Book Marks: New releases on Thomas Merton, dog therapists, and recipes from nuns

Here are some interesting new book releases for July:

July 2013

Thomas Merton: Selected Essays

Edited by Patrick F. O'Connell

In this collection of 33 essays, editor Patrick F. O’Connell engages readers through the great works of the late Trappist monk.Thomas Merton (Orbis, 2013) covers a variety of topics from interreligious dialogue to nuclear war, from solitude to human identity. The book takes you into the life and mind of Thomas Merton where he provides his wisdom and concern.
 

A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher

By Sue Halpern

During Sue Halpern’s extensive and prestigious writing career, she realized that she was neglecting the happiness of one important thing in her life: her dog Pransky. A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home (Riverhead Books/Penguin, 2013) shares Halpern’s story of how she and Pransky volunteered at a public nursing home together. Life lessons come from a variety of unexpected sources in this heartfelt book for dog-lovers and life-lovers alike.
 

The Good Bishop: The Life of Walter F. Sullivan

By Phyllis Theroux

As the bishop of Richmond, Virginia for 29 years, Walter F. Sullivan gained a reputation for his compassion, love, and support for the poor, marginalized, and imprisoned. Phyllis Theroux’s The Good Bishop (Orbis, 2013) describes how Bishop Sullivan lead with courage to promote peace for all. His admirers (and those of us first hearing his name) can learn something extraordinary by his example.
 

Mitt Klosterkjokken: A Nun’s Kitchen

By Sr. Sheryl Frances Chen, O.C.S.O.

Ever wonder what nuns eat? Sister Sheryl Frances Chen, O.C.S.O., a U.S. Catholic author and former editor at the magazine who is now a Cistercian nun at Tautra Mariakloster in Norway, gives her readers some insight into monastic culture in her cookbook, A Nun’s Kitchen (St. Olav forlag, 2013). With a variety of Norwegian, American, and Chinese fusion recipes, prayers, and music, Sr. Chen has a little bit for everyone.

Local News from Someplace Else

By Marjorie Maddox

Through her poetry, author Marjorie Maddox captures the comforts of home and family in her book Local News from Someplace Else (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2013). In order to live and get through the bad times, we need to cherish the good. With imagery of natural disasters, tragedies, and despair, Maddox offers hope, faith, and grace in this beautiful collection.

Illustration by Angela Cox