Living Catholicism: Island of the World by Michael O'Brien

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September 1, 2008

Island of the World by Michael O'Brien

I finally got around to reading Michael D. O'Brien's Island of the World. I have to say, it is probably his best book yet - and I'm including Father Elijah, which was my favorite up until this point. It is well-written and has an unbelievable plot based on history.

The book is the story of a man, but also the story of a country. It follows Josip Lasta from birth until death. Josip was born in 1933 in Croatia (what will become Yugoslavia). The book is historical fiction, so you read knowing that the big events actually happened. For me, this makes the book more compelling and gives it an honest, uncompromising quality. Josip's tragic, yet beautiful, story lasts until our present day and is full of twists and turns that will keep you involved (it's a big 800+ page book). It's truly an epic that belongs in that rare class of Catholic literature that can stand tall with non-Catholic critical successes. And the Catholic Faith shines through in this work in a beautiful way.

If you've enjoyed earlier O'Brien works, Island of the World is a book you can't miss. If you haven't read O'Brien, but enjoy great Catholic fiction, likewise don't miss this one. O'Brien (in my opinion) is the premier Catholic fiction writer of our time and this just might be his masterpiece. Of course, I said that with Father Elijah as well . . .

You can get Island of the World here on Amazon. It's a great, Catholic book that will keep you up at night - and once it's done you'll continue to ponder the lessons learned from it.

God bless,
Jay

Posted by jay at September 1, 2008 2:46 PM