The Scent of God: A Memoir
by Beryl Singleton Bissell
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 42)
The Scent of God by Beryl Singleton Bissell is a work of fine art, reminiscent of a painting by Rubens or a haunting Saint-Saëns melody. The beautifully crafted memoir offers words that glisten like gems on each page. Lush imagery, redolent with heady scents and vibrant color, transports the reader to locales ranging from the sanctified to the exotic. Readers will savor every chapter of this alluring tale. [return:][return:]The story begins in 1947 in Saddle River, New Jersey. Beryl, one of four...more
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Read in April, 2006
The author spent fifteen years as a nun with the Poor Claires. When she was summoned back to her parents' home in Puerto Rico to help care for her ailing father she met Padre Vittorio. The author eloquently discussed her conflict of leaving her cloistered life and beginning the next chapter of her life at around 30 in the outside world, where she had the freedom to make her own decisions. She carefully took her reader through her long and developing relationship with Vittorio. Through many s...more
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Read in July, 2008
A beautifully written book. I got a glimpst of something completely foreign to me. I have never understood why a person would choose to become a nun/priest and live in a monstery. I never even thought of nuns as "real" people. This book helped me understand one womans journey into spiritual life and her conflict of when years later she falls in love and wants to leave the church. A compelling and interesting story spaning 40 years and taking place in the United States, Purto Rico,...more
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This extraordinary book tells the story of a young woman who enters a Cloistered Convent as a late teen, develops anorexia, and 15 years later on leave to care for her sick fathers, falls in love with an Italian priest. Bissell took me on a spiritual, dizzying and often raw journey where she bears her soul to all.
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I'm proud to promote this memoir, written by someone that I call a friend. This is a beautiful tale of a nun who fell in love with an Italian priest; a romantic and spiritual love story of a fascinating woman. It's one of those books that is hard to put down once you start reading. I can't wait for the movie!
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Read in October, 2006
This book was one of those gems that I stumbled upon just looking through the shelves at the library. I liked the cover and ended up loving this memoir. The author was a cloistered nun for many years and it is her story of falling in love, finding joy and sorrow and a true, beautiful faith.
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Read in December, 2007
The book is a true life story about a young girl who dedicates her life to God, choosing to live in a cloistered convent only to find out that God had different plans for her. A beautiful story - it made me cry on the airplane.
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A truly moving book (I was sobbing at the end..) that I read in 2 days...while working, driving, eating, etc! What an incredible journey this book takes you on.....and the good news is the author is writing a sequel!
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Read in February, 2008
I loved this book. I didn't have time to sit down and read it in one sitting which I think made the book even more captivating and allowed me the time to really enjoy this woman's life and where her path led her.
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I am not a religious person, and even though this is about a cloistered nun, I greatly appreciated the story. This is an honest, moving memoir, and I highly recommend it! Quick easy, gripping read.
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Read in December, 2007
Interesting journey of a woman who chooses service to the Catholic church, then falls in love with a priest. Must loving God and loving man be mutually exclusive?
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone!
oh, this book is pure poetry. i have read it so many times, it is a joy to me to read of beryl's life and her choices and struggles, and her great, great love.
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Read in June, 2007
This is my all-time favorite memoir. Beryl tells her life story without begging for sympathy. I will read it again and again.
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Read in September, 2007
recommended to Natalie by:
Gather.comrecommends it for: All those who love life!
THE SCENT OF GOD is an inner retreat. I return to it again and again to breathe in the power of love!
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Read in January, 2007
This author has a truly remarkable story. She writes from the heart.
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