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Vestments
A priest struggling with temptation moves back into his working-class childhood home in this “suspenseful, illuminating, and highly readable saga” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review). Let me begin today, illumined by Thy light, to destroy this part of the natural man which lives in me in its entirety, the obstacle that constantly keeps me from Thy Love... Taught this prayer as a boy by his grandfather, James Dressler recites it each time he’s tempted by earthly desires. Originally drawn to the priesthood by the mystery, purity, and sensual fabric of the Church, as well as by its promise of a safe harbor from his tempestuous home, James nevertheless finds himself—just a few years after his ordination—living at saying Mass for his mother at the dining room table; avoiding his pugilistic father; playing basketball; preparing to officiate at his brother’s wedding, and becoming attracted again to his first love, Betty García. Torn between these opposing desires, and haunted by his familial heritage, James finds himself at a crossroads. Exploring age-old yet urgently contemporary issues in the Catholic Church, and infused throughout with a rich sense of the history and vibrant texture of St. Paul, Minnesota, this is an utterly honest novel filled with “thoughtful themes and lyrical prose” ( Booklist ). “Deeply rooted in history, burning with family furies, and told by a narrator-priest you find yourself rooting for (and wondering about), this is a captivating novel, scene by scene.” —Patricia Hampl, author of The Florist’s Daughter
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
14 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
John Reimringer
2 books2 followersBorn in Fargo, North Dakota, and raised in Topeka, Kansas, Reimringer has a BS in journalism from the University of Kansas and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arkansas. He has worked for the Santa Fe Railroad; as a newspaper editor in Kansas at the Parsons Sun and Hutchinson News; as a youth hostel night porter in Edinburgh, Scotland; for the University of Iowa Law Library; in the University of Kansas public relations office; and as a college English instructor in Minnesota. He lives in Saint Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood with his wife, the poet Katrina Vandenberg."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 26, 2014
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.)
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.)
July 20, 2020
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.
May 26, 2012
The novel centers on James, a new priest who is struggling to understand his relationship between the sacred and profane aspects of his life. Set in St. Paul, MN and with a heavy dose of local references, the city reflects the divisions in his life. His father lives in the world of bar fights and heavy drinking, his college and seminary sit perched on wealthy Summit Avenue, and Betty, his first girlfriend and lifelong love lives on the westside. The story is his journey reconciling the contradictions, fears and desires.
I struggled at the beginning of the book because of my own limited knowledge of Catholicism and my lack of understanding about the draw to the priesthood. This reflects my experiences and was not a statement on the quality of the narrative. I appreciated the way the author developed interesting characters who illuminated the conflict that the main character was having within himself.
I was fortunate to attend a book club where the author discussed some of his thoughts about the story and characters. This conversation heightened my appreciation for the book.
I struggled at the beginning of the book because of my own limited knowledge of Catholicism and my lack of understanding about the draw to the priesthood. This reflects my experiences and was not a statement on the quality of the narrative. I appreciated the way the author developed interesting characters who illuminated the conflict that the main character was having within himself.
I was fortunate to attend a book club where the author discussed some of his thoughts about the story and characters. This conversation heightened my appreciation for the book.
November 17, 2010
Reimringer's first novel is an understated, well-written story of a young priest in crisis, questioning his vocation after making choices and having feelings that conflict with it.
Father James Dressler is the product of a rough childhood with an alcoholic, belligerent father who valued bruises over books. Devout as a child, as a college student he was drawn to the church for its beauty and calm, for its valuing the contemplative life, for its being everything his unhappy family was not.
"I sometimes wonder," Dressler muses on a family outing, "if the lives of happy families are made up of a series of moments like our family's evening at Bob Nordyke's cabin. For the rest of us, happiness comes from what we manage to forget."
"Vestments" artfully tells the story of a family, and how it shapes one man's life. Intimate and engrossing, the book folds us into the life of Dressler, neither a villain nor a saint, but a man working through all-too-human problems.
Father James Dressler is the product of a rough childhood with an alcoholic, belligerent father who valued bruises over books. Devout as a child, as a college student he was drawn to the church for its beauty and calm, for its valuing the contemplative life, for its being everything his unhappy family was not.
"I sometimes wonder," Dressler muses on a family outing, "if the lives of happy families are made up of a series of moments like our family's evening at Bob Nordyke's cabin. For the rest of us, happiness comes from what we manage to forget."
"Vestments" artfully tells the story of a family, and how it shapes one man's life. Intimate and engrossing, the book folds us into the life of Dressler, neither a villain nor a saint, but a man working through all-too-human problems.
December 11, 2010
A stirring and highly original novel, wide in scope in its portrayal of old and young, devout and profane, country and city, Vestments focuses on the gritty details of a spiritual crisis in the life of a young Midwestern parish priest. While weathering his duties at his brother’s wedding and at his grandfather’s deathbed, this singular priest, smart, loving, full of appetite, and scarred by a violent childhood that has never really ended, works through his days as deeply committed to his faith as he is moved by vitality. Thus, he is subject to temptation. Anyone who’s been raised Catholic, or has rubbed shoulders with working class Catholic kids, growing up in the seventies, will recognize the way things were and the way things often still are in that world. Some have suggested, praising this book, that Reimringer portrays soul and body at odds, but I found just the opposite. Astonishingly, Vestments brings soul and body together, in a unified, unsettling and unforgettable way.
August 28, 2010
I picked up this book partly because of the glowing early reviews but mostly because I have a close friend who's a priest, and over the years I've learned to think of him as a person who happens to be a priest. Priests have parents and other family members; they contend with office politics and job-related stresses; they have nonreligious interests and hobbies as well as many of the same problems that lay people have--although most lay people don't seem to understand this basic fact. VESTMENTS is the story of a man with a full life who happens to be a priest, and it's a story that rang true to me. Reimringer has a great gift for narrative and for the telling detail, and I hope this is just the first of many works from him.
October 2, 2011
All the local detail was fun for someone who lives in the St. Paul area--so if you grew up Catholic in St. Paul in the 1970s this book might appeal more to you than it did to me. The main character talked about how the beauty of the mass is what drew him into the priesthood yet this book didn't even try to capture that feeling. It focused exclusively on the people in his life, making the choice of the priesthood and the choice to leave the priesthood seem incidental to his complex and deep relationships with those people. I felt cheated--that a man who chose the priesthood in the 1970s would have a story to tell of a complex and deep relationship with God and with the Church as well.
February 11, 2016
This first novel hooked me from the very first page. Jim Dressler, a Catholic priest, is caught between his vows and his desires. Having come to his vocation early and almost as an escape from his rough and tumble working-class background, he treasures the order and security of liturgy and ritual. In his relationships with his family and friends, however, he comes to understand his own need to fully engage with life. Another winner from Milkweed Editions!
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February 18, 2024This book is slow moving and never gains much speed. It gives an insight into priesthood that I never knew about, and adds a human side to priests, but wasnt all that interested in learning about it. I think this would have been a really good short story or if could have been a non-fiction book, then it might have been more appealing. Where it stands, I didnt enjoy it all that much.
February 12, 2017
There's father and there's Father. "Vestments," John Reimringer's debut novel about a conflicted Catholic priest, is at least as interested in the former as the latter, ultimately. It's a good small novel touching on family, faith and transgressions, a book that looks at priests as, first, men.
In "Vestments," Reimringer takes great pains early to show Father James Dressler's family life. It pays dividends later, but yields a choppy first third of the novel, with flashbacks that can be initially slightly confusing and are not a lot about the priesthood. James has a temper, has a steamy relationship with a Mexican-American beauty as a young man before he takes up the religious life, and has a contentious relationship with his brawling, difficult father. If you didn't know James would end up a priest, you wouldn't guess it from the set-up.
Therein lies my main problem with this novel, one that knocks a star off the rating of a really quality effort. "What made you become a priest?" is a question that most people would ask, or at least think about, when meeting or knowing a young Catholic priest. It's not a question James, who narrates this tale, ever really answers for us. It's even more pertinent when that man has had an active sex life with attractive women. To me, there's a pivotal scene missing or a few pages of deep reflection and explanation absent regarding how James made this very big decision.
It's a significant flaw in this book, but an excellent second half overcomes it. As the book opens, James has been removed from his post as head of a small rural Minnesota parish because of a transgression and is taking forced time off from being an active priest. Once Reimringer has run through the early character-building and family conflicts and we see his life as a priest, the novel gains a great deal of momentum and rewards those who have stuck with it.
"Vestments" deals with church politics, lust and love and the brittle vow of chastity, pastor friends, family dynamics. Again, James' family — brother and sister, dying grandfather, pain-in-the-ass dad — are a big part of this novel. This definitely is not all priesthood all the time. Overall, though, for what Reimringer is trying to do, the balance is pretty good, and the situations moving. And best of all, he writes well, especially once he gets past the early wobbles.
Being a Catholic and knowing St. Paul, Minnesota, will enhance your enjoyment, but this is a legitimately good book either way, a nice tale to squeeze in between "bigger" reads. Love the cover, too.
In "Vestments," Reimringer takes great pains early to show Father James Dressler's family life. It pays dividends later, but yields a choppy first third of the novel, with flashbacks that can be initially slightly confusing and are not a lot about the priesthood. James has a temper, has a steamy relationship with a Mexican-American beauty as a young man before he takes up the religious life, and has a contentious relationship with his brawling, difficult father. If you didn't know James would end up a priest, you wouldn't guess it from the set-up.
Therein lies my main problem with this novel, one that knocks a star off the rating of a really quality effort. "What made you become a priest?" is a question that most people would ask, or at least think about, when meeting or knowing a young Catholic priest. It's not a question James, who narrates this tale, ever really answers for us. It's even more pertinent when that man has had an active sex life with attractive women. To me, there's a pivotal scene missing or a few pages of deep reflection and explanation absent regarding how James made this very big decision.
It's a significant flaw in this book, but an excellent second half overcomes it. As the book opens, James has been removed from his post as head of a small rural Minnesota parish because of a transgression and is taking forced time off from being an active priest. Once Reimringer has run through the early character-building and family conflicts and we see his life as a priest, the novel gains a great deal of momentum and rewards those who have stuck with it.
"Vestments" deals with church politics, lust and love and the brittle vow of chastity, pastor friends, family dynamics. Again, James' family — brother and sister, dying grandfather, pain-in-the-ass dad — are a big part of this novel. This definitely is not all priesthood all the time. Overall, though, for what Reimringer is trying to do, the balance is pretty good, and the situations moving. And best of all, he writes well, especially once he gets past the early wobbles.
Being a Catholic and knowing St. Paul, Minnesota, will enhance your enjoyment, but this is a legitimately good book either way, a nice tale to squeeze in between "bigger" reads. Love the cover, too.
March 3, 2018
I thought I would love this book when I started it. It was engaging, intriguing, well-written, and I enjoyed the abundant St Paul references of this local writer. But it went on way too long, with the same bar and family scenes played out over and over. I also had a hard time believing the "old man" after awhile--he became a caricature.
March 26, 2018
Saint Paul landmarks, sports, drunks, bar fights, and a wavering priest.
September 24, 2025
Apparently I’m into books about Midwestern preachers/priests.
September 25, 2015
Reimringer, John. Vestments. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2010.
James Dressler comes from a challenging home environment. Dad works hard and drinks hard. Dad and Mom fight a lot. Eventually, they divorce. Dad’s second marriage is over before it begins. Dad continues to fight in bars and wherever the action is. Mom has a sleepover boyfriend.
James admires his parish priest and serves at the altar. He regularly goes to Mass. He is no saint though. In High School he and his girlfriend become pregnant. She, also a Catholic, decides to receive an abortion. There are other women after this; and other things.
James goes on to a Catholic college that has a seminary attached. He receives his vocation for the priesthood his senior year in college. He is ordained and serves two years as an associate and then two years as pastor of his own congregation.
Stories of priests and their errant ways lead one to recall the late Andrew Greeley’s tales. This book does not move as rapidly as a Greeley novel. Vestments is not plot driven. Reimringer is more descriptive and takes us deeper into the characters lives. He lets us get to know the life and circumstances of James, his family and friends. Regardless of our opinions about the catholic faith and celibacy of priests, the reader will empathize with James as he faces challenges in his life and vocation.
The book becomes particularly gripping when James finally explains to his mother why he is home for the summer and will be teaching at the Benedictine college in the fall. In summary form: There is a woman; There is the hint of scandal; There is a nosy and mean-spirited housekeeper; and a chancellery priest who enjoys administering justice. Then, most astonishingly there is friendship and love.
Reimringer is a remarkable storyteller taking us into the present and the past with ease. He creates characters that we believe, love, and despise. He shows us the challenges of family, leaving and returning home, love, and vocational faithfulness.
I can hardly wait for his next novel.
James Dressler comes from a challenging home environment. Dad works hard and drinks hard. Dad and Mom fight a lot. Eventually, they divorce. Dad’s second marriage is over before it begins. Dad continues to fight in bars and wherever the action is. Mom has a sleepover boyfriend.
James admires his parish priest and serves at the altar. He regularly goes to Mass. He is no saint though. In High School he and his girlfriend become pregnant. She, also a Catholic, decides to receive an abortion. There are other women after this; and other things.
James goes on to a Catholic college that has a seminary attached. He receives his vocation for the priesthood his senior year in college. He is ordained and serves two years as an associate and then two years as pastor of his own congregation.
Stories of priests and their errant ways lead one to recall the late Andrew Greeley’s tales. This book does not move as rapidly as a Greeley novel. Vestments is not plot driven. Reimringer is more descriptive and takes us deeper into the characters lives. He lets us get to know the life and circumstances of James, his family and friends. Regardless of our opinions about the catholic faith and celibacy of priests, the reader will empathize with James as he faces challenges in his life and vocation.
The book becomes particularly gripping when James finally explains to his mother why he is home for the summer and will be teaching at the Benedictine college in the fall. In summary form: There is a woman; There is the hint of scandal; There is a nosy and mean-spirited housekeeper; and a chancellery priest who enjoys administering justice. Then, most astonishingly there is friendship and love.
Reimringer is a remarkable storyteller taking us into the present and the past with ease. He creates characters that we believe, love, and despise. He shows us the challenges of family, leaving and returning home, love, and vocational faithfulness.
I can hardly wait for his next novel.
February 9, 2014
3.5 stars. I picked up this book because it's about a German Catholic priest struggling with his heterosexuality in St. Paul. While you don't need to be Catholic or Minnesotan to enjoy this book, I'll be honest - the setting was the main draw for me.
I loved getting into the minds of some priests in this book. When I was little, I had trouble distinguishing between God and my priest. Like, I actually pictured God as this jolly old Irish man with a Roman Collar. So even now that I'm a full-grown heathen, I still have trouble accepting that priests are just regular humans. Either they're the God-like figures that I remember from my youth, or they're these terrible, perverted assholes I hear about in the news that probably just got into the priesthood so they could abuse vulnerable people.
But this book humanizes priests in a way that blew my mind just a tiny bit. The main character is essentially a good guy, and with that comes all the struggles that good guys tend to face - still being in love with an ex, drinking more than is good for him, having complex relationships with violent family members, etc. It weirds me out a little to read about priests swearing, throwing punches, and being hungover. It's kind of like learning that your 2nd grade teacher doesn't actually live at the school - that she also has to go grocery shopping and mow the lawn and get a second job.
And then there's the St Paul setting. I'm a Minneapolis kid myself (well, originally a suburban kid, but I prefer to forget those long, dull chapters of my life), but I still recognized a lot of the street names and areas that Reimringer drops. There's something sort of thrilling about reading fiction set in your own town. I read so many books that take place in New York, Chicago, and other places that I'm not familiar with, and it's cool to actually have a mental map to overlay the story onto.
I loved getting into the minds of some priests in this book. When I was little, I had trouble distinguishing between God and my priest. Like, I actually pictured God as this jolly old Irish man with a Roman Collar. So even now that I'm a full-grown heathen, I still have trouble accepting that priests are just regular humans. Either they're the God-like figures that I remember from my youth, or they're these terrible, perverted assholes I hear about in the news that probably just got into the priesthood so they could abuse vulnerable people.
But this book humanizes priests in a way that blew my mind just a tiny bit. The main character is essentially a good guy, and with that comes all the struggles that good guys tend to face - still being in love with an ex, drinking more than is good for him, having complex relationships with violent family members, etc. It weirds me out a little to read about priests swearing, throwing punches, and being hungover. It's kind of like learning that your 2nd grade teacher doesn't actually live at the school - that she also has to go grocery shopping and mow the lawn and get a second job.
And then there's the St Paul setting. I'm a Minneapolis kid myself (well, originally a suburban kid, but I prefer to forget those long, dull chapters of my life), but I still recognized a lot of the street names and areas that Reimringer drops. There's something sort of thrilling about reading fiction set in your own town. I read so many books that take place in New York, Chicago, and other places that I'm not familiar with, and it's cool to actually have a mental map to overlay the story onto.
April 30, 2011
This book took the 2011 Minnesota Book Award and deservedly so. John Reimringer has created two palpable worlds. We are with main character James Dressler in his life as a Catholic priest and as he spends time "on break" from that life with his hard-drinking, violent, deeply flawed, unforgettable and (in its own way) loving family.
You know you are in for an amazing ride from the beginning, as Father Jim finds himself between his divorced but still brutally interwoven parents faced with being able to offer or deny them both the communion host and his love. He has sworn obedience for the first of these, but the latter is in his own control...and it is this tug of war that lends this book a hook readers will find themselves caught on.
The characters in "Vestments" are so fleshed out you need to add a notch to your belt. We all KNOW someone like Jim Dressler's dad, Joe...a bullying asshole who is cowed by little and still we see the boy in him. Both unpredictable and wholly reliable, Joe takes your breath away with his relentless search for a cigarette, a beer, a fight and the love of his own father, Otto. Joe and Jim are in constant conflict and yet they can't stay away from each other. The other characters--mother, brother, old lover, fellow priests--are just as well drawn and just as flawed.
Set in my adopted hometown of St. Paul, MN, it's clear Reimringer knows and loves this city. The book is a convincing road map not just to St. Paul but to the rage, love, lust, despair, faith and acceptance that I realize now is no different for a priest than it is for me.
Great read!
You know you are in for an amazing ride from the beginning, as Father Jim finds himself between his divorced but still brutally interwoven parents faced with being able to offer or deny them both the communion host and his love. He has sworn obedience for the first of these, but the latter is in his own control...and it is this tug of war that lends this book a hook readers will find themselves caught on.
The characters in "Vestments" are so fleshed out you need to add a notch to your belt. We all KNOW someone like Jim Dressler's dad, Joe...a bullying asshole who is cowed by little and still we see the boy in him. Both unpredictable and wholly reliable, Joe takes your breath away with his relentless search for a cigarette, a beer, a fight and the love of his own father, Otto. Joe and Jim are in constant conflict and yet they can't stay away from each other. The other characters--mother, brother, old lover, fellow priests--are just as well drawn and just as flawed.
Set in my adopted hometown of St. Paul, MN, it's clear Reimringer knows and loves this city. The book is a convincing road map not just to St. Paul but to the rage, love, lust, despair, faith and acceptance that I realize now is no different for a priest than it is for me.
Great read!
April 16, 2011
Stellar debut from this St. Paul author. This is a thoughtful book,one which tackles an array of issues, all intertwined in the life of Jim Dressler. Those familiar wtih St. Paul will recognize not only landmarks, but history, attitudes and language.
Most of all, Reimringer nails the ending. Endings are my pet peeve. In the last 20 pages of this book, I was crying, I was laughing and the end of the final paragraph took my breath away.
I loved smart, brash Betty, detested Mrs. Gunther, and could not decide whether to love or hate Joe Dressler, Jim's dad. There are many things in this story that I could not help but wonder if the author had lived through, so achingly real were the emotions.
Jim Dressler is a St. Paul kid who grewcup Catholic, with an Irish mom and a German dad, which in his case meant fireworks. He always loved the church, and decides to become a priest. But indiscretion and treachery steal his chances, and during one summer at home, he must face many demons, not the least of which is his volatile dad, as well as a former girlfriend, and his future with the Church.
This is a character-driven book. Expect a little drama, including violent fistfights, but also a lot of introspection and thoughts on religion and life.
The main character is a likable, imperfect guy who seems to have a surprisingly well-adjusted grasp on life considering what he's had to deal with growing up.
This was a PW pick for Best Book of 2010; it deserves that and more.
Most of all, Reimringer nails the ending. Endings are my pet peeve. In the last 20 pages of this book, I was crying, I was laughing and the end of the final paragraph took my breath away.
I loved smart, brash Betty, detested Mrs. Gunther, and could not decide whether to love or hate Joe Dressler, Jim's dad. There are many things in this story that I could not help but wonder if the author had lived through, so achingly real were the emotions.
Jim Dressler is a St. Paul kid who grewcup Catholic, with an Irish mom and a German dad, which in his case meant fireworks. He always loved the church, and decides to become a priest. But indiscretion and treachery steal his chances, and during one summer at home, he must face many demons, not the least of which is his volatile dad, as well as a former girlfriend, and his future with the Church.
This is a character-driven book. Expect a little drama, including violent fistfights, but also a lot of introspection and thoughts on religion and life.
The main character is a likable, imperfect guy who seems to have a surprisingly well-adjusted grasp on life considering what he's had to deal with growing up.
This was a PW pick for Best Book of 2010; it deserves that and more.
May 20, 2011
I walk while I read, mostly on the Twin Cities’ Mississippi River pedestrian trails to be safe. As I read this book, I didn’t feel like I was transported into a different world, but sinking deeper into my own: St. Paul, my city, shown to me in finer detail than is available in the everyday. I once lost track of myself for 30 pages and looked up to find that I wasn’t just further down the path than I thought, but in front of one of the very houses I’d just read about.
This was a great novel, a full and consuming dream that I was happy to enter every time I picked it up. I don’t think you need to be a Minnesotan or a Catholic to enjoy this book; while the setting plays a huge role, Father Dressler, the narrator, is the real draw—and he’s thoughtful and friendly enough to make a foreigner feel welcome in his world. Reimringer gives his wayward priest a beautiful and believable flare for language that allows deep insight into the story, setting, and characters. Even more vivid than his descriptions of St. Paul are his descriptions of the moral landscape: Dressler doesn’t paint a saintly picture of priests or their parishioners, but he’s as every bit as convincing about their capacity and hunger for grace as he is about their faults.
This was a great novel, a full and consuming dream that I was happy to enter every time I picked it up. I don’t think you need to be a Minnesotan or a Catholic to enjoy this book; while the setting plays a huge role, Father Dressler, the narrator, is the real draw—and he’s thoughtful and friendly enough to make a foreigner feel welcome in his world. Reimringer gives his wayward priest a beautiful and believable flare for language that allows deep insight into the story, setting, and characters. Even more vivid than his descriptions of St. Paul are his descriptions of the moral landscape: Dressler doesn’t paint a saintly picture of priests or their parishioners, but he’s as every bit as convincing about their capacity and hunger for grace as he is about their faults.
March 30, 2012
I'm torn between 2 & 3 stars--but gave it the benefit of the doubt because I think my disappointment stems mostly from wanting more from this, not from its own failings. I've read quite a few novels about struggling pastors or priests--many of them excellent--and I don't think this one is up to their level. Set in & around Minnesota's Twin Cities, this one is narrated by a young priest--a very sympathetic character--whose struggle is not a struggle of faith--he has a strong though not uncomplicated faith that is rendered matter-of-factly in a way that is one of the things that I actually admire about this--but a struggle with the loneliness of ministry. And I like that part of the story quite a bit, but too much of the novel is a fairly typical coming-of-age-in-a-dysfunctional--family (a working-class family in St. Paul with an abusive father) story. There's nothing wrong with that part of the story, either--it's actually handled more sensitively than many similar stories--it's just that that I've mostly lost patience with that too-often-repeated story line.
July 27, 2011
Reimringer writes with such profound insight about the priestly struggle with celibacy that I was certain he must have been a priest. A devout seminarian at the very least. Born into a dysfunctional St. Paul MN family, James Dressler finds comfort and stability as an altar boy in his local parish and becomes a priest. While pastor of a small church, his friendship with a troubled young woman puts him in a compromising position for which he is denounced. When this results in his transferal to a different parish, he accepts a teaching position at St. John's University takes a year's leave of absence. Prior to the beginning of the fall semester, he returns home for his brother's wedding. Escalating family crisis and a reunion with an early love, trigger a struggle between loyalty to his vows and human yearning so intense that we are left guessing till the very end what direction his life with take. I'd call this a spiritual mystery novel if there is such a thing. Reimringer's soaring description of divine longing and sacramental life brings a luminous luster to this very human novel.
September 29, 2011
Have you ever read a novel about a priest? Let me introduce you to Father James Dressler. Vestments is about a priest with spirit who plays baseball, poker, drinks Irish whiskey and has a punching bag in his basement. Most of us only know our religious leaders based on our Sunday observations and assume that like teachers that they have no life. Father Jim Dressler has a life and is not afraid to live it.
James grew up in a Irish-German Catholic family. His dad was a hard hitting, heavy beer drinker and bar frequenter. His parents fought on a regular basis and were constant chain smokers. His grandparents were a positive influence in his life as was the church. By all indications, James path to priesthood was paved with sticks and stones and yet from humble beginnings he rises to the sacredness of priesthood. He becomes his grandfather's pride much to his father's chagrin.
To read my entire book review please visit my book blog at http://www.booksnob-booksnob.blogspot...
James grew up in a Irish-German Catholic family. His dad was a hard hitting, heavy beer drinker and bar frequenter. His parents fought on a regular basis and were constant chain smokers. His grandparents were a positive influence in his life as was the church. By all indications, James path to priesthood was paved with sticks and stones and yet from humble beginnings he rises to the sacredness of priesthood. He becomes his grandfather's pride much to his father's chagrin.
To read my entire book review please visit my book blog at http://www.booksnob-booksnob.blogspot...
December 27, 2011
This novel by a Minnesota writer is an interesting and according to the reviews a believeable look at the Catholic clergy. The main character(he comes from an interesting, non-functioning home) is fighting within himself: he loves the rites of the church, the comfort of the rituals, and he loves his old high school sweetheart. As I was reading, I kept thinking, "You NEED to leave the priesthood!" You can read the book to find the answer.
The book also proavieds a wonderful history of St Paul. I am sure those readers who live in the city find themselves on familiar streets and even in bars they have at least heard aboaut. Another interest to me: the priests seems to enjoy football and is the course of conversation they mention the Shanley Decons (Fargo, ND) and their well known coach Sid Cichey. Jack played football with Cichey at NDSU ---then the ag school) so that brought a big smile to my face.
When my book group discusses this book, the author will be on a conference call with us, and later that week he will speak in Perham. I look forward to that.
October 17, 2014
James Dresser is a man who is attractive to and attracted by women. This is a good thing... unless you're Father James Dresser, a Catholic priest.
One of the reasons James became a priest was to escape a brutal home life. But after he escapes, he must answer the question: Now what?
Like Satan, Joe Dresser, James' violent father, both draws and repels James. Cast in the role of Eve is Betty Garcia, James' impulsive-to-a-fault high school sweetheart.
The atmosphere is grim--if you don't believe me, take a look at the author picture--but the story is gripping, and the book is hard to put down. The writing is simply wonderful. (I could get by with a few less street names, though.)
Without saints, there would be no sinners. Without sinners there would be no saints. The only saint in this book is the city of St. Paul, but it's a great cast of sinners.
One of the reasons James became a priest was to escape a brutal home life. But after he escapes, he must answer the question: Now what?
Like Satan, Joe Dresser, James' violent father, both draws and repels James. Cast in the role of Eve is Betty Garcia, James' impulsive-to-a-fault high school sweetheart.
The atmosphere is grim--if you don't believe me, take a look at the author picture--but the story is gripping, and the book is hard to put down. The writing is simply wonderful. (I could get by with a few less street names, though.)
Without saints, there would be no sinners. Without sinners there would be no saints. The only saint in this book is the city of St. Paul, but it's a great cast of sinners.
January 3, 2011
Reimringer draws his characters well; he lets us in on their weaknesses early in the story. Father James Dressler is having a crisis of faith. He is haunted by an old love from high school, though he has taken his vows to the Roman Catholic Church. In the story, the scotch on the rocks flows at the bars, the ice on the Minnesota lakes and rivers are frozen deep. The priests who befriend each other know how to play poker, and offer comraderie. Father Jim is still trying to prove himself to his alcoholic father, and prepare to let go of his grandad. Reimringer has a good insight into the lives of blue collar tradesmen and the tools they use. He knows the Twin Cities and the Catholic church. Great debut novel!
August 15, 2012
I've wanted to read this book for quite some time after seeing it on a shelf at the bookstore. I finally got around to doing just that, and I was not disappointed!!
As many people know, I'm not a huge fan of religious books. But Vestments was different. Yes, it is about a priest but it also tells a powerful story about choices in life.
I honestly wasn't expecting Jim (the priest) to make the choice that he did, but I think it was definitely the right one. He went with his heart instead of doing what most people probably would have wanted him to do. Fictional character aside, choosing between being a priest or being with the woman that you truly love can't be easy!!
Excellent book!!!!!
As many people know, I'm not a huge fan of religious books. But Vestments was different. Yes, it is about a priest but it also tells a powerful story about choices in life.
I honestly wasn't expecting Jim (the priest) to make the choice that he did, but I think it was definitely the right one. He went with his heart instead of doing what most people probably would have wanted him to do. Fictional character aside, choosing between being a priest or being with the woman that you truly love can't be easy!!
Excellent book!!!!!
January 26, 2011
What a thoughtful and delightful book. It was slow to hook me, largely because of the distasteful father character who dominated the first hundred pages, but as the book followed the life of James, a flawed but likable priest, I became more and more enchanted by this book's realistic pace. Set mostly in St. Paul, Minnesota, the novel is a tribute to this ethnically diverse city while raising questions about the church and those who serve in it. Reimringer's language is keen and clear, his descriptions never flowery, and his characters developed. I admire the scope and depth of this well-crafted book.
October 21, 2012
Brilliant. Reimringer spins a compelling tale across all lines, managing to tell a story about a priest who is mortal but not disproportionately so. In fact, all of the characters are alive in this novel: they're human, they fight, they bleed, they drink and smoke (much more than I would agree characterizes Minnesotans, but hey that's me) and don't stop everything to philosophize about life until the reader is there in the moment with them.
There are a lot of words I could use to describe Vestments.
Engaging. Complex. Unique. Witty. Wise. Tough. Painful. Gorgeous. Outstanding.
The one I'm going to settle on, though, is "real."
That, and Brilliant.
There are a lot of words I could use to describe Vestments.
Engaging. Complex. Unique. Witty. Wise. Tough. Painful. Gorgeous. Outstanding.
The one I'm going to settle on, though, is "real."
That, and Brilliant.
November 29, 2010
A young priest (age 30) questions his faith--but that is merely a part of of this absorbing novel. It is mostly about the priest's family and friends, and they are fascinating and engage the reader through 400 pages. The novel takes place in St. Paul where Reimringer has made his home and he ably shares it with the reader, particularly how the Catholic church plays such a significant part in the lives of the people and the colorful priests that populate the novel. Publishers Weekly put this novel on its best of the year list--it is a worthy choice.
March 21, 2011
Really interesting insight into the humanity of priests and how we put them on a pedastal. I'm curious on finding out more about the author and why he chose this subject. He doesn't seem to have much religious background according to the book jacket anyway. The book is also a love letter to St Paul which made it fun to read and follow the characters as they drove the familiar streets of St Paul and even Collegeville. I'm not sure where that came from either as he is not from MN. Can't really tell if he is even Catholic or pro-Catholic. I reallly enjoyed it.
June 17, 2011
Reimringer's debut novevl is a beautiful study of the Midwestern family, the relationship between father and son, and the circuitous, sometimes painful ways that life decisions are made and then re-made. "Vestments" also provides one of the most honest, sensetive, and (in my opinion) realistic portayals of a Roman Catholic priest that I have seen in recent media. While priests are usually portrayed as either morally depraved or hopelessly naive, "Vestments" paints a picture of a priest who is also just a guy trying to figure out his life. I loved this book, and highly recommend it.
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