Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
A humorous narrative revealing the thoughts, advice, and fractured social life of a Roman Catholic Bridget Jones as she struggles to remain seraphic in light of her singleness. Dorothy Cummings is the real thing: A serious young Catholic woman determined to remain true to her faith s moral teachings no matter what. Convinced to turn her delightful blogs into a book, she gives voice to those like her who seek life-partners amid today s dating jungle. With sections such as: No Sex in the
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(out of 10 reviews)
List Price: $ 18.95
Price: $ 18.95
Review by Allan M. Savage for Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
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In Seraphic Singles, Novalis, (2010), Dorothy Cunnings, offers the reader insights that emerged from her Internet blog. The sub-title, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life, is what the book is truly about. Dorothy writes directly from her life’s experiences, some positive, some negative but all teaching a lesson in life. She identifies situations and events that any Catholic familiar with the Catholic Church prior to the Vatican Council may say, “I can relate to that!” Dorothy almost became a nun but after “mediating between two of my very favourite nuns, and all I can say is, the grass isn’t greener on the nun side of the Single fence” (p.35). Dorothy is not your average single girl of today, however. She is theologically educated and is well aware of being raised in a Catholic Christian sub-culture from which she is emerging. She shares with the reader her life’s experience in a readable and credible way that invites the reader to assess her, or his, own life. Yes, she does have insights from which men may learn and confidently says so. For those Catholics born and raised after Vatican II who read her book will realize that there is nothing truly new under the sun. Sex, rock and roll, its all been done before.
June 25th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Review by J. Fountain for Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
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This is an excellent book for single Catholics and other Christians. I’m really glad I bought it. Dorothy Cummings offers her own personal stories, practical advice, and more philosophical/theological reflections about being single. Although she’s a fairly traditional Catholic, she’s not the proverbial plaster saint who’s only capable of doing or saying or thinking the right thing. Rather, she is honest about her mistakes and makes it clear that her advice is coming out of her experiences. Her concrete tips are helpful but her best advice really has to do with one’s attitude, how the single Catholic should view their state.
Each chapter is made up of a collection of little blog-post-length essays, which is my only minor disappointment. The author is a really excellent writer and I would have liked to have seen her with a little bit of a more sustained structure since she’s obviously capable of it. But I’m guessing this won’t be her last book so I look forward to her future work!
Since the author is a woman, the book is written from a woman’s perspective but I would totally encourage men to pick it up as well, there is plenty for them to learn here. There are loads of books about the church’s teachings on sex, marriage, and family; there are plenty of people who will happily give you dating advice. But if you want to embrace your here and now (even as perhaps you’re trying to get out of it) this is the book for you.
June 25th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Review by Just another bookworm… for Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
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I am writing this review for all of those singles out there, whether younger or older, never-married or widowed or whatever, who think there could not possibly be a “relationship” book out there for them. I tell you: “Seraphic Singles” may well be it. As one who usually does no more than take a few surreptitious peeks at books like “The Rules” in bookshops, never daring to actually *buy* any of them, I will go so far as to say that this book is one which, having gotten it and read it cover to cover in a couple of sittings, I intend to buy for friends.
The advice in this book is gold. GOLD. So many books out there totally ignore those of us who are struggling to live a Christian life in a confused world. Or even those of us who are just sick of the drama that comes along with modern relationships and the vagueness of it all. Dorothy Cummings tells us like it is, from the ground. And she’s honest: no manipulation tips here, no suggestions that you pretend you’re someone you’re not. Rather, she tells you about some of what she’s gone through and what she learned from it in a series of little chapters which form a sort of meditation on singleness. I must say that her concrete anecdotes, rooted in life, are far more compelling to me than the kind of banal (and highly generalized) pointers one gets in the usual relationship books.
And the best part is that all of this advice comes sugar-coated and wrapped in chocolate: it’s funny! Genuinely funny. I had to stifle laughter whilst reading “Seraphic” on an airplane. I especially enjoyed the author’s story about a German friend of hers arriving in Canada (teddy bear in tow) and saying, “My aunt doesn’t mind if I marry you, as long as she’s invited to the wedding” out of nowhere…ha! Just great.
If I had to describe this book, I would liken it to a good girl-chat with a friend, except that we should all be so lucky as to have friends who have already Been Through It. Friends who know what they’re talking about. And that’s what one wants out of a book like this. Buy it, read it, you can’t go wrong.
June 25th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Review by Seraphic Singles Devotee for Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
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I tried to read “just one” vignette (formerly blog posts) every night, and found myself reading on, turning page after page, because (1) Ms. Cummings tells a great story, and (2) her writing has such a friendly and engaging tone. She truly does have sympathy for us singles who are trying to be “seraphic,” and I have dog-eared several pages for myself to re-read on one of those days when I don’t feel quite so seraphic about being single.
Thank you, Ms. Cummmings, and may you write much more in the months and years to come!
June 25th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Review by Tina for Seraphic Singles: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
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I was introduced to Dorothy Cumming’s writing a couple of years ago through one of her blog entries entitled “The Cross That Singles Bear”, a poignant reflection on loneliness and suffering, now found in her latest book “Seraphic Singles”. Since then, I’ve been hooked on Dorothy’s writing which I find to be well-crafted, insightful, and refreshingly honest. This book takes a look at the various challenges and adventures singles face, drawing upon the author’s real life experiences and the rich Catholic spirituality that informs her thinking. Some of the entries are laugh-out-loud funny, some are deeply moving, and all have a down-to-earth quality that make you feel like Dorothy is a close friend sharing her life’s lessons with you over a cup of coffee.
A very enjoyable, practical, and edifying read!
June 25th, 2010 at 11:21 pm