I’m Baptist born and bred, and by conviction, even though we are members of an Evangelical Free church now, but I’m not afraid of Catholicism or of talking about the differences between Catholics and Protestants with my children. Nor am I afraid of learning from my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. There’s something attractive and intriguing about Catholicism, especially as a motif and spiritual background in books. I know there other Catholic-flavored authors (ones I’ve never read) —Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy—but these are some of the books with a Catholic taste that I’ve read and enjoyed.

The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi. I found this one a long time ago at a used bookstore. I’ve re-read it several times because it’s just fun. A little Catholic priest, Don Camillo, and a Communist mayor have a running feud in which they play out in comedic fashion the tensions and difficulties of post-WW II Italy. If you are offended at the idea of a priest praying before a crucifix and the Christ on the crucifix talking back to him, you won’t appreciate the humor in this book. However, I think it’s a delight.

Karen by Marie Killilea. This true story of a girl with cerebral palsy and her family was popular back in the 1960’s and 70’s. That’s when I first read it. This (Catholic) family is persistent, faithful and inspiring.

I just re-discovered In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden, an excellent story about the lives of women within a closed community of nuns. Not only does the reader get to satisfy his curiosity about how nuns live in a convent, but there’s also a a great plot related to contemporary issues such as abortion, the efficacy of prayer, and the morality of absolute obedience.

The Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters take place in and around a 12th century monastery. This series of twenty medieval murder mysteries is perfect for those who like a taste of Catholicism mixed into their stories. G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries feature a simple, unassuming, but quite insightful, priest who solves mysteries by applying his intelligence and powers of observation.

The Hawk and the Dove by Penelope Wilcock, along with the two other books in the trilogy, The Wounds of God and The Long Fall, is set in a medieval monastery and tells the stories of the monks who share in community there. Father Peregrine and the other monks are beautiful models of Christian love in community. I need to re-read these books. I’d recommend them for teenagers and adults.

I finally read A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller this year. I thought it was excellent, but a bit quirky. A different kind of sci-fi.

Tolkien is, of course, very Catholic in an understated way. Especially in The Silmarillion I catch glimpses of a world in which there are Catholic-like hierarchies of beings. Instead of saints and angels interceding before the throne of God, we have the elves and the Numenoreans and the Valar and Maiar serving Iluvatar, the One True God.

Also, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dameare very Catholic, but also generically Christian in the best sense of the word. Jean Valjean, the hero of Les Miserables, may be my favorite character in all of literature. And he is saved by the witness and compassion of a Catholic bishop who serves God in humility.

For children:

Tomie DePaola writes beautiful books and illustrates them. Several of his books are about Catholic saints and stories: The Legend of the Poinsettia, The Clown of God, Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland, Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi, The Lady of Guadalupe, and Mary: The Mother of Jesus. He also has written and published several Bible story books including The Miracles of Jesus, and The Parables of Jesus.

Pegeen by Hilda Van Stockumhas a Catholic setting because it’s set in Ireland, a very Catholic culture.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite DeAngeli takes place for part of the book in a monastery, and Brother John is the wise mentor to a selfish boy as he learns to give to others instead of thinking always of himself.

Much historical fiction for children and adults has a Catholic flavor since it’s set in times when the culture was essentially Catholic. Read any book set in medieval Europe, and you should get a taste of what a Catholic culture looked and felt like. In fact, since Catholicism permeated that particular time and culture, if a work of fiction set in that time period does not have a distinctively Catholic taste, it’s probably not very historically accurate.

Added link: Joseph Bottum at First Things writes about another Catholic author, Morris West. has anyone read Shoes of the Fisherman or others of his books?

Do you have a Catholic taste in books, and if so, what are your favorites?