50 - A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

[Claire]

I must admit I cheated slightly on this one and read a book set in a closed-society fundamentalist cult. Daughter of Gloriavale: My life in a Religious Cult is the story of one woman's journey to leave the community she grew up in and what drove her to do so. I figured it would fit the category because it's still set in a religious institution, just one listed! I felt like it could do with better editing but it was interesting to read her thought processes and find out more about New Zealand's secretive cult.

[Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer]

I'm not sure if this has been posted, but I seem to recall a vicarage in Over Sea, Under Stone??

[Heather L]

Ended up using Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet, cozy mystery set in Great Britain, for this one. Several chapters are set at a vicarage and at least one chapter at the ruins of an old abbey.

[Theresa]

A Very Private Grave (The Monastery Murders) -a monastery
Killer in the Cloister - a cloister
The Eight - an abbey
Twelve Drummers Drumming - a vicarage
The Library at the Edge of the World - a convent

[Teri]

I just finished The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, and I'm thinking I may use it for this prompt. While the aunts at Ardua Hall aren't part of an actual "religious" order in the strictest sense (although Gilead is based upon distorted religious principles), it strongly resembles a monastery/nunnery.

[Keely]

Teri wrote: "I just finished The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, and I'm thinking I may use it for this prompt. While the aunts at Ardua Hall aren't part of an actual "religious" or..."

Oh! I never thought of that, what a great idea! I was going to use God is My Broker by Christopher Moore.

[The Biased Bibliophile]

Would The Handmaid's Tale or The Testaments work for this prompt? The Aunts are basically nuns living in a convent.

[Heather L]

Emily wrote: "Would The Handmaid's Tale or The Testaments work for this prompt? The Aunts are basically nuns living in a convent."

Read post 257.

[Kristin]

I just finished The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen. It's part of the Rizzoli & Isles series where the two investigate an attack on 2 nuns in a convent. While the book doesn't entirely take place in the convent, being that it's the focal point of the book, I think it counts.

[Teri]

Kristin wrote: "I just finished The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen. It's part of the Rizzoli & Isles series where the two investigate an attack on 2 nuns in a convent. While the book doesn't entirely take p..."

I miss this series (the books and the TV show).

[Amanda]

Does anyone know of any books written by an Atheist/non-believer that might fit this prompt? I thought that might be an interesting take on this. Thanks!

[L Y N N]

Amanda wrote: "Does anyone know of any books written by an Atheist/non-believer that might fit this prompt? I thought that might be an interesting take on this. Thanks!"

That could be interesting...

[Johanne]

Amanda, I am pretty sure Umberto Eco was an atheist, so you could read The Name of the Rose. I don't think you can tell he's an atheist by reading it, but that may just be me.

[Tanu]

Pagan’s Crusade (YA) fits this prompt.

Dissolution (Shardlake no. 1) and Dark Fire (Shardlake no. 2) would also work. They’re not YA, but are very quick and interesting reads.