Beautiful

An absolutely beautiful piece of contemplative writing. The narrator discusses her move back to her home town to join a monastic community. Despite an unclear faith and doubts about her ability to pray, she returns to face up to grief and sorrow, thinking deeply and carefully about her past life and the way she now lives. Her mother, such a loss to her, walks gently through the novel, living her life in retrospect, to her own values and standard.

This is not a gripping yarn but a beautiful exploration of grief and living a life as well as possible. Highly recommended.

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Profound, moving, spiritual.

An unusually contemplative and quiet story of a middle aged woman who reflects on aspects of her past life after having chosen the disappear from it into a spiritual community.

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Quality of writing and words

So powerful. I finished it in one day. So meditative and made me look at life differently

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Beautifully read and moving story

I loved this book - the narrator is wonderful at conveying the protagonist's grief as she accepts she needs to escape her world and, while not religious, finds solace in a religious community. The form is interesting - lots of pauses and gear changes as the protagonist records her new life in the quiet community and looks back on her life before. Very moving, in part because of the outstanding and perfectly paced narration.

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Enjoyable read but not exceptional

This is a quiet, low-key novel, in which little happens and little is resolved. The book is well-written and well read, I enjoyed the narrator's company for the duration, but there is no story-arc as such and not much in the way of character development. Enjoyable enough but why it's nominated for an award escapes me. As an exploration of the female monastic life, I think Sylvia Townsend Warner's "The Corner that Held Them" is a more rewarding read. On the plus-side, the environmental "message" is subtly conveyed and the reader need not feel preached at.

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A calm relaxing retreat in a monestry like place

I like the fact it did not need brain thinking to follow. It was an easy going book with a story and a joy to listen the narrator matched the book feel and calmness. If I needed to chill again would go to this book again. it feature an all female characters book. great book.

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Loss is a Lonely Place to Inhabit

A novel about loss, grief and forgiveness set in Australia as a woman disappears from her life and into a monastic one very suddenly despite her lack of faith and with no notice. Over some time, she and the other sisters face the pain of their pasts as they are visited by a plague, and two sisters, one living and deceased all drawing out difficult moments of reflection and action for the community of women and our protagonist. Simply and beautifully told, with an honesty reflecting all her prejudice and regrets, this is a story where little is said, but much is felt and experienced. Loss is a lonely place to inhabit even when you are not alone.

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The layers of an onion 🧅

It took me a while to invest in the narrator and this book .However ,I was thoroughly engrossed as the little pieces of a very fine jigsaw came together .Grateful .

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Sensitive, intelligent and beautifully read

Loved this. Perfect prose, absorbing storytelling, difficult themes handled in such an intelligent and compassionate way, and the most enjoyable performance.

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A Thought-Provoking Exploration of Human Nature

Stone Yard Deviotional presents a poignant narrative that delves into the depths of human emotion, exploring themes of tragedy, personal choice, and the complexities of our interconnected world.

Written with a warm and engaging style, the novel invites readers to contemplate their own life experiences through the lens of the characters' compelling life choices.

One of the book's notable strengths lies in its thoughtful exploration of climate change. The retreat of the narrator into a rural nunnery serves as a poignant metaphor for the denial and cognitive dissonance that often accompany discussions of this pressing issue. This timely inclusion adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it both relevant and thought-provoking.

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