Kathleen Norris

Advantages: Inspiring and spiritual
Disadvantages: none

...Kathleen Norris' magnum opus, The Cloister Walk, has provided the entrance into monastic spirituality for almost as many people as any work in history, assuming, of course, that the people who purchased her book read, mark, and inward digest the meanings contained therein. It is a truly remarkable achievement--one born of contradiction and ambiguity. A woman has found such spirituality and insight in communities predominantly organised and lived in by men (I wonder how different or similar this work would be had Norris concentrated on visiting convents?). A protestant has found a home in her own soul for many of the most 'catholic' of practices. Where these insights and practices lead are different at different times, ever changing yet ever constant. Norris structures her book (and structure is very important for monastic types... Read review

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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: Inspiring and spiritual
Disadvantages: none

...Kathleen Norris' magnum opus, The Cloister Walk, has provided the entrance into monastic spirituality for almost as many people as any work in history, assuming, of course, that the people who purchased her book read, mark, and inward digest the meanings contained therein. It is a truly remarkable achievement--one born of contradiction and ambiguity. A woman has found such spirituality and insight in communities predominantly organised and lived in by men (I wonder how different or similar this work would be had Norris concentrated on visiting convents?). A protestant has found a home in her own soul for many of the most 'catholic' of practices. Where these insights and practices lead are different at different times, ever changing yet ever constant. Norris structures her book (and structure is very important for monastic types... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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: A Real Page-Turner
Disadvantages: None

...I read this book , Miss You Forever, in a day, why? Simply because I wanted to know what happened to the characters that made this page turner such a great read. The book starts with the heroine Kathleen being taunted by thugs because she looks like a vagabond, but there's so much more to Kathleen and the life she has led up to this point. After being followed to a "coal-hole" where she decides to sleep for the night, Kathleen is beaten by the same thugs and is left for dead, but found by a kind-hearted nurse, called Rosie. Rosie is entrusted with the only thing of value to Kathleen, her diaries. It is through Rosie reading the diaries, whilst caring for Kathleen in hospital that we learn of Kathleen's family history and life.The diaries we go on a turbulent journey filled with fear, heartache, tenderness, loss and of course, love... Read review

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