Let's just say, it seems Rumer Godden knows whereof she speaks. Having lived a convent life for a year, I can say that while dramatic and interesting, this novel also allows the reader to understand women religious as the people they are; not just the roles they play in the contemporary imagination. Much to this reader's surprise, Ms. Godden explores the personal and spiritual victories of its characters, but also helps us to understand that these sisters also struggle as the rest of us do. Some of the nuns are more likable than others, just as we "people on the outside" are. Yes, it's a rather selective niche, "convent-based literature", but for those of us who enjoy it, I would heartily recommend this read.