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The Greening
Joanna, a Fleet Street journalist, chances upon the journal of the mysterious Anna Leigh. She is moved by Anna's compelling confessional about her life-changing encounter with Julian of Norwich - an extraordinary woman from another age, who risked death at the stake to write a secret manuscript revealing the truth entrusted to her.
Joanna becomes captivated by Julian, remembering her own neglected ambition to pursue the truth at all costs. But Julian is from an alien world - can Joanna believe her promise that pain and suffering can lead to peace and happiness? Anna has the answer, but Joanna can find no trace of her.
Joanna's conscience is tested and she is put in danger when confronted by a terrible choice. Does she save her career by smearing a whistle-blower who has exposed a government scandal in which her lover may be implicated? Dare she risk all she holds dear to capture the greatest treasure of all?
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2013
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20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 30, 2018
One of the best books that I have read this year. This book should be in it own right have lots of media attention. Book sites and shops should mark this as a top list of must reads. Joaana is a fleet street journalist and stumbles upon a rich burgundy leather book with a silver clasp Anna's Leigh's journal with a diary of confessions. Who is Anna Leigh? What are her confessions?. Joanna sets out to find out more about Anna Leigh. This is so very intersting I highly recommend this book.
October 5, 2024
There were things about this book I liked, the pull of the main character to find meaning in life and her discovery of Julian of Norwich. But ultimately I felt this book was too "all over the place", with characters making dumb choices and too many coincidences. I wish I had friends I never see or mention until suddenly I need a gorgeous cottage in the country that my friend isn't using. The inclusion of Julian's writing, while good, seemed a little heavy handed and didn't lead the character back to the church, something that Julian would not have approved of.
January 10, 2018
Interesting novel that is also a sort of intermittent guidebook to 14th-century contemplative nun Julian of Norwich, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. The various parts of the jigsaw puzzle fit together in unexpected ways, some of which felt to me like they didn't quite work. But ultimately it all comes together and forms a satisfying ending.
February 11, 2020
This is the story of two women struggling to find meaning in life. Also, the writings of Julian of Norwick and how they helped these two women. Julian was said to have visions from God in 14th century England. Excerpts of her texts are written throughout the book.
August 20, 2021
Pretentious, preaching, dull. Barely a story with numerous superfluous characters and a twist you can see coming a mile off. Struggled through It as I rarely give up on a book but didn’t enjoy this at all.
February 18, 2024
This novel brings a lot of ideas together, with some helpful insights into medieval mystic Julian of Norwich. Unfortunately, whilst I enjoyed the quest to find out about the mysterious Anna of the journal discovered by the protagonist, I found the plot a little too convoluted.
July 14, 2013
At the heart of THE GREENING is another, actual book, REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE by 14th-century anchoress Julian of Norwich, who took her name from the church that housed her for forty years, St. Julian's.
As an anchoress, Julian was “a woman who devoted her life to prayer for the community.… She had [sixteen] visions…in which she received a series of messages”; she spent the rest of her life writing about these visions (THE GREENING, p. 11). She had a lot of questions.
The fact of Julian is the heart of Coles’ novel, and while the plot does get away from Coles from time to time, my fascination with Julian’s belief in a loving God and a human life of impermanence kept me patient with the novel.
Yet again, I was reminded of the overlapping of Christianity, Taoism, and Buddhism, and that “the divisions between the faiths are pointless” (THE GREENING, p. 210).
The Buddha said, “I teach one thing and one thing only, suffering and the cessation of suffering.” In the Tao, “the ten thousand things rise and fall, while the Self watches their return” (Lao Tsu). Julian’s famous words reveal the same: “‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well’” (THE GREENING, p. 65).
Just as the Buddha did not say that he teaches pain or the cessation of pain, just as the Tao accepts that moments rise and fall, so does Julian acknowledge that pain and pleasure are part and parcel of the human experience: “he did not say, ‘you shall not be tempest-tossed, you shall not be work weary, you shall not be discomforted.’ But he said, ‘you shall not be overcome’” (THE GREENING, p. 233).
What Coles captures in her novel is what has intrigued scholars for over 600 years about Julian of Norwich’s message: “’God tells you that you are beloved through all eternity and held safe in an embrace that will never let you go. But the love he offers requires us to turn our lives upside down’” (THE GREENING, p.87).
Julian’s vision of God is one of love, compassion, gratitude, and equanimity completely contrary to the turbulent times during which she lived. She understood that her revelations were in direct contrast to the very church that housed her. Yet, she wrote.
That Margaret Coles chose Julian’s revelations as the heart of her novel is an intriguing concept. It is not a quick read but it is a thoughtful interweaving of Julian’s writing throughout the novel. The plot reveals the lives of two women–both find love and loss–but it is what they find in their individual quests that twists the story.
The plot strains at times and may be unnecessarily complicated but if one is looking for the greening of one’s soul, one will find one path to it here. For another, there is always Julian’s REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE.
I am a member of Book Nook and received a free copy of this book from Hay House to review, favorably or unfavorably.
As an anchoress, Julian was “a woman who devoted her life to prayer for the community.… She had [sixteen] visions…in which she received a series of messages”; she spent the rest of her life writing about these visions (THE GREENING, p. 11). She had a lot of questions.
The fact of Julian is the heart of Coles’ novel, and while the plot does get away from Coles from time to time, my fascination with Julian’s belief in a loving God and a human life of impermanence kept me patient with the novel.
Yet again, I was reminded of the overlapping of Christianity, Taoism, and Buddhism, and that “the divisions between the faiths are pointless” (THE GREENING, p. 210).
The Buddha said, “I teach one thing and one thing only, suffering and the cessation of suffering.” In the Tao, “the ten thousand things rise and fall, while the Self watches their return” (Lao Tsu). Julian’s famous words reveal the same: “‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well’” (THE GREENING, p. 65).
Just as the Buddha did not say that he teaches pain or the cessation of pain, just as the Tao accepts that moments rise and fall, so does Julian acknowledge that pain and pleasure are part and parcel of the human experience: “he did not say, ‘you shall not be tempest-tossed, you shall not be work weary, you shall not be discomforted.’ But he said, ‘you shall not be overcome’” (THE GREENING, p. 233).
What Coles captures in her novel is what has intrigued scholars for over 600 years about Julian of Norwich’s message: “’God tells you that you are beloved through all eternity and held safe in an embrace that will never let you go. But the love he offers requires us to turn our lives upside down’” (THE GREENING, p.87).
Julian’s vision of God is one of love, compassion, gratitude, and equanimity completely contrary to the turbulent times during which she lived. She understood that her revelations were in direct contrast to the very church that housed her. Yet, she wrote.
That Margaret Coles chose Julian’s revelations as the heart of her novel is an intriguing concept. It is not a quick read but it is a thoughtful interweaving of Julian’s writing throughout the novel. The plot reveals the lives of two women–both find love and loss–but it is what they find in their individual quests that twists the story.
The plot strains at times and may be unnecessarily complicated but if one is looking for the greening of one’s soul, one will find one path to it here. For another, there is always Julian’s REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE.
I am a member of Book Nook and received a free copy of this book from Hay House to review, favorably or unfavorably.
March 11, 2015
Maybe I'm not spiritual enough but I will admit that at times, reading the novel seemed like my own personal calvary ! It's not badly written but it seemed to take a very long time to get anywhere and the tone seemed rather dark and depressing, even if it does end with a positive view of contentment and self-acceptance. If you want a book that will make you think about the meaning of life, whether or not you're a religious person, it certainly fits the bill, but if you want some frothy escapism after a long day at work, you'd be better off with some chicklit !
complete review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
complete review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
April 23, 2014
It's not very often that I don't finish a book, but I must confess that I got to a point where I had no sympathy left for two women caught up in love affairs with married men. Quite how this was going to resolve itself and have any reference to Julian of Norwich, I suppose I will never know. I'd lost the will to live. I am going to find out more about Julian, though. Now there's a woman I can definitely respect.
January 8, 2016
This was a Christmas present but I had to drag myself through it..... far too long and not written well. It's an interesting introduction to Julian of Norwich which is the best part of the book. Both central characters are pretty spineless and uninteresting. An effort......
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews