I have delved into "Motherless" and it is just absolutely bone-chilling and fascinating at the same time! It has made me thing a lot of my own relationship with my mom.. which has been strained through the years.. and I can see a similar blindness that Brian describes so susinctly in his book about my years of being "motherless"...

The character development is so deep.. and I believe that I have met the Burnses, the Delgados and Maggie and Fr. Sweeney... I can't wait for Childless.. It is surely surpasses any of the fictional end-of-world thrillers the protestant world has been pedalling ... oh if only they can have eyes to see and ears to hear...

I have been reading my whole life and I am 52. I read non-fiction and fiction and your book is definitely the best novel that I have ever read. This was really a huge eye opener. I am a Catholic convert and have always been faithful to the Church’s teachings and enthusiastic about my Catholic faith, however even though I have always believed what the Church taught on contraception, I always kind of felt that the Church should go easy on folks who couldn’t abide by not using it.

Not anymore, as I see what the whole contraception issue really has become. You give the world an inch they take a mile, you give the devil an inch and he will take a 1000 miles. Now I see why the Church doesn’t budge on this issue. I see why God doesn’t budge on this issue. John Paul II was right when he called our culture a culture of death.

Never again will I sit by and allow someone to bad mouth the Pope on the issue of contraception of Catholic Church doctrine, especially when it comes from a priest or another Catholic. From now on I speak up and refute them (with love of course, but refute them nonetheless).

Keep up the terrific work.

This was such a terrific book! It’s a very important novel for our age as well, as you really hit the nail on the head regarding the stakes in the culture war. I learned things about the wretched birth control pill and demonic oppression I never knew. The ending was so full of hope! I truly began to love Father John and understand the fears of our priests today.

I would like to add to the chorus of praise for your book. I just finished reading it, and it is just beginning to work on my heart. I hope your next book is as powerful. You have "told the truth in love." Thanks.

I enjoyed the book so much, one of the best novels I have read bringing in so many teachings of the Catholic faith. I read all Catholic literature and don't find too many good novels. But, yours is outstanding. I loved your messages and teachings. It was so interesting. I am a wife and mother of a son, 25 years and a daughter 23 years old. I am going to recommend them to read it. Thank God, that he gave you the grace and ability to write and to teach all of the Catholics and non-Catholics about our beautiful Catholic Church. I am telling everyone I know about it. I am waiting for the next book to come out. I cant wait!

I enjoyed your book immensely. It made me cry it touched my heart. I read it in 4 days...couldn't put it down. It helps to pave my path from which discouragement comes easily.

Your book is important and I am already talking it up around town.

Mr. Gail,

I am contacting you after reading the recent interview in the National Catholic Register on your book, Fatherless, in conjunction with the other two parts of the trilogy. I was disappointed to hear the small number of comments that you have received from priests. As a priest who studied in the seminary during the 80's, I can see far more truth than fiction in your novel. I gladly read your novel twice appreciating not only the unfolding of a novel but more profoundly the circumstances which we have inherited and how we are challenged to respond. Here at Saint Vincent College were I teach college students, it is so obvious to see the results of what has been conveyed to them by their parents and society or what has not been conveyed. As a Catholic priest I extend my appreciation for your wonderful work.

God Bless.

I recently read an incredible book by Brian J. Gail called Fatherless. I found it to be very inspirational and a real page turner. I recommend it highly!

"Fatherless" is the breath of fresh air that has blown into the open door of the Catholic Church for those "re-verts" who are waiting for a justification of coming back to their Faith. It paints a broad stroke of how "the smoke of Satan" has filtered through the church during the last two generations and making many Catholics lukewarm for their faith. The author has weaved a compelling tale that rings true in the hearts, minds and souls of all of those Baby Boomers who have left the faith of their Fathers.

Dear Mr. Gail,

I finished Fatherless last night, and I thought it was superb! Your book inspires faith, hope, courage, and insight into God's mercy. The character development is excellent. I like the way you present the priest throughout, as an innately good, noble, and sacrificial man who, like many, had misguided sympathies that needed to be straightened out by Truth. How true that the laity and the heirarchy both play a role in molding a priest into holiness. I also love the way you handled Maggie's response to the husband's departure. The husband ran from the cross, and will have misery from hereonafter, but Maggie responded with courage and faith to each cross and even that brought on by her own sin (the Pill), and we are left with a sense that she is already victorious. There is much more to say, but those are the highlights for me. I'm certain the book will bear much fruit, and I'll be sure to highly recommend it.

I hope you and your family have a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Thank you for sending out the email that introduced me to Fatherless. I ordered it right away and just finished reading it. I am 28 and mother to 3 young children. ... I envisioned a large family completely encompassed in the faith with the ever patient Catholic mother, who homeschooled and they never even have to worry about NFP,we took the class from CCL, because we would space our large family with breastfeeding! The challenges of mothering far exceed my expectations... [but] This book has given me hope!!  I am still unsure of my future and my ability to place the Lord first as I have failed in my attempts in the past, but I have hope. So thank you! Now if I can convince my husband to read it! I will also be sharing this book with many of my friends and hope it will touch them as it has touched me.

An outstanding read! I couldn't put it down because I needed to know what was coming next. A truly great book, from a truly great person I have had the pleasure to know through our retreats with the Knights of the Immaculata. I have given copies of this book to friends and family who all agree, this is a book made for these times we live in. It's made me a better father and grandfather.

Brian,

Thank you for writing this book! I am a am a devout 64 year old Catholic, loyal to the teachings of our Church.  Your book has absolutely nailed it!! I read it in about ten hours over two days, I could not put it down, it was so full of truth. This was the most inspiring message I have experienced. It gives me hope that a "New Springtime" is possible.

I am writing not only to thank you for your inspiration but to also suggest and encourage you to find some way to make a movie out of your book using good Catholics like Jim Caviezel or other notables.

I am going to promote your book and principles vigorously, starting with my own son who has lapsed in his faith.

A real page turner!  This is an incredible book! Great reading and difficult to put down! Brian Gail knows his stuff!

If you're an avid reader, you may find the author's style a bit lacking, but if you can get past that, it's definitely a good read (similar to others, I too stayed up a bit late just to read a few more chapters). I'm not in the habit of giving away movie or book plots. But I will say, the book has some nice apologetics (explanations) about the Catholic faith on several different fronts that I think (hope) can actually benefit people in the midst of a good plot. I enjoyed the book!

I could write a few thousand words about why I like this book. I lost sleep because I couldn't put it down. Here's my recommendation: Christmas is coming soon so if you are leading a ministry team at your parish that doesn't seem to have enough zeal, get them this book. If you know priests who are burned-out, get them this book. If you have family members who seem to be questioning, get them this book. If your kids are aged 15-35, get them this book. If you know anyone who is thinking about leaving the Church, get them this book. If you want to change someone's opinion about the Catholic Church, get them this book. Finally, if you just want an exciting read that captures the state of the Catholic Church in the US over the last two generations, get this book!

Great book, teaches what's wrong with the culture and the Catholic Church in a well written book.

Sir,

It was most encouraging to see the article by Joanna Bogle on Brian Gail and his increasingly popular novel: "Fatherless". [John Paul the Great was a True Prophet. Feb 26]  I endorse everything that is said about the merits of this book for enabling us to see the far-reaching impact of the contraceptive mentality on the Church and society. Furthermore, it is the kind of 'page-turner' which when the reader is receptive to such a spiritual work, exhorts from within to want to do something about the problems illustrated. The urgent nature of men in particular, to see the damaging effects of the 'culture of death' upon all their womenfolk is intrinsic to the prophetic message of Malachi ch 4: v6 where God instructs that Elijah will '..turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.' I am paraphrasing, but the Venerable John Paul II was right when he said that the vocation of every man is the dignity of every woman and the calling of every woman is the integrity of every man. In that vein I am delighted to inform you that the Annual Theology of the Body Lecture for the Westminster Diocese organized by the Department of Pastoral Affairs will have Brian Gail as its keynote speaker on the evening of September 14th in Westminster Cathedral hall, addressing the theme: "Men Are Called to Greatness". It is hoped that Mr. Gail will also have an opportunity to address a gathering of clergy during the same day also.

Before I’d even started reading this book, I thumbed through the back pages at Mr. Gail’s fabulous bibliography. I was delighted to see a number of works and/or authors with which I am very familiar:
* Archbishop Chaput’s “Render unto Caesar”
* Dr. Chris Kahlenborn’s “Breast Cancer : Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill”
* Bogomir Kuhar, Pharm.D. – executive director of Pharmacists for Life
* William E. May, Ph.D.
* Leslie Woodcock Tentler’s “Catholics and Contraception: An American History”
* George Weigel’s “Witness to Hope”
* Christopher West (He has written and spoken extensively about Pope John Paul II’s “The Theology of the Body.” An updated translation of the late Holy Father’s teaching has been released as “Man and Woman He Created Them.”)

“Fatherless” is the tale of three Catholic families from a suburban Philadelphia parish, who turn to Father John Sweeney for spiritual guidance. While they do not use this terminology, they are each struggling with how to live out their “universal call to holiness.” Though the novel’s set in the first decade of the magnificent pontificate of John Paul the Great, Father Sweeney is initially unable to respond to his parishioners with the wisdom of spiritual treasures, such as Veritatis Splendor or Christifideles Laici. He tries to offer a “Catholicism Lite,” when what is needed is the Truth which will set them free! We assume that he has failed to challenge himself and his congregation with such “hard sayings,” as the evils of
* contraception,
* divorce/remarriage (without annullment),
* exploitation of workers,
* failing to bring the Truth into the political sphere,
* failing to treat nutrition/hydration as ordinary care,
* IVF,
* missing Sunday Mass,
* misuse of our sexuality (outside or inside marriage), and
* receiving Holy Communion outside the state of grace.

I would like to offer a teenie, tiny, minor criticism about a Church history, which is offered by “Father McManus” toward the latter part of this masterpiece. I think that this section would have been better served by using Thomas Woods, Ph.D.’s “How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization” as its primary reference (Though it is a difficult work, Eamon Duffy’s “The Stripping Of The Altars” raises enormous questions about our assumptions about pre-Reformation Catholicism.).

Without question, this was one of the best books which I have EVER read!!!

What a treat to listen to the interview between Dr. Curran and the author of “Fatherless,” Brian Gail. In addition to exploring the themes of the book, it was delightful to hear two men discover a “kindred spirit” in each other. It was obvious that Brian had done several interviews regarding his book, but Tom GOT IT and he was so pleased. I eagerly await the arrival of my copy–this is a great book to read during Lent. AND Brian is working on TWO more. What a blessing. Thank you!

This is an amazing book and I have and will be recommending it to everyone. The only problem was with amazon’s packaging. The book arrived worn and damaged. I would highly recommend this book, as well as recommend buying it elsewhere.