Helpful Score: 2
A woman reporter set out to examine the lives of modern nuns, staying at many convents (or monasteries, as some prefer to be called) and becoming friends with many nuns. She interviewed more than 300 from 50 different orders in America. Some groups have remained traditional, others have radically changed from what they used to be, and there are even nuns who are activists and go against certain wishes of their male superiors in the church. One of the most surprising bits of information in the book was that stricter orders where nuns still wear the somewhat uncomfortable traditional habits are attracting more new aspirants than those in which the nuns do not dress or live that much differently from the rest of us.
Helpful Score: 1
a close look at nuns, the way it really is/was for them.
Helpful Score: 1
This book explored the different types of convents and women's religious orders in American today, and how it has changed in recent times. I found it to be very interesting and informative and also well-written.
Helpful Score: 1
A very informative and interesting piece of journalism. Written by a protestant who had grown up almost fearing nuns: She travelled throughout the United States, stayed in several monestaries, lived with and lived the live of the nuns. It is amazing the difference in the attitudes and lives of the nuns in different areas. I am not a Catholic, but have always admired the dedication of those who choose to give up everything they own for a life as a Nun. I highly recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
This was our book group's book last month--led to a lot of discussion, and the book was uniformly enjoyed. Blasts stereotypes of nuns right out of the water. There are Buddhist nuns, nuns who aren't sure they believe in God, nuns who KNOW they don't believe in the Pope, nuns who think that living away from society's problems is the only way to really be able to focus prayerfully on making changes, nuns who think that the only way to effect change is to live among the people they want to help...there are all kinds of nuns, just like there are all kinds of any other women in America.
