Welcome to Litsy!

The tagged book was a #nunlit buddy read. Loved the “renegade” Sr. Evelyn!

I think I may have liked this a little more than others for this #nunlit read, but I did enjoy reading the story of contemporary renegade nuns and their badassery. It was a little hard to keep going in the beginning because of all of the abuse and cruelty, but once the plot got going, it was easy to root for these women. Moments of heart and goodness helped me stick with it, as well as a few snortable lines from unexpected characters.

I was glad that the #nunlit book shows both justice work that many in religious orders practice as well as the impact of hierarchy and patriarchy. The main character is part of a trio that sets up a home for abused women that connects some with abortion opportunities, in direct defiance of the Catholic Church, resulting in punishment. Lots of painful reading here about abuse, rape, lost love, and broken families, but also supportive community.

There are parts to this book that are hard to read - the abuse faced by multiple characters and the plain hatred some have for others. But, there are signs of hope and forgiveness in the narrative. It‘s a study in faith, perseverance, living one‘s truth, and knowing everyone deserves “to love and to be loved.”

Great choice for #NunLitQuarterly !

1. Most notable plan is Silent Book Club on Thursday. Always look forward to it!
2. Finishing up the tagged for #nunlit
3. Reserved, surprisingly funny, and thoughtful
#MotivationalMonday

Mercy house is a gripping and moving read.It is a shelter for abused women run by Catholic nuns.These nuns & the residents are authentic and colorful characters.The hate-filled,forceful Bishop Hawkins uses his power in the Church to try & shut down this enterprise. What transpires is a riveting David v.Goliath, the powerful v.the powerless real life story. One of the nuns, Evelyn, has a few tricks to shift the balance of power. #nunlit

At Bed-Stuy‘s Mercy House, a shelter for abused women, the sisters and residents contend with Bishop Hawkins and his mean-spirited investigation into how the house is run, while dealing with their own painful pasts. While there were episodes that were hard to read (rape, physical & emotional abuse) they were an important part of the story and weren‘t gratuitous. The Audio was voiced by multiple narrators & was very well done. Pick.
#nunlit

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was interesting, and I wanted to find out what happened, but it was also sometimes almost unbearably raw and painful. That‘s the reason I gave it a So-So, rather than a pick, because there were multiple times I almost bailed.

Here‘s a photo of what seems to be the “modified habit” mentioned in the book. I can see why it would have been both a shock and a relief to wear it.

#nunlit

~The Alchemist- continue reading with students
~Picasso-weekly section #sundaybuddyread
~ No Strangers- lost in my book piles- aim to find it! #readaway2024
~Rescuers- almost done -savoring it. #childrensclassicread2024
~Mercy House-started today #nunlit
~St. Anne‘s - on ch4 #audible #yorkshiremurdermystery
~Reading list- hope to start #auldlangspine

Mercy House, run by Catholic nuns, has an open door policy for women who need a safe place. I appreciated that this fictional home was portrayed as help without dogma and I don‘t know enough to know if that even happens in real life in Catholicism but hope it does. I look forward to our #NunLit discussion because I feel like I missed something. Still a 4.5 🌟 read. #52Bookclub24 #BuddyRead

This book really puts you through the wringer. Unflinching and affecting. Lots of difficult content, most (sadly) inspired by true stories Dillon encountered while researching. Sister Evelyn was a great character.

I wonder if an adaptation is still in the works? See link in comments below.

#NunLitQuarterly

I appreciated this more contemporary look at nun life, which attempts to grapple with some of the darker aspects of the modern day Catholic Church and, life in general. It's not a title that would've otherwise come my way, so I'm glad it was a #nunlit selection. It did sometimes feel a little didactic, but it's a small quibble and as a whole it was still very moving.

Based on the other reviews it might be just me but I had issues with this book and bailed on it. #nunlitquarterly #nunlit

I read this book for #NunLitQuarterly and all I can say is Thank You! to @jlhammar for bringing this one into my world. I raced through it. I can imagine devout Catholics may squirm through parts of it. The story is rich, with nuns doing good works while priests carry on and abuse their power. Dillon does not hold back in her honest portrayal of what nuns face in their calling. I was not expecting to be so riveted.

I wasn‘t expecting the emotions I felt reading this. Except for the ending that came out of left field, I was riveted to the first 97% of this novel. It speaks to the things that matter, the people that matter, and the power that can take those things away - because they can. I read this for #NunLitQuarterly but regardless of participation, this is a compelling read. @jlhammar thank you for bringing this book to my attention! ↓.

Repost for @jlhammar

#NunLitQuarterly 🔔 January 2024 reminder 🔔

Hello my Reading Sisters! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate) and are enjoying a relaxing and restorative Boxing Day.

Our first read of the new year will be Mercy House by Alena Dillon. Finish the book sometime in January, post your review &/or any thoughts along the way and be sure to tag the group.

All are welcome!

#NunLitQuarterly 🔔 January 2024 reminder 🔔

Hello my Reading Sisters! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate) and are enjoying a relaxing and restorative Boxing Day.

Our first read of the new year will be Mercy House by Alena Dillon. Finish the book sometime in January, post your review &/or any thoughts along the way and be sure to tag the group.

All are welcome!

Reposting for @jlhammar
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2659512

#NunLitQuarterly 2024
JAN Mercy House
APR The Nun
JUL Best Wishes, Sister B
OCT Quiet as a Nun

Your #NunLit mission is simply to read the chosen book sometime during the assigned month, post your review &/or thoughts along the way and be sure to tag the group. I‘ll post reminders as we get closer.

Thanks to all who voted this past week! I removed those who didn‘t. If you‘d like to join us next year, let me know. All are welcome!

This Month's Books and Brews Club read.

Enjoyed it for the most part but it did have me flashing back to my youth. Evil Men in all Religions sound the same.

I wish the author had included a Trigger Warning for Sexual Abuse. That's not my story but I found it unsettling. Can't imagine if you had experienced that and went into this book not knowing.

Received this book as a gift and it was a read! I really think that the Bishop in this story is one of the vialist characters ever. The Catholic Church and a story of three nuns who live in Brooklyn and who share a ministry of taking care of women in need. Not easy to read but it tells the truth. I only wish the suffering of the perpetrator was told...I decided myself what SHOULD happen to him and all of THEM!

I really enjoyed this book! Not sure I‘ve read a book before with a nun for the main character, and Sister Evelyn was both tough as nails and refreshingly vulnerable. It reads like a thriller with an undercurrent of taking on serious social issues. This book does have triggers for sexual abuse. My copy has a book club guide at the end.

Having read that the author loved Sister Act, I was not surprised. As I read, I kept thinking that this feels an awful lot like Sister Act. The story of nuns doing social justice work by running a domestic violence shelter was promising. It was a quick read and infused the characters with humor, but it lacked depth. It felt like very serious topics were raised but they were given the rom-com treatment. Pictured #coronabaking #pie

So so about captures this one. I loved Sister Evelyn and all the very spunky nuns and enjoyed the glimpse into the life of modern day nuns. Evelyn‘s journey to healing, including a late arriving “coming of age” sort of perspective shift was great. I also enjoyed the religious wordplay (taking communion was her “rite”). The supporting characters, however, seemed a little overdone and unrealistic. Thanks @WilliamMorrowBooks for the copy!

Kicking off March with this story of not-so-conservative nuns and the house where they shelter and help to rehabilitate female victims of violence. Irreverent Sister Evelyn with her sarcastic sense of humor and dark secrets is an interesting character, and I‘m looking forward to seeing where this story goes. Thanks @WilliamMorrowBooks

A gripping novel about a nun who helped found Mercy House, a refuge for abused women, squaring off against a priest with whom she has a past and who wants to shut the home down. There is terrible abuse chronicled here but if you can stomach that, it will keep you reading. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2020/02/review-mercy-house-by-alena-dillon.html

HAPPY PUB DAY!!

Well written with authentic characters.

Add it to your TBR.

REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/uujrztl

@alena.dillon
@williammorrowbooks
@harpercollins

About to open this and add it to my “in progress” books. Looks like it could be a heavier read than I‘ve been reading lately.

Evelyn was never wanted. Her father even bargained with God to bring his son home from the war, and he would put Evelyn in a convent. Evelyn's brother did come home, and she did go to the convent.

She and two other nuns opened Mercy House for abandoned and abused girls.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/uujrztl

In a world seemingly full of predators, one brave nun of nearly 70, Sister Evelyn, protects her traumatized and diverse little flock of women with everything she‘s got. #domesticviolence #arc #libraryreads Full review at https://www.librarything.com/work/23660868/reviews/174306236