Blue Miles: A Monastic Novel by Fr. Thomas Espisito, O. Cist., Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2026.

A realistic and unromanticized view of monastic life through the life and memories of the monk, Fr. Samuel. Shaped by the liturgical day of work and prayer, the daily life of a monk in community unfolds with Samuel's  personal struggles and victories. Fr. Thomas fills the novel with wonderful insights into scripture and the spiritual life. A good read.

On Sex And Gender: A Common Sense Approach by Doriane Lambelet Coleman, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2024. 

I read this book to try and understand the diiference between sex and gender and the issue of transgender. Equal parts scientific explanation, historical examination, and personal reflection, Coleman argues that denying biological sex and focusing only on gender would have detrimental effects on women’s equal opportunity, on men’s future prospects, and on the health and welfare of society.

Five Weeks in the Country: A Novel by Francine Prose, HarperCollins Publishers, 2026. 

In the summer of 1857, when British newspapers warned of an approaching comet about to destroy the earth, an unusual-looking stranger arrived at Charles Dickens's home. Dickens had met Hans Christian Andersen at a dinner party, a decade before, and, in a moment of desperation, had invited him to visit. The visit did not go well. An intgeresting read of an event from different perspective, the children of Dickens, Charles, and Hans Christian Anderson.

How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks, Random House, New York, 2023.

A practical, heartfelt guide to the art of truly knowing another person and fostering deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives—from the author of The Road to Character and The Second Mountain. As David Brooks observes, “There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen—to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood.”

The Third Temple: A Novel  by Yishai Sarid, Restless Books, Amhersy MA, [translation] 2024. 

Reading various books and perspectives in regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gaza, and genocide, this  novel, "in a near-future Jerusalem," offers a dark response to Who will rule the Holy Land, and at what cost?