Julie Davis's Blog
June 6, 2024
MY NEW BOOK!
In Jesus Presence Through the Day
How would it feel to be such good friends with Jesus that we could bring up anything and everything — the worries no matter how small, the “wins,” the funny bits, everything strewn through our day? This book is about how to listen for Jesus’ voice and hear it every day as we go about our normal lives. The reflections and prayer prompts in this devotional help you to stay aware of Jesus’ presence while drawing closer in friendship and love.The painting on the cover shows comfortable, relaxed conversation with Jesus. That's the goal of using these reflections and prayer prompts. They follow an idea shown to me when I went on a silent retreat a couple of years ago. What if Jesus is sitting in the chair next to me? How would I talk with him? Pretty soon it expanded my prayer time — we were chatting familiarly when I cooked dinner, drove to the post office, and walking the dog. In other words, all through the day.
I took to the technique right away, but once I was off the retreat I began seeing all sorts of quotes from the saints that showed this wasn't a new technique at all. Being me, I began collecting those prompts to help me keep it close and personal every day. In no time at all I had filled four small notebooks.
I wanted everything easier to use and so here's the book I wished for.
I hope this brings you closer too.
January 10, 2024
2024 Book and Movie Challenge
Check it out here.
Best Rereading of 2023
Best Books of 2023
Here are my favorites.
Best Books of 2023
Here are my favorites.
January 3, 2022
Best Books of 2021
December 31, 2021
2022 Book and Movie Challengs
https://happycatholic.blogspot.com/20...
January 1, 2021
Top 10 Books for 2020
December 28, 2020
2021 Book Challenge
It's been a while since I've challenged myself with a big list of books to read in the upcoming year. But lately I've had an urge to tackle War and Peace. Maybe it's because reading all Dickens left me with a taste for big books. Maybe it's because I read Crime and Punishment last year and so I'm not as afraid of Russian authors as I used to be.
Whatever the reason, it took me back to the days when I'd put together a list at the beginning of every year and see how I did.
I'm keeping it as short as I can because I already know I've got some big reads coming up next year. Scott and I are going to tackle The Epic of Gilgamesh and Gone with the Wind over at the podcast. The Close Reads podcast is going to take on Anna Karenina on their Patreon feed so that will help pull me along (they are why I was able to read Crime and Punishment this year). And my Catholic women's book club always keeps my reading list pretty full.
Plus some of the books below are real doozies. But they are all doozies I'm interesting in giving a fair trial to and possibly getting all the way through.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Anthony Briggs translation) — because it's there
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell — I loved the movie. Let's see if the book is as good or even better!
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry — everyone's told me to read this. Time to stop fighting them.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco — everyone's also told me to read this. Time to stop fighting them.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck — the Novel Conversations podcast made this sound light and fun as opposed to Steinbeck's usual doom and gloom. So I'm trying it.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles — another one that's been recommended a lot and the last time it finally sounded good to me for some reason.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell — the book I've fought hardest against in recent years. Let's see if my instincts were right or wrong.
And It Was Good by Madeleine L'Engle — I feel as if I've read this before but the sample didn't sound more than vaguely familiar. Her nonfictional musings are always good.
Wilding by Isabella Tree — been wanting to read this since I read the WSJ review
Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay — a very recent recommendation from a podcast listener
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval World by Christopher de Hamel — this was a gift some time ago but I haven't done more than sample it. This is the year to read it all!
April 24, 2020
10 fiction books every Catholic should read (or at least try once)
Humans are wired to seek the truth. God created us that way. It helps us in finding God who is Truth itself. While science and math give us measurable facts, the place where we reach real, intangible truth is usually in our stories.
Good fiction helps us recognize who we are, who we want to be and how to live a life of courage, honesty, endurance and compassion. There’s a reason that Jesus told so many parables, after all. If you’ve got the choice between a detailed lecture and an exciting story, which one would you pick?
In today’s world we may come across few parables, but we do have an abundance of novels and short stories. Here are 10 good stories for you to try. Some of the authors are Christian, some are not, but all have truth at the heart of their tales — in a very entertaining package.
Read the rest at Our Sunday Visitor where each book has an overview, food for thought, and a look from a Christian point of view for your consideration.