Brian Doyle Knihy

#1 SEATTLE TIMES BESTSELLER A playful and moving book of essays by a "born storyteller" (Seattle Times) who invites us into the miraculous and transcendent moments of the everyday

Exploring the intersection of faith and the everyday, this collection features one hundred prayers that reflect Brian Doyle's profound Catholic beliefs. His writing captures the beauty and whimsy found in ordinary moments, offering readers a unique perspective on spirituality and the miraculous in daily life. Doyle's acclaimed style invites contemplation and appreciation for the simple yet extraordinary aspects of human existence.

Like Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood and Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, Brian Doyle's stunning fiction debut brings a town to life through the jumbled lives and braided stories of its people.

Set against the backdrop of America in the 50s and 60s, this book resonates with those who experienced the cultural shifts of the era. It captures the essence of growing up during a time of significant social change, reflecting on the unique challenges and joys of youth in a rapidly evolving society. Through vivid storytelling, it explores themes of nostalgia, identity, and the impact of historical events on personal lives, making it a compelling read for anyone connected to this transformative period.

Winner of the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year, the Geoffrey Bilson Award, the Ruth Schwartz Award, and an ALA Notable Books List selectionMartin O'Boy's life is not easy. His beloved Granny has just died, his pregnant mother and father fight all the time and his twin, Phil, is completely incapacitated. Martin is the one his mother counts on.But life in Ottawa's Lowertown is not all bad. He has his best friend, Billy Batson (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), the movies, his cat Cheap and there's the glamorous Buz from next door, who is off at the war.As the war comes to an end with the bombing of Hiroshima -- on Martin's birthday -- Ottawa is in a state of turmoil. Returning soldiers, parties, fights and drunks fill the streets.It would all be very exciting, except for one thing. In their endless pursuit of more funds Martin and Billy have joined the church choir -- as summer boys. And the organist, Mr. T.D.S. George, is awfully fond of Martin. But Martin, despite his hardships, has a pure soul and his Granny's love, Billy's friendship, Buz's imminent return, and even his mother's reliance on him, which help him to deliver a kind of justice to Mr. George, and to heal himself and others.

This is a guided tour through the mind of one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary Catholic writing. Brian Doyle effortlessly connects the everyday with the inexpressible and consistently marries searingly honest prose with interruptions of humor and humanity.

Megan kann sich nichts Schlimmeres vorstellen, als mit ihren Eltern und ihrem kleinen Bruder in den Sommerferien zu verreisen. Viel lieber möchte sie zu Hause Vorsitzende des Nieder-mit-den-Jungs-Clubs werden. Aber ihr Vater lässt sich auf keine Diskussion ein. Sie versteht sich mit ihm in letzter Zeit sowieso immer weniger. Über seine Witze kann sie nicht lachen, seine Bemerkungen sind ihr peinlich. Als ihr alles zuviel wird, haut sie ab. Eine witzige und spannende Pubertätsgeschichte ...