JOHN PAUL THE GREAT

Pope John Paul II was one of the most influential religious figures of the twentieth century. Yet for all his global influence, the pope was also able to inspire faith on an individual basis. Peggy Noonan explores the pope's life and spirituality by exploring her own faith journey, showing how the pope shaped her. The book is informative and moving. Noonan's deep attachment to John Paul shows through, but her writing sometimes is easier on the eyes than on the ears. Thus, her reading comes across as slightly wooden at times, especially when she injects humor. A technical note: Long tracks make it difficult to find one's place if one's CD player has no memory. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]