David Schickler

To be honest, I read the back of the book when I first received it and I was admittedly dejected; A book about faith. I immediately thought it was going to be one of those sappy Christian books about having good morals and never using God's name in vain. Those books, in my opinion and for lack of a better phrase, really suck. I felt obligated to read the book and write a review though because I thought it was quite pleasant to receive a free book in the mail. I had a certain duty to uphold. show more I started reading this memoir, the memoir that I thought I'd find really "safe" and "boring" and I have to say that it has to be one of the best books that I've read in awhile. David Schickler has a gift in conveying his reflections and emotions in a way that I never thought possible to convey through writing. I was floored by his bluntness and honesty about life. You really have the chance to get into the depths of his mind, the depths that reveal his most elemental motivations. He expresses some sentiments that typical "Christian" novels would never go anywhere near. His anger at God is truly an honest feeling that he doesn't sugar-coat which is such a great deviant from what you would expect a devout Catholic to reveal about their inner reflections. This book is truly a gem. I really felt like I got to know David Schickler better than I know some of my best friends. He's just that good and honest at letting you know his true feelings and desires. I haven't encountered that kind of connection with an author ever. show less

Raised in a strictly Catholic family in upstate New York, author David Schickler long dreamed of being a priest. But as he grew older, he realized that his love and desire for women might prove to be a challenge to his goal. Schickler recalls this personal battle in his hilarious, heartfelt memoir The Dark Path.

Schickler had me from the first page of The Dark Path, as a ten year-old sitting in a pew, staring at his "wife", tagged as such because she also has a four syllable last name ending show more in -er. As he carries readers through his teenage years, where he begins to battle over his course in life, he introduces his hilarious idiosyncrasies and endearing quirks. Schickler’s best flirting is learned from the Grease soundtrack, courtesy of his house full of sisters, and his most intimate conversations are the brutally honest heart-to-hearts he has with God.

Schickler’s struggle continues in college, where he parties with his hard-drinking friends and non-religious girlfriend, but sneaks away to explore life as a Jesuit priest. Constantly pushing back his ultimate decision, but feeling increasing pressure to choose, Schickler begins to lose control before a radical change is able to ground him.

While it’s framed around religion, David Schickler’s memoir is less about Catholicism and more about finding yourself, despite where you imagined you might be. Believers and non-believers alike will find unforgettable honesty journeying along The Dark Path.

Blog: www.rivercityreading.com show less

From its first pages, this book won me (or should I say, in the author's phrasing, it "bombarded me with woo"). It opens with a quotation from Thomas Merton and some song lyrics from Billy Bragg -- lyrics from my favorite BB song off my favorite BB album, in fact (here, listen to it). And after some early concern about style (the third line in my notes says "pg 4 - MFA alert"), I was soon completely sucked into David's story.

The bulk of this memoir recounts his life from about age 10 to age show more 25, focusing on David's struggle between feeling drawn to the priesthood and being ruled by his desire for women. More than anything, it's a story of faith and doubt, desire and temptation. It's by turns laugh-out-loud funny and rather heartbreaking, but it's always immensely readable. For the most part, Schickler is a guy with whom you don't at all mind spending 315 pages. That's no small thing when it comes to memoirs. And despite my early misgivings, at moments the prose was totally unexpected and brilliant.

I found this story incredibly affecting. It makes it difficult to review because, as a Christian myself, I connected so strongly and emotionally with Schickler's journey. I'm a fairly stoic person, but I'll admit I laughed and cried and was actually shocked by parts of it. I think he says really good things about the intersection of faith and art, noting how fiction that is consciously Christian also tends to, well, suck.

And I would give it five stars if it weren't for one thing: I can't shake the sense that this book is big-hearted and humane and emotional but sort of intellectually shallow. The book is driven by Schickler's desire to commit both to God and to women. I definitely felt his attraction to the latter, but I couldn't ever understand his faith. I could relate to it, because I have faith in God, but I couldn't understand it, based on his words. I don't want to presume to judge his Christianity, but it seemed so insubstantial, almost superstitious (and maybe he would agree with that evaluation). Because of this, I couldn't grasp where his drive to be a priest ever came from, and I got hung up on the disconnect between what he claims he wanted/believed and his actions (a disconnect that barely seems to register to him). Perhaps it's as simple as the Catholic culture being somewhat alien to me as a Protestant. It was just strange to read him claiming devotion to God but only very rarely reflecting on Scripture or sin.

So while my heart gives this book five stars and a standing ovation, my mind can't quite allow it. I definitely recommend it, though. It would be great conversation fodder.

That cover design, though: completely hideous. show less

I loved this book. It's lovely and idiosyncratic, and quite unexpected. Schickler made be laugh (something a book rarely makes me do), but he also impressed me with the sensitivity with which he handled his fragile characters. The structure is also great - it's a fully realized world constructed from different points of view (it's a novel in short stories), giving the reader the impression of looking through a keyhole into a variety of lives. There are a lot of threads to control, but show more Schickler does it well, and manages to keep them all pleasingly taut. show less