the books of my childhood

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

I don't know when I first read this very sweet tale.  It will appall any disabilities rights activist because one of the children in the story (Clara) is an invalid and is she is healed by good mountain air and plenty of fresh goats milk. I also want to point out that one of the children (Peter) probably has dylexia. That can't be cured by threats or bribery. As I cast a critical eye on it at 63 I realize that the main character Heidi is both to good to be true and infantilized.  In terms of shaping the world view of a disabled child. I d on't know how much I absorbed.  I also see it now as a reliigous  text. As an unchurched child I don't know how much I absorbed.

There are two novels by Taylor Caldwell that I found in my mother's library as a teenager. They are Great Lion of God and Dear and Glorious Physician.  The first is about Saint Paul and the second is about Saint Luke. I am describing them together because they are very similar.  Rich descriptions and iconic characters.  These are also Catholic novels, particularly as they imagine Mary.  I have returned them now and imagined their impact on basically unchurched child.  That is where it began.