One of my many annoying habits is that I am a bit of a “quote nazi”, that is I look for opportunities to point out that something quoted was never actually said by the person cited. I keep pages full of not only quotes, but also misattributions.

Social media is especially bad at passing on misattributed quotes or just plain fake quoted. Meme are really bad concerning this. I have found it to be almost a certainty that any time something is quoted and placed on a picture background and then posted – that it is wrong. Quite annoying when I find I like a quote and then try to get the source. I am almost always disappointed to find the quote was not valid.

So when I found that Trent Horn of Catholic answers had released What the Saints Never Said: Pious Misquotes and the Subtle Heresies They Teach You, this was an instant buy. Although that it pretty much the case regardless of topic when it comes to Trent Horn.

This book goes farther than just to point out that a quote from a saint is actually not one. His methodology has multiple facets in identification. Making distinctions between quotes we have no citations of, ones that were almost certainly never said, or ones that came from a different source. In doubtful, but popular quotes, he delves into the substance of the quote and why they fail theologically or logically. I really enjoyed this analysis. Especially considering quotes that at first blush seem to portray some truth in a winsome way. That on further analysis fail at doing this and are in fact misleading.

So besides adding to my collection of quotes that are misattributed, it was the analysis that I enjoyed the most.

Back in 2011 I reviewed “Toward the Gleam” by T.M. Doran. I enjoyed it a lot, but sometimes it takes further thought to determine how good a book is. This is one that stayed with me as I remember substantial parts of the plot and thinking back on it returns that enjoyment. A nice mix of fantastic elements in the plot along with a protagonist finding himself unraveling the mystery involved while facing increasing danger.

There is now a sequel to this book called The Lucifer Ego. If you had read and enjoyed Toward the Gleam than I believe you would enjoy the sequel. This book has some of the same elements but set in the years after the first book.

Frodo Lyle Stuart is looking forward to his sabbatical, hoping to unearth evidence that will add new lustre to his reputation as a first-rate archaeologist. But Lyle’s Uncle Henry, abbot of a nearby monastery, has other plans, recruiting him to track down a stolen artifact—a manuscript of unimaginable antiquity his uncle believes is the source for the greatest work of literary imagination in the 20th century.

There is a bit of an Indian Jones quality as the skeptical Lyle gets in over his head trying to retrieve the artifact. Plenty of twists and turns along the way with some very interesting ideas involved. Certainly enough complexities to keep you on your toes. Recommended, and now I want to go back and re-read the first novel.

So when I was at the American Chesterton Society Conference, I picked up Kevin O’Brien’s book An Actor Bows: Show Biz, God and the Meaning of Life which was officially released that same day.

I quickly read through it and enjoyed it immensely. It is one of those improbable biographies that can only be true. Life is often incredible. Kevin starts off his story regarding his childhood, and I believe at the age of nine already considered himself an atheist. Most of the book relates the lows and highs of his acting career and his coming into faith. I love conversion stories since they are each unique. His is very different.

This book is often hilarious as he talks about his career. Starting with him doing singing telegrams and all the detours his career takes after that. So many great stories involving how “The show must go on.” The insanity of dealing with other actors, venues, etc. All the false starts and the ebbs and flows of pursuing his career as an actor. The times he just wanted to chuck it and do something “respectable.” For just this aspect and the related stories, I would have enjoyed this book. Even just for the stories related to his traveling mystery dinner theater.

This book goes beyond his day to day career into the moral dimensions of these challenges. Do you deal with some misgivings and quandaries and accept them as part of doing business and making a buck? What if you are just barely scraping by as it is. He brings these obstacles into view as he deals with figuratively selling his soul doing what is not comfortable form him. Just like the rest of us, he does not always succeed. The way he details these stories puts it all into context and brings you into the situation.

Mixed in this is his grappling with his atheism and moving beyond it. Like many people, he and his wife ran through a series of churches. Having to move on again when the squishiness of doctrine once more became unacceptable to endure. Still lots of great stories involved in dealing with this. Especially as he tried to teach other doctrines without stepping on all the restrictions placed on him as to what he could say.

After a murderous attack after one of his performances in his recovery time, he discovered first C.S. Lewis, which then led him to G.K. Chesterton. Ultimately this led him into the Catholic Church. You should read the book to get the details. Just loved so much of what he had to say on the subject of art at a deeper level. Kevin O’Brien later went on to work with EWTN and Dale Ahlquist of the American Chesterton Society. I so love his range of playing multiple roles of zany characters and being also being able to play it straight.

So this is probably too much of a summary, it is just that I enjoyed it so much. Partly it was from the points of contact I experienced through Kevin’s story. Through my formative years, I grew up in the theater. My father was an actor in an improvisational children’s theater. He was involved in pretty much every aspect. Actor, a puppeteer, set designer and builder, costume design and creation, writing, painting, etc. So I always spent my summers in this atmosphere with the adult actors. In High School, I was involved in every play onstage and offstage. Loved performing along with building sets and the other aspects of the theater. Considered a career in some part of the theater. Probably for the better that I didn’t pursue this since I am somewhat doubtful of my skills as an actor. I was probably best at imitation such as playing W.C. Fields and doing comedy. So much of what this book talked about I could relate to, especially seeing things through my Father’s eyes and his career in theater and the just making do aspects. The other point was that I was also the young atheist declaring his atheism around the same age as he.

Just so many things I loved about this book because it is not merely about one thing, or maybe that it is about the one thing that matters. If you have never seen Kevin O’Brien perform check out his YouTube Channel for plays, skits, lectures, etc. His skill extends to writing as I testified in this post regarding a Tolkien/C.S. Lewis play he wrote and performed.