JANUARY - Introduction to Newman Week 1-2: Apologia Pro Vita Sua by John Henry Newman (15-20 min/day) ∙ Start with Part VII (the most accessible section about his conversion) ∙ This is Newman’s spiritual autobiography defending his conversion to Catholicism ∙ Read slowly; it’s dense but beautifully written Week 3-4: Newman’s Selected Sermons (15-20 min/day) ∙ “The Second Spring” (his most famous sermon on Catholic restoration in England) ∙ “The Parting of Friends” (his final Anglican sermon, 1843) ∙ Available in Parochial and Plain Sermons or anthologies FEBRUARY - Hopkins’ Poetry Entire month: Gerard Manley Hopkins poems (25 min/day) Read 1-2 poems daily with commentary. His poems are short but incredibly rich. Week 1: ∙ “God’s Grandeur” ∙ “The Windhover” (his masterpiece) ∙ “Pied Beauty” ∙ “Spring” Week 2: ∙ “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” ∙ “The Starlight Night” ∙ “Hurrahing in Harvest” Week 3: ∙ “Felix Randal” ∙ “Spring and Fall” ∙ “Carrion Comfort” (one of his “terrible sonnets”) Week 4: ∙ “No Worst, There Is None” ∙ “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark” ∙ “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord” ∙ His letters (excerpts about his poetic theory of “inscape” and “instress”) Recommended edition: Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Major Works (Oxford World’s Classics) - includes helpful notes MARCH - Tolkien (lighter reading) Week 1-2: Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien (10-15 min/day) ∙ Short allegorical story about art, purgatory, and creativity ∙ Then read Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy-Stories” Week 3-4: The Silmarillion - Selected chapters (20-30 min/day) ∙ “Ainulindalë” (The Music of the Ainur - creation story) ∙ “Of Beren and Lúthien” (the great love story) ∙ These show his Catholic imagination about creation, fall, and redemption Alternative if you prefer: Read his letters about faith from The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, especially Letter 142 (to his son about the Eucharist) and Letter 156 (about The Lord of the Rings’ Catholic elements) APRIL- Belloc’s Historical Works

Hi I'm Joe — glad to be here. I started to this community because I love great books but know how easily good intentions around reading can collapse without structure and a community. The promise of 25 minutes a day felt realistic for anyone. - What drew you to the 25-minute reading right now? Given how busy life could be, I wanted to incorporate more leisurely reading in 2026 at a manageable pace. I wanted to bring people along because the conversations about the books are so enriching so I started this community. - Whats your favorite Great Book? Philosophy, literature, and spiritual reading moved me the most. But favorite is War & Peace. - What hold me back from reading more? A structured plan and a community where I commit to doing it Please introduce yourself here and answer: - What drew you to the 25-minute reading right now? - Whats your favorite book? - What hold me back from reading more?