I am not a religious person, not a catholic nor any kind of Christian. But I am a woman and to me, this book was a woman’s journey to find her truth. Though religious life is a world foreign to me, glimpsing it through Mary’s eyes was fascinating. I was completely transfixed by Mary’s story and her beautiful telling of it. Her writing is completely compelling, readable and a pleasure. It is personal and powerful. A beautiful work.
I read the book alternating with listening to the audio version. I work as a nurse practitioner making house calls to elderly and ill people who can’t leave their homes. I listened as I drove from patient to patient and often had to stall going into the next house because I wanted to hear more.
It was an interesting juxtaposition to me. I don't exactly care for the poor although sometimes, but all of my patients are needy. I am often drained by the end of the day because of their neediness and my frustration with my inability to provide for all of their basic services; food, medicine, support that might enable them to stay home safely.
I could feel Mary’s joy when she felt, buoyed by her faith, that her hard work was meaningful, and I could feel her profound weariness once she began to question.
This book poses the questions that all searching for their authentic self ask. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.
Carol Franzblau is a nurse practitioner who makes house calls to elderly patients in and around Pasadena, California. She relocated to California about 2 years ago after a lifetime of living on the east coast. Carol lives in Pasadena with her dog, Nelson.