The Pageturning Report: July 2024
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, the "art of listening", the Inklings, and more!
Greetings! So sorry that posts have been scarce the last few weeks. I’m still adjusting to my new job. (Honestly, I’m having difficulty finding a healthy balance between my part-time day job, the freelance projects, podcasting, and fiction writing.) I feel worn out. July’s Pageturning Report nearly slipped my mind.
This update will be pretty straightforward. Hopefully the chromic fatigue I’ve been struggling with will pass. I hope to schedule a doctor’s visit soon. I’d appreciate your prayers.
Works in progress
Children’s book
Earlier this month I finally had the opportunity to review the internal design layout and illustrations of my middle-grade nonfiction book! (Expected publication: 2025) I can’t share much at the moment, other than that I absolutely loved the artwork. It’s everything I wanted it to be. Now the book goes into the final stages of proofreading. I hope that an official announcement comes later this year so that I can finally share this project with you. It’s been a long road to publication, but so worth it! Stay tuned!
Paranormal sci-fi novella
This summer I’ve been collaborating with my friend
on “Field Station Delta”, a novella-length sequel to his short story “Operation: White Phantom” (which can be found in Paul’s recent collection The Third Crown and Other Weird Tales). I’m just wrapping up Chapter 3 (of 8 chapters total) and the manuscript currently sits at just over 10,000 words. I should be on track to finish the draft this summer. This tale will likely end up being my longest writing project to-date.
Reading life
Holy Men and Women of the Middle Ages and Beyond by Pope Benedict XVI — Any book by Pope Benedict is bound to be crammed with fascinating insights and information. I learned so much from this book and am likely to return to it in the future.
The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses by C. S. Lewis — While I enjoyed most of the essays in this volume, I must say I was wholly unsatisfied with “Why I am Not a Pacifist.” I don’t have the space to go into details here. I’m pro-peace generally, but not a strict pacifist. I found many of Lewis’s arguments against pacifism to be weak and prone to simplistic generalizations.
Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service by Carol Leonnig — In light of current events, I wanted to learn more about the United States Secret Service. Zero Fail reveals a startling history of both heroism and corruption. A must-read for anyone wondering how the recent security failure in the U.S. presidential election could have occurred.
New articles
Word on Fire
Pier Giorgio Frassati, a Patron Saint for the Lay Apostolate
[Pier Giorgio] Frassati’s faith was not an inward-looking piety. No, he spent time in front of the Eucharist to empower his tireless mission to go out and bring Christ to the ordinary impoverished Italian in the street. Frassati embodied the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and dedicated much of his free time to serving the needs of the outcasts at the margins of society: the downtrodden, the sick, orphans, and demobilized soldiers returning home from the front lines of World War I. As Pier Giorgio’s sister Luciana Frassati wrote, “In civilian clothes, but a priest at heart, Pier Giorgio set out . . . on the road of apostleship, which brought him ever closer to the interests of the dispossessed.”
Busted Halo
3 Ways to Practice the Art of Listening
In our 21st-century outrage culture, the art of listening is so important but is rarely practiced. Sadly, none of us is immune to the temptation to scapegoat people, whether family members or total strangers. It can be too easy for me to label people who don’t share my political convictions, religious beliefs, or cultural presuppositions as “enemies.” When I fail to treat the opinions of others with respect, empathy is quickly lost.
There’s nothing wrong with holding strong convictions or defending your principles. Respectful listening doesn’t mean that you remain passive or completely disengage from a debate. Authentic dialogue is a form of active listening. True respectful conversation can be learned by doing it, through patient practice.
Podcast life
Secrets of Middle-Earth
The Inklings! On this episode of The Secrets of Middle-Earth, the panel discusses the literary friends J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. We explore how their shared experiences and academic careers, and their deep friendship shaped the worlds of Narnia and Middle-earth.
The Rings of Power Season 2 is almost here! In this special episode, the panel previews the new season, shares our reflections on Season 1 and our hopes and fears for the new episodes. We also explore the themes of friendship, loyalty, valor, and redemption that the show embraces.
Secrets of Star Wars
Why do we love/hate Star Wars: The Acolyte? In this episode, the panel and I discuss our struggles with this series, while delving into its themes of corruption, manipulation, and the struggle of light vs. dark.
What connects the overall Star Wars saga with The Acolyte’s long-anticipated "Choice"? The panel reflects on this episode’s complexities — characters’ intentions, pride, fear, and manipulation.
In this finale review, the panel discusses the finale of The Acolyte and its themes of ambition, betrayal, and moral complexity, including the portrayal of the Jedi Order as flawed and corrupt. Is this the show we'd hoped for?
Secrets of Movies & TV Shows
The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — Jeff Haecker and I discuss the latest in the Planet of the Apes franchise, including the themes of leadership, legacy, and survival. We explore Noa's journey and evolution as a hero, Proximus Caesar’s despotic rule and obsession, and May's significant role.
That’s all for this issue of The Pageturning Report. If you’ve just discovered my little corner of Substack, I invite you to subscribe and to share this post with someone, perhaps a fellow writer or podcaster who might be interested in my work. This newsletter only exists with the support and interest of my readers and followers.
And please, don’t hesitate to leave a comment! I love hearing from my subscribers.
Until next time, take care, God bless, and happy reading!
Thanks for sharing these! I’ll be praying that get some much-needed rest!
I'm dedicating today's post to you and me both, bud. Thank you for sharing this update! Congratulations on all the progress.