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Summary: Finding Mary
Review: A friend recommended this book ... and I have to say it was a fine read. It's the story of Beverly Donofrio's search for meaning in her life via the Virgin Mary. She started out collecting Mary icons at yard sales and soon had an entire room dedicated to Mary. God does work in mysterious ways. She delves in depth into her relationship with her son and how God healed that part of her life. But I had to laugh out loud at one statement she made. She said she just couldn't understand why God did not include Mary in the Trinity, bless her heart. What most people don't know (and male preachers/priests seldom ever mention) is that in the Old Testament God is referred to as El Shaddai. Shaddai is formed from "shad" (the breast) Genesis 49:25 or "The Breasted" - the "Nourisher", "the Strength-Giver", the "Satisfier" who pours Himself/Herself into believing lives. God is all female/all male and thankfully, much, much more than the sum of the two! ...
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Summary: Really opened my eyes
Review: As a Lutheran, I never really learned anything about Mary, other than the fact she was the mother of Jesus. But while at the library one afternoon, I was walking down an aisle and my eyes fell upon this book. It was tucked away behind some bigger books. I'm not sure why it stuck out but I picked it up, took it home, and read it. It was wonderful! It really made me more interested in Mary. While reading it one night, I smelled roses, which I found really strange, but oddly soothing. On the next page it says that when Mary is around, people say they smell roses. I thought this was a wonderful book.
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Summary: Inspiring and real
Review: Beverly Donofrio's experience of Mary is both inspiring and stunningly real. Her honesty about her life and her journey to belief imparts hope to us all. I have never been to Medjugore or Guadalupe, but I trust Donofrio's account of those places and their spiritual impact because of her clear-eyed and unvarnished descriptions. In the midst of a troubled world, with war raging and evil brazenly stalking some of our most treasured territory -- the Catholic Church, our children, and our own United States -- Donofrio's book about Mary's intercedence and concern for all her children is comforting and gives one courage to stand up (or kneel down) to fight the evildoers. We can be confident that Mary will protect us and help us in our efforts. I have bought several copies of the book to give to my friends who are mothers. The book has special meaning for moms, with its message of love, forgiveness, and the promise of the love and support Mary can give us as we try to emulate her divine motherhood.
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Summary: Enhhh... I liked it but.....
Review: I found myself skipping around a lot through this one looking for the interesting parts. I realize that D'Onofrio makes her living demonstrating her lack of mothering skills in literature, but this one tends toward the self-pitying from time to time. Her journey to find Mary leads her around the world and is somewhat lacking in structure. I wouldn't put it on the top of your "to-buy" list, but if you see an affordable or library copy, it is worth the afternoon it took me to read it.
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Summary: Guilt! Travels! Miracles! And The B.V.M!
Review: I loved this autobiography; one really comes to like and admire Beverly (hard to imagine not being on a first name basis with her by the book's end ) both for the courage in pouring her heart out and the witty charm of her writing style. A rare combination indeed. For Protestants who believe that Mary equals idolatry, do not worry, sometimes whole weeks go by and we Catholics do not see a statue of Mary weeping tears of blood at our local parish. Besides, this narrative is unlikely to make it into a Catholic Book of the Month Club (Is there such a thing?) what with Beverly deliberately writing that she hoped Jesus and Mary Magdalene got it on, that she couldn't bring herself to see J.P # 2 despite being granted a Papal audience because his stance on birth control and women in general is barbarically primitive; and that she loves worshipping (she knows damn well the party line is 'venerating') The Blessed Virgin Mary--or as Beverly refers to her, the B.V.M. What we've got here is a repentant Christian, who is brought back to the Church, in spite of herself, through the Grace of The B.V.M.--who is frankly aware of the absurdity of her condition and yet tremendously grateful. As for the travelogue, Beverly takes us to the spiritual heights of Medjurgoje; where seeing the sun spin out of orbit or having silver medals that turn into gold is commonplace enough to be blase, to the abyss of whitebread West Los Angeles, California, where a young priest beams at the congregation while recounting how much he likes to rollerblade (Like, groovy, dude!) In the end, our heroine finds a home, liturgy and peace in Mexico. But the travels are only part of the panorama of sinners, saints, zealots, bigots, and other assorted lunatics which make up The Church (and this book.) The redemption of Beverly is a bittersweet story. Hardest to take is her self-flagellation at not having been a good mother to her son, Jason,---who must be pushing 30 and sounds like he's turned out really quite well. Even though to hear Beverly tell it, she sounds as if she sold him to child prostitution and broke his bones to get alms from strangers on the adcvice of her boyfriends. Beverly, ease up, you weren't THAT bad of a mother! She was a teenage mom who married a loon because she got pregnant. She resented her son for 'grounding' her during her youth, and avoided some tough choices by being his "pal" rather than his Mom. Oh yes she also (gasp!) got involved with even weirder men and made a mess of her life while Jason tagged along--Ok, so it won't win he Donna Reed/ Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, but she wasn't exactly a Kennedy who could afford 3 nannies for Jason. As a matter of fact, she was essentially a kid herself who got very little help from anyone. Plus there were episodes in which her behavior in defending her son were brave and truly exemplary but she dsmisses them when contrasting them to her acts of selfishness. In any case, above all, this is a touching story, remarkably free of sentimentality and very, very human. thanks, Beverly.
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Summary: disappointing, confusing and confused
Review: If you are Catholic and struggling, read this book! If you are a woman, a mother and struggling, read this book! If you need inspiration or faith, read this book! What a wonderful read! I found this book accidently and Beverly would suggest that maybe I was led to it. I wouldn't argue with her. Between the de-emphasis on Mary in the current US Catholic Church and the criticism of my Prostestant friends, I had lost a commitment to Mary. The rosary was passe and praying to her constituted icon worship. Though I am still grappling with the likelihood of the Assumption, Beverly's experiences have opened my heart to the love and support that Mary can provide. The Hail Mary is again tripping off my tongue. Beverly speaks directly from her heart into the reader's with a voice that is real and powerful. Yes, I believe Mary has a job for Beverly and it has started beautifully with this book.
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Summary: in search of faith & healing
Review: Rebeccasreads highly recommends LOOKING FOR MARY as an amusing, heartbreaking, absorbing scrapbook from Beverly Donofrio's quest for meaning in her life: as a parent, a writer & a daughter of Mother Mary.
LOOKING FOR MARY is also a fascinating religious history course on the influence Mother Mary has had around the world & down the ages, in the form of sightings, miracles, paintings, pilgrimages & celebrations, especially those in Bosnia & Mexico.
It is a profoundly moving & infuriating memoir of a Baby Boomer who rejects her Catholic faith for all the right reasons: birth control, a woman's right to choose, & the hoary patriarchal hierarchy of an organized religion vs organic faith.
LOOKING FOR MARY is, ultimately, about a woman who finally grows up: finds herself, seeks forgiveness from & for those she has hurt (especially herself!), & replaces a life of depression, rejection & substance abuse with a day-by-day pilgrimage to serenity, compassion & joy. In the process she figures out what sorrow means, & comes to terms with her male-dominated faith.
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Summary: A mother's struggle to love her child and know Mary
Review: This is a beautifully written memoir of Beverly Donofrio's struggle to learn to truly love her child, aided by a growing friendship with the Virgin Mother. Ms. Donofrio is very brave to have revealed the mistakes she made as a mother, even when this puts her in an unflattering light. Any parent who has struggled to put the good of a child ahead self-interest will recognize themselves in her story. Ms. Donofrio's search for Mary leads her to Medjugorje, San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi, Guadalupe, and ultimately back to her son Jason and Mary's son Jesus. The only question that remains: can Hollywood rise to the occasion and translate this moving book onto the screen as beautifully as was done with "Riding in Cars with Boys"?
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Summary: A mother's struggle to love her child and know Mary
Review: This is a beautifully written memoir of Beverly Donofrio's struggle to learn to truly love her child, aided by a growing friendship with the Virgin Mother. Ms. Donofrio is very brave to have revealed the mistakes she made as a mother, even when this puts her in an unflattering light. Any parent who has struggled to put the good of a child ahead self-interest will recognize themselves in her story. Ms. Donofrio's search for Mary leads her to Medjugorje, San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi, Guadalupe, and ultimately back to her son Jason and Mary's son Jesus. The only question that remains: can Hollywood rise to the occasion and translate this moving book onto the screen as beautifully as was done with "Riding in Cars with Boys"?
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Summary: Faith, Hope, Forgiveness
Review: This is a must buy for all who are into finding your spirit. It's funny and very human-related. Beverly is down to earth when she describes her feelings and her thoughts. I was so compelled to read the book that I could not put it down. We are all looking for what links us to this earth and need spiritual guidance which is where Mary, our link to this earth, seeks us out. She gives Beverly messages and signs that she didn't even know existed until her trip to Medjugorje. She makes you think deep thoughts and helps you realize that forgiveness is there, you just have to want it and accept it. Pick up the book today, you won't regret it.
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