NunLitQuarterly

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

pick

I‘m not Catholic, but I grew up in an area that was VERY Catholic, so I was familiar with the basics of modern day Catholicism. What Agata goes through to avoid being used in the financial plans of her family, and the plotting of the church, is astounding. I enjoyed watching her grow even while cloistered, and learning the many reasons one might become a nun at that time. Well done, though the ending was a bit abrupt for me.
#nunlitquarterly

Aimeesue @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @BookishShelly @kspenmoll @KathyWheeler @Centique @Suet624 @Deblovestoread @Librarybelle @batsy @JamieArc @marleed @Kristin_Reads @Singout @PageShifter @jlhammar 1w

Librarybelle I‘m enjoying this so far! 1w

Aimeesue @Librarybelle It‘s so well done! 1w

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quietjenn I am very far behind, but everyone's comments are making me excited to make time for it. 1w

batsy Great review! I haven't started and hope to squeeze it in this month. The reviews all make it sound intriguing. 1w

jlhammar Fantastic review! Agree about the ending. It never fails to shock and sadden me just how little agency women had over their own lives. 1w

rubyslippersreads @quietjenn Me too. 1w

Aimeesue @quietjenn It‘s funny, for a novel that has the MC basically trapped in a convent for most of the book, it was very compelling. 1w

Aimeesue @batsy I enjoyed it very much, hope you do, too! (edited) 1w

Aimeesue @jlhammar It was just over so fast! 1w

Aimeesue @rubyslippersreads I hope you like it, 1w

38 likes11 comments

marleed

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

pick

I‘m thrilled this book came to my attention through #NunLitQuarterly and soon become immersed in Agata‘s world. I‘ll never make my peace with the power the Catholic Church gives to families of wealth, nor the amount of young girls rehomed to convents - but gosh it makes for an interesting read. I believe this was my first translated novel of 2024! I was also intrigued with Agata‘s 1840 fascination with the P&P Bennet sisters.

jlhammar

jlhammar I agree, so interesting! Glad you enjoyed it. 2w

Aimeesue Nice review! I was stunned at the power wealthy families had (have?) within the church. Mind boggling. 2w

marleed @Aimeesue Unfortunately, have remains the tense, and it‘s true of so many churches, clubs, charities… 2w

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jlhammar

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

pick

I ended up enjoying our April #NunLitQuarterly pick quite a bit. Rich in historical detail. Lots of inner turmoil for our young heroine. A good deal of drama yet filled with quiet, reflective moments. I think it was meant to be a happy ending, but I was left feeling concerned about how things might play out—hopefully just lots of romance and reading.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, JamieArc, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout, PageShifter

Deblovestoread Definitely how I envisioned the ending. It‘s good to HAE once in awhile 💜 2w

62 likes1 stack add1 comment

Bookwomble

The Earth is Falling | Carmen Pellegrino

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Estella, a defrocked nun turned governess, lives in a decaying house in an abandoned Italian village perpetually threatened by engulfment in a slow landslide. While she is alone of the living, ghosts of the former inhabitants are drawn to her, and they reluctantly relive their sadnesses. There's a nod to Poe's House of Usher in the metaphor of the collapsing structures mirroring Estella's psychological decline.
I learned of Derrida's concept of ⬇️

Bookwomble ... hauntology from another book I'm reading, Weird Walk: that cultural and social ideas can persist after their time and "haunt" the present, and Pellegrino's book seems to be a literary exploration of this.
The relationship between Estella and her charge, Marcello, is interesting and, as with much of the book, tinged with the sadness and regrets of what might have been. ⬇️ 2w

Bookwomble My finding of this book is an example of the triumph of the bookseller's art over the algorithmic shilling of online content pedlars 😏 2w

batsy This sounds interesting! And might be of interest to other #NunLitQuarterly members 🙂 @jlhammar 2w

Bookwomble @batsy It might be of interest to other readers generally, but the “defrocked nun“ aspect is background rather than foreground 🙂 (edited) 2w

Aimeesue @batsy That was my first thought, too! 2w

36 likes5 comments

jlhammar

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

“she prayed and worked on a paperole that was meant to have a gleaming white consecrated host at its center.”

The art of paperole has been mentioned a few times. Had to go searching for some images. Found this beautiful example.

#NunLitQuarterly

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, JamieArc, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout, PageShifter

Deblovestoread Beautiful 💜 2w

Centique Isnt that gorgeous! 2w

batsy Wow! 2w

Tamra That has to require extraordinary patience! 2w

Aimeesue Oh, it‘s mostly quilling! I did wonder. 2w

45 likes5 comments

jlhammar

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

“She opened the package—it was another novel, The Monk. The title made her smile…She leafed through it, as she always did. Every book has its own identity and characteristics, and Agata had a ritual that she followed in order to get to know and love a book…and only then did she pick up the paper knife. She put the little uneven tabs of paper that ripped off as she cut the pages into her mouth, as if they were communion wafers.”

#NunLitQuarterly

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, JamieArc, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout, PageShifter

jlhammar I thought this was a great passage. Love that Agata has such a passion for books and reading. 2w

batsy Nice quote. Especially the shoutout to The Monk, which I've been meaning to read! I haven't started yet and might not be able to this month, but I'll try to squeeze it in early May 🤞🏾 2w

jlhammar @batsy No worries! I don‘t know where this month has gone. Look forward to your thoughts if/when you give it a try. 2w

Aimeesue I laughed at him sending her The Monk. It‘s so depraved! Just was a nun needs! 😂 2w

39 likes4 comments

LitsyEvents

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

Repost for @jlhammar

#NunLitQuarterly 🔔 April 2024 reminder 🔔

Ciao Sisters!

Our next selection, The Nun by Simonetta Agnello Hornby, takes us to 19th century Italy. Read the book sometime in April, post your review &/or any thoughts along the way and be sure to tag the group.

All are welcome!

LitsyEvents Original post https://litsy.com/p/VHpCSVFVMEp4 2mo

35 likes1 comment

jlhammar

The Nun | Simonetta Agnello Hornby

#NunLitQuarterly 🔔 April 2024 reminder 🔔

Ciao Sisters!

Our next selection, The Nun by Simonetta Agnello Hornby, takes us to 19th century Italy. Read the book sometime in April, post your review &/or any thoughts along the way and be sure to tag the group.

All are welcome!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, JamieArc, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout, PageShifter

Librarybelle I was just thinking about this today! Getting my copy now! 2mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2mo

batsy Thanks for the reminder! 2mo

See All 7 Comments

quietjenn FYI, looks like the Kindle version is on sale at the moment! 2mo

Cathythoughts Every time I see these Nun lit posts , I have to smile to myself 😁 2mo

Suet624 Thank you for reminding us! 2mo

rubyslippersreads It‘s also available on Hoopla, if anyone one has that through their library. 2mo

55 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

Mercy House: A Novel | Alena Dillon

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There are parts to this book that are hard to read - the abuse faced by multiple characters and the plain hatred some have for others. But, there are signs of hope and forgiveness in the narrative. It‘s a study in faith, perseverance, living one‘s truth, and knowing everyone deserves “to love and to be loved.”

Great choice for #NunLitQuarterly !

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, batsy, JamieArc, jlhammar, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout

kspenmoll Really loved these renegade nuns! 3mo

Librarybelle @kspenmoll Yes! 3mo

jlhammar Living one‘s truth - love that! Great review! I so appreciated that they met the residents of Mercy House where they were, no judgement. 3mo

Librarybelle Yes, @jlhammar ! And thank you! 3mo

66 likes4 comments

jlhammar

Mercy House: A Novel | Alena Dillon

pick

This book really puts you through the wringer. Unflinching and affecting. Lots of difficult content, most (sadly) inspired by true stories Dillon encountered while researching. Sister Evelyn was a great character.

I wonder if an adaptation is still in the works? See link in comments below.

#NunLitQuarterly

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, BookishShelly, kspenmoll, KathyWheeler, Centique, Aimeesue, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, JamieArc, marleed, Kristin_Reads, Singout, PageShifter

jlhammar https://deadline.com/2020/04/cbs-all-access-mercy-house-corinne-brinkerhoff-amy-... 4mo

Librarybelle Thanks for the link! I plan to start this next week!! 4mo

JamieArc Just started this and really liking it so far! 4mo

See All 9 Comments

rubyslippersreads I‘m still reading, even though it‘s difficult, mainly because I‘m hoping for a certain evil character to get what they deserve. 😠 4mo

quietjenn Interesting about the TV show! 4mo

KathyWheeler @JamieArc I just started it as well but I love Sister Evelyn. 4mo

kspenmoll I have the book but may be behind in reading it, but I intend to. 4mo

Aimeesue A “Renegade Nun Thriller”? Not quite how I‘d categorize it, Deadline, but okay 😂😂😂 (edited) 4mo

jlhammar @Aimeesue Right? 😂 4mo

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