Quotes:
"In this potent debut about a wayward yet devout young priest who
struggles to reconcile his faith with longings of the flesh, Reimringer
has crafted a suspenseful, illuminating, and highly readable saga." —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review and Pick of the Week
"One of the most anticipated books for Fall 2010."—Huffington Post
"Luminous." —Pioneer Press
"Reimringer's debut novel, about a Minnesota priest, is finely
wrought, with overtones of J.F. Powers. [Protagonist James Dressler is]
full-blooded in a way fictional priests so often aren't, and he stars in
an admirably complex study of family ties." —Star Tribune
“Through his thoughtful themes and lyrical prose, Reimringer
effortlessly restores a measure of dignity to the priesthood even as he
pays tender homage to the working-class roots of St. Paul.” —Booklist
"Holden Caulfield meets Colleen McCullough's The Thorn Birds with
some Bukowski on the side, this is a compelling tale that provides a
little-seen, interior, first-person point of view of the priesthood. For
all readers interested in inner conflict." —Library Journal
"Ribald and wry, concerned at heart with faith and
forgiveness, Vestments is a rich, involving debut." —Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster and Songs for the Missing
"This book knows the soul of the great old city: the yellowing taverns
and fraying neighborhoods, the sense of grace in decline, the doubtful
saints wrangling their disbelief. John Reimringer writes with the
confidence and observation of one who was there at the time and is
there still, and his novel has the knuckles and shouting and beer
breath of glory." —Leif Enger, author of Peace Like a River and So Brave, Young and Handsome
“In this memorable, skillful novel, Reimringer writes compassionately
about the tie between violence and yearning, the calls of the body and
the calls of the spirit. Many writers can write well about one or the
other. The gift of this writer is his rich understanding and love of
both. Vestments is a wise, wide, and eloquent book.” —Erin
McGraw, author of Lies of the Saints and The Seamstress of
Hollywood Boulevard
"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
“John Reimringer’s writing is exquisite. Each and every word is precisely what it should be.” —Nancy Simpson, Book Vault, Oskaloosa, IA
“This is truly a masterful and flawless first novel.” —Carl Hoffman, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
“In his gripping debut novel Vestments, John Reimringer
lyrically depicts the struggles of family, the decay of neighborhoods,
and most importantly, crises of faith, and his priest protagonist is as
human and genuinely portrayed as any cleric in modern fiction.” —Largehearted Boy
“A stunning debut—compelling, sharp, and rich with layers of history,
family, religion, love, and everything that can wedge itself between
these. Set in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this novel makes the reader feel as
though one has lived in this city all one’s life, and it boasts a cast
of characters as unique and fully formed as the setting. This is human
frailty thoroughly and beautifully rendered.” —
ForeWord Reviews
