21 Jul Holy Rule
In this novel, set in October, 1958, the pope lies dying in Rome as, thousands of miles away, life carries on in St. Monica’s Girls’ School. The students are living in the adolescent space between childhood and adulthood and are testing their limits. Meanwhile, their teachers are living under a rule from another place and culture. They must negotiate their way through a present day that is shifting under their feet. Unknown to all of them, their lives are spilling into a world on the cusp of change.
Reviews
“….conveys the psychological complexities of the nuns’ lives without passing judgement on their choices and beliefs. The world she reveals behind the imposing walls is surprisingly rich, and entering that world is a rewarding experience.” —Quill and Quire
“Obsessive smoking, uncontrollable menstruation, incessant gossiping, grim images of death and pregnancy scares–after considering the title, these were definitely not the topics about which I expected to find in the book. Despite the initial shock of the story’s contents, this work of fiction tackles many real-life issues.” —YSN Reads
Interview with Mary Frances Coady on the occasion of Women’s History Month:
https://alllitup.ca/Blog/2016/Women-s-Writer-s-Block-Mary-Frances-Coady