WILL UNWOUND #370: “Will’s Mystery Project – ‘The Bishop Goes to the University’ by Andrew Greeley
February 25, 2011Father Andrew Greeley is a literary juggernaut. He has written over 200 books, seventy of which are novels. I have read a number of Greeley’s books (both fiction and non) and they are okay. As a Catholic priest and a doctor in sociology Greeley is a keen observer of human behavior. He knows people; he understands them; and he portrays them with insight and sympathy. I have never come away from an Andrew Greeley book feeling disappointed. On the other hand, I have always had the nagging suspicion that maybe I just wasted 3 or 4 hours of my life. I used to get the same feeling after watching a much ballyhooed miniseries (remember The Thorn Birds) on television. That’s why I ultimately decided to kill my t.v.
Yes, that’s it. Reading an Andrew Greeley novel is like watching television…absorbing, enjoyable, but ultimately leaving you with an empty feeling. In fact a number of Greeley’s books have made it in one form or another to the small screen. So, yes, Greeley is literary television…about midway between Masterpiece Theatre and a network miniseries…and that’s a shame because he had the goods to be so much better.
I don’t think about Greeley very much but when I do I wonder if instead of writing 200 books, he wouldn’t have been better off writing just 3 or 4. But alas, this is just mere speculation because this is obviously an author with no sense of verbal discipline. Did he ever have a thought that he did not publish? I doubt it. Isn’t it ironic that someone with a strict religious training could have so little verbal self restraint? If only someone early on in his life had teamed him up with a really forceful and talented editor, he might have been able to create a truly classic late 20th century Irish Catholic saga…maybe an urban ethnic version of “Gone with the Wind.”
That’s what first drew me to Greeley 40 years ago. He was a man who seemed to understand that the once cherished traditions of the Irish American Catholic world were in fact “blowing in the wind” in the wake of the revolutionary Vatican Council of 1962. Greeley thrust himself into the liberal side of the fractured church and has been there ever since.
It’s no wonder, therefore, that Bishop Blackford “Blackie” Ryan, the detective around whom Greeley centered 17 of his murder mysteries, is the mouthpiece for many of Greeley’s pointed criticisms of the Vatican and its ultraconservative response to the modern world. The book I read for my mystery project is entitled The Bishop Goes to the University. While Greeley’s theological agenda tends to get in the way of what is a rather intriguing mystery (a Russian Orthodox monk has been assassinated in his office at a Chicago University), he did manage to pull me into the book and keep me there for three solid hours.
Make no mistake about it, Greeley understands how to build a suspenseful plot and he understands how to create characters who will bring the plot alive. But at the end, as with every Greeley book I have read, I was left empty. Why? Greeley’s style is too breezy. He just doesn’t take the time or the effort to plumb the depths of the human condition. The elements are all there for a more visceral, more priestly look at the ultimate question of why bad things happen to good people.
I give The Bishop Goes to the University a 2 star rating.
I’d probably give him another star, but that’s because the leprechaun who raids his Bushmill’s is usually sitting beside me when I read him.
He’s a lot like Asimov when it comes to the compulsion to write.
And if I were a praying person (and obviously I’m not) there would be prayers going up for Father Andy after his accident about 14 months ago. Dammit, I want him to finally get around to telling Lucifer’s story from a sympathetic point of view.
Bill, yes, Asimov, is equally prolific but he was written some books we all can agree are great, while Greeley has never risen to literary greatness. I truly believe, however, that in his prime he was quite capable of greatness.
If you want a cleric who has a way with words try Michael Mayne. He is widely published and sold in England but his books may be coming to the US soon. (non-fiction) I agree about Greeley, I can’t get into them and if I do, I can’t wait to get out.
Ooh, “I can’t get into them and if I do, I can’t wait to get out.” Can I steal that line?
Can I steal it too? Might need it in this mystery project.
Irene, I can’t find any of Michael Mayne’s books in California’s Link + system. Can you tell me where his books are available?
Greeley is just ok, I have to agree with you there Will.
I’m hoping your next book on the list is one that you will like more. I just finished reading the new Hamish Macbeth (yeah for the Kindle which delivered it to me within hours of being released last night) and there is nothing like the enjoyment of a good mystery.
I just bought a color Nook so I could show patrons how to use it to download our library’s ebooks — and I know the topic is mysteries but since are briefly speaking of ebook readers I have to say… although I love my iPad and usually read on it – I am quite impressed with the color Nook which is essentially what Barnes & Noble describes it as – a small readers tablet you can read on it – read magazines in color and surf the web etc.
So just FYI should anyone be thinking of purchasing an ebook reader – as the color Nook costs half the price of the entry level wi-fi only iPad – priced at $249 – and it received a CNET Editor’s Choice Review – here’s the link for that:
http://reviews.cnet.com/nook-color-review
Boris thanks for all the green tea – I’m off to bed after all that shoveling today. Have a good weekend everyone!
And as a short last thought – the Kindle too received a CNET Editor’s Choice review – best value for the money basically – and it is a really nice e-ink ereader – but unfortunately you can’t use it to read Overdrive ebooks.
Here’s the link to that review too:
http://reviews.cnet.com/amazon-kindle-review-wi-fi?tag=mncol;lst;1
Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that the entry level Kindle is more than $100 cheaper than the color Nook — at $139.
And I really am going off to bed in a minute but I have to agree whole heartedly with Jessica that pre-ordering an ebook by one of your favorite authors and then being able to read it the day it is released by simply picking up your ereader anytime your ready — that is indeed a beautiful thing!
Linda…if you bought a nook just to be able to be of help to your patrons, all I can say is that your library is quite lucky to have you on staff!
Jessica, is there a particular Hamish Macbeth book you recommend. I’m not an ebook kind of guy…just so you know.
Thank you for mentioning that the new Hamish Macbeth had been released – I just went on line and reserved the latest three – somehow the previous two had sneaked by me.
And Will, you might want to start with the first in the series, Death of a Gossip. This is another of the series I like because they make me laugh.
I tried Greeley a long time ago, and I agree with Will.
Probably the best church mystery I’ve read was Solemn High Murder, by Barbara Ninde Byfield and Frank Tedeschi. It captures the setting, the politics, and the humanity of its characters to near perfection. Byfield wrote a follow-up that featured one of the most imaginative ways of doing in a cheating spouse that I have ever read, A Harder Thing than Triumph.
Wayne, thanks. I have just requested this from California’s Link + system. Can’t wait.
I’ve read Greeley mysteries and your review sums them up nicely. Being a German-Catholic, I don’t always get the “Irishness” of his stories; I do get their Catholicity. I’ve
I’ve heard him speak several times and he can be interesting in short doses. I enjoy his nonfiction better than his fiction.
Donna, are there any non-fiction books in particular that you would recommend by Greeley.
Okay, I’m willing to try the G.K. Chesterton mentioned last week for his duality quality but I’ll stay away from Andrew Greeley’s mysteries!
Yes, Chesterton is better than Greeley.
Will, I gave him one star. (My system is only 3 stars so I have less wiggle room). Basically trash and I expected better from a priest. I did read to the end (there was a bit of suspense) so maybe two stars is ok on your scale. I read Happy are the Meek last year.
Alice, that’s precisely how I see it. Thanks for the validation.
As a fellow south side (Chicago) Irish Catholic, please no criticism of Andrew Greeley. His non-fiction books are excellent and the fiction ones can be read for fun.
Kathy O’Leary
Kathleen, which non-fiction titles in particular do you recommend?
I haven’t read Greeley, he hasn’t captured my attention and your review will just push him further down on my “to read” list.
Now, if you want a powerful writer who writes religion and mystery you can’t go wrong with Julia Spencer-Fleming, the first in the series is “In The Bleak Midwinter”, with Clare Fergusson a newly-ordained Episcopal Priest. I love this series!