10 Novels Every Catholic Should Definitely Read Some Day

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Have you been searching for your next favorite novel?

Look No further!

Here are ten novels every Catholic should read. You’ll notice that there is no mention of Chesterton, Lewis, or Tolkien. I left their works out, because most people have already read them.  

Enjoy!

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1) Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor

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In her first novel, O’Connor tells the story of a blind preacher who starts the “Holy Church of Christ Without Christ” where grace and the grotesque meet.

2) The Moviegoer by Walker Percy

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The Protagonist, Binx, is a young and successful man who is searching for fulfillment in New Orleans during the 1960s.

3) East of Eden by John Steinbeck

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Biblical themes abound in this Steinbeck classic. This is a great American reflection on the sin of Adam and Eve and the rivalry of Cain and Abel.

4) Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

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Written after Waugh’s conversion to Catholicism, Brideshead Revisited follows the life of young Charles Ryder, a British intellectual who is caught up in the enticements of the world during the 1920s.

5) Father Elijah by Michael O’Brien

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Father Elijah is a full-throttle tour de force. Packed full of non-stop action and great spiritual insights, this is a must read for Catholics.

6) The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

via socialbookshelves.com

An alcoholic priest struggles with guilt, sin, and faith as he tries to escape execution during the Mexican Revolution.

7) Kristin Laverensdatter by Sigrid Undset

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Kristin’s life is altered forever when she conceives a child out of wedlock.

8) A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

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Sci-fi fans will love this cult classic, which explores the life of the Church in a post-apocalyptic world.  

9) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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Hailed as a universal classic, To Kill a Mockingbird brings justice to life in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama.

10) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

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This is my favorite book of all time! In this story, Tolstoy parallels the lives of two couples: one that is destructive and another that is faithful.

Are there any other books that I missed? Let me know in the comments!

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