Welcome to the adventure!
When I was growing up, the idea that being Catholic was an "adventure" was the farthest thing from my mind. You just "were". And, pretty much, memorizing some definitions and what "rules" you had to keep in order to be "saved" completed the picture.
Then why would I entitle these challenging reflections to aid our life's journey: FREE AND HOLY WHERE YOU ARE? Perhaps because many Catholics don't feel freed by the "rules", and don't feel they will ever be truly "holy". Only for priests, sisters, or monks could "where you are '' possibly promote holiness! Yet the "Daily Life of a Catholic" is exactly where we always are with Jesus as our friend and confidant, and members of His Body, the Church. Be prepared to choose a hundred thoughts or phrases you'll want to remember for the rest of your life.
Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Regan's thoughtful series of essays regarding his ideas about modern life and its intermingling with Catholicism is a welcome book for any practicing Catholic who is willing to look into their faith with an open mind. Progressive readers will find his book delightful and likely on board with their own beliefs, while more conservative readers may find themselves challenged in their thinking, which seems to be Regan's intention.
Prose: The eloquent banter within Regan's book is flamboyant and enjoyable, funny at times, humbling, and insightful. Even for readers without an attachment to Catholicism, his book is not threatening, and is a joyful experience that is not too filled with biblical reference for it to be difficult to consume.
Originality: Regan has not avoided the difficult topics, starting one of his earliest chapters with his thoughts on homosexuality, and then quickly moving onto masturbation soon afterward. These are important topics to broach for the religious and non-religious alike, and a very well-educated priest with a good head on his shoulders offering an intelligent, unbiased opinion on these subjects is unique. Often these matters are met with a fire-and-brimstone attitude, but Regan approaches them more delicately, with forgiveness and mercy. This inherent gentleness throughout the book is what makes it so unique and comforting to read.
Character Development/Execution: The book is nicely formatted and clearly put together. Occasionally there are a large amount of italics and strangely used parentheses, which for some may be distracting. Otherwise the book is clearly and simply laid out, and the ideas are concisely refined so that they are clear without being overstated.
Date Submitted: November 15, 2021
