Reviews for Vestments

The average rating for Vestments based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-05-20 00:00:00 Brian Sanders Vestments was a pleasant surprise. I opened the e-galley expecting to receive a crash course in Catholic doctrine and the priesthood. But Reimringer is smart--he assumes that his reader knows the nuts and bolts of the Catholic faith and, instead, allows his characters to occupy the spotlight. James "Jim" Dressler is a priest in turmoil. He received his calling, if you can call it that, fairly young. His is not a tale of religious vision or teary-eyed salvation. No, Jim finds allure in the more sensual aspects of the Catholic church--the weight of a robe on his shoulders, the scent of burning incense. This should come as no surprise; after all, this is a man who has never quite vanquished his more sensual urges. His weakness for women permeates the narrative at various junctures, and we see that he has broken his vows with several women. So why would this veritable ladies' man sign up for lifelong celibacy? Because, for Jim, Catholicism is less a spiritual outlet than it is refuge from his dysfunctional family. His father is a heavy drinker, and his mother is never entirely present, emotionally speaking. When he announces his desire to enter the priesthood, his father scoffs in skepticism. On the day of his ordination, the best compliment his father can muster up is "'We'll see how you do.'" Perhaps, then, it is sheer defiance, a desire to prove his father wrong, that propels him. As Jim struggles to stifle his sexuality--which becomes increasingly difficult to do when he crosses paths with his first love, Betty--he must also contend with a certain alienation that accompanies the priesthood. Family members hide things from him for fear of being on the receiving end of a sermon or lecture. Hugs are few and far between. But his family need not fear him--he is no ordinary priest. He's a little lustful, a little profane, and he shares his father's dangerous love of "spirits" (the fermented kind). There is also Jim's grandfather, Otto, on the brink of death and still haunted by wartime demons. We never know exactly what he saw and/or did during World War II, but the historical innuendo creates a rather haunting undercurrent in the story. Vestments is a rewarding read because, ultimately, it takes no sides. The book offers an honest portrayal of the modern-day Catholic church, mourning the loss of community therein and raising important questions about the priesthood. Again, Reimringer doesn't weigh down the narrative with doctrine. The characters' respective struggles are heavy enough. (Disclaimer: I received the galley proofs of this title from Milkweed Editions for review.)

Review # 2 was written on 2020-07-19 00:00:00 Christopher Naegele As an east sider I enjoyed the many references to St Paul. It was fun to visualize the places as I read it. I feel like knowing the places added a lot but I also enjoyed the family dynamics which very much felt like families I knew growing up. So much dysfunction yet very strong love too.