reading gets an upgrade
Well. Just when you think you’ve got every resource you need figured out, along comes Brittany. I was perusing INTERNET for a review on the book The Awakening of Miss Prim. I stumbled across this lovely website Good Books for Catholic Kids (please, Brittany - don’t limit yourself…good books for ME, clearly not a kid). Brittany is
a) darling
b) smart
c) sensitive to the concerns of parents
d) cares deeply about literature and, finally,
e) go see for yourself
I was so amazed by her book review site that I asked if I could interview her. Mostly for me, because I wanted to know what she’s all about. But I also wanted to share her with you. And anyway, Brittany, where were YOU twenty years ago??
What were the fundamental pieces in your life that instilled a love of literature? How old are your children, and where did you turn to start choosing good literature for them?
My children are 7, 5, 3, and two angels in heaven. As a third generation book lover, I grew up surrounded by great literature. My grandfather is 98 years old and has spent his whole life reading and collecting books. My mom has a huge collection of classic children's literature. I have 7 younger siblings and we all grew up reading everything we could get our hands on! I've always loved talking about and recommending great books to my younger siblings. When my own kids came along my head was teaming with ideas of what to read them and when!
My love of literature definitely has its foundation in growing up in a house where thousands of classic, worthwhile books were readily available. I was homeschooled, so I had the freedom and time to pursue literature that caught my fancy. I remember when I was about 14, a friend introduced me to G. K. Chesterton's fiction, and I spent the next year reading as many of his books as I could find.
How beautiful to have time. It’s one of the gifts I’ve tried to give my kids in our journey. To make time, have time, create time to just be. Childhood is short, and our job as parents should be to keep life simple enough to safeguard our time.
Your site is very special. The love of books is so apparent. Well organized, lovely and simple, but there's something else - a niche. What is it that sets you apart?
A key aspect of my approach to literature is that I don't just love reading as a hobby; I love great books because they reflect something of the beauty, truth, and goodness of God. Everyone has a perspective they come from in judging the goodness and overall merit of literature. I think my site is unique in that my perspective is unabashedly and authentically Catholic. I don't try to divorce literary merit from goodness, because I think that a book's greatness comes from it's reflection of those transcendental qualities that point us towards God. A great book, in one way or another, should point us towards heaven.
Another aspect that sets my site apart is that I try to review a lot of popular young adult fiction and recent bestsellers. I know Catholic parents are busy, so I try to read and give a thorough review of books teens might ask to read like Hunger Games, Divergent, Outlander, or Handmaid's Tale.
I love this. When I was a young mom, I remember reaching a point where I could no longer keep up with the reading my children were doing…good resources to discern were so important and weren’t easy to find.
What are your goals for this mission of yours?
My goal at the moment is to try to grow my audience. It's not about profit- as you may have noticed I have chosen to not put ads on my site for a more streamlined, less busy look. My aim is to try to connect as many families as possible with truly good, worthwhile literature. I think reading is one of the primary ways to nourish our minds and souls. Great books can help us cultivate an appreciation for beauty, inspire us to goodness, and remind us of truth.
I am so excited for you, Brittany, and would encourage parents and kids to check out your site, so worthwhile. Find Brittany here at Good Books for Catholic Kids. What struck me most about Brittany’s reviews are the frankness and honesty she shares. Not reports, but a sense of what the books means and why it matters. How a book might lift us up.
