Customer Reviews

Black Narcissus

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sister Clodagh, the youngest Mother Superior in the history of her' order, has brought a small band of nuns to establish a convent in Mopu at the foot of the Himalayas. But the sisters will have to battle native superstitions, a blasphemous handyman, the elements and most of all themselves if they are to succeed.

Rumer Godden was raised in India and was a convert to Catholicism and her love for, and ambivalence towards, both of them blend beautifully here. Regardless of the ultimate fate of her mission, Sister Clodagh's personal journey makes for a wonderful read.

I don't usually respond this way to other reviews but Delennwen's obvious disappointment got me thinking of my own experience of the book and I couldn't let this pass. Yes, it's true that the characters are mostly unpleasant to some degree, and it could be said that the nuns in particular are not especially attuned to the notion of a loving God. On the other hand, it could also be said of Sister Clodogh in this regard that she has never had any particular experience of FAILING at anything and so had not previously had a personal NEED for divine love or redemption. It is, after all, admitting the failure of this particular mission to India which causes the Mother General of the order to write, "Your letter gave me a glimpse of a Clodogh whom I have been long wanting to meet". And what a concept in the end--that God could possibly love us despite our failures or personal weaknesses!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Rumer Golden's writing. Another of her books which stays with you long after it's finished.

Recommended.

I loved IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE so much that I leaped at the chance to read another Rumer Godden book about nuns. What a contrast! None of the nuns here are likable, neither are any of the other characters. THe situation is unpleasant, it just grows more and more depressing. I got no sense of God or faith or hope anywhere in the book--aren't any of these nuns in touch with the LOVE of God? What a sad surprise. I am tremendously disappointed.