Stalking the Divine

While Stalking the Divine offers readers a glimpse of the secret lives of cloistered nuns, this book is just as much about author Kristin Ohlson's search for authentic faith. She certainly doesn't try to hide that.

I found Ohlson's honesty refreshing. As a Christian, I appreciate occasional reminders about how devotion to God and Jesus Christ appears to folks who aren’t quite as sure as I like to think I am. Truth is, we all have room to grow in our knowledge, understanding and experience of faith. If that's a subject you like to ponder, then this book is worth your while.

While this is not a real inside look at life in a Poor Clares' cloister, it is as close as one is likely to get. The Poor Clares are some of the most restrictive enclosures in the western monastic tradition. As spiritual memoir, it is a rather engaging read. The author comes clean early on about her struggles with faith and the spiritual life. The fact that she views this monastic community as a beacon for those of us enduring a dark night of a soul is one of the strengths of her tome. I came away for this book with the impression that this is a real person writing about really people, not some ethereal attempt at lofty spiritual platitudes, but the true grit of the hardcore spiritual life in all of its struggles.

A woman visits an old church in her declining town, and discovers cloistered nuns. She investigates this group, and examines her own needs for faith and what it is, Catholicism to be exact. Crisp, precise writing and sense of discovery add to compelling read.

Reading this memoir is like spending time with an old friend. The author's musings were eerily like my own regarding faith. This book attempts to understand why cloistered nuns choose such a sheltered life and why praying is so important to them.

I loved this and read it when Kristen was still on Readerville. Great book.

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