I have a deep love for reading about the cloistered life. It holds an irresistible allure that constantly pulls at my heartstrings.

In all the books I've perused on this subject, whenever the nun decides to break free from the confines of the convent and embark on her journey of escape, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement and cheer for her.

The idea of a life secluded from the outside world, with its strict rules and routines, yet still having the courage to break free and seek something more, is truly captivating.

It makes me wonder about the sacrifices one makes to live such a life and the inner strength required to make a drastic change.

Reading about these stories not only provides entertainment but also offers a glimpse into a world that is so different from our own.

It allows us to explore the human spirit and the lengths we are willing to go to in search of freedom and self-discovery.

So far so good.

This statement implies that things have been going well up until this point. It gives a sense of progress and satisfaction.

However, the addition of "makes those penguins from high school seem like REAL people" is an interesting and perhaps unexpected comparison.

It might suggest that the current situation or experience is so remarkable or different that it puts the memories of high school penguins (whatever that might refer to) into a new perspective.

It could be that the people or events now are more vivid, engaging, or significant compared to those from the past.

Overall, this short passage creates a bit of mystery and curiosity, leaving the reader wondering more about what exactly is being described and how the penguins from high school fit into the picture.

It also shows how a simple statement can be enhanced and made more interesting by adding a unique and unexpected element.

I have always been completely and utterly fascinated with people and communities who choose to live apart from the world. This includes nuns, Buddhist monks, a recluse residing on a mountain top, inmates confined in prison, the Amish, trappers dwelling in the wilderness, or any other form of isolated living.

Therefore, this was a book that I was eagerly looking forward to reading. I have already read several other books on this very subject. This particular book was not the worst among them, nor was it the best. Instead, it falls somewhere in the middle.

I had the impression that it could have been a truly excellent book if there had been a bit more substance or "meat" to it. Although I enjoyed the series of vignettes that the book is composed of, and I also liked the references to film and literature, it seemed to lack depth and detail in the most crucial aspects. There were run-on sentences and an excessive use of metaphors that often appeared to be contrived.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would have a desire to read again, and not one that I will likely remember a few months from now.

A very poetic memoir offers a vivid account of the experience of entering a convent and then leaving it several years later, filled with disillusionment. This memoir makes me deeply reflect on the stark difference between my mother's generation and mine. In my mother's era, it was not uncommon for many Catholic girls to choose to become nuns. However, in my generation, such a choice has become much less prevalent. Reading this memoir is like taking a peek into a mysterious world that I knew absolutely nothing about and had never really given much thought to. The writing is truly excellent, and it provides interesting insights that make me see this unfamiliar world from a new perspective.

I deeply regret that I am unable to recommend this memoir.

This memoir was penned a full 40 years after the author's experiences within the BVM religious congregation. However, it still appears to mirror the musings and thoughts of her late-teen or early 20-something self. As a result, I found a significant portion of this book to be either tedious or rather obvious.

I had harbored expectations of encountering some mature and profound reflections on her earlier experiences and thoughts. Regrettably, there were disappointingly few such moments, rendering this memoir less than compelling to me.

I was particularly let down by the mid-book reference to Mary Magdalene as someone who had committed adultery. Considering that this memoir was written in 2005 and taking into account the author's academic credentials, I had assumed that she would have steered clear of such an outdated belief that has been repeatedly disavowed by scholars.

Overall, this memoir fails to meet the mark in several respects, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and unable to offer my recommendation.

I guess it says something significant about this book to note that I had it on my (paper) list of books read. However, at that time, I couldn't remember what it was about at all. It was as if the details had completely slipped my mind.

Now that I have "refreshed my recollection", I find that I did like it to some extent. I felt involved in the story, perhaps because what young Catholic girl doesn't go through that phase of wanting to be a nun? The description of the day-to-day convent life painted a vivid picture in my mind, which piqued my interest.

Yet, her decision to leave was a little amorphous. It left me wondering what might have been left out. Was there some crucial event or feeling that led to her departure? I hope that in future readings or discussions, more light can be shed on this aspect to give a more complete understanding of the story.

A respectful memoir of her time in the convent.

None of us in the book club thought we could handle it. We were initially hesitant, fearing that the subject matter might be too intense or foreign to our experiences. However, as we delved into the memoir, we were captivated by her honest and detailed account.

She described the daily routines, the spiritual teachings, and the sense of community that existed within the convent walls. Her words painted a vivid picture of a world that was both disciplined and充满爱与关怀.

We found ourselves empathizing with her struggles and celebrating her moments of growth. Through her memoir, we gained a newfound respect for the nuns and the sacrifices they made.

It was a truly eye-opening experience that challenged our preconceptions and broadened our perspectives. We are grateful to have read this memoir and to have had the opportunity to discuss it in our book club.

This is a respectful recounting of a young woman's entry into the convent in 1960.

It is truly evocative of a lost time.

If you happened to grow up in the 50's, this account will surely bring a sense of nostalgia.

You will be transported back to a bygone era, remembering the values and traditions that prevailed then.

On the other hand, if you are younger, it will serve as a fascinating glimpse into what once was.

It will give you an opportunity to understand the world and the choices that people made in a different time.

The story of this young woman's decision to enter the convent is not only about her personal journey but also about the social and cultural context of that time.

It is a reminder of the power of faith and the sacrifices that people were willing to make for their beliefs.

Overall, this recounting offers a unique perspective on a particular moment in history and invites us to reflect on our own lives and the values that are important to us.

A Memoir Review

A young woman's memoir details her six-year stay in a convent in Chicago. However, she eventually leaves, realizing it wasn't the life for her. I found the concept of this book fascinating as it delved into a life I've never experienced. But, I must admit that Larsen's writing style left something to be desired. She writes in a rather superficial manner, never truly baring her feelings. Each chapter is extremely short, with some being less than a page long. This brevity makes it feel as though she is merely skimming the surface of each topic. I would have greatly enjoyed the book more if she had taken the time to flesh out each subject fully. Instead, she leaves the reader with more questions than answers. It's a pity because the story had great potential, but the execution could have been better.

This book truly had a profound impact on me.

I was immediately captivated by its unique features. The short chapters made it an easy and engaging read, allowing me to quickly immerse myself in the narrative.

The inner focus of the story provided a deep and personal look into the thoughts and emotions of the young nun, which I found both fascinating and relatable.

Moreover, the lifting of the veil on a young nun's life in the 1960s was a real eye-opener. It gave me a glimpse into a world that I had previously known very little about.

However, I do understand that this book may not be for everyone.

Some readers may not be interested in the subject matter or may not connect with the writing style.

But for me, it was a wonderful and enriching experience.

I'm so glad that I decided to give it a chance, despite my initial hesitation.

Once I started reading, I simply couldn't put it down.

The story of the young nun drew me in and held my attention until the very end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

This was truly an extremely interesting read that took an unexpected turn which really caught me by surprise.

After reading the epilogue, I was left with a plethora of unanswered questions simply hanging in the air. I couldn't help but wonder if that was the author's intention.

The story of the cloistered life is indeed filled with mystery and numerous questions. Perhaps Larsen's account of her own experiences as a young nun, along with the unanswered questions, was a means of evening out the playing field for what she disclosed about her convent life and the convent itself.

Regardless, this story transports us back in time to 1960, a period when the embers of reformation were steadily heating up within the Catholic Church. It is a story that showcases both extreme sacrifice and the deepest aspects of humanity.

Whether a person has knowledge about Catholicism or the cloistered nun life is irrelevant when reading this story. It represents a classic struggle that transcends religion and delves into the profoundest realms of our very being.

However, as a Catholic myself, upon finishing this book, I had a sense that Larsen harbored a slight grudge. I couldn't precisely pinpoint it, but it was definitely lingering, just like all of those unanswered questions that seemed to be hovering above.

I truly relished this coming of age memoir.

It seems to me that it would be most appealing to a specific niche audience, namely Catholic girls who were born between the early 1940s and the early 1960s.

This book demands a certain level of understanding of American culture during that era. Additionally, it requires a genuine comprehension of the Catholic Church both before and immediately after Vatican II.

Readers from this particular demographic would likely be able to connect with the experiences and emotions described in the memoir on a deeper level, as they would have lived through or have a better understanding of the historical and cultural context in which the story is set.

Overall, it is a fascinating and engaging read for those who fit within this specific niche.