Agnes of God by Leonore Fleischer

Agnes of God Reviews

• 
  Daniel Peña

  "Las almas perturbadas recurrían con mayor frecuencia a la psiquiatría, el alcohol, las drogas o el sexo que a Dios."
  
  "Era el antiguo conflicto entre la ciencia y la religión; y la ciencia, cuando la religión tenía tanto poder político, siempre acababa perdiendo sus aliados."
  
  "Algunas personas confiaban en la ciencia, y otras en Dios, pero en el fondo todos buscaban lo mismo, las mismas respuestas a las mismas preguntas. Algunos hacen experimentos, otros rezan; las respuestas a veces llegan, y otras veces no."
• 
  Jodi

  I saw the movie when it originally came out, and the book is based on that screenplay, which was, in turn, based on the play. It was a touching and thought provoking story, and well told.
• 
  Bridget

  Another novelization of a movie I saw on tv and thought I should read. Nuns and dead babies make for compelling stories i guess.
• 
  Enikő

  I had mixed feelings about this book when I started to read it. I remember my parents having watched the movie on tv when I was young. I hadn't been very interested in it at the time, but now, as an adult, I thought it would be interesting. When I actually picked the book up and realized that it was based on the movie and not the other way around, I had my misgivings. I didn't think the quality of the writing would be up to par. As a rule, I prefer movies to be based on books, and in that case the books are usually better than the cinematographic adaptation. Nevertheless, I read this book and enjoyed it. The writing, though not superb, was effective enough in relaying the events, feelings, and background information needed to understand and enjoy the story.
  
  The plot itself is very interesting. I like the fact that it is set in the province of Quebec. It is not often that I get to read a story that takes place in a setting I am familiar with.
  
  The three main characters (the nun accused of manslaughter for killing her newborn child, the psychiatrist who has to determine wether she is sane enough to stand trial, and the mother superior who wishes to protect the young nun from the wicked outside world) are well developed and believable. Perhaps Sister Agnes would seem too naive to be believable and authentic, if I didn't know someone who she reminds me of very much. The descriptions of her facial expressions along with the things she says create a fascinating character.
  
  The psychiatrist, Martha Livingston, goes beyond just trying to establish the girls' sanity to actually trying to help her. Of course, this is because Dr. Livingston has her own issues with convents and the Catholic Church, that she has to overcome. Although she is very effective in her treatment of Sister Agnes, I felt that these parts of the book were rushed through a bit. Things fit into place just a little too easily, but I suppose this was because Dr. Livingston was pressed for time by the judge, the prosecution and Agnes's defense attorney.
  
  Mother Superior was another interesting character with secrets of her own that I was surprised to discover. As her character is developed, we move away from the serene stereotype of what a nun is, and at times, the reader is actually lead to wonder if it was she who in fact strangled the baby.
  
  The outcome of the book is satisfying, even though there are still so many questions left unanswered. Even though Dr. Livingston is a psychiatrist, not a detective, the fact that she begins her own little investigation (at one point she goes snooping in the convent archives) leads the reader to think that she will unravel the whole mystery. But she comes short of that goal, which is a bit disappointing.
  
  In all, this was an okay book to read. I guess I liked it, but I do feel that there was a lot missing, probably due to the fact that it was based on a movie. If it had been a novel first, I think we would have gotten a little more description, a little more meat on the bones. I would be very interested in reading the original play, which had only three characters and nothing but chairs, a table, and an ashtray as props.
• 
  Jaime

  I didn’t realize this started out as a play and then a movie. It was a book from a box that my dad had given me, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
  
  It was decent, but nothing spectacular. It felt rather like a Law & Order episode to me, and was probably short enough to actually be one. I was a little disappointed that one of the major mysteries was never solved.
• 
  Tracey

  A compelling combination of murder, a miracle, and insanity. Also a good debate about religion and spirituality whether man or God was the father of the baby. At the end you are left to draw our own conclusions
• 
  Diane Wachter

  Agnes of God, Leonore Fleischer, PB-B @ 1985, 1987. When a dead newborn is found in a wastebasket in a young novice's bedroom, a psychitrist is called in to find out if she is competent to stand trial, because she knows nothing about sex or birth. Interesting.
• 
  Jo

  Catholic nun in convent comes up pregnant. Who is the father is only the first question when a psychiatrist and the mother superior lock horns on Agnes' stability.
• 
  Megan

  With (above)
• 
  Liz Lindsay

  again, another blast from the past!
• 
  Mary Lou

  Very fast moving, intense book. Excellent read.
• 
  Babete

  :-)
• 
  Crystal Leigh

  I remember telling all my friends to read this, and how no one liked it as much as I did.