Brother Benet Tvedten

Advantages: A wonderful view in the window
Disadvantages: -

...This book, 'A View from the Monastery', written by the witty and compassionate Brother Benet Tvedten, is a wonderful view into a monastic life, despite the title's reversal. Brother Benet Tvedten is a monk at Blue Cloud Abbey, in the wide-open spaces of the American middle plains states. Blue Cloud Abbey is one of the monasteries on Kathleen Norris' list of retreat centres (Kathleen Norris has become famous for her books 'Cloister Walk' and 'Dakota', among others). I have an affinity for this place (even though I've not been there) as they grew up and out of the southern Indiana Catholic community, practically next door (St. Meinrad is a monastery not far from here, who also house a seminary I will most likely take courses from before long). In this book, Brother Benet reflects on his choices, the monastery's choices, the world... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Fascinating, well-written and lovely characters
Disadvantages: Will not appeal if you are anti-religion!

...“A Question of Integrity” was the original title of the book that is now “The Wonder Worker” by Susan Howatch and forms part of a trilogy, set in and around St. Benet’s Healing Centre, a centre for Christian spiritual healing in London’s square mile. I had already read “The Heartbreaker” which is in fact the final book in the trilogy, but I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to read the other two books in the series. This book is the first. Set in the early 1990s, the book tells a remarkable story through the eyes of four of the main characters, each of whom narrate a section of the book. Susan Howatch generally writes in this way, which I quite enjoy, as it enables us to have different people’s perspectives on similar events, which is particularly good when there is a subject matter such as religion, which tends to be viewed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Original and fascinating subject matter, well-written, good characterisation
Disadvantages: Subject matter may put some people off - which is a shame

...Carta Graham was a high flying city lawyer until the suicide of her husband Kim, in traumatic circumstances, caused her to rethink her priorities. Now, Carta has withdrawn from the rat race and is a fundraiser for St. Benet’s Church and Healing Centre, which helped her so much during that difficult time in her life. She has a new relationship with writer, Eric, and a strong circle of friends around her, including Nicholas Darrow, minister at St. Benet’s. Gavin Blake is a high class leisure worker, providing discreet sexual services to wealthy businessmen and raking in money for himself and his manager, Elizabeth. Gavin is grateful to Elizabeth for rescuing him from a life of destitution, but despite his comfortable life, there is a shadow in the background in the form of the shady Asherton, who is set on using Gavin to recruit... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful