The popular blog Happy Catholic lists its top books here for 2008. Here’s the Nonfiction/Faith Reading list:

1. Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life by George Martin
2. They Come Back Singing: Finding God with the Refugees by Gary Smith
3. Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi
4. My Cousin the Saint by Justin Catanoso
5. The Vatican: Secrets and Treasures of the Holy City
6. The Rosary: a Journey to the Beloved by Gary Jansen (hint – not just for Catholics)

Julie Davis, who skillfully and lovingly manages the blog Happy Catholic, reviews My Cousin the Saint today. The review is here. It’s also here at Catholic Media Review and here at Catholic Online. Julie has generously invited me to contribute a guest post to her blog next week. Here’s an excerpt from her online review:

“In some ways, Catanoso’s story is the dream of every American whose family lost their roots when they came to this country. He receives an email one day from a woman who wonders if they might be related. It turns out that the American branch of the family has long been missing a deep heritage rooted in the Italian countryside. As well, Catanoso discovers that his grandfather’s cousin, Padre Gaetano Catanoso, is being considered for canonization. This unbelievable news, prompts a family visit to Italy where they are lovingly embraced by their newly found relatives and where they begin hearing stories about ‘the saint.’ “

Happy Catholic, a blog where I will soon have a guest post, has some nice things to say about My Cousin the Saint in today’s post — here. Scroll down to “Stacked up.”