A 600 plus page fictional story of an Irish family and Father Kennedy’s pastoral life. Fascinating use of Irish humor and Russian pessimism from an American author.  I would like to say a hidden gem of American literature – but it was published in 61 and won the pulitzer prize in 62….so perhaps only hidden from me.  Captures a generation of relationships thru the eyes of Father Kennedy, including the shallowness of a Seinfeld character to the depths of life’s search for meaning.

Rating:  10 of 10 for Catholics (must read).  8 of 10 for everyone else.