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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
A very good book for someone who was slightly considering becoming a nun. Lost that wish real fast! Very interesting though.
Absolutely stunning - captivating, even. It was hard to put this novel down - the way it is narrated (and translated) grants a sharp, emotional delivery. It's an alluring, very much realistic story that everyone should read.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Diderot's prose is very straightforward, which made this text an easy read. I don't know how accurate his critique really is, but I feel as if the mentality shared by many of the nuns is a plausible one. That is, it is easy to see how nuns could go mad or tyrannize their 'sisters' at any given moment. Keeping a group of highly emotional women (many of whom had little to no actual education but much of the superstition that comes with a maniacal fixation on religion) secluded from normal society could be really dangerous. I can also see how the lesbian tendencies could come about, although I think the male author gets a bit carried away with his imaginings at times :) Overall, it was a swift, enjoyable read (more enjoyable than I thought a classic would be); it was generally a good story. I also enjoyed the preface that was tacked on at the end - funny!
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Written in the 1700s but feels strangely modern. Perhaps because author Diderot was a provocateur in his time who was briefly imprisoned for espousing ideas deemed anti-religious and dangerous. The Nun strikes me as mostly a story about a woman wanting autonomy in a world disinclined to give it to her.
i loved this! I think it was an excellent insight into the conflicts of religion, the conflicts of womanhood, and the conflicts of sexuality. it looks at how religion can pray on people, especially when they’re young and innocent and don’t have a worldly experience. I just really enjoyed this book and I’m so glad that I found it!
Honestly I liked this way more than I thought! Very enjoyable but sort of messed up but in an 18th century way that you know I love to write and think about. Very Pamela-esque (huge Richardson influence)
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"it seemed quite odd to me that the same thing could come from either god or the devil, depending on how they chose to look at it."