Love & Other Recreational Sports, John
Dearie '86 (Viking). After breaking up with his cheating
fiancee, Wall Street banker Jack reluctantly re-enters the dating
game, and readers of this novel enter a male perspective of women,
romance, sex and life in general. Jack's funny, philosophical
friend Alex, who watches reruns of Oprah to find out
what women want from a man; his co-worker Karen, who shares stories
of her disastrous love life; and the happily married Ted, who
says marriage is always a risk, round out this amusing view of
relationships today. Jack, meanwhile, must decide whether an attorney
named Sarah deserves a sporting chance.
Go Forth and Do Good: Memorable Notre Dame Commencement
Addresses, edited by Wilson D. Miscamble, CSC, '77M.A.,
'80Ph.D., '87M.Div. (University of Notre Dame Press). The
1849 commencement ceremony at Notre Dame was marked by six hours
of speeches -- including one on "Latin Discourse on General History."
Readers learn all this and more from Miscamble's lively introduction
to this collection of 24 graduation addresses at Notre Dame. A
short note before each speech offers helpful historical and social
context. The book moves from William Tecumseh Sherman's 1865 speech
to President George W. Bush's 2001 appearance, and includes such
noteworthy speakers as Joseph Kennedy, Condoleezza Rice '75M.A.,
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and Andrew Young, as well as a letter
from Mother Teresa. Miscamble is the rector of Moreau Seminary
and an associate professor of history at Notre Dame.
Vatican II: Forty Personal Stories, edited
by William Madges and Michael J. Daley (Twenty-Third Publications).
Three Notre Dame theology professors -- Mary Catherine Hilkert,
O.P., Lawrence Cunningham, Father Richard McBrien -- are among
those who share their stories about how Vatican II has affected
their life and ministry. A celebration of the 40th anniversary
of the convening of the council, the book also offers introductory
essays detailing the historical context and major themes of Vatican
II.
Exploring Lewis and Clark: Reflections on Men and Wilderness,
Thomas P. Slaughter (Knopf). Slaughter, a Notre Dame
history professor, thematically explores the lives of the explorers
who are known as the trailblazers to the West. Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark, who crossed the country in 1803, are often
viewed as heroes. Studying their journals and other writings of
the time, Slaughter instead finds two men whose prejudices, motivation
and actions serve as an apt reflection of 19th century Americans.
The author also looks at other members of the expedition, including
the woman we know today as Sacajawea. "We would honor her and
be truer to our history by celebrating her accomplishments as
a slave who transcended and eventually escaped her condition,"
he writes, rather than mythologizing her as "a princess saving
white men from savages."
Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical: From Debate
to Dialogue on the Issues That Separate Us, Father
John R. Waiss '79 and James G. McCarthy (Harvest House).
The two correspondents believe in the same God, the same Christ.
Their theology differs, however, and the priest and evangelical
minister share their views of those disagreements in a series
of balanced and thoughtful letters and conversations. The letters
focus on six key areas that distinguish the belief systems of
the priest and minister, including the meaning of the Last Supper
and how one obtains salvation.
(July 2003)
