Official Review: Dodging Satan

DathanReeves · Post by **DathanReeves** » 22 May 2018, 11:40

This is one book I'll have to tread carefully. It's not that my faith makes me blind to opposing ideas; I simply see these critiques as fallacies that show a lack of understanding of the text from both sides. I'm left feeling like the only sane man in the madhouse.

birdlady 5309 · Post by **birdlady 5309** » 22 May 2018, 11:49

I like to unwind with a funny book every once in a while even if it happens to explore serious topics. At least it's done in a humorous way. I mean who ever heard of a glow in the dark crucifix. I think I'm going to like it (especially now that they corrected the errors).

Lgs1089 · Post by **Lgs1089** » 22 May 2018, 11:53

Great Review! Can you smell the taboo? It's glorious. I love a religious satire. I'm looking forward to reading Dodging Satan this week.

heliz_t · Post by **heliz_t** » 22 May 2018, 12:17

Hmmm...sounds like an original plot! Not sure what I think yet, but I like the sound of a character who questions bias against women in Catholicism. I've just downloaded a copy, and it sounds like you enjoyed it, so I'll probably check it out. Thanks!

drackeye · Post by **drackeye** » 22 May 2018, 12:19

I was interested by the title alone. Sadly I'm a little less interested now but it does sound like a book my wife would enjoy.

Napocage · Post by **Napocage** » 22 May 2018, 12:25

This will help me improve my experience on this site, and I think everyone should read it to be more careful.

Ellie Gatillo · Post by **Ellie Gatillo** » 22 May 2018, 12:32

A protagonist that uses her overly active imagination to cope with her anxieties and family issues. Thank you for your review. I would give this book a try.

Luckyrichards · Post by **Luckyrichards** » 22 May 2018, 12:33

OFFICIAL REVIEW ON DODGING SATAN:
It tells the story of Bridget Flaherty, an Irish/Italian girl growing up in the greater Boston area, trying to negotiate the various claims upon her identity: her Catholic upbringing, her Irish and Italian heritages, and her emerging sexuality..This is a novel filled with arguments, and McCormick is particularly adept at showing how frequently family gatherings—Christmas parties, in particular—can shift from celebration to adjudication, becoming a forum for the airing of past grievances. Bridget’s aunts and uncles flit in and out of the novel, serving both as a chorus and as the background against which Bridget must carve out her own sen
se of self.

McCormick gives a real sense for what Andrew Greeley has described as the Catholic imagination: the Catholic belief in the world’s sacramental nature, in “a God who is present in the world, disclosing Himself in and through creation.” For cradle Catholics, it’s easy to forget how strange—how wonderful and how terrifying—this sense of God’s physical presence in the world can be to a child.

This kind of delightful irreverence occurs again and again, as Bridget wonders what the word “plenary” in “plenary indulgence” means, or when she worries over whether breaking a cheap rosary indicates the precarious state of her own soul, or when she obsessively dreams of the very particular kind of crucifix she wants for her First Communion: “authentic- detailed,” bloody, and violent, so that “just looking at it gives you the feeling that you went through the whole fourteen Stations of the Cross.

I therefore,rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because McCormick reminds us of the lived experience of catholic dogma.Dodging Satanmanages to be both theological and comical. Indeed, it finds comedy in theology, even and especially when it’s taking theology seriously.I really love the sense of humor in this book.Thanks

kfwilson6 · Post by **kfwilson6** » 22 May 2018, 12:38

I'm not really into satires, especially religious ones. I checked out the first chapter but really didn't care for it. Although it can be interesting to see things from the point of view of a child, I found Bridget's thoughts very scattered and I don't think this will be the easiest book to follow.

Rosebella · Post by **Rosebella** » 22 May 2018, 12:42

The book sounds interesting, the title alone had me intrigued. I like that it has funny aspects despite the family situation Bridget is living through. Overall this is a good review and i would love to read it.

haleygerstenberg · Post by **haleygerstenberg** » 22 May 2018, 12:43

I'm convinced this is a book I want to read - I don't know that I'll get all the Catholic references since I'm protestant, but I guess that has the advantage of making it easier not to be offended. The bit that I read in the Amazon sample, plus your review, make it seem like the author has a truly delightful voice, and I like that she covers some tricky issues as well. Thanks for your review.

Anamchara1317 · Post by **Anamchara1317** » 22 May 2018, 12:57

This book sounds funny and meaningful, especially for women. I have known people who hold fast to religion and its symbols, while struggling to find their own way and views.

Post by **Vickie Noel** » 22 May 2018, 12:59

I'm not exactly sure where I stand with this book. The title and cover art aren't particularly appealing to me. I'm not one for reading anything with a religious undergone but the review is quite nice and reveals pertinent aspects worth considering. Perhaps I'd take a look to see how much I can relate to Bridget and her parents' relationship with each other.

kjs237 · Post by **kjs237** » 22 May 2018, 12:59

The review makes me believe that I could really relate to this book. It sounds a lot like my own young self as I dealt with growing up with a fundamentalist mother who assumed that her beliefs were also mine. Needless to say, I had a lot of doubts. But, the review make this book worth checking out. Very thorough review.