Living with Saints

by Mary O'Connell

Mary O'Connell's wonderfully inventive debut collection takes dusty icons down from the shelf and sets their spirits loose in the modern world. The result is nothing less than "an extended hagiography of the everyday ... where the sacred and secular blur gloriously into one another" (Los Angeles Times). Praised for her "gift for mordant wit, which at its best is reminiscent of Lorrie Moore" (The New York Times Book Review), O'Connell draws upon the lives of the saints to show the divine at work in even the most mundane lives. Saint Anne, patron saint of mothers, sits on the corner of a bed offering words of wisdom while a woman, driven to desperate measures to avoid leaving her baby in day care, has sex with her reptilian boss in exchange for time off. A woman left by her glam-rock musician boyfriend tosses and turns in her bed one night only to find that her pillow, stained with his mascara, has become a modern Turin shroud. From the ineffable bonds between fellow sufferers of grave illness, to the mystery of an immaculate pregnancy, to the more quotidian heartbreak of balancing work and motherhood, O'Connell's stories tackle complicated themes with humor that is "biting but never malicious" (Library Journal ). Readers of all faiths (or none) will be delighted by these savvy and highly original modern visitations. "It isn't necessary to be Catholic, religious, or even a woman to enjoy these stories." -- The Hartford Courant "Living with Saints is funny, shocking, and inspirational-a regular book of revelations." -- Time Out New York "Clever, confident and witty." -- Chicago Tribune

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Mary O'Connell is a graduate of the University of Kansas and the Iowa's Writer's Workshop. She is the author of the short story collection Living With Saints (Grove/Atlantic) and her debut novel, The Sharp Time, was published by Delacorte in November. She lives with her husband and her three children in Lawrence, Kansas.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is embarrassing to know that this collection of interconnected stories has existed since 2003 and which I have only recently discovered. The stories all have a theme of a Catholic Saint that in some way shines their mystical light upon the various protagonists. These stories will make you weep, celebrate, cheer, become sick, inspire..
The writing is clear concise and clever. The stories are often shocking. Not entirely sure why this is not held up more as an example of excellent feminist literature.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased since my mother wrote this but hear me out: this is an amazing short story collection and I'd recommend it to anybody. Each story is thought-provoking and beautifully written, and often very funny and witty as well. The theme of connecting individual modern-day women to the Christian saints was very compelling to me, and it navigates the religious themes in a very interesting and nuanced way. Molly Ringwald was right, this rocks!

[chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect perfect perfect I love this book of short stories so much. I recalled my own past indulgence in catholicism and my fascination with the virgin mary so much so that I too imagined a marble statue of her moving her stone lips.

[yexxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Der Titel dieses Buches ist nicht im übertragenen Sinne zu verstehen - es geht hier in irgendeiner Form tatsächlich um wahre heilige Mädchen. Doch ganz anders, als man sich Heilige so vorstellen mag. Zehn Geschichten sind es, die von der jeweils heiligen Dymphna, Ursula, Thérèse, Veronika, Martha undundund handeln. Teilweise erzählen sie selbst ihre Geschichten, teilweise sind es Mädchen und/oder junge Frauen, die aufgrund ihrer Lebensgeschichten eng mit den jeweiligen Heiligen verbunden sind.
Die Sprache ist alles andere als fromm ;-) - Agnes, Schutzheilige junger Mädchen und Frauen, nimmt beispielsweise kein Blatt vor den Mund, als sie ihren Schutzbefohlenen Ratschläge für's Leben erteilt ebenso wie die heilige Anna und all die anderen. So wirken diese historischen Figuren überaus real und mir wurde klar, wie ähnlich sich die jungen Frauen und die Heiligen doch sind. Beide befinden sich meist in schwierigen Situationen (die sich trotz des Zeitabstandes nicht einmal so sehr unterscheiden), und es gelingt ihnen mit neuem Mut, weiter voran zu gehen.
Ein bisschen ein Mutmachbuch mit ungewöhnlichen Geschichten und aussergewöhnlichen Heldinnen.

[Wendolyn Aragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up Catholic will either make you very religious or detest the concept of organized religion. I went in the direction the latter. While I am no longer a practicing Catholic, I am, however, inspired now and then when it comes to two things: old churches and the lives of the saints.

This each short story is beautifully written and unconventially retells the story of some of the most popular saints as they parallel the lives of of the characters (mostly women) in each story all of whom are having a crisis of faith. With a subject matter sure to have anyone who loves this book either fearing or welcoming excommunication, it's a definite must read.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is like a slap across the knuckles with a ruler. Each story has its own Saint and pivotal dilema surrounding her. M odern day women are enmeshed with vocal Saints to live, love and endure. Makes me sort of wish I had been raised Catholic... sort of.

[Nicole Festa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is similar to the David Sedaris type of written word. Racy and funny. It is not necessary to be religious to enjoy her gift of wit within serious topics. She is clever with her style of writing, and once again it is a good laugh to read!

[Dakota Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book. it taught me that saints love sinners for some reason. the book makes you laugh and gives you an increasing sense of relief. mary is brilliant.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up Catholic and like many am now a lapsed Catholic. This book touched off a minor obsession with saints' lives. A funny and deeply personal exploration of faith.

[Sandy Wolter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incandescent. One of my favorite books. I've read and reread.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an uncorrected proof of this collection - my boyfriend snagged it at a used book sale - and I wonder how the final product varies from what I ave. Adored, nevertheless.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this quirky and irreverent collection of stories. Enjoyed the tone of the book and writing style.

[Tags Taggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing here is so lovely and sweet and poignant and funny. Mary O'Connell rocks.