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I'm trying to come up with some ideas for Christmas presents and I prefer to give books. I love books and I want to share that with my family and friends.

So do you have any good suggestions for this Christmas? It does not have to be new books, but since most of my family are secular I prefer books that are positive or neutral towards Christianity without being "preachy".

I'm thinking maybe something like The sweetest thing, by Elizabeth Musser for my mum, and something like Ben Hur for my father or brother. For my sister in law I have no idea... Maybe something by Sigrid Undset?

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Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Line, here is my Christmas Gift to me . . .

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In Christ,

Jim B

I will consider your position if stated with firm, well-thought-out, quiet reasoning. Hateful diatribe, ad hominem attacks and shouted rhetoric don't impress.

Thank you for sharing Jim It looks like something my father would enjoy, I'll have to see if any of them have been translated in to Norwegian
I like that you get Christmas presents for yourself, I do that too This year it's The Interior Casle and Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila

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Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Line,

Janette Oke, writes several series about families who settled the US and Canadian West. She is a committed Christian and while her books are not "Christian" books, the fictional families all pray and read their Bibles.

It is Light reading and as the books are series they can be read in order.

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Bob C

Thank you Bob
I see many of her books have been translated into Norwegian (My parents do read English but Norwegian is so much easier)

Oh, I just had another look at one of the books, it's the "love comes softly" series right? I love those movies!

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Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Quo Vadis? The Cosmic Trilogy? Mary Higgins Clark's books are nice although she is a rather uneven writer IMO.

These are my Christmas presents to myself. Catholicism would be a great gift for any Catholic or person well-disposed towards the faith.

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla

I doubt it's translated into Norwegian but if any of them like history they might be open to reading "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" by Thomas E Woods. Jr. I think it's even handed but then, I'm Catholic. However, I can imagine being non Catholic and automatically thinking of only the Churches flaws through the centuries and not give thought to the fact that the church was Western Civilization until relatively recent history.

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Valerie Garcia
vals1990@yahoo.com

"Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him ....." St. Benedict

Val and Grace,

It looks like Line will be getting a lot of Christmas presents this year

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Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Line,




Yes that is one of the series, and the books are better then the movies.

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Bob C

Line,
I highly recommend Sigrid Undset's "Kristin Lavransdatter." I read it in translation, but it may even be better in its original Norwegian.

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Pax et bonum,
Marie

JMJ

Haha! Well, that's what happens when you ask US for book ideas.

Well, for what it's worth, these are the books I'm giving to non-Catholic relatives this year. (The problem is that if you don't want particularly Catholic books, then the choice is so wide open--depending on the person's interests). The last one is for my father and a couple of the guys on the forum recommended it.
The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations might be something your sister would enjoy.

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla

I recognize that last one, that was a good yarn.

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Bob C

For my uncle: Fifty Sheds of Grey (yes, a spoof).
For my Dad: two books of photography, the amusing one is "Underwater Dogs."
Not particularly Catholic, I'm afraid!

The Pillars of the Earth is quite good, but not the TV version or the sequel.
Le Chemin des Etoiles (I think)
They're both about building cathedrals - rather different books.

For the lover of crime fiction: Cadfael or Father Brown.

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Jules Xx


What will become of sinners?

Thank you all so much! I've gotten some great ideas and inspiration from you, now I'll have to confer with Santa (or Julenissen as I like to call him)

_________________
Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Marie,

I'm so happy to read that you enjoyed "Kristin Lavransdatter"! I love Sigrid Undset's writings and I know many of her books have been translated in to English. Have you read her book about St. Catherine of Sienna? Her writings were an important part of my journey into the Catholic Church, and for that I am thankful

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Line

"I can do anything through Christ crucified, for I know truly that He does not lay a heavier load on His creatures than they can bear."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

Our Father does not inspire us to do what cannot be done

Line, Grace,

If you want to get a book for yourself and looking for something Pope Pius XII, try The Pope's Jews: The Vatican's Secret Plan to Save Jews from the Nazis by Gordon Thomas

I am reading it now and it's quite a page turner.

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Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe

Ian,

Looks good. Is it very different from The Myth of Hitler's Pope? Because I have my own copy of that (ordered another one for the gift) and if it covers the same ground... I'm sort of eyeing books by Peter Kreeft or Fr. Robert Barron. Or finally attempting to understand one of the autobiographies by the Saints Terese.

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla