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amandar9fa2f's review
4.0
Plant-hunting, theology and love in Outer Mongolia
Handsome priest and plant hunter, Joseph, travels through Mongolia, where he hears rumours of a rare lily of exceptional beauty. When he meets beautiful shaman, Namuunaa, his faith must overcome the ultimate conflict.
The Priest and the Lily is a meditation on belief and spirituality, and a powerful love story. O'Connell's writing is assured and she successfully evokes the rugged isolation and natural wonder of Outer Mongolia. She sets up a perfect counterpoint to the tender love between Joseph and Namuunaa, with the brutality and religious intolerance of warlords.
The novel takes a while to get going, far longer than is currently fashionable. What kept me engaged was the nature writing, especially on plants.
The novel was originally published by John Murray under the title The Naked Name of Love. O'Connell has reverted to her original - and more fitting, to my mind - title.
Handsome priest and plant hunter, Joseph, travels through Mongolia, where he hears rumours of a rare lily of exceptional beauty. When he meets beautiful shaman, Namuunaa, his faith must overcome the ultimate conflict.
The Priest and the Lily is a meditation on belief and spirituality, and a powerful love story. O'Connell's writing is assured and she successfully evokes the rugged isolation and natural wonder of Outer Mongolia. She sets up a perfect counterpoint to the tender love between Joseph and Namuunaa, with the brutality and religious intolerance of warlords.
The novel takes a while to get going, far longer than is currently fashionable. What kept me engaged was the nature writing, especially on plants.
The novel was originally published by John Murray under the title The Naked Name of Love. O'Connell has reverted to her original - and more fitting, to my mind - title.
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