An American Cardinal

November 3, 2014
Boyle, a British journalist and former staffer at the New York Daily News, gained unprecedented access to one of the most famous Catholics in the United States and tells his story eloquently. She presents an eminently readable and enjoyable description of Timothy Dolan, a gregarious and generous human being who can also stand his ground like a pit bull in a verbal battle. Dolan was incredibly accommodating to the author, opening all aspects of his life and ministerial career to her, even recommending some family members and old acquaintances to interview for the project. Dolan's affable nature is clearly presented, but so is his role as a company man. For Dolan, contested issues such as abortion and gay marriage are not debatable; the Church's teaching is clear. At other times, the author portrays the cardinal as humble and vulnerable, as when he discusses what it has been like to live a celibate adult life. Boyle effectively portrays a complex and intriguing human being who could one day become the first United States born pope.

September 15, 2014
Biography of the current cardinal from New York. Journalist Boyle presents a lighthearted, highly positive portrait of Cardinal Timothy Dolan. As a comparably young cardinal whose influence in the Catholic Church has been steadily on the rise for years, Dolan is a good candidate for biographical study. Boyle's attempt, however, is often too saccharine. She shows him emerging from a stereotypical 1950s suburban household in Missouri, complete with pious parents always willing to sacrifice for their family. The young Dolan attended a new and growing Catholic elementary school and knew from an early age that he wanted to be a priest. After taking a predetermined track through high school and seminary toward that purpose, he was awarded the rare honor of studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. From that point on, his rise was nearly meteoric. Boyle's most substantive chapters concern Dolan's years as a bishop in St. Louis and as archbishop of Milwaukee, during the height of the child sexual abuse scandals in those cities. Since 2009, Dolan has led the church in New York as archbishop and now as cardinal. Boyle has crafted an approachable and readable book and lays a foundation for those hoping to learn more about this influential church leader. However, her work reads like a commissioned biography far more than a journalistic effort. The book is replete with folksy examples of Dolan's humor, compassion and wisdom, as well as countless doting quotes from those who have known him. Only occasionally does Boyle offer criticism, and the author herself often effuses praise-e.g., "[Dolan's] joie de vivre was matched only by his piety." An enjoyable but less-than-objective biography of "one of the most prominent Catholics in the world."

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Starred review from October 1, 2014

Journalist Boyle's debut book presents a biography of Cardinal Timothy Dolan (b. 1950), praising the generous access he allowed her to both himself and his family throughout her extensive research. The author begins her account with a preface on the Papal Conclave of 2013 and proceeds to trace Dolan's humble beginnings in Missouri to his achievements as a church historian and professor, rector of two seminaries, and parish priest excelling in pastoral care and exemplary preaching. Boyle continues to describe Dolan's competency as a church administrator in the midst of priestly sexual misconduct scandals in his hometown of St. Louis, along with his rise to his current position, Archbishop of New York. Boyle takes care to humanize Dolan, describing the charismatic personality that has become one of his trademarks, as well as his love of reading and baseball, devotion to extended family, and faithfulness in personal prayer. An epilog includes Dolan's impressions of newly-elected Pope Francis. VERDICT All readers, not just Roman Catholics, will be inspired by this story of a Midwestern boy-turned-prominent figure and leaders can learn a lot from his handling of opposition, conflict, and the press.--Carolyn Craft, emerita, Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2014
Boyle's very sunny biography of New York's archbishop is authorized in a sense, since Dolan answered all the author's questions and opened doors to his family, friends, and colleagues. Her prose shows those advantages in a certain colloquialism throughout; indeed, Dolan's speech, in particular, is often ungrammatically off-the-cuff, which slows reading this would-be swift, uncomplicated book. Dolan comes across as the best kind of midwesternerlaughing, hearty, salt of the earth from a working-class family who never complained about hardship. He knew early that he wanted to be a priest and, what's more, a pastor. To pastor as much as he wanted, he volunteered to assist local parishes when his actual position was administrative. Although he has had run-ins with SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), most of those at the parishes and dioceses he has served seem to consider him a priest for the people. An introductory look at a media-visible priest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)