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Title: Morte D'Urban by J.F. Powers ISBN: 9-9974144-1-1 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: June, 1962 Format: Hardcover List Price(USD): $10.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: God and Mammon in the Midwest
Comment: This unduly neglected book won the National Book Award in 1963. It is the story of Father Urban, a Catholic Priest in the little know religious order of the Clementines. It takes place in Chicago, where Father Urban is headquarted as the "star" and best known speaker in the Order. He is also something of a fund-raiser with a wealthy, arrogant benefactor named Billy. Father Urban is transferred to a remote town in Minnesota, Duserhaus, shortly after the novel begins as a result of a disagreement with the head of the Order.
This novel operates on many levels. It shows the tenacity of Father Urban in creating a role for himself in the community surrounding Dusterhaus after what was deemed to be his exile there. It is a funny, tightly-written story and the characterization, of Father Urban's colleagues, of the Catholic hierarchy, and of the townspeople and parishoners is acute. Most important it is a story of the difficulty of serving both God and Mammon and of the need and nature for compromise in the work of the Catholic Church in a pluralistic, materialistic, and essentially secular America. There are wonderful descriptions of scenery and people. I particularly enjoyed the discussions of train travel in the Midwest which recall an America vanished not so very long ago... The book features a thoughtful introduction by Elizabeth Hardwick who describes the book as a "most valuable and lasting American novel."
This book is for you if you are interested in books about the United States, about religious experience in the United States, or in unjustly neglected American classics.
Rating: 4
Summary: Superficiality vs. Spirituality
Comment: To be honest, the only reason I decided to read this book was that it was chosen as the title for a book discussion group in which I participate. Though I can't say it is one of the best novels I have ever read, it certainly has its appeals. It is a book of irony and humor, with some sharp insights into the world of the Catholic Church in America. It is the story of the struggles of Father Urban, a priest in the unknown Order of St. Clement, who progressive, dynamic approach to his vocation seems constantly in conflict with those around him.
On many levels, I found that this book spoke to me personally. I know that comedy is very difficult to write and this novel is incredibly funny in places. Also, as a young Catholic boy growing up in the Midwest that is the setting of this novel, the story constantly generated feelings of recognition in me. The points that Powers is trying to make about spirituality, religion and the Church are worthwhile and brought out well.
The weaknesses I found in this book also are quite personal to me. Though the characters are drawn quite vividly and well, I found their relentless superficiality to be very disturbing. I don't enjoy reading novels where I find it difficult to like any of the characters but this is a matter of taste. Many other readers might feel differently. Clearly, Powers is telling us something important about the religious life but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if there was at least one character in the novel I found admirable. I guess I don't think it's enough to tell us what's wrong with things. I also like a glimpse of what's right.
Still, Powers has written a powerful novel. And Urban does have his good qualities and comes to an epiphany of sorts at the story's close. Anyone who is interested in stories of spirituality and has an interest in the Catholic Church will find this novel to be funny and thought-provoking. It is definitely worth a read.
Rating: 3
Summary: Human is connected with holy
Comment: Actually 3.5 stars. I am a tough customer, and grade harshly.
The characters of the work make up the book: Wilf; Mrs. Bean; Billy; Msgr. Renton; etc. I can find similarity with people I have met here in the east, so the mid-west setting is not a dominant factor. The characters are more dominant than the plot, even though the description on the book jacket of the old Image-Doubleday edition of the work put more emphasis on the plot. However, reading about Fr. Urban's travels reminded me a little bit of what little Walker Percy I have read thus far.
This little novel is a great human story. The foibles of all the characters are made visible in a way that points to them as human, wonderfully human! The Clementines (and the Dalmatians and Dolomites) are just like any Catholic religious community. Yes, they are human, and in their humanness is their holiness. I do agree with the reviewer that says that Fr. Urban seemed to outshine the other characters in a way that diminishes them. The narrator is a bit kinder to Fr. Urban. I also see this as a weakness in the novel. I was shocked at the event that brought on the end of the relationship as it was between Fr. Urban and Billy. Change is prominent.
But the humor is a big hit, the dry satire and irony, brought on many smiles and chuckles. It is a novel that touches the heart. I pass it on to a friend from Ilinois, and I wonder what he will say.
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Title: The Stories of J. F. Powers (New York Review of Books Classics) by J. F. Powers, Denis Donoghue ISBN: 0940322226 Publisher: New York Review of Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Wheat That Springeth Green (New York Review of Books Classics) by J. F. Powers, Katherine A. Powers ISBN: 0940322242 Publisher: New York Review of Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: North of Hope by Jon Hassler ISBN: 0345369106 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1990 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Diary of a Country Priest: A Novel by Georges Bernanos, Remy Rougeau ISBN: 0786709618 Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers Pub. Date: 09 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Staggerford (Mysteries & Horror) by Jon Hassler ISBN: 0345333756 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 1990 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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