Sheryl Z. (szamp) reviewed on 11/5/2009 + 25 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

This book was very interesting particularly if you grew up Roman Catholic in the 60's. In some places it is very dull, such as when Larsen regurgitates the rules of her order but then I thought about myself as a 7 year old reciting meaningless catachisms over and over. Life was pretty dull sitting on either side of those Catholic school desks. This is a rare peak behind the forbiden convent doors. There is no bashing of nuns or priest or rehashing of suppresed sexual urges. Sister Mary Deborah, a good Midwestern Catholic girl, slips into the unquestionable obedience of convent life much like many women did in their late teens. This was a time when most religious orders were flooded with applicants, something I had completely forgotten about. Larsen takes us back to those times when we were awed by the sisters. Then bam the book is over, I will not say what happened but the last section is unexpected. I was very glad there was a post script also because at this point I was very concerned about Sister Mary Deborah & keen to know if "everything" turned out well. If you are a female baby boomer, who as a young woman never took up the NOW banners or gave your family cause to worry if you had been "spoiled", then you will recognize yourself in this book.

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