Somehow Saints: More Travels in Search of the Saintly

by Mary Lea Carroll

Overview

The author of Saint Everywhere is answering the call from fans for more reports from her quest to learn from some quietly extraordinary women—and a man or two—who have changed the world. Mary Lea Carroll travels to shrines and hometowns to learn about such amazing people as Saint Marie of Quebec, who founded the first girls’ school in the New World; philanthropist-turned-saint Katherine Drexel of Philadelphia; Saint Brigid, a patron saint of Ireland; Sudanese native Saint Josephine Bakhita, who ended up living in Venice, Italy; and Pierre Touissant, the 19th-century slave-turned-hairdresser in New York City who is in the process of being canonized. In between her travels, Mary Lea connects with everyday heroes she encounters in her daily life, all inspiring her to continue her own journey to be a better citizen of the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781945551901
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/17/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Mary Lea Carroll is the author of Saint Everywhere, a PEOPLE Pick. Before raising children, she worked in travel, in the theater, and in Hollywood. While raising her children, she taught children’s creative writing and helped her husband in his motion-picture advertising business. A storyteller and a contributor to the book Hometown Pasadena and a graduate of San Francisco State, she is a lifelong resident of Pasadena, California.
Mary Lea Carroll is a writer and storyteller. Before raising children, she worked in travel, in the theater, and in Hollywood. While raising her children, she taught children’s creative writing and helped her husband in his motion-picture advertising business. A contributor to the book Hometown Pasadena and a graduate of San Francisco State, she is a lifelong resident of Pasadena, California.

Editorial Reviews

07/27/2020

Carroll travels throughout North America and Europe in search of “more saints more fun stories” in this enjoyable follow-up to 2019’s Saint Everywhere. She visits the birthplaces and shrines of those who “ it to the big time,” including North American saints such as Philadelphia nun St. Katherine Drexel and Algonquin-Mohawk Catholic convert St. Kateri Tekakwitha, as well as international figures including former slaves Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Sudanese-Italian St. Josephine Bakhita. In addition to connecting the values of each saint to Caroll’s own memories of childhood and the people she meets on her travels, Carroll pairs the holy figures with one of her “somehow saints,” whom she defines as “people living large and small heroically good lives, but who are unknown outside their circle of friends and family.” Highlights are Bonnie, a Holocaust survivor and loving homemaker, and Jessie, a personal trainer and armchair philosopher who “follows his bliss” by helping people feel better physically. Not all of these stories are successful, and some of the connections Carroll draws between the “somehow saints” she profiles are tenuous. Still, these insightful, enjoyable profiles work as a breezy survey of modern history of sainthood. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

“Carroll’s breezy writing and warm voice make her a pleasure to spend time with, and the episodic nature of this sequel makes it easy to set down and come back to… An excellent pick for readers seeking inspiration, humor and a fun way to armchair travel.”
— Booklist

“Carroll travels throughout North America and Europe in search of “more saints [and] more fun stories” in this enjoyable follow-up to 2019’s Saint Everywhere… these insightful, enjoyable profiles work as a breezy survey of the modern history of sainthood.”
— Publishers Weekly

“You won’t even realize how much you’re learning because you’ll be having such a good time.”
— Chris Erskine, author of Daditude

“A gem of a book.”
— Lian Dolan, author of The Sweeney Sisters

“Wit, warmth, and heart.”
— Heather King, author of Holy Desperation

From the Publisher