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agnela's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
I have conflicted feelings over this book. I loved narration, I am interested in stories from people visiting Buddhist monasteries, I had nothing against how this woman views religion and her beliefs. I actually found it refreshing and lovely, but the sheep stories were gruesome, I saw no love for sheep themselves, only what their loves can give the farmers. One dying or not being able to birth lambs means loss of money that makes the owners angry and furious. I think seeing this as love for these animals were nonsense, denial of truth in front of you. Maybe the PETA girls were wrong, but neither was Mary right. If you can't grow soy somewhere, you absolutely still can grow something else. We can't grow a lot of things in colder climates, but we still deal with it and grow food, I bet there's a lot of plants that people can grow in warmer climates. The thing is, it's a good argument, but not as informed as she thinks it is. So, actually, logically, she's in the same plane as PETA girls with "everyone should grow soy".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
pattydsf's review
4.0
’In the Christian calendar, November 1 is the Feast of All Saints, a day honoring not only those who are known and recognized as enlightened souls, but more especially the unknowns, saints who walk beside us unrecognized down the millennia. In Buddhism, we honor the bodhisattvas - saints - who refuse enlightenment and return willingly to the wheel of karma to help other beings. Similarly, in Judaism, anonymous holy men pray the world from its well-merited destruction. We never know who is walking beside us, who is our spiritual teacher. That one - who annoys you so - pretends for a day that he's the one, your personal Obi Wan Kenobi. The first of November is a splendid, subversive holiday.”
“I would not say I am looking for God. Or, I am not looking for God precisely. I am not seeking the God I learned about as a Catholic child, as an 18-year-old novice in a religious community, as an agnostic graduate student, as - but who cares about my disguises? Or God's.”
“When I speak in Christian terms or Buddhist terms, I'm simply selecting for the moment a dialect. Christian words for me represent the comforting vocabulary of the place I came from hometown voices saying more than the language itself can convey about how welcome and safe I am what the expectations are and where to find food. Buddhist words come from another dialect from the people over the mountain. I've become pretty fluent in Buddhist it helps me to see my home country differently, but it will never be speech I can feel completely at home in.”
I have mentioned the serendipity of finding books often in my reviews. I am always reading reviews and making lists and trying to figure out what my next book will be. Should I follow a memoir with fiction or more non-fiction. When am I going to read more poetry? What about that book that I have heard about from more than one other reader? And what do I do about the fact that I cannot read everything I am interested in.
This lovely book was referenced in David Dark’s Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious. The title caught my eye and then I figured out that it was available from Hoopla. So, I checked it out. It didn’t go on my ever-growing list of to-be-read-books. I am so glad that I picked it up at once.
O'Reilley is a magical writer. She showed how the disparate parts of her life made up a fascinating whole. I learned about her novitiate, her interested in music especially Sacred Harp music, her visit to Plum Village in France and most of all her work as a shepherd. Little bits came out as if we were having a conversation, not as if I was reading her writing. O’Reilley’s style is not what I am used to, but I found that I really had to pay attention to the threads of her story.
I am not sure to whom I would recommend this memoir. It is part autobiography, part spiritual guide and all thought provoking. I would give anything to spend a day, week or whatever in O’Reilley’s company. She makes me think and I am grateful.
“I would not say I am looking for God. Or, I am not looking for God precisely. I am not seeking the God I learned about as a Catholic child, as an 18-year-old novice in a religious community, as an agnostic graduate student, as - but who cares about my disguises? Or God's.”
“When I speak in Christian terms or Buddhist terms, I'm simply selecting for the moment a dialect. Christian words for me represent the comforting vocabulary of the place I came from hometown voices saying more than the language itself can convey about how welcome and safe I am what the expectations are and where to find food. Buddhist words come from another dialect from the people over the mountain. I've become pretty fluent in Buddhist it helps me to see my home country differently, but it will never be speech I can feel completely at home in.”
I have mentioned the serendipity of finding books often in my reviews. I am always reading reviews and making lists and trying to figure out what my next book will be. Should I follow a memoir with fiction or more non-fiction. When am I going to read more poetry? What about that book that I have heard about from more than one other reader? And what do I do about the fact that I cannot read everything I am interested in.
This lovely book was referenced in David Dark’s Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious. The title caught my eye and then I figured out that it was available from Hoopla. So, I checked it out. It didn’t go on my ever-growing list of to-be-read-books. I am so glad that I picked it up at once.
O'Reilley is a magical writer. She showed how the disparate parts of her life made up a fascinating whole. I learned about her novitiate, her interested in music especially Sacred Harp music, her visit to Plum Village in France and most of all her work as a shepherd. Little bits came out as if we were having a conversation, not as if I was reading her writing. O’Reilley’s style is not what I am used to, but I found that I really had to pay attention to the threads of her story.
I am not sure to whom I would recommend this memoir. It is part autobiography, part spiritual guide and all thought provoking. I would give anything to spend a day, week or whatever in O’Reilley’s company. She makes me think and I am grateful.
ricefun's review against another edition
5.0
I was so intrigued by the title of this book that I immediately bought a copy on Better World Books. I spent a flight to Las Vegas reading the better part of this memoir. The chapters are short and quick to read, but the truths they hold about life and faith expand on and on and on. It is ironic that I was reading this book, which includes a significant visit to Plum Village, the spiritual community following the teachings of Tich Nhat Hanh, on the date of his passing. Having this glimpse into his Buddhist practices and teachings felt relevant and right.
While I'm not inspired to buy 40 acres and start a "religious petting zoo" as Mary's dream is characterized at one point in the book, this book is a reminder to continue learning, expanding, and spending more time deeply immersed with creation. I've already recommended it to more than one friend, with intentions to buy copies as gifts. I suspect I may re-visit this story at some future time in my life.
While I'm not inspired to buy 40 acres and start a "religious petting zoo" as Mary's dream is characterized at one point in the book, this book is a reminder to continue learning, expanding, and spending more time deeply immersed with creation. I've already recommended it to more than one friend, with intentions to buy copies as gifts. I suspect I may re-visit this story at some future time in my life.
ljcostel's review against another edition
5.0
Personal memoir of a remarkably insightful woman. One of the best books I've ever read. Felt like talking to a person thinking about and feeling so many of the things I am right now. Beautiful insights on Catholicism, Buddhism, Quakerism, religion, farming, sheep, mindfulness, singing, love, meaning, nature, family, spiritual longing and fulfillment, I could go on and on. Must have underlined half the book. Often deeply funny
nikarice's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book spoke to my soul so much. The mixture of specific animal science and husbandry with meditation and religion was incredible. I find it so comforting that there are others who find farming a sprititual practice. I understand myself better after reading this book. I will definitely reread in the future.
revslick's review
2.0
funny with a gift for narrative structure making the book a light jaunt into the Spirit lite section, however, the lack of depth even with the author's purported Quacker background leave the reader like eating a hollow chocolate bunny.
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