Title: Shattered Shells: Reflections on a Seminarian’s Fall and Recovery, A Memoir
Author: Frederick G. Giel
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5245-7066-8
Pages: 296
Genre: Memoir/Autobiography
Reviewed by: CC Thomas
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
It isn’t often that one can read a book that checks all the boxes, especially for the discerning and prolific reader. Somehow, though, this one does. A strong narrative plot? Check. Relevancy? Check. Engaging style? Check. Likable narrator? Check. Moments that make you laugh…and cry…and cringe? Check. The checkmarks for Shattered Shells by Frederick Giel are endless on this reader’s list, a reader who is very picky. Try as I might, I couldn’t find any faults with this book and soon came to love it. Why was I a resistant reader?
If you had told me at the beginning that I would absolutely love a memoir about a banished cleric of the Roman Catholic church, I would certainly not have believed it. Really, this isn’t even a book I would have picked up without a strong recommendation. And, yet, I can say with certainty, it is one of my favorite books of this reading year.
What’s not to love about this book? Giel doesn’t take himself too seriously and I formed an instant connection with his mischievous ways. He starts out describing his youth and life in a seminary after leaving home at the tender age of 14 years. While this might not sound absolutely hilarious. His description of the experience, “this was a military life without the guns”, describes an austere, silent, and regimented lifestyle and a boy who probably should have grown up to be a comedian. Giel doesn’t look back at his life with a jaundiced eye about his own holiness, but describes a bumbling childhood following by more bumbling into adulthood. It’s great to know I’m not the only one who makes such epic life mistakes. Giel treats every mishap and bad choice as an adventure, rather than a poignant life lesson, which is so refreshing. Many memoirs, especially those which are faith-based, seem to blend into mini-sermons. Not Giel’s book. Instead, he hilariously leads the reader along his life path and shows every vain, bad and ignorant thing he ever did. Not only does he describe these events, he embraces them! For these are truly life’s lessons—those which do not kill us makes us stronger. Well, based on his experiences, Giel is one strong fellow.
This is not to say, though, the book misses out on poignancy and warmth. Giel describes his experiences, friends, family, and others in such ways that the reader has no choice but to love and cry along with the author. It’s beautifully written and Giel is a blessed storyteller who makes his experiences come alive for the reader as if you’re the devil, or angel, sitting on his shoulder.
Shattered Shells isn’t all mischief-barely-managed. While Giel gets himself into some real scrapes, he also explains how he endured and kept on going through his life when things don’t work out according to plan. It’s an absolutely fascinating look into a priest’s mind. The reader will get to know more about being called to make such a decision and then the subsequent struggles with obedience and duty, as well as trying to follow cultural and familiar expectations. While it sounds a bit heavy, the hilarious tidbits, such as bloody bats and goat heads, will keep the reader glued to the pages and raises this book far and above the typical memoir. If Giel needs any recommendations at the pearly gate, this reader can vouch for him. This book has something for everyone, sinners and saints alike.
