Home For Christmas

I picked this book up by mistake – looking for a book about a New Zealand movie of the same title.

Thank God for the mistakes we make in life.

When I realised that the book was written by Andrew M. Greeley, a Catholic priest since 1954, I groaned.

Yes – I really did.

I have nothing against religion or books about religion, I just generally do not read a lot of them anymore.

But I ran out of other books, and being an insomniac – well the other night at 3 a.m. I opened the cover.

I read, and read, and read.

Like I said thank God for mistakes.

This is one of the most delightful books of the day.

Petey Pat Kane is one of the best characters I have come across. As he bumps through his life, he drags you with him.

His relationships with Mariana Pia Pelligrino, his parents, and the Monseigneur are compelling.

When Petey Pat dies for nine minutes and has a NDE (near death experience), he encounters a few entertaining characters – including a God who wants everyone to know he likes laughter, his life changes.

No surprise there.

But  – and here’s the but – there is not a cliché moment in this book.

Its fresh, its entertaining, it made me feel good as I read.

I fell in love with this book, its characterization, its humour, its tale about life, death, love, and belief.

I’m going back to the library.

This time I won’t be grabbing an Andrew M. Greeley book by mistake.

It will be deliberate.