Book Review...?

So I just finished reading this book "Party of One." It was suggested to me by one of the coordinators of the "Catholics on Call" conference that I attended at the beginning of August. I am not going to call it life changing...I don't want to get anyone's hopes up...however. I really enjoyed this book. It was something I could read chapter by chapter at my own pace and it kind of gives an overview of what exactly the single life vocation is, if you have been following this blog you will know that it has been very difficult for me to find a ton of information on the single life. This book attacks the question starting out with what the single life is NOT. The book is written by a lady who lives in Chicago, who lives the single life vocation. But it isn't just her story, she has also gathered the stories of several people who have discerned the single life, are currently discerning, and who live the single life. It hits on many of the struggles that a single faces, questions like "why aren't you dating?", "can i set you up with my friend?", "are you just not interested in the opposite sex?", and the assumptions "they just couldn't find anyone", "they can do it they don't have a family at home to care for", "singles are carefree".

Reading this book has helped to ease my mind on a discernment of the single life vocation. Over this summer it has become more and more of a viable option for my future. At least for the current time I feel that I am moving my focus for discernment solely to the single life...if a lovely lady comes along I'm not just going to leave her hanging but reading this book has helped clarify a lot of the vocation for me and I want to spend my energy toward something that I really feel God might be calling me toward.

At the very least this book has given me the background, and sparked the fire. Whether or not I am called to the single life...still God's decision...I now feel the confidence and the urge to be an advocate for the vocation that is often forgotten. I want to be able to explain to others that this is a viable option for them as well, but ultimately that it is God who will call them...we just have to be open to listen.