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Throwaway Nun
This is a true story. It is my story. No one could have possibly created the contents of these pages unless the incidents and occurrences were witnessed and lived. I did both. I lived eleven years of hell and the perpetrators have never admitted to a single fault. To have endured these personal horrors and escaped without apparent mental impairment may well be a miracle in itself. I am a much stronger person for having lived my teen and young adult years in this terrible place
- GenresNonfiction
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 27, 2016
I met the niece at Barnes and Noble in Boardman, Ohio. On the nun's deathbed she asked Rosemary, her namesake, to please get her story published. I needed to read this story.
The story is compelling. The set up though of four parts made it hard to take a break. It is plodding at times and repetitive. She spent eleven years in convent life. Even though she was abused, emotionally and physically with overwork, she still loved the religious life. She felt called to her vocation.
Amazingly, she got out with her life at twenty four. The last part, I couldn't put down because I wanted to know how she survived this torment. Not being Roman Catholic, but understanding God's call on a life, I wonder at her devotion.
I believe since Vatican 2, maybe these abuses have subsided. If you have any interest in the convents of the late 1940's and 1950's, I do recommend reading this. The old Audrey Hepburn movie, The Nun Story, kept running through my mind.
I believe this is only on Kindle.
The story is compelling. The set up though of four parts made it hard to take a break. It is plodding at times and repetitive. She spent eleven years in convent life. Even though she was abused, emotionally and physically with overwork, she still loved the religious life. She felt called to her vocation.
Amazingly, she got out with her life at twenty four. The last part, I couldn't put down because I wanted to know how she survived this torment. Not being Roman Catholic, but understanding God's call on a life, I wonder at her devotion.
I believe since Vatican 2, maybe these abuses have subsided. If you have any interest in the convents of the late 1940's and 1950's, I do recommend reading this. The old Audrey Hepburn movie, The Nun Story, kept running through my mind.
I believe this is only on Kindle.
July 31, 2018
A painful and tragic story of a young girl committed to becoming a nun and the downfall of her dream due to the cruelty of others. Rosemary was pre-teen when she decided her dream was to be a nun. In those days (late '40s, early '50s) girls were taken from their homes at an early age and "prepared" for their new life in God's service. This story was written by Rosemary but not published in her lifetime. Her niece published it after her death. It is at times hard to conceive of such cruelty and abuse, but in the past two decades, stories even worse than Rosemary's have been drawn to the public's attention. Whether Magdalene Laundries, the priest sex abuse crisis or just stories from students in Catholic schools we have learned that the Catholic Church has much to answer for. Rosemary's story is poignant, disturbing, insightful and a warning. Her life in the convent is reminiscent of stories told by those in cults. The takeaway here is that you can follow God and dedicate your life to him and yet live a normal life with the love of family and friends. No need to hide yourself away. Jesus' last words before he left this earth was "Go ye and preach the Gospel". Live life fully, but live it in Christ. Rest in peace Rosemary. You have earned it.
December 10, 2018
Rosemary's story is tragic but the telling of it is brought down by poor spelling and grammar (even in Italian) and so many editorial errors one loses count. Also far fewer !!! are needed.
There are 2 problems here: the culture of this order of nuns is deeply corrupt and Rosemary went into the convent at 13, far too immature and naive to deal with it. She is constantly called stupid, retarded, whatever, by the senior nuns, especially by the evil Mother Pietra, who comes across as a human Mack truck. Yet in her passivity she put up with this behavior for 11 years. No wonder her health was ruined.
Rosemary's story deserves to be told, but with the help of a far better editor.
There are 2 problems here: the culture of this order of nuns is deeply corrupt and Rosemary went into the convent at 13, far too immature and naive to deal with it. She is constantly called stupid, retarded, whatever, by the senior nuns, especially by the evil Mother Pietra, who comes across as a human Mack truck. Yet in her passivity she put up with this behavior for 11 years. No wonder her health was ruined.
Rosemary's story deserves to be told, but with the help of a far better editor.
February 11, 2022
A Must Read for abuse survivors.
This book touched my very soul with it's candor and it's reality. Having been raised catholic myself I used many of the coping strategies that the author used to survive. I have great respect for the courage it took to bring these truths about the abuse that has infested every level of the church.
I hope the author will allow herself to do a pod cast or a film about her experiences. Such a tool can facilitate much healing.
This book touched my very soul with it's candor and it's reality. Having been raised catholic myself I used many of the coping strategies that the author used to survive. I have great respect for the courage it took to bring these truths about the abuse that has infested every level of the church.
I hope the author will allow herself to do a pod cast or a film about her experiences. Such a tool can facilitate much healing.
November 20, 2025
Gripping Story
The abuse and cult type group this beautiful person was subjected to is horrible! The evil of the people who hid behind their habit clothing is terrible. No wonder why vocations went down and religion suffers. These women were never godly or showing any Godly or Christian mercy by treating this young lady, with a pure heart, the way they did! They are now answering to God in their afterlife, I am sure, for what they have done on Earth.
The abuse and cult type group this beautiful person was subjected to is horrible! The evil of the people who hid behind their habit clothing is terrible. No wonder why vocations went down and religion suffers. These women were never godly or showing any Godly or Christian mercy by treating this young lady, with a pure heart, the way they did! They are now answering to God in their afterlife, I am sure, for what they have done on Earth.
March 13, 2017
I am left completely amazed at the bravery it took to write down this story. I am so grateful for the recovery of the author and her resilience. The only reason I placed the stars on the lower end was because of the poor writing. However the writing did not hinder the impact of this memoir.
July 2, 2017
Good summer reading about a topic that is foreign to me
Having no knowledge about religious life, this novel opened my eyes to lifestyles and practices that are foreign to me. I was shocked at many of the practices and learned quite a bit
Having no knowledge about religious life, this novel opened my eyes to lifestyles and practices that are foreign to me. I was shocked at many of the practices and learned quite a bit
May 11, 2020
I can't understand why the author would stay in such a situation. It wasn't quite believable. And there were several possessive errors. I did get through the whole book but I went from pity to disbelief of the intensity of the negative treatment. Glad she finally found love.
March 19, 2017
Hard to Believe
If the author's story is entirely true, it is indeed hard to believe. Such cruelty and just plain evil in an entire community of nuns directed at the author seems enhanced but, why else would she tell her story? I can't believe there were no consequences for the likes of Sisters Constance and Peter. Where was the Bishop in all of this? This is a difficult book to read; heart wrenching. It must have been cathartic for the author to write. So glad she found happiness and peace in her life.
If the author's story is entirely true, it is indeed hard to believe. Such cruelty and just plain evil in an entire community of nuns directed at the author seems enhanced but, why else would she tell her story? I can't believe there were no consequences for the likes of Sisters Constance and Peter. Where was the Bishop in all of this? This is a difficult book to read; heart wrenching. It must have been cathartic for the author to write. So glad she found happiness and peace in her life.
September 11, 2022
This book certainly held my interest. I know people who were brought up by nuns so I have a special curiosity about this. Many of the nuns were excellent teachers and people.
Could this story be exaggerated? The level of abuse she describes borders on the unbelievable. However, when the doors are closed, anything can happen!
Could this story be exaggerated? The level of abuse she describes borders on the unbelievable. However, when the doors are closed, anything can happen!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews