I always find books about people who make great changes in their lives interesting. There maybe no bigger change then going from a up and coming young actress in Hollywood to being a contemplative Benedictine Nun in a monastery. This is a story of such a journey. How little events and conversations lead step by step down a certain unexpected road. I enjoyed this book and learning about how a fairly new monastery works and how it evolves and yet still remains grounded in its traditions. was interesting. I really wanted to give it 3 1/2 stars but couldn't figure out how. ( )

This was a most interesting book. I knew of Dolores Hart’s film career and that she had become a nun. I had no idea of the activities of cloistered nuns. I had thought they spent their days in prayer and mediation. These nuns are clearing land; felling trees, raising chickens, pigs, lambs, and cows; making cheese; running a blacksmith shop; and even making coffins. It was an eye opener for me. The story of Ms. Hart’s childhood and conversion to Catholicism and path to being a cloistered nun is most interesting. It was a difficult decision and made more difficult by the downright nastiness of the nuns when she first joined the order. Mother Hart had a temper and would write letters to the Mother Superior and many years later, those letters were read and the changes Hart suggested, such as to take and use the talents the sister had in the outside world be used on the inside, were taken. Certainly joining the order today would be more of a community experience with help from the sisters than in the past. The book was well written with numerous photographs (although I wish some had been larger in size). There are a couple of things I would have liked to have known – one are the sisters thoughts on the indiscretion of the Catholic Church with regards to the abuse that has gone on over the years by the priests. The other, that would have made the book a bit easier, is an appendix that would have listed all of the nun’s names and provide their background info. This was provided throughout the text but then later on when a nun was mentioned, you could not remember if this was the blacksmith or Gen. Patton’s granddaughter or one of the original nun’s from France, etc. This would have made reading the book a bit easier. I did enjoy the book and admire all these women for what they have accomplished and what they will continue to accomplish over the years. ( )