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Rapture
Rapture | Emily Maguire
9 posts | 4 read | 19 to read
'Astonishing . . . a scorching vision of a book' CHARLOTTE WOOD, bestselling author of The Weekend The legend is only half the story... Ninth-century Mainz, in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. Agnes is the motherless child of an English priest - a wild and brilliant girl with a deep, visceral love of God. But when tragedy strikes, she is suddenly forced to choose between what is expected of her and the life she has always dreamed of. Determined to find her own freedom, she disguises herself as a man, securing a place at the revered Fulda monastery and forever altering the course of her existence. Thus begins the life of John the Englishman: a matchless scholar and scribe of Fulda, then a charismatic heretic in an Athens commune and, by her middle years, a celebrated teacher in Rome. There, she dazzles the Church hierarchy with her knowledge of the old and new languages of Europe, theology and Church law, and finds herself at the heart of political intrigue in a city where gossip is a powerful - and deadly - currency. And when the only person who knows her identity arrives in Rome, she will risk everything to once again feel what it is to be known - and loved.
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LeahBergen
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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@CarolynM ! Look what arrived today! I really wanted to read this book after your review but found that it‘s not available here yet. That little Charles Dickens book purse is AMAZING! And a gorgeous Christmas card along with the birthday card. I‘m thrilled!

Thank you so much, my dear friend! 😘😘😘

britt_brooke Gorgeous!! 1mo
DGRachel That cover is stunning! 1mo
willaful OMG, what a darling little purse! 1mo
See All 12 Comments
rubyslippersreads I ❤️ everything about this photo! 1mo
Merethebookgal How lovely! 1mo
squirrelbrain Lovely! ❤️ 1mo
mabell 😍😍😍 1mo
CarolynM 😘 I‘m glad you‘re pleased and that it reached you so fast! When I took the parcel to the post office they were very skeptical about it being delivered before Christmas 😆 4w
LeahBergen @CarolynM I love it all! And the colours all go so well together 😆 4w
BiblioLitten What @rubyslippersreads said ❤️😊 3w
LeahBergen @BiblioLitten Isn‘t it lovely?? 🥰 3w
61 likes12 comments
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TrishB
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Thank you Cathy 😘 I haven‘t read this and it looks fabulous! Just my thing- much appreciated.

Cathythoughts You‘re so welcome my old Litsy friend xxx I hope you will enjoy 👍🏻❤️ 2mo
LeeRHarry I picked this up recently, it looks very good. 😊 2mo
TrishB @LeeRHarry @Cathythoughts it looks very good! 2mo
49 likes3 comments
review
Eva_B
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Pickpick

I found this really interesting. The novel starts in Germany in the 800s where Agnes is born to an English priest and a pagan. Her childhood is spent listening to men of the cloth discussing God. In order for her to expand on her knowledge and live as a scholar she lives her life disguised as a man. Well written. Good read

CarolynM I was surprised by how much I liked this one 4mo
12 likes1 comment
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Centique
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Thank you for the birthday gifts @CarolynM ! So perfect a choice - this book is exactly in my wheelhouse and I definitely identify myself as a Book Nerd! They arrived the day before my birthday so perfect timing as well 💕 Thank you so much, I so appreciate your thoughtfulness and friendship.

Texreader Happy birthday!!! 🎉🎈🎁🎂🎊 8mo
CarolynM Glad it got there😊 I hope you like the book, I was surprised by how much I liked it. 💕 8mo
TheSpineView Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 8mo
See All 6 Comments
sarahbarnes Happy Birthday!! 🎉 8mo
Rissreadswithcats Sorry I‘m late! Happy birthday! 🥳 8mo
TrishB Hope you had a great birthday 🎉🎉 8mo
56 likes6 comments
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Freespirit
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Book haul from our lovely local book shop with my Xmas voucher from my hubby😊
Two of my favourite authors John Boyne and Robbie Arnott and the others have been recommended to me.
I‘m aiming to read 30 books the year…one of them will be the classic Middlemarch.
#fiction #literature

Teresereading Great purchases 12mo
TrishB Great haul 👍🏻 12mo
Freespirit Yes some good reading ahead! Hope your both well @TrishB @Teresereading 😘 12mo
Tamra 😍 Exciting! 12mo
CarolynM I loved Rapture, didn‘t like Dusk. Looking forward to seeing what you think 12mo
35 likes5 comments
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CarolynM
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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#12BooksOf2024 December

I was surprised by how much I liked this #ozfiction about a C9th girl whose thirst for knowledge led her into a life of deception in the church. It‘s my pick for December, although my new favourite Georgette Heyer, The Grand Sophy, is a very close second.

Thanks @Andrew65 for making this an annual tradition. And thanks to everyone who‘s participated, I‘ve enjoyed seeing all your choices.

Andrew65 Love Georgette Heyer books,

Thanks for playing along, it‘s been great seeing everyone‘s books. Hope to see you on the First day of Christmas later this year for #12Booksof2025. 👏👏👏😊🎉🥳
12mo
Chelsea.Poole what a cover ✨ 12mo
TheKidUpstairs I picked this one up after your review, can't wait to read it 😀 12mo
65 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
CarolynM
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Pickpick

Historical fiction is not really my thing & I come from long lines of religious non conformists with no sympathy for the Catholic Church, but I was fascinated by this story of a C9th girl who disguises herself as a Benedictine monk in order to feed her voracious intelligence & desire to learn. The place & condition of women in at that time is a major theme, as is corruption within the church. Captivating stuff! #ozfiction

CarolynM @TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha FYI I would have put this on my #AuldLangSpine list if I‘d read it in time. 13mo
LeahBergen Ooo, I‘ve been wanting to read this! Great review. 😘 13mo
Cathythoughts Great review, stacked. 👍🏻 13mo
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Amiable Sounds great! Kind of reminds me of this one, which was also excellent: 13mo
TrishB Sounds great 👍🏻 13mo
AmyG The cover! Stacked! 13mo
TheKidUpstairs Ooh, I already had this stacked, so I'll bump it up the TBR! 13mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I think it‘s the kind of book both of you would like🙂 13mo
CarolynM @Amiable She says in an afterword that the story “draws on myths, legends, gossip and conjecture” so I think we can assume the Pope Joan story was an influence here. 13mo
CarolynM @TrishB @AmyG @TheKidUpstairs I think you would all like it too🙂 13mo
Cathythoughts I just ordered it 😁 only it‘s a pre-order here , won‘t be out till late March. Looking forward to it. 13mo
66 likes6 stack adds11 comments
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Abailliekaras
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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Pickpick

This was brilliant. A girl in the 9th century becomes a monk and ascends to the high ranks of the Catholic Church. It sounds esoteric but is propulsive and Agnes is so engaging I was invested and wanted to see how she would confront each new challenge. Strong writing with some of the earthy poetry of Hannah Kent. Makes you think about sexism & privilege in a new way. A beautiful look at spirituality vs the excesses of the church. Recommended.

Tamra Sold! 13mo
Abailliekaras @Tamra I hope you enjoy it! 13mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Beautiful cover! 13mo
See All 10 Comments
CarolynM Great review. I‘m 100 pages in and loving it so far. 13mo
Abailliekaras @CarolynM thank you! It‘s so good. 13mo
LeeRHarry Added to the library holds list. 13mo
Kristy_K I would buy this for the cover alone. 13mo
Abailliekaras @LeeRHarry 👏🏼👏🏼 13mo
Abailliekaras @Kristy_K yes all the cover love! 13mo
32 likes2 stack adds10 comments
review
keepingupwiththepenguins
Rapture | Emily Maguire
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It‘s like a biblical Slumdog Millionaire, with a more reluctant (and regretfully horny) heroine. My trust in Maguire was well placed, as I found myself fascinated and eager to read more all the way through Rapture. So, even if it doesn‘t sound like your type of book, I encourage you to give it a go regardless. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/rapture-emily-maguire/

CarolynM On my #10BeforeTheEnd list, so I‘ll read it soon. Looking forward to it, I really liked her last one. 14mo
ReadingisMyPassion Beautiful cover! 14mo
LeahBergen This sounds good! 14mo
50 likes3 stack adds3 comments