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Books about nuns

57 replies

JonasKahnwald · 06/11/2020 09:32

I'm looking for books about nuns and convent life but looking on amazon there really isn't much. It keeps recommending the horror movie The Nun Hmm

I know its a bit of a niche subject but does anyone know of any books like this?I'm really interested in what brings a woman to become a nun and their life after this decision.

Thankyou

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Picktionary · 07/11/2020 11:38

I enjoyed the Karen Armstrong one - she was very young. Very readable.

WildCherryBlossom · 07/11/2020 11:37

Catalina by Somerset Maugham. I read it years ago and really enjoyed it at the time.

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JonasKahnwald · 07/11/2020 11:32

Thanks these all sounds great. Will see if I can get any of them on audible as well because I like to listen whilst working.

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zigzag12 · 07/11/2020 11:28

Oh I love a good nun story myself!! You must try Kate O'Brien's Land of Spices.

TheWindOnTheMoon · 07/11/2020 08:56

I've just remembered one more - The Bell by Iris Murdoch. It's set in a community living close to a convent with interaction with the nuns.

elkiedee · 07/11/2020 05:34

Some good recommendations here already, eg House of Brede and The Corner That Held Them

Sarah Dunant, Sacred Hearts is a historical novel set in 15th century (?) Italy in a convent

Robyn Cadwallader, The Anchoress, is about a 13th century nun

Nicola Griffith's Hild isn't actually about a nun but a historical novel exploring and imagining the earlier life of a woman before she became perhaps England's best known nun/Abbess/saint in 7th century England - St Hilda of Whitby. The author usually writes science fiction and this is a mixture of research into Hild, her society and worldbuilding type writing.

Alison Joseph has written a series about Sister Agnes which starts with a book which is also called Sacred Hearts. This is a contemporary series set (mostly) in London, and Sister Agnes is a sort of nun struggling with religious commitment but whose work takes her out into the community. It's also an amateur sleuth series. I wouldn't say it's a comic series as such but I think the author gives her character quite a sharp sense of humour and I love Sister Agnes and her very worldly non nun best mate Athena and good friend Father Julius. Most of the series was first published by Headline and out of print, but you can get them secondhand or on Kindle, and some of the later ones have been published by Allison & Busby (a few years ago now). |

RishiMcRichface · 06/11/2020 21:03

How strange I was just reading about nuns! Not a book but the convent of Poor Clares in Arundel, near where I live released an album of their music recently which was a big hit and I was reading about them and their order, the website has little biographies of the nuns and some history of their convent.

TheWindOnTheMoon · 06/11/2020 20:59

Was the film with Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn in it based on that book @TheWindOnTheMoon?

Yes it was, loosely. The book is a much more serious examination of the death penalty and looks at her work within prisons. I did like the film as well, though.

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JonasKahnwald · 06/11/2020 18:43

"I was also going to suggest Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean. An interesting book about her work with prisoners on death row in USA."

Was the film with Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn in it based on that book @TheWindOnTheMoon?

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TheWindOnTheMoon · 06/11/2020 17:23

Was going to suggest Frost in May but I see others have already done so. Not a very positive representation of a religious order though.

I was also going to suggest Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean. An interesting book about her work with prisoners on death row in USA.

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JonasKahnwald · 06/11/2020 15:00

Definitely don't mind historical fiction so I'll try those recommendations too. In This House of Brede seems popular so I think I'll start with that one 👍

I might see if there are any documentaries on you tube also. I was listening to Hysteria! By Alice Lowe in audible and on the first episode there was a nun interviewed which has really peaked my interest. I'm not Catholic or in any way religious so this is all new to me.

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Peggysue14 · 06/11/2020 13:59

She’s brilliant, there’s a BBC adaptation of Black Narcissus that’s coming soon hopefully more people will read her, I love Kingfishers Catch Fire (not nun related)

PhilODox · 06/11/2020 13:55

Yay! For all the Rumer Godden fans Smile

Peggysue14 · 06/11/2020 13:32

Another one recommending Black Narcissus, Rumer Godden was a fantastic writer and once you read one of her books you’ll probably want to search out other ones by her.

MaudTheInvincible · 06/11/2020 13:30

The Corner that Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner is a great picture of a medieval convent.

I was just going to recommend this, so I'm pleased to see it's already been mentioned.

FeelingForced · 06/11/2020 13:27

I Leap Over the Wall by Monica Baldwin and The Nun's Story by Kathryn Hulme.

Viviennemary · 06/11/2020 13:26

Definitely In this House of Brede and the two barefoot books by Sister Felicity. Another one that's quite good although written quite a long time ago is a Right to be Merry. And another book of reminisces Countryside and Cloister.

IrenetheQuaint · 06/11/2020 13:26

Black Narcissus, about nuns in the Himalayas (the film is even better)

ChessieFL · 06/11/2020 13:21

Holy Fools by Joanne Harris is set in a convent, but in 17th century France which may not be what you’re looking for. It’s good though!

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JonasKahnwald · 06/11/2020 12:35

These are all great thankyou all x

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HBGKC · 06/11/2020 12:11

@Phil0Dox yes, I thought it was very well-written; quite haunting.

I'm going to investigate some more of these books mentioned, thanks all.

ServeTheServants · 06/11/2020 11:22

If you’d like a historical viewpoint, I’d recommend The Virgins of Venice by Mary Laven

pollyhemlock · 06/11/2020 11:15

The Corner that Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner is a great picture of a medieval convent. For something lighter there’s Quiet as a Nun by Antonia Fraser, a murder mystery set in a convent. For something to put you off the whole idea there’s Frost in May by Antonia White.

RoyalCorgi · 06/11/2020 11:14

Antonia White's Frost in May is a good read.

PhilODox · 06/11/2020 10:54

@HBGKC. This House of Brede is exactly what I was going to recommend!
Rumer Godden was an excellent writer, wasn't she?

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