Customer Reviews

Body and Soul

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

 

 

I read this book for the first time several years ago, and have read it several times since. I have lent it to friends who also loved it.

I read when I was close to the age Anna is in the story and was going through some of what Anna does. Not that I was ever a nun, but I made a drastic career change in my early 30s, which is EXACTLY what Anna is doing. She still loves the Church, but she also learns to love the outside world. She expends a lot of time and emotional energy in making her decision. Kirkus belittles her love of God and her devotion to duty, both of which she ultimately keeps, even though she sheds the habit.

This is an outstanding book, but read it before watching the PBS version. They butchered it.

Although I enjoyed the PBS production of "Body & Soul", I preferred the book over the TV seires. Anna became more alive in the book, revealing her emotional conflicts, her fear of changes and her doubts in the faith which were breezed through in the series. The book allowed you more reasons to empathize with Anna and Lynn. It was also less sensational , downplaying the sexual overtones highlighted in the series, and focusing more on emotional conflicts and freedom of choice. The decription on the nuns' behavior and mental state brought back memories of my contact with them during my school days in a Catholic girl school.Thos who liked the PBS series will definely like the book more.

I loved this book! I've read it more than once and have loaned my copy to friends who have also loved it. In fact it is currently on it's way to Seattle. I loved all of the characters, even the most annoying Mother Superior and business manager, because they were so real. I would love to be able to buy copies for friends, but they are hard to come by these days. I'll just have to keep loaning my copy out. It is well worth the risk of losing it just to be able to share a wonderful story with friends.