Walking with Kathleen Norris: A Contemplative Journey

by Robert G. Waldron

As in his other Walking With… books, Walking with Thomas Merton and Walking with Henri Nouwen, Robert Waldron devotes three seasons (spring, summer, fall) to reading the prose and poetry of Kathleen Norris. Waldron approaches Norris, the celebrated author of The Cloister Walk, by using the journal genre, a format allowing for intimate, spontaneous and quicksilver insights. His journal also offers the reader a glimpse into the author's soulscape as well that of Norris. The journey concludes with Waldron’s “open-letter” to a touching, poignant and heart-felt tribute to her life and work. Norris is a major commentator on modern spirituality. This is the first full-length commentary on her work to be published. I †

112 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2007

About the author

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Robert Waldron holds a B.A. in English, an M.Ed., and an M.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts. He has taught English Literature and Language at Boston Latin School—Boston’s first public school, for 33 years.

Waldron is the recipient of four fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities; in 1997 he also received first prize from the Catholic Press Association for the best article on spirituality written for a periodical. In addition to scholarly articles, he has written several books including: Poetry as Prayer: the Hound of Heaven, The Lost Diary of Francis Thompson Poetry as Prayer: Thomas Merton, and A Man of a Certain Tread.

Waldron is intrigued by the life inside abbeys, seminaries, and convents, places where people have given up a worldly life to pursue something greater. His novel, Blue Hope takes place in a Cistercian abbey; in this remote New England setting, John Highet comes face to face with the great poet Ethan Seegard, now a reclusive monk at the abbey.

Reviews

[Annie Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason I cannot post a review of this book. That is quite irritating.

I guess now I can. Anyway - this is an absolutely splendid book. I find myself going back to earlier pages and re-reading whole sections.

Because of this book I ordered the third volume of Norris's trilogy. I eagerly await its arrival.

[lori koonce]

Bits and pieces make a whole.

Overall a well written book. I gained some insights into Norris that helped me understand her poetry from a different slant. Not familiar with the Virgin of Bennington. I will make it a goal to read it this year.

[Ambrose Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have, with better planning, been a good book. As it is, it jumps around from topic to topic. The author drops a lot of names and never goes for a walk. Oh what could he have done instead? Well glad you asked. He could have actually gone for a walk with Kathleen Norris, interviewing her after having read her books.
There were a few misconceptions. One, Walden Pond is not crystal clear and, the quote, "Most of don't see as acutely as poets..." Well a lot do. I know of artists, cartoonists, police detectives, teachers, fire investigators, baseball players and scientists who do, just to name a few.