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52nd out of 148 books
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101 voters
The Monk Downstairs (Monk)
Rebecca Martin is a single mother with an apartment to rent and a sense that she has used up her illusions. I had the romantic thing with my first husband, thank you very much, she tells a hapless suitor. I'm thirty-eight years old, and I've got a daughter learning to read and a job I don't quite like. I don't need the violin music. But when the new tenant in her in-law ap...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
May 23rd 2006
by HarperOne
(first published 2002)
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The Monk Downstairs was a sweet and very different love story. Both the hero and heroine had many issues to deal with from their respective pasts. Michael Christopher has just left a monastery after twenty years as a monk. He is disenchanted with life, and doesn't believe happiness is in his future. Rebecca Martin is a single mom who has all but given up on finding love. These two characters are flawed, and both have issues to deal with that stand in the way of a relationship together, but watch...more
the current cover of this book is a disappointing cop out. I own this book in hardback, with an original, much more poetic cover (a sepia photograph of a woman's foot and a bit of her dress), but I digress.
I dreamt in the language of this book for days. After I was finished I held it for a long, long time...
I was in love with this monk, who is sexual, charming, innocent, funny, spirited, and true believer, and who makes a believer of the woman who loves him. If you'd like to read a compelling...more
I dreamt in the language of this book for days. After I was finished I held it for a long, long time...
I was in love with this monk, who is sexual, charming, innocent, funny, spirited, and true believer, and who makes a believer of the woman who loves him. If you'd like to read a compelling...more
This is a warm and intelligent book about a single mother who rents the basement apartment in her house to a man just leaving a monastery after 20 years as a monk. I found it on the book sharing shelf of a business in my neighborhood. The monk, Michael Christopher, ends up getting a job at McDonald's and some of the reflections on his work there, shared through letters with Brother James back at the monastery, are wonderful. "...as my colleagues at McDonald's put it, "My bad."...The ritual respo...more
Stirring, beautiful, sad, joyful, and fully grounded in the bits of daily life. I kept thinking of Graham Greene as I read this quiet, strong novel - The End of the Affair meets The Power and the Glory. Somehow lyrical insights of the deepest things are scattered among a simple love story between a single mom and the man she meets. Also loved Mike's letters to a friend back in the monastery - we only read Mike's replies, but somehow know every word of his friend's side of the discussion. And the...more
This book presents a straight-forward plot, i.e., a 38-year old single mother of one rents her garage apartment to a former monk who has renounced the monastic life after 20 years. She is lonely, just ending an unsatisfactory relationship with a maybe-I-should-settle-for-less boyfriend; he is a contemplative, looking for silence rather than love. The blossoming of their relationship is rocky because her personal problems and his need for apartness both intrude.
It's not quite a typical love story...more
It's not quite a typical love story...more
I liked this one. I don't have a crappy ex-husband or a monk living downstairs - but I think this book was well written. She captured the brittle way that damaged people guard their privacy and their hearts, and how difficult it is to let anyone in.
I have the new book, The Monk Upstairs, and look forward to reading it.
I have the new book, The Monk Upstairs, and look forward to reading it.
Though 'The Monk Downstairs' was certainly a sweet love story I soon tired of the endless struggle that Mike (the ex-monk) had with his desire to lead a secular life after leaving the monastery. In fact the struggle that author Tim Farrington kept trying to bring to the surface did not exist with Mike as much as it did with his landlady, the charming and lovely Rachel who was afraid to fall in love and thus become susceptible to hurt. Another criticism I have were the detailed sex scene which co...more
Rebecca, the female protagonist, & Mike, the male counterpoint, each had issues from their pasts that needed excavating, & at times, Rebecca seemed incredibly slow. Events seemed to be needed for her to either explore within her mind or, God forbid, with a boyfriend! She's had bad boyfriend luck thus far, one of whom became her husband & father of their daughter, Mary Margaret.
I liked Rebecca's mom, Phoebe. She lives in Bolinas, surrounds herself with interesting people & has a...more
I liked Rebecca's mom, Phoebe. She lives in Bolinas, surrounds herself with interesting people & has a...more
While I enjoyed the conversations between Rebecca and the monk and how their relationship grew, the book became weighed down with what was supposed to be deep spiritual thoughts, but I found to be nothing more than vain rhetoric meant to make the author sound smart. Is the monk life a manifestation of religious conviction or escape from the responsibilities of the real world? I guess the monastic life seems like a waste to me. Who are you serving, but yourself if all you do is pray and in the ca...more
How often do we read about the real spiritual lives of people? It's more elusive than sex. This book includes all of it - a lovely romance and a struggle for faith. I was sorry for it to end, and delighted to hear there's a sequel.
This is an unlikely, sweet, set-in-San Francisco love story about a single mom who rents her in-law unit to a man fresh out of the monastery after a 20-year love-hate relationship with contemplative life. Though the story sometimes threatens to dip into typical summer chick lit, the author manages to keep the former monk's struggle to reintegrate into life, and make sense of God, very real. It's touching to see him rediscover life after being released from the cloister. Perfect antidote if you'v...more
I stumbled across this title by accident while looking for books online about theology. While I hate the overly-generalized genre designation "chick lit", I equally hate cover designs that seem to blatantly advertise a book as chick lit. As a dude, I would have never have noticed this book in a bookstore, assuming at first glance that it was some wistful romance novel. Sure, it IS a romance novel, but it is also a profoundly philosophical book...an examination of contemplation, doubt, and spirit...more
Does a book about a single woman finding love in quirky and endearing fashion (rather than in formulaic category romance fashion) count as 'chicklit' if the author is male? Does it count as chicklit if the male lead is every bit as quirky as the female lead? If he is perhaps moreso? If they're in their late 30's/early 40's? If they're both rather inept at relationships, and have baggage? If neither of them is rich or powerful? If there's no element of rescue?
This book is hard to classify, actual...more
This book is hard to classify, actual...more
This is a book about the midlife crises of two people: a single mother, Rebecca, who rents her basement apartment to the 2nd, a man named Mike who has left the monastery after many years. Though the shape of the story is predictable, the writing and content made it a quick & moving read for me.
The book explores the interior landscapes of both characters as they struggle to come to terms with the failures and heartaches of their lives. It speaks to the centrality of love in human experience,...more
The book explores the interior landscapes of both characters as they struggle to come to terms with the failures and heartaches of their lives. It speaks to the centrality of love in human experience,...more
It's shocking that this wasn't written by a woman. Perfect example of escapism literature.
Some real obvious symbolism, like naming the daughter MaryMartha to drive home the theme that isolated prayer and worship isn't fulfilling. It's the relationships that matter.
Redemption: the beach-bum father reforms at the end with Rebecca's help with bail. Hair seems important. Rory cuts his surfer locks to signify a change. Michael's monk-cut grows out as he adapts to being needed. Gardening: Phoebe h...more
Some real obvious symbolism, like naming the daughter MaryMartha to drive home the theme that isolated prayer and worship isn't fulfilling. It's the relationships that matter.
Redemption: the beach-bum father reforms at the end with Rebecca's help with bail. Hair seems important. Rory cuts his surfer locks to signify a change. Michael's monk-cut grows out as he adapts to being needed. Gardening: Phoebe h...more
This is a relatively short book - one that could be easily read in an afternoon, but I found myself savoring it over several days. About 1/2 through I found myself thinking that I would keep this on my bookshelf forever, but having finished it I know I must send it on to the next reader to also savor and enjoy! There is humor, pathos, romance, and comtemplative soul searching all rolled into this story. Rebecca and Mike are characters that I could see myself having dinner with and calling my fri...more
This was a delightful book that I read back in 2004. I remember that it was a unique story because it was about people who were from two different worlds experiencing the same thing. They were both experiencing major changes in their lives. The reading was easy and well written. It was an interesting and intelligent book! I am going to make sure that I read more of this author's stories. When a person reads so much we often forget all the great books we have read and then we go back and read so...more
Some weeks ago someone (identify yourself if you will) reviewed this book on their blog, and I thought - well, I should read that. Now, usually I think that, put it on a list, and don't get back to it for years or decades. But this book - The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington - actually came through BookMooch right away, and I happened to want to read something romantic but not silly. So last night, there I was finishing the book in an evening - I can't remember the last time that happened with...more
I'm not one to look for more God in books, but this one, considering it's title, needs it. I was intrigued with the supposed premise, stated on the back cover quite boldly as: What do you do when God is the other woman? However, the fact that the main character's love interest is a monk hardly plays into the story aside from a couple token religious scenes. He doesn't shower immediately after sex (Sex and the City reference) or flog himself for his bodily desires (a la Dimmesdale in the Scarlet...more
-- thought provoking, would recommend.
quotes#358953
Maybe that was what real love was, being willing to charge toward the busy, noisy place that someone else inhabited and find what comfort there you could. p140
She felt like making phone calls: to Bonnie, to her mother. The situation called for consideration at length. But she suspected that both women would be unreservedly supportive of the kiss and its potential consequences. Bonnie believed that love could be competently assembled from availa...more
quotes#358953
Maybe that was what real love was, being willing to charge toward the busy, noisy place that someone else inhabited and find what comfort there you could. p140
She felt like making phone calls: to Bonnie, to her mother. The situation called for consideration at length. But she suspected that both women would be unreservedly supportive of the kiss and its potential consequences. Bonnie believed that love could be competently assembled from availa...more
I recently did a health fair for work, and had to share a table with the Fairfax County Public Library's NLS for the Disabled representative. We got to talking books since she had a couple of my old favorites on display and then it turned out we were both in book clubs. So she asked what kind of books we were reading and I asked her what book her club was currently reading, and she said they like to read women's fiction that's not chick lit, and they were reading this book, The Monk Downstairs,...more
I borrowed this book based on the title alone. Who wouldn't want to read a book about a monk living downstairs? In this case, an ex-monk, who has left his monastery, disenchanted with his life of prayer and inaction. He moves into the in-law unit of single mom, Rebecca, who has decided once and for all that she no longer needs love in her life. Her 6-year old daughter plays with unicorns, adores her good-for-nothing surfer father, and takes an immediate liking to Michael Christopher, the monk. O...more
I read several enthusiastic reviews about this book and was curious so I picked it up. It was a terrific story. Since its genre is fiction rather than romance, it wasn't from my normal reading category, but one of the main elements of the story is the development of the romantic relationship between Rebecca and Michael. I was pulled into their struggle with their feelings for one another and trying to make their lives work together. The other element was that of religious belief and I'll admit t...more
My recommendation for f2f book discussion and it turned out to be a good one- not outstanding but nice, and memorable. A pleasant read with lots of good philosophical observations about life and relationships. It seemed a bit unfinished but I think the point is that life is unfinished until the end, too. Everything is change- you can't hole up in that one moment of perfect peace forever and still live. Nice intermix of poetry, scripture & dialog in letters and in conversation.
There were a few nice passages, but overall a terribly dull and predictable story featuring long, banal passages describing the tiny and tedious life of a bitchy and unsympathetic woman who was her own worst enemy, and the saintly former monk that sacrifices all to be with her, though it's unclear to the very last page why... I thought many times of ditching the book, and if it had went on any longer, I probably wouldn't have gotten through it.
Are there ever times when you just need a book? Something to speak to you, comfort you, and help you make sense of everything? This was that book for me. I was in such a strange place with my fiance and in my own life, and I felt so lost and alone; and to top it all off, I felt like I hadn't read a good book in months. This book turned it all around. It is absolutely joyful, from beginning to end. I will be coming back to it often.
A clever story about a divorced artist with a young daughter who rents her downstairs room to a conflicted monk who has just fled a monastary after 20 years. The setting is in San Francsico's sunset district and the plot is full of twists and turns as the relationship between these two intriguing people develops from cautious curiosty to dependency and then love. Good book with a real down to earth flavor to it.
very high 3s. in fact, i might come back and pull this up to 4.
a wonderful story about a single mom who rents her basement apartment to an ex-monk.
very thoughtful. very respectful. wonderful meditations on solitude and prayer and god and living in or away from life's distractions.
beautiful prose. funny. vivid. realistic. even the tertiary characters were fully drawn. talented author.
recommended.
a wonderful story about a single mom who rents her basement apartment to an ex-monk.
very thoughtful. very respectful. wonderful meditations on solitude and prayer and god and living in or away from life's distractions.
beautiful prose. funny. vivid. realistic. even the tertiary characters were fully drawn. talented author.
recommended.
A good, solid read about the ups and downs of love the second time around. The dialogue is engaging, the characters are endearing and the story is told in a "real" way - you get it that the two main characters have doubts about the success of their relationship. And, just as in real-life, these two characters must deal with their prior lives in order to get on with their immediate life together.
Apr 04, 2010
Mum
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
thinking-required,
fiction
The book had it's wonderful and humorous moment, but author lets you decide for yourself who is managing his or her life, and who is not. The monk's letters to his friend often caused me to stop reading, because I knew I had to really think my way through the letters. I would start there the nest time I picked the book up and gain a new insight. This book is 3.5 stars, better than a "three" but not quite a "four."
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“We are born to love as we are born to die, and between the heartbeats of those two great mysteries lies all the tangled undergrowth of our tiny lives. There is nowhere to go but through. And so we walk on, lost, and lost again, in the mapless wilderness of love.”
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242 people liked it
“...he smelled like somebody trying to smell like somebody else.”
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