Looking for a good Catholic fiction novel or series. Something apocalyptic, or dealing with the struggles of spiritual life. Bonus points if the book references real spiritual teachings. Would also accept non fiction if it is in a story format and not a biography style book.
by LoneWarrior369
18 Comments
Does it have to be catholic? Ie adhere to catholic doctrine specifically? Because CS Lewis is the best Christian apologist in my book and wrote a lot of great fiction
Mortal sins by Michael D’Antonio
The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton
Does the Left Behind series count? I’m not sure it’s denominational but it’s an apocalyptic series and extremely Christian
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M Milller Jr.
It’s about a Catholic monastery in the desert that preserves scientific knowledge after the apocalypse so it can be available when mankind is ready to use it again.
Fits your brief perfectly.
the bible
All of Flannery O’Connor.
This is high Church of England rather than full on Catholicism, but you know that they are closely related. Susan Howatch wrote a series of books, I think six in total, all featuring men of the Church as protagonists. As a Catholic at the time I read them, I thought that the theology in the books was sound.
Exiles by Ron Hansen
Anything by Andre Dubus
“The Cardinal” by Henry, Morton Robinson. It was a 1963 movie, too.
*The Sparrow* by Mary Doria Russell
Dan Brown books
Grahame Greene and Flannery O’Connor immediately come to mind. Perhaps start with The Power and the Glory (Greene) and Wise Blood (O’Connor).
Also: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, and Mariette Ecstasy by Ron Hansen.
I was going to say Marilynne Robinson, but… Calvinist.
I remember enjoying *Kingdom of the Wicked* by Anthony Burgess (he of *A Clockwork Orange* fame) when I was a teenager. It’s kind of a retelling of the Acts of the Apostles.
I haven’t read it yet, but Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World recently recommended *Pilgrims*, by M. R. Leonard.
Shocked _Brideshead Revisited_ by Evelyn Waugh hasn’t been suggested yet! A family drama with tons of Catholic themes.
OMG, I can’t believe no one said the book that was written for just this request!
# Love in the Ruins: The Adventures of a Bad Catholic at a Time Near the End of the World by Walker Percy.
Such a fun crazy read. Percy is always great.
***The Power and the Glory*** by Graham Greene
And to a lesser extent ***Brighton Rock***