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emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully written view into monastic life. If you enjoy Call the Midwife, or the scenes in the convent in the Sound of Music… put this on your list.
Moderate: Child death
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was published in 1969. It has not aged well.
Minor: Child death, Death, Racism, Abortion, Colonisation
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't emphasize enough what a special book is! After this, I've realized that I need to be reading more books set in nunneries, in addition to more books by Rumer Godden.
Godden's sense of character is just so strong. She is someone to make the dozens of women in the Abbey each feel like their own real person, weaving in and out of little conversations and vignettes to craft a wider story. You quickly come to root for your favorite nuns and learn each of their faults, struggles, virtues, and quirks.
Granted that weaving can be a little confusing at times, and there's not always a clear sense of time or place. But that's really my only complaint here. Godden really takes the traditional structure of a nunnery and plays with it in a (somewhat) modern 195os context. She lifts the curtain on what I think in popular culture is often a solemn, mysterious space to really make you feel you're wandering its halls alongside these women.
This was truly so different from anything else I've read, and weirdly just so up my alley as well. Strong characters, female companionship, domestic details — if any of those sound good to you, well, then I highly recommend this.
Godden's sense of character is just so strong. She is someone to make the dozens of women in the Abbey each feel like their own real person, weaving in and out of little conversations and vignettes to craft a wider story. You quickly come to root for your favorite nuns and learn each of their faults, struggles, virtues, and quirks.
Granted that weaving can be a little confusing at times, and there's not always a clear sense of time or place. But that's really my only complaint here. Godden really takes the traditional structure of a nunnery and plays with it in a (somewhat) modern 195os context. She lifts the curtain on what I think in popular culture is often a solemn, mysterious space to really make you feel you're wandering its halls alongside these women.
This was truly so different from anything else I've read, and weirdly just so up my alley as well. Strong characters, female companionship, domestic details — if any of those sound good to you, well, then I highly recommend this.
Graphic: Child death, Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Terminal illness, Abortion
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Moderate: Child death
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure how I heard about this book, but I'm glad I decided to read it. It was a surprisingly fast and easy read. Even as a former Catholic, I had never understood the orders whose sole purpose was to pray. This book went a long way toward making that clear. It was a fascinating look at life in a monastery in the late 1960s when so many changes were happening in the Church and society.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Infidelity
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
I did like this book rather a lot overall, and until I got to the distressing bit described below under a spoiler cut, I was sure I’d be re-reading it in the future. I wasn’t hugely keen on one of the subplots, specifically the way Larry kept harrassing Cecily, and the way people kept letting him . But mainly I found the description of Keith’s death to be very disturbing, and I’m still trying to get it out of my mind.
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Fatphobia
Moderate: Child death
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Gorgeous, appealing descriptions of Catholic liturgy. I think that's what most people seek it out for?
Graphic: Child death