In this memoir, the author recounts the difficulty she had getting adjusted to life outside a convent after being a nun for seven years, during the 1960s.
I have to admit that after reading a couple of chapters, I just started flipping through and skimming the pages for any parts that seemed interesting to me.
I enjoyed reading about about her life in the convent. During her time in training, or novice ship, her life was strict and sheltered...every hour of the day planned and controlled.
She described the physical and emotional toll it took on herself and other young ladies around her...eating disorders, depression, etc.
After she left the convent she lived for a while with an eccentric family , acting as a part time nanny for their mildly autistic son, while she attended college. This part was interesting to read as well.
As the book goes on though, there is just too much about the author's health issues (later diagnosed as epilepsy). Boring to read about each blackout and fainting spell.
Ms. Armstrong has a style of writing and storytelling that is just not appealing to me. Lots of references and quotes from poetry and literature that I am not familiar with and basically just not interested in. It seems that she finds deeper meaning in that sort of thing than I ever will.
So, I just skimmed and skipped around in this book and found that things turned out pretty well for her in the end.
I wouldn't recommend this book and I wouldn't read other books by this author, but I would like to read more about what it's like to live in a convent.
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