10.5- The First Estate

[Dlmrose]

10.5 THE FIRST ESTATE-- Read a book with a a significant character who is a religious leader/has a religious vocation: Ex. minister, priest, imam, rabbi, parson, abbott, monk, nun, prior, friar, priestess, lama, etc. Ex. Sacred Hearts, In the Bleak Midwinter, Dalai Lama: Man, Monk, Mystic, A Morbid Taste for Bones If the character is not clearly identified in the book description please identify the character when you post

If you need suggestions OR have suggestions for books to read for this task, please post them here.

[Dlmrose]

Explaining yes
I'll define saints and biblical characters such as Abraham, and Noah as religious leaders.

[Dlmrose]

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[Ashley FL]

One of my very favorite books is In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. In fact, I may re-read it for this task as I haven't read it in several years. It is a quiet book, about a woman who becomes a nun in her middle age. But incredibly powerful to me. Not preachy and certainly doesn't require being at all religious to appreciate it. I highly recommend it!

[Nicki]

Has anyone read Holy Fools? The blurb says the main character becomes a nun but it's not clear for how much of the book she's a nun or whether she would count as a truly religious figure.

[Caity]

Would a book like The Song of Hannah: A Novel or Sarah count? Both are fictional books about famous women from Bible stories.

[Megan]

Would The Chosen One work?

[Rachel Lee]

What about The Preservationist?

[Usako]

Priestess -- The Mists of Avalon
I think the Main Char is a Priestess -- The Fall of Atlantis
Priestess -- The Firebrand

Could a saint or religious figure count? For instance, a book about Queen Esther?

[Avigail]

I have a question for task 10.5 The First Estate: can I read the book about Pope Joan?

[Bluemoon]

Avigail wrote: "I have a question for task 10.5 The First Estate: can I read the book about Pope Joan?
"

I am pretty sure this should be ok but you have to wait for the mod's to approve. I really liked this and would try to fit it in somewhere if they don't allow it.

[Kathy G.]

The Jan Karon books are really good- about Father Tim and the town of Mitford.

[Dlmrose]

I'm going to refine the task with "must have a significant character who is a religious leader/has a religious vocation. If it is not clear in the book description, please identify the character when you post."

[Dlmrose]

Holy Fools, Pope Joan, Home to Holly Springs: The First of the Father Tim Novels all fit. I'll define saints and biblical characters such as Abraham, and Noah as religious leaders.

[Beth]

monks - The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

[Sandy]

Here's a list of mysteries with clerical figures:
http://www.readersadvice.com/readadv/...

[Megan]

Godless by Pete Hautman? The protagonist and his buddies create their own religion, so they'd be religious figures in that, right? *grin*

[Rachel]

Will Gilead work?

[Dlmrose]

Rachel at HomeBetweenPages wrote: "Will Gilead work?"

yes

[Dlmrose]

Ms Anderson wrote: "Godless by Pete Hautman? The protagonist and his buddies create their own religion, so they'd be religious figures in that, right? *grin*"

ya know, Ms Anderson...those Mitford books are pretty good...

It is hard to tell from that description, but if you read it and you feel that it fits the task, and you can explain it clearly when you post, then it works

[JenniferD]

I would like to read: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Is good-humoured irreverence okay for this task?

[Patricia]

For those who read from the 1001 Books You Should Read Before You Die list, I thought the following book was entertaining:

The Nun by Denis Diderot

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Patricia wrote: "For those who read from the 1001 Books You Should Read Before You Die list, the I thought the following book was entertaining:

The Nun by Denis Diderot"

Glad to hear that, Patricia. I had it on my list for another challenge, and am slipping it on this one.

[Caity]

I'm still not sure if either of my books count.

[Dlmrose]

Caity wrote: "I'm still not sure if either of my books count."

Yes

[Dlmrose]

Jennifer wrote: "I would like to read: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Is good-humoured irreverence okay for this task?"

yes

[Megan]

Dlmrose wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "Godless by Pete Hautman? The protagonist and his buddies create their own religion, so they'd be religious figures in that, right? *grin*"

ya know, Ms Anderson...th..."

It's okay. I'm not entirely sure it would count, so I'll move it to another task (and if it does work, I'll switch it back).

I'm sorry for being kind of a pain about this. I'm trying to find something that won't be "preachy" (and therefore cause me to throw the book against the wall) and appeals to my inner cynic. It's too bad I read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal for the Spring challenge. I'd use The Nun, but I'd have to either buy it or ILL it, and I'm not so excited about it that I'm willing to do either.

I may end up having to go the fantasy route and read a book about a priest/priestess/acolyte of a fictional religion. Or maybe a biography about Rasputin. Reading about a crazy, hypocritical holy man wouldn't be so bad, I guess.

[Liz]

I am considering:
The Pillars of the Earth (a monk as an important character)
Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle (biography of an apostle)

[Dlmrose]

Ms Anderson wrote: "Dlmrose wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "Godless by Pete Hautman? The protagonist and his buddies create their own religion, so they'd be religious figures in that, right? *grin*"

ya know, ..."

see the list Sandy posted in message 16- there are lots of mysteries without a lot of theology

[Dlmrose]

Liz wrote: "I am considering:
The Pillars of the Earth (a monk as an important character)
Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle (biography of an apostle)"

monks work and Prior Philip is a major character

[Petra]

Ms Anderson, The Sparrow should work for this task as Father Sandoz, a Jesuit monk, is a main character. It's not preachy at all and has a great story.

[Dlmrose]

Petra wrote: "Ms Anderson, The Sparrow should work for this task as Father Sandoz, a Jesuit monk, is a main character. It's not preachy at all and has a great story."

A good book (and it works)

[Megan]

Petra wrote: "Ms Anderson, The Sparrow should work for this task as Father Sandoz, a Jesuit monk, is a main character. It's not preachy at all and has a great story."

I think I'll try this one. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone (and sorry again for being a pain)!

[★Meghan★]

I am glad you asked Ms Anderson because I hadn't found anything yet. I am a religious person, but I sometimes think reading about the holy and religious make me feel like the worst person in the world and I don't want something that preaches to me on how I should live my life either. So thank you for asking.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Let the Great World Spin. According to the description, the central character is "a radical young Irish monk". I have heard great things about this novel, but have not yet read it.

[Dlmrose]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Let the Great World Spin. According to the description, the central character is "a radical young Irish monk". I have heard great things about this novel, but have not yet read it."

Yes Excellent book
It is written as a series of interconnected stories. John Corrigan is a significant character.

[Dlmrose]

Ms Anderson wrote: "Petra wrote: "Ms Anderson, The Sparrow should work for this task as Father Sandoz, a Jesuit monk, is a main character. It's not preachy at all and has a great story."

I think I'll t..."

Not a pain at all- and it is always better to ask

[Foxy Grandma]

Priestess of the Forest

[Dlmrose]

Beth NC wrote: "Priestess of the Forest"
This edition Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey
has a description.
Yes

[Patricia]

The Thorn Birds and the The Poisonwood Bible also work.

[Kristina Simon]

Patricia wrote: "The Thorn Birds and the The Poisonwood Bible also work."

Good to know. If Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel García Márquez doesn't work out (although I think it will, there's a priest in it and he seems like a central character), I have a copy of The Poisonwood Bible and I've been wanting to read The Thorn Birds for forever (had it slotted into this challenge's virtual vacation, but I won't get to it).

[Liz]

Does The Secret Magdalene work?

Thanks! :)

[Dlmrose]

Liz wrote: "Does The Secret Magdalene work?

Thanks! :)"

yes

[Usako]

I used Lamb since I'm fairly certain any Queen Esther book isn't gonna fit the task :)

[Deedee]

Would non-fiction work? I'm thinking specifically about In the Land of Believers: An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church by Gina Welch . Thanks!

[Dlmrose]

Deedee wrote: "Would non-fiction work? I'm thinking specifically about In the Land of Believers: An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church by [author:Gina Welch|..."

yes

[Cindy AL]

Don't forget The Innocence of Father Brown. Chesterton wrote a bunch of Father Brown stories, they are quick easy reading and relatively non-religious.

[Usako]

Under the Banner of Heaven is a look at Mormonism.

[Terri]

I'm going to use The Testament of Gideon Mack for this task

[JC]

A few of these look to be nonfiction. Am I correct in my assumption that nonfiction can be used?