Espionage
‘Rogue Agent: The Troubled Life and Dangerous Times of Robert Bruce Lockhart’
By James CrosslandRobert Lockhart, the Scottish spy and World War II propagandist, is a forgotten figure that readers of just about any stripe will enjoy learning about. He’s a man of incredible talent, brilliance, and wit, yet afflicted with unfortunately excessive desires for drinking, women, and danger. An influential figure of the early and mid-20th century, Crossland presents a biography of a conflicted, yet brilliant man.
Film History
‘Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of the Godfather’
By Mark Seal“The Godfather” was a landmark among American movies. Released in 1972, it made the careers of the producer, the screenplay’s author, and launched or relaunched the careers of those who acted in it. This book recounts the movie’s making. It examines every aspect, from the creation of the novel on which the movie was based to its enduring impact on American culture. It takes readers behind the scenes revealing the conflicts and challenges that occurred before and during the movie’s creation.
When the local Catholic Boy Scout troop camps at St. Mary’s Abbey on a May weekend, one of the scouts is sent home for misbehavior. Father Gabriel accompanies the boy home, where they discover the boy’s father has been murdered and that the house is a crime scene. Father Gabriel soon investigates, discovering the roots to the crime lay in events from World War II, only five years earlier. In the tradition of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series, this fascinating tale is the sixth Father Gabriel mystery.
Nonfiction
‘Give Speech a Chance: Heretical Essays on What You Can’t Say or Even Think’
By Harley PriceIn this collection of essays, the Canadian professor, writer, and author Harley Price brings wit, erudition, and fine writing to wrestle with the controversies of our day. While he approaches topics like human rights, abortion, and capitalism from the standpoint of Judeo-Christian values, readers from across the political spectrum should find this book a wake-up call for the defense of speech against slavish fashion and Orwellian tyranny.
Classics
‘Humorous American Short Stories’
Edited by Bob BlaisdellHere are nearly 300 years of first-rate American humor, from Benjamin Franklin’s 1732 take on Philadelphia society, “Alice Addertongue,” to Howard Kaplan’s 1996 “How to Fight With Your Wife,” and Simon Rich’s 2012 “Center of the Universe.” This assembly includes classics like O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” and Thurber’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” along with selections that may surprise readers, like Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “The Parson’s Horse Race.” A great pick for summertime fun.
A tiny acorn, guided by his Mother Oak’s advice to “be the tree God made you to be,” struggles to find his purpose and place in life. As he takes root and grows bigger, a young girl swings on his branches. When the girl grows and struggles to find her place, she notices an acorn and is struck by inspiration. A lovely tale of growing up and growing in faith.
