Nun of This and Nun of That — Mary Hilaire Tavenner

Visit the author's website at www.DutchInk.com





After leaving her religious order, in October of 1984, Hilaire had two ambitions: to write a realistic book about convent life and to earn a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida. Working full time as a teacher made her realize one of these ambitions would have to wait, so after starting her book, Nun of This and Nun of That, she set it aside for the next eight years until she earned her doctorate.


Her novel spans almost ten years of religious life, starting in 1963 when twenty-five young women all enter a convent in Albany, New York. This is a story of all the girls, but particularly three who enter, live, stay-in and leave religious life for various reasons.


The author invites the reader into the secret cloisters of convent living, beyond the front parlor, once the only space available to visitors. Every life experience is unique to every woman in religious life, but the adventures and journeys of these three girls reveal the joys, sorrows, trials, tribulations, and triumphs of convent living during and after the Second Vatican Council. Dr. Tavenner calls her book, realistic fiction though most of it is based on true stories.


Dr. Tavenner living among her community members for almost twenty years, and even while in the convent began the groundwork and outlines for this book. Many may be incensed or indignant of her portrayal of characters, but for the men and women familiar with convent living, the Church and priesthood of the 1960's, Nun of This and Nun of That is deja vu.