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Janet Rich Edwards

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Hi Janet, I was deeply moved by Canticle, especially how its quiet moments carry so much spiritual weight. When writing it, did you begin with the theological questions you wanted readers to sit with, or did the characters’ inner lives lead you there organically? The way reflection and story intertwine feels so intentional and rare. Warmly, Etta
Janet Rich Edwards Dear Etta,
What a wonderful question. The germ of the story was my lifelong fascination with the writings of medieval mystics. They were (and are) mean…moreDear Etta,
What a wonderful question. The germ of the story was my lifelong fascination with the writings of medieval mystics. They were (and are) meaningful to me because of their unfiltered nature - uninterpreted through the lens of human institutions. I was intrigued by a character so devoted to her quest that she would become an anchoress. But then, as I added the layers of other characters, I became at least as interested in how Aleys affected and was affected by the spiritual lives of the people around her. I wanted to write Lukas as an equally earnest counterpoint to Aleys, so that I could explore the tragic role of ambition and ego in the spiritual quest. (Mystics universally speak of the necessity of letting go of the self.) I valued the path of service of the beguines and loved that Aleys was finally able to learn from Sophia. If there's a moral to the story, I think it is Sophia's 'Try to be simple.' So, really, the motivation of the story evolved as I wrote. The writing was something of an act of seeking for me as well as my characters! Thank you for your enthusiasm for Canticle and for a great question!(less)
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Do you do book clubs? So much to discuss in Canticle. I feel like it would be a great fit for our club.
Janet Rich Edwards Yes! (In fact, your question came in as we were putting the finishing touches on the book group guide, which includes medieval recipes and a playlist!…moreYes! (In fact, your question came in as we were putting the finishing touches on the book group guide, which includes medieval recipes and a playlist!) I'm eager to connect with readers, and looking forward to joining book clubs in person if they're in the Boston area or by zoom if they're not. If you're interested, email me at jredwardsauthor@gmail.com. (less)
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Combine Editions

Average rating: 3.86 · 7,264 ratings · 1,425 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors
Canticle
3.86 avg rating — 7,264 ratings — published 2025 — 4 editions
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Janet is Currently Reading

The Yiddish Polic...
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Aug 19, 2026 04:06PM
Kin
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Jul 29, 2026 06:56PM

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Janet Edwards is currently reading
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
by Michael Chabon
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Aug 19, 2026 04:06PM  ·   ·  preview book
Janet Edwards is currently reading
Kin by Tayari Jones
Kin
by Tayari Jones (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 19, 2026 03:52AM  ·   ·  preview book
Janet Edwards and 6 other people liked Eva Hall's review of Canticle:
Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards
"I can’t form full sentences right now, so here’s my stream of consciousness:
1: women!!! 🥹😭
2: anchoresses are my new hyperfixation, thank you very much
3: I think I liked this book so much *because* I’m not religious. Also, because this book so illum" Read more of this review »
Aug 11, 2026 11:52AM  · see review ·  preview book
Janet Edwards and 4 other people liked Darius Haghighat's review of Canticle:
Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards
"My favorite book of 2026 so far. So beautifully written, I was surprised it was a debut novel! I found myself pausing just to sit with some of the prose. The characters are thoughtfully brought to life, and the storyline is unlike any I’ve read. As a" Read more of this review »
Aug 11, 2026 11:51AM  · see review ·  preview book
Janet Edwards and 7 other people liked Megan Cummins 's review of Canticle:
Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards
"4.25 - I really, really enjoyed this one. I fell headfirst into the story and didn't really come up for air until I turned the last page. This reminded me so much of Matrix, by Lauren Groff (one of my fave 2021 reads and a book I STILL think is chron" Read more of this review »
Aug 11, 2026 11:47AM  · see review ·  preview book
Janet Edwards is currently reading
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
The Dog Stars
by Peter Heller
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Jul 29, 2026 06:56PM  ·   ·  preview book
Janet Edwards answered Sarah Baughman's question:
How long did you research the beguines and this period before you started writing?
Janet Rich Edwards
Good question, and a little hard to answer. I've been fascinated by medieval mystics most of my life -- first by their words, and later by their lives. I was dancing around the edges of the idea for Canticle, reading more deeply into the lives of the See Full Answer
Jul 15, 2026 08:46AM  · 1 like · 
Janet Edwards wants to read
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
The Betrothed
by Alessandro Manzoni
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Jul 14, 2026 01:58PM  · 1 like ·   ·  preview book
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Land by Maggie O'Farrell
Land
by Maggie O'Farrell (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 09, 2026 03:29AM  · 10 likes ·   ·  preview book
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The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
The Things We Never Say
by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)
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Jun 04, 2026 03:42AM  · 3 likes ·   ·  preview book
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Quotes by Janet Rich Edwards  (?)
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“He looks at her then, her Christ, with his wounded eyes, and she sees what she had not seen before. He is in love. He is in love with her, he is in love with the sparrow and the river, he is in love with the root and trunk and flower of it all, the entire creation, and his fear and his love are inseparable. He has love even for the fear, and it is through the vulnerable door, the portal of fear, the spear in his side that will come tomorrow, that Aleys glimpses, for a fleeting moment, the unutterable vastness of her beloved.”
― Janet Rich Edwards, Canticle: A Novel
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“I can read. I can write. I can begin a new tale.”
― Janet Rich Edwards, Canticle: A Novel
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“The words and the notes weave a nest, complex and particular, twig and grass and feather, a home in the heart of the music, and she is held fast by their song. Oh, Mama, she thinks, this is the melody you sought.”
― Janet Rich Edwards
tags: canticle
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