The Last Catholic in America

by John R. Powers, Amy Welborn (Editor), Andrew M. Greeley (Introduction)

“It is fast-moving and often downright funny.”—New York Times

 
“He has recaptured childish innocence and presented it with adult enlightenment—plus a touch of cynicism—yet never with irreverence.”
—Book-of-the-Month Club News

 
First confession and its terrors. Eighty-four first graders in a classroom ruled by just one nun. The agony and the ecstasy of Lent. The dubious honor of being declared the worst altar server ever. Dinah Shore and the Blessed Virgin haunting your dreams. This is Eddie Ryan’s world as he grows up in the intensely Catholic world of South-Side Chicago’s St. Bastion’s parish in the 1950s. In this classic coming-of-age novel, John Powers draws readers into Eddie Ryan’s world with deep affection and bittersweet humor.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Religion, American, Historical Fiction, Catholic, Novels

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a public school kid from the suburbs of Chicago in the 70's, this book gave me a peek at what life was like in the Catholic elementary schools of Chicago. I think those who went to Catholic school would laugh along with the author's recollections. A humorous, light read. Not exactly sure what the title has to do with the novel, nor am I sure why the last chapter was included at all. Other than that, an enjoyable, quick read.

[Mary! · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hysterically funny memoir of growing up Catholic in Chicago, this is one of my mother's absolute favorite novels. Even though I wasn't raised Catholic, it was still a warm-hearted, bittersweet recollection of being young and being sure that the world was indeed black and white.

[Sandy Rovas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you went to Catholic School or even Catechism in the 50s & 60s, perhaps int the early 70's - you'll be laughing. If you're younger, you'll get to see your parent's experience of school. I've read this a couple of times

[Marlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son just turned 39 and I read this book when he was 13 years old and in a hospital bed in another room, he had perthes disease and had to stay immobile. I was reading this book which took me back to my traumatic childhood catholic education and I laughed so hard that my son was calling to me to ask what was going on! What was going on was memories in vivid detail.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book about the Catholic Church in Chicago. It reads well, and a lot of the stories are fun, but you get the feeling you are in the hands of a lapsed Catholic who holds a grudge against the church. There always seems a bitter edge to the humor. I recommend the book, but only as an enjoyable read. It's not a fair or accurate description of what it's like to grow up Catholic.

[Mary Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for the whole family but especially for those of us of a "certain age".

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're Catholic or went to Catholic school, this is worth reading.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty funny - especially if you went to Catholic schools in the 50's and 60's and actually knew some of those nuns!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweetly sadly nostalgic, I didn't want it to end and the sadness I would have to feel with it. Such a funny relatable story of the Catholic school experience.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read this book many years ago and had forgotten how funny it was. I related to many of the stories(having been raised Catholic), but I'm sure that others would enjoy it, too.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad gave me a copy of this book almost 35 years ago, I lost that copy, but now I have 3 others. I re read these every few years.

[booklady · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first in the ten or more books I've read from the Loyola Classics series which I have not enjoyed. Ironically, this novel is supposed to be a comedy. Although fiction, Powers' book is based on the South-Side Chicago Catholic environment in which the author grew up. Each chapter is a short story unto itself complete with a clever title and deadpan recall of 1950's boyhood. The parish priests and nuns are mostly brutal, only vying each other in terms of their capacity for cruelty. But then most of the adults in Powers' world are at best indifferent to children. I've tried but failed to see the humor in this book. Oh well...

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The trouble I'm having with this book is I know it's supposed to be funny and yet I'm not laughing. Mostly I just feel maternal toward the author; I wish the young John Powers could have known compassion and adult affection/attention. I do see shades of my own childhood in the book but I also wonder how I missed becoming so cynical. And yet, if the stories are to be believed as accurate without exaggeration or embellishment, then perhaps I too might have taken that path.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up a Catholic and went to Catholic schools in the Chicago suburbs. My boyfriend also grew up Catholic and raved about how funny this book was and said I just had to read it.

Like another reader, “I couldn’t wait to finish this book, hoping it would get better.....it didn’t. It is an ok book but not great”.

The nuns when I grew up were Stalinists to put it mildly. I laughed sometimes but not that often. I think a boy and the “dirty book” thing, etc. would relate more to a boy than a girl.

It did bring back some memories---the Baltimore Catechism, practicing for First Holy Communion, mission fund raising, etc. but I think boys that went to Catholic school would relate more.

[Crizzle · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the author's words, this is a "social portrait of Catholicism in the mid-twentieth century". It's a fictionalized memoir that I couldn't wait to be done with and half-way through began skimming to the end; each chapter was its own story, so that didn't matter. For a humor book, there were just a couple times when I may have inwardly smiled. Otherwise, it was kind of sad.

[JMM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powers' fictionalized account of growing up -- as I did -- as a baby-boomer south-side Chicago Catholic certainly captures some moments (the "Confession" chapter nails it!) but misses something in overall cohesiveness.

[Pete Dematteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this book was hysterical. stifled creativity, oppressive regimentation, nasty nuns and priests, this was written before the church was in real trouble. perhaps readers should have taken this more seriously back in the '70's. Unreal!

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictionalized memoir about growing up in a Catholic neighborhood in Chicago--a lighweight but amusing book.

[Marc · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I just give up. Most of the way through the chapter on confession and this guy either can't get to the point or doesn't know what his point is in the first place.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed as a possible book discussion Sort of a memoir from the 70s not really pertinent now. Somewhat a sour grapes flavor. I don't think would lead to any discussion.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like stepping inside a hilarious time capsule.

[Kerry Zukus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, funny, funny. Powers' first book, a literal stand-up routine on growing up Catholic in America. Great fun.

[Joy Patton]

want this book

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Mike Gioia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was adequately written, addressed an interesting topic, but had a very ordinary sensibility manning the operation. I stopped reading after 100 pages, which is rare for me.

[Bonnie Morse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bitter ex-Catholic is pathetic.

[Ron Sadowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

6-24-2011

[Carlos Mock · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Last Catholic in America (Loyola Classics Paperback) by John R. Powers

"There were two major religions in the world. Catholics and 'Public.' Catholics went to St. Bastion grammar school, had long summer vacations, had to get off the sidewalks when a Public kid told them to since the sidewalks belonged to the Public and were constantly yelled at by adults who would say, 'I expected better behavior from you Catholic kids, with all the nuns watching over you." p. 12

This is a memoir narrated from the first person point of view of Eddie Ryan - our protagonist. It contains sixteen chapters, each reading like a short story with its own plot and characters. It is a very slow and tedious book. I never cared for anything, neither the characters or the plot. Having gone to a Catholic school myself, I thought the themes were very lame and not realistic. I hated it and don’t recommend it. The only good news is that it is a very short book you can read in a couple off days.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My maternal grandfather grew up Catholic in Chicago in an insular Polish neighborhood, and my mother went to a primary school run by nuns. I heard so many stories growing up about the "mean nuns" who ran the school through intimidation. I never had those experiences as a child, so it was interesting to take a peek into that world. This book had a lot of sharp and funny observations. It was a quick read.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nostalgic, yet dry, look at growing up Catholic in Chicago in the 1950s. I found it amusing in parts, and enjoyed his descriptions of a young boy's mind trying to wrap itself around some of the heavier aspects of Catholicism. Overall though, I felt sad about how dismissiveness and corporal punishment by the priests and nuns were viewed as a normal part of going to school. Made me glad I didn't go to Catholic school until after Vatican II.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a gift from a student in my Philosophy class. I was looking forward to good-humored jabs at some of the absurdities the Catholic Church promulgates. While there was some of that this book did not live up to my expectations. If you went to Catholic school, this might resonate more with you than it did me.