kelseystamey 's review for:

The Nun by Denis Diderot

3.0

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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!