BOOKED FOR A STAYCATION

A recent commercial highlighted the coined word, ‘staycation.’ The concept of ‘staycation’ refers to a leisure break time spent locally, usually at home or nearby. As an avid reader I am advocating those unable to get away for a summer vacation this year, for whatever reason, to avail themselves of frequent relaxing breaks centred on leisure reading. As author Jhumpa Lahiri beautifully put it:

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”

May I take the liberty to recommend the Electra McDonnell book series by author Ashley Weaver. Her series offers the reader a historical mystery collection set during World War II. As of July 2025, the series comprises five books:  

A Peculiar Combination (2021),

The Key to Deceit (2022),

Playing It Safe (2023),

Locked in Pursuit (2024),

and One Final Turn (2025).

The cleverly chosen titles subtly hint at Ellie’s life transition, as a former safecracker-turned-spy, as she navigates her complex new world of espionage. The books’ chapters combine elements of suspense, romance, and historical detail.

If you find yourself liking Ashley Weaver’s storytelling style and looking for more books by her, you might also enjoy the author’s other historical whodunit series, the Amory Ames Mystery Series. The protagonist in the series of seven is Amory Ames, a stylist, self- possessed, young woman living in 1930s England. Amory is an independently wealthy amateur sleuth who frequently finds herself entangled in murder investigation.

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
— Mason Cooley

I hope my blog is a reminder that a well-told story can transport you far beyond your front door. Happy reading and safe travels, wherever your pages may lead you.

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ 

Image: Victor Ballesteros/Kari Shea | Unsplash

Moral Ambition: A Book Review

Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman (2025)

I was surprised—and grateful—when the public library notified me that Moral Ambition was ready for pickup. I had no memory of placing it on hold, but I’m very glad I did. Rutger Bregman’s book is compelling, thought-provoking, and one I highly recommend.

Drawing inspiration from the quote, “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall” (Allen Raine, 1836–1908), Bregman explores what it means to use one’s talent in service of the greater good.

This isn’t just a book about inspiring individuals—it’s a call to action. Bregman introduces readers to people who are directing their considerable skills and energy toward solving the world’s toughest challenges. Along the way, he challenges us to do the same. Chapter titles alone give a taste of the book’s tone and urgency:

  • No, You’re Not Fine Just the Way You Are

  • Lower Your Threshold for Taking Action

  • See Winning as Your Moral Duty

  • Find Out What the World Needs and Make It Happen

  • Expand Your Moral Circle

  • Make Future Historians Proud

Bregman doesn’t merely celebrate moral ambition—he insists it’s within reach for each of us. As he writes, “If you choose to go the moral ambition route, the ripple effect can be enormous. Your behaviour is contagious, so a better world does indeed begin with you. Moral ambition isn’t a trait; it’s a mindset.”

This book will challenge your assumptions, spark ideas, and leave you rethinking how you spend your time and talent. It’s an invitation to live more boldly—and more purposefully.

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, CSJ

Image: Martin Adams/Unsplash; Book: https://rutgerbregman.com/books/moral-ambition