about - having to do with communism, anarchism, labor unions etc. It brought up a lot of things that I'd like to think about more and read about more. But, frankly, it was lots of loooong boring parts with spurts of interesting material. It's worth reading, but not because it's stellar writing.
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Read in September, 2006
This is a good autobiographical account of Dorothy Day's early life and conversion. However, I was a little disappointed in the writing style. I think I wanted more of the religious reflection and less of the activism. I know with Day it's hard to separate the two, but I was hoping for more to make me think -- the protest trips weren't doing that for me.
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Read in January, 2008
A story of combined political/spiritual transformation, and a history of the Catholic Worker's early years. If we want to build communities of inspiration and solidarity, there's much to be learned from Day and CW. Also stands on its own as history of radical politics - especially in NYC - from the Depression years to WWII.
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Dorothy Day is quite a character. After reading this bio I wish I had been able to sit down and talk with her. I imagine her to be a very fascinating woman. The book had lots of slow, long, boring sections. Given the events of her life, the book was not a very exciting read - and it should have been!
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my RCIA teacher told me a long time ago that I *HAD* to read this. Then a doctor/soldier/nun from the Little Sisters of the Poor told me that she thought I'd really love Dorothy Day.
At the time, it really offended me.
But - as these things tend to turn out - she was right...
At the time, it really offended me.
But - as these things tend to turn out - she was right...
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Read in March, 2008
Sincere, non-pretentious, and moving telling of her life.
"Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easily."
"We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community."
--Dorothy Day
"Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easily."
"We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community."
--Dorothy Day
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Read in September, 2007
Another one of those people who is better than you.
Probably something here for you even if you aren't particularly religious. Social justice. Chicago. New York. General depression.
"The Long Loneliness" is basically her way of describing life itself. Perfect.
Probably something here for you even if you aren't particularly religious. Social justice. Chicago. New York. General depression.
"The Long Loneliness" is basically her way of describing life itself. Perfect.
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This is a woman who was conflicted her entire life with the values she grew up with and the ones she developed as she gained more experience in her life. She would walk around the slums of Chicago with her daughter to understand the working poor.
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I enjoyed the book when Day wrote more personally and with more detail, but my attention usually wavered when she strayed from her personal experience, focusing on other people and politics. I admit I did not read the entire book.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.12 (176 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.12 (176 ratings) number of reviews: 42popular shelves
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quote
"I felt that the Church was the Church of the poor,... but at the same time, I felt that it did not set its face against a social order which made so much charity in the present sense of the word necessary. I felt that charity was a word to choke over. Who wanted charity? And it was not just human pride but a strong sense of man's dignity and worth, and what was due to him in justice, that made me resent, rather than feel pround of so mighty a sum total of Catholic institutions."
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