Any bookworm can tell you that there are times when you simply fall in love with an Author. You read one book and it so fits your idea of what a book should be that you must then read every book by that author that you can find. What pleases you will change as you mature, but some of the earliest favorites will stay with you for life. You have all been treated to my adoration for Louisa May Alcott from my earliest years, but today is an author discovered in my early teens. He wrapped up many of my passions in one early book and from then on you could have named him Saint instead of Doctor and I would have agreed.
The author was A. J. Cronin and the book was "Keys Of the Kingdom". It is simply a wonderful story of a Scottish doctor who becomes a priest is sent to China as a young man and deals with the hardships physical, political and spiritual for the rest of his life.
If you have never read any of A. J. Cronin's work and particularly The Keys of the Kingdom, take the time to read the reviews just before pushing the "Add To Cart" button for either the Book or the movie starring Gregory Peck as Father Francis Chisholm. Once you have caught the addiction you can then go back for all the books (more than 25), the movies (The Citadel among many others) and the TV Series (Dr. Finlay on BBC) that grew out of them.
A. J. Cronin may seem a shade old fashioned now since the majority of his work was published between the later 30s and the early 60s until you realize that he just told wonderful stories of the human condition that are still applicable today.
10 comments:
Jamie, AJ Cronin was my favorite author when I was very young and very Catholic. And Keys to the Kingdom was one of my favorite books, that and Franz Werfel's Embezzled Heaven. Did you ever read that one?
Anyway, I have an award for you at my blog Answers to the Questions
My MM post is up at Work of the Poet
I love finding a wonderful author whom I just want to devour their books!! I will definitely check this one out. Have a great Monday!!
I haven't read him. I'll remember this title. Excellent, educational post as always. Have a great MM and a very Happy New Year Jamie. :)
I'm reading a book about Einstein. I avoid fiction as much as I can. They say that there is truth in fiction but I wouldn't take any bets on that.
Mostly fiction is just an escape from reality, I prefer to face reality head on.
The human condition, hey, don't get me started on that, the problem is that they insist on being human and not spiritual.
Like I suppose you will watch a football game, but many women get abused and killed after football games. What do you think of that?
How can you defend that?
I remember this book I have read it years ago ! I also continue to read a book from the same author when I liked the first book ! I just can't switch to another then, lol !
Hey Jamie :)
I just got your very cute "talented reindeer" e-card. I keep writing new blogs (or half a blog, or half of a half..and so on) and then deleting them. A tad scatter brained but mostly unsure of anything interesting to write of.
Once you've found the book that entirely encompasses you, every possible word or phrase needed and the universe you always feel remarkably whole and changed. The last story I remember that did this for me was probably The Metamorphosis by Kafka (I have no idea why this encompassed the world for me, I fear the reason...I'm afraid what I'll find out!)and then reading more Kafka was great. Same with Kurt Vonnegut.
The worst though was J.D. Salinger. It's the greatest thing to be an adolescent (or just an adult who never feels they fully grew up) and read Catcher in the Rye. Immediate connection. Past Franny and Zooey...still excellent, just different. After that for me it's just the same character (Salinger) disliking the world and snubbing it in a pretty remarkable way.
Recently I haven't been able to dig into any book or author. It makes me a little sad. I've mostly been flipping through biographies between classes and reading Rimbaud when things get too hectic.
Hope you had a very happy set of holidays and will have an excellent new year!
Love,
Arabella
That sounds very interesting. I'll have to see about reading it. I have a few good books stacked up waiting for me to either finish reading them, or start reading them, lol.
My MM post is on the Key to World Peace. Come check it out!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
GREAT KEYING! LOL
Come on by and see if you can find the KEY to my blog! I have an advice question on my blog to! Enjoyed your blog!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
http://palofmine.wordpress.com
That author for me is David Eddings. It started with his 5 book series The Belgariad, continued through the next 5 books in The Mallorean, and extends through other series and stand alone novels.
His characters stand up off the page and escort the reader through the story. Eddings is a master of world development. His humor advances the story and adds dimension to the characters.
Eddings writes a standard good vs evil, light vs dark, type of epic fantasy. But it's the added elements of humor that make his books stand out for me.
Best wishes for a great 2008!
Very good take on this week's theme! :)
Happy Manic Monday and Happy New Year.
Post a Comment