Signatures of Grace: 01/29/09
Signatures of Grace is a series of essays on the sacraments by Catholic writers. It's outside my normal choice of book but it's a beautifully bound book and I was intrigued. The authors who participated are Murray Bodo, Andre Dubus, Mary Gordon, Patricia Hampl, Ron Hansen, Paul Mariani and Katherine Vaz.

My favorite essay is Katherine Vaz's. "Baptism" starts off the book. She speaks of her grandmother and her traditions and her mother who was often at odds with those traditions. Besides enjoying the sentimental autobiography, I felt a connection to her through where she grew up. She grew up in San Lorenzo and Castro Valley, neighborhoods we frequent.

The rest of the book is a blur for me. The remaining essays heavier on the theology than Vaz's essay is. The book ends with a section of short biographies of the contributing authors. Although I didn't especially enjoy Signatures of Grace the book is still finely crafted. It just wasn't for me. It was the wrong book for the wrong time.

books | nonfiction | Thomas Grady | Paula Huston | 2000

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