In November, the group discussed Jennifer Haigh's book, titled Faith. The book centers around a priest and his family. Sheila McGann’s older brother, Art Breen, a priest in a large suburban parish in Boston’s South Shore, has been accused of molesting a young boy and has been put on leave from his parish. Sheila believes her older brother is innocent. Their mother, a strict Irish Catholic woman, is in angry denial about Art being accused. Sheila tries to be supportive of Art, who is unprepared to live a life outside the church and priesthood. Only after Art’s death from cancer does Sheila learn the truth about Art. Art had innocently shown kindness to the housekeeper’s grandson. The boy’s mother’s boyfriend thought up the accusation of abuse as a good way to make money for his drug habit during a time when the Catholic Church was being accused of abuse by many people. Sheila describes the events up to the accusations, revealing some of the family secrets that caused family problems for years. A good look inside the life of a priest, the Church, and a Catholic family.
The book led to a lively discussion, especially by those who had grown up in the Catholic tradition.
In December, the group will be meeting for holiday treats and to listen to holiday readings.
The books we will be reading for the next three months are:
January 10 -
Cutting for Stone by A. Verghese.
February 14 -
State of Wonder by Ann Patachett
March 13 -
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
Join us if you would like! We meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the library meeting room.
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