Scan barcode
katerintree's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating insight into religious life. I found myself frustrated by whether or not I could trust the narrator, but that made me want to keep reading. What really bothers me is the writing was a little flat. The phrase “it felt good” was repeated so often I wanted to keep a tally. Many characters are one dimensional, & Johnson makes little to no attempt to round out any character other than the protagonist.
tamarahala's review against another edition
5.0
Long but great read that kept me engaged. Pretty shocking and disappointing to hear those who seem to be such positive forces in the world can be so evil.
steds's review against another edition
3.0
As audiobook read by author; some odd accents, but good listen. Very honest, probing, difficult look at one of the most "popular" orders in the world. Frustrating in the right ways - thought-provoking - overall I found it a good memoir, especially for those who live as, think about, or relate to Catholics and the modern Catholic experience.
bookrec's review against another edition
4.0
This book alternately gave me hope and made me mad. When she talks about her feelings for God and hearing Him, I want that. But when she takes about the convent life, I just want to slap them. You wonder what people were thinking, but she explains it. Some people have their own agenda and will pursue that by any means they can find. I like her meetings with Mother Teresa when she wasn't portrayed as the saint everyone makes her out to be. Definitely worth reading.
twistingsnake's review against another edition
5.0
“Sometimes I feel that I’m being healed, freed, and at other times
I feel like I’m in a trap or a cage and I can’t get out.”
“What is that cage made of?” His eyes were concerned, inviting.
“Sometimes the cage is my vows, because I want so much to be
with her and I feel God so present when I’m with her, but my vows
say I shouldn’t. At other times my desires for her are my cage,
because I want to be faithful to my vows but don’t seem able.
Sometimes she seems like the cage, because she doesn’t listen to me. Sometimes my confusion is the cage, because I have all these different desires at war in me and I can’t figure out what God
wants.”
I haven't been able to do anything the last few days but read this. I have always been fascinated with nuns and their approach to spirituality. I don't find many things beautiful or admirable about the church but this memoir not only made me question that limitation on the value I put on different expressions of faith but also made me question how I existed with my own beliefs.
I've always heard very conflicting views on Mother Teresa as a person and now I'm left with the complicated reality that Mary herself wrestles with throughout the book. We are not saints, not even if we are appointed so doing our mortal lives and people can both be good and terrible in equal regard. I started reading this book because of the podcast The Turning: The Sisters Who Left which delved into the lives of several nuns who left the Missionaries of Charity. I wanted to hear more from Mary in particular whose narrative and voice was so strong and left me wanting to understand her and her world more. I have never left a church pew thinking more about my faith or God but sometimes I would have to set this book down and reflect on what it really meant to live a religious life. I don't plan on converting (and I think Mary would be rather distraught if her book was the reason anyone left to join a religious order or signed themselves away to God) but it did soften my heart on so much and maybe was the first step to letting go of a lifetime of hurt and hatred toward an organization that until recently, I truly believed gave nothing of value to the world. It made me realize even if our beliefs differ, the dedication to a life of service is something beautiful and that even if we pray to different Gods there is nothing gained from doubting the reality or conviction of another's belief or lived experience. I can see myself re-reading this and recommending this book to as many people as I can. What an astounding life to have lived. 5 stars.
“That day I called out to God, loudly. I yelled, “So are you out there? And if you are, what are you like? Tell me. I’ve got to know.” I don’t tell Father Bob about the still, small voice I heard within. Look inside yourself, the voice said. God is like the best parts of you. From there it was a short step to God is the best parts of you.”
I feel like I’m in a trap or a cage and I can’t get out.”
“What is that cage made of?” His eyes were concerned, inviting.
“Sometimes the cage is my vows, because I want so much to be
with her and I feel God so present when I’m with her, but my vows
say I shouldn’t. At other times my desires for her are my cage,
because I want to be faithful to my vows but don’t seem able.
Sometimes she seems like the cage, because she doesn’t listen to me. Sometimes my confusion is the cage, because I have all these different desires at war in me and I can’t figure out what God
wants.”
I haven't been able to do anything the last few days but read this. I have always been fascinated with nuns and their approach to spirituality. I don't find many things beautiful or admirable about the church but this memoir not only made me question that limitation on the value I put on different expressions of faith but also made me question how I existed with my own beliefs.
I've always heard very conflicting views on Mother Teresa as a person and now I'm left with the complicated reality that Mary herself wrestles with throughout the book. We are not saints, not even if we are appointed so doing our mortal lives and people can both be good and terrible in equal regard. I started reading this book because of the podcast The Turning: The Sisters Who Left which delved into the lives of several nuns who left the Missionaries of Charity. I wanted to hear more from Mary in particular whose narrative and voice was so strong and left me wanting to understand her and her world more. I have never left a church pew thinking more about my faith or God but sometimes I would have to set this book down and reflect on what it really meant to live a religious life. I don't plan on converting (and I think Mary would be rather distraught if her book was the reason anyone left to join a religious order or signed themselves away to God) but it did soften my heart on so much and maybe was the first step to letting go of a lifetime of hurt and hatred toward an organization that until recently, I truly believed gave nothing of value to the world. It made me realize even if our beliefs differ, the dedication to a life of service is something beautiful and that even if we pray to different Gods there is nothing gained from doubting the reality or conviction of another's belief or lived experience. I can see myself re-reading this and recommending this book to as many people as I can. What an astounding life to have lived. 5 stars.
“That day I called out to God, loudly. I yelled, “So are you out there? And if you are, what are you like? Tell me. I’ve got to know.” I don’t tell Father Bob about the still, small voice I heard within. Look inside yourself, the voice said. God is like the best parts of you. From there it was a short step to God is the best parts of you.”
music_city_bibliophile's review against another edition
1.0
She was mistaken in discerning her calling. If God did not call her to be a sister, nothing else could have sustained her in it. I’m sad she felt like she had to write this book.
tashspice's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I thought I was going to read a spiritually uplifting book, but instead got a juicy exposé on the secret life of nuns. In one word: Scandalous. I couldn't stop reading it. The whole time you'll be like: 
More...