Customer Reviews

Chasing Grace: Reflections of a Catholic Girl, Grown Up

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The review by Kirkus Reviews of Chasing Grace shows a completemisunderstanding of the book. The reviewer states: "Her textseems like the record of a pleasurable, meandering conversation exchanging anecdotes about their childhood than a measured, reflective study." Maybe that's because it was a conversation about childhood, not a study of the Catholic Church. I was wary of this book. I thought that it might be a "I survived Catholicism" Catholic-bashing type book. I was pleasantly surprised. This book is about a woman's journey from childhood to adulthood. It is centered by experiences with her religion. That makes perfect sense because the seven sacraments are rites of passage for Catholics. To be sure she did have some horror stories to tell about her experiences in the Pre-Vatican II church, but she seems to have learned that The Church is populated by people - and people fail. Those wretched nuns she described did fail the church and maybe the church failed them. But, as anyone who knows anything about the Catholic Church, the Church has made such progress. Manning seems to recognize that. Or at least forgive the Church for it's transgressions. She sees past the human failings of the Church and sees the grace within. END

Martha Manning not only writes a delightfully charming and hilarious account of her Catholic girlhood, she also, and more importantly, connects adult life experiences with acramental spirituality. Relating real life experiences in the context of each of the 7 Sacraments celebrated in the Catholic Church, she gives a tangible reality to spirituality and explores life as a place where one encounters the living presence of God. It is obvious that for Ms. Manning, all of life is sacred and sacraments are to be lived - not just as ritual moments, but as the very fabric of everyday experience. This is a gem.

This book is insightful, well written, very real and all of those other adjectives which are used to describe Amazon's 5-star books. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys coming of age type books; it is a must read for any product of parochial education in the 1960s.

One warning, though- it is unbelievably funny, and I found myself in stitches throughout the whole thing. Great for me, not so great for those seated around me on the Miami to LA flight. Rereads yield the same result. Write more, Martha!

Not being Catholic, I was afraid when I picked this book up that parts would be over my head. However, Manning does an exceptional job of describing Catholic rites without getting bogged down in the explaination. I thought this book was touching and hysterical at the same time and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone, even non-Catholics, who is interested in the religion.

One of the most hilarious and touching books ever written. Dr. Manning's style is stunning and incredibly beautiful.

This book was so reader friendly and wonderful. It is so much about growing up catholic and the disasters of all of it. Martha Manning writes in such an accessible way. You can hear her loud and clear. Some chapters had me laughing out loud. The chapter which describes her first holy communion is worth the price of the book alone. It was such a fun book to read, I found myself nodding my head yes, yes to so many things that she wrote. I read "undercurrents" and that was equally wonderful, but in a different way. I recommend this book to everyone.

If you've ever tried to grow up, Catholic or not, this book is worth reading. Martha Manning is a witty, insightful, charming author who makes you feel that she sat down and wrote every word in this delightful book in about an hour. Her style is almost whimsical but with her solid base in reality, with no pretense, she takes us on a hilarious and touching journey through her childhood, and her life. I almost called in sick to work so that I could keep reading!

This book, which I had presumed to be another collection of ramblings from a disgruntled Catholic mind, managed to completly surprise and delight me. One should not be put off by the title of this work, assuming it would only apply to Catholics. Instead of possesing an 'exclusivity,' this book can be enjoyed by everyone for what it is: a true gem and a divinely wicked piece. Dr. Manning's journey through her entertaining, yet sometimes disparaging life proves as an example and inspiration for us all. I was forced by my pure rapture to read all 222 pages of it in one sitting, a rare occurance for me. After the reading, I feel like hunting down Martha Manning and giving her a great big hug.

Martha had me laughing out loud by page 2 (in public on the bus), and several more times throughout the entire book. Her details and insight about growing up Catholic are delightful- sometimes side-splittingly funny, at times sentimental but always witty and real. I could relate to much of what Martha touches on in this book (although I'm 20 years behind her), and I could appreciate all the experiences she shares I haven't had yet. (Some of the more difficult things I hope I never will, but know that they are survivable). Martha is a strong, imperfect, admirable woman with an undeniable talent for writing. A bit of a feminist, she isn't too in-your-face about it. This brave memoir will remain a favorite of mine, and I recommend it especially for everyone (though especially Catholic women) who may have forgotten all the little details of growing up through the Sacraments.

Absolutely a delightful group of stories of how catholic kids were taught to look at their world from Kindergarten through High School. Loved the milestones such as the celebration of First Communion and the precious rosary beads, the white pearl prayerbook, and ahh yes the rote confession we all went through, confessing our made up sins in the black box with the weird screen inside, hoping that the parish priest did not recognize us and tell our parents what we had confessed, which was mostly made up. Reading these stories, which were humorously written took me back to days I had almost but not quite forgotten. Martha's description of the nuns, priests and other kids was right on. She was equally funny when she talked about getting married and having a child. I was especially touched at the end of the book where she discloses her beautiful last will and testament containing heartfelt thoughts of her loved ones.