Somehow Saints: More Travels in Search of the Saintly

Carroll travels throughout North America and Europe in search of “more saints [and] more fun stories” in this enjoyable follow-up to 2019’s Saint Everywhere. She visits the birthplaces and shrines of those who “[made] it to the big time,” including North American saints such as Philadelphia nun St. Katherine Drexel and Algonquin-Mohawk Catholic convert St. Kateri Tekakwitha, as well as international figures including former slaves Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Sudanese-Italian St. Josephine Bakhita. In addition to connecting the values of each saint to Caroll’s own memories of childhood and the people she meets on her travels, Carroll pairs the holy figures with one of her “somehow saints,” whom she defines as “people living large and small heroically good lives, but who are unknown outside their circle of friends and family.” Highlights are Bonnie, a Holocaust survivor and loving homemaker, and Jessie, a personal trainer and armchair philosopher who “follows his bliss” by helping people feel better physically. Not all of these stories are successful, and some of the connections Carroll draws between the “somehow saints” she profiles are tenuous. Still, these insightful, enjoyable profiles work as a breezy survey of modern history of sainthood. (Nov.)