What do you think?
Rate this book
Convent
Those whom God wishes to destroy he first makes mad... The convent of Our Lady of Mercy stands alone in an uninhabited part of the Spanish sierra. Its inhabitants are devoted to God, to solitude and silence; six women cut off from the world they've chosen to leave behind. Everything changes on the day that a suitcase punctured with air-holes is discovered on the convent steps. Soon Mother Superior Maria Ines finds that the box and its contents are to have consequences beyond her imagining, and that even in her carefully protected sanctuary she is unable to keep the world, or her past, at bay.
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
7 people are currently reading
460 people want to read
About the author
Panos Karnezis
13 books84 followersPanos Karnezis was born in Greece in 1967 and came to England in 1992. He studied engineering and worked in industry, then studied for an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. His first book, Little Infamies (2002), was a collection of connected short stories set in a nameless Greek village. His second book, The Maze (2004), a novel set in Anatolia in 1922, was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award and won the Pendleton May First Novel Award. Short stories by Panos Karnezis have been broadcast by BBC Radio 4 and have appeared in Granta, New Writing 11, Prospect, and Areté. His other novels are The Birthday Party (2007, shortlisted for the Encore Award 2009 for the best second novel); The Convent (2010); The Fugitives (2015) and We Are Made of Earth (2019).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 16, 2016
Αν και τα βασικά γεγονότα και η πλοκή είναι απλή, η γραφή του συγγραφέα θυμίζει ψηφιδωτό ή παζλ που σιγά σιγά αποκαλύπτει την εικόνα. Παρά το ότι εκ των υστέρων όλα μοιάζουν απλά και προφανή ο αναγνώστης επιβεβαιώνει τις υποψίες του προς το τέλος, το οποίο δένει πολύ ωραία με το όλο κλίμα του βιβλίου. Ο συγγραφέας δεν παιδεύει τον αναγνώστη μόλις αυτός καταλάβει τι γίνεται αλλά του αποκαλύπτει όλες τις λεπτομέρειες και επιταχύνει το ρυθμό. Διαβάζεται πολύ ευχάριστα.
March 5, 2015
Δύο τρία πραγματάκια που πρέπει να γνωρίζει κάποιος σχετικά μ' αυτό το ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα μυστηρίου που διαδραματίζεται σε μια γυναικεία μονή της Ισπανίας του Μεσοπολέμου:
Πρώτον, ο συγγραφέας είναι Έλληνας αλλά ζει στο Λονδίνο και γράφει στ' αγγλικά, οπότε πρόκειται για μετάφραση (άκουσα ότι ο Καρνέζης γράφει στ' αγγλικά και κατόπιν κάνει ο ίδιος την ελληνική μετάφραση, αλλά αυτό δεν διευκρινίζεται πουθενά στην συγκεκριμένη έκδοση). Αυτό με απογοήτευσε στην αρχή, καθώς προτιμώ πάντα να διαβάζω το αυθεντικό.
Δεύτερο, ο Καρνέζης γράφει εξαιρετικά. Η πλοκή έχει τον σωστό ρυθμό ώστε να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη σε συνεχή αγωνία, το γράψιμο κυλάει νεράκι, και η ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων με άφησε εντυπωσιασμένη. Ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να μας μεταδόσει την κλειστοφοβικά απόκοσμη ατμόσφαιρα του απομονωμένου μοναστηριού και των μοναχών που το κατοικούν, πλέκοντας ταυτόχρονα μια συλλογή από αριστοτεχνικά σμιλεμένους χαρακτήρες. Κρίμα που ο Καρνέζης δεν γράφει στα ελληνικά, πραγματικά πιστεύω πως έχει πολλά να προσφέρει στην ελληνική λογοτεχνία.
Τρίτο και λιγότερο σημαντικό, για κάποιο λόγο που μου διαφεύγει εντελώς, ο μεταφραστής επιμένει να μεταφράζει το "καθαρτήριο" (purgatory) ως "πουργατόριο", η οποία έχει γίνει πλέον η καινούρια μου πιό μισητή λέξη μετά την "κολονοσκόπηση".
Πρώτον, ο συγγραφέας είναι Έλληνας αλλά ζει στο Λονδίνο και γράφει στ' αγγλικά, οπότε πρόκειται για μετάφραση (άκουσα ότι ο Καρνέζης γράφει στ' αγγλικά και κατόπιν κάνει ο ίδιος την ελληνική μετάφραση, αλλά αυτό δεν διευκρινίζεται πουθενά στην συγκεκριμένη έκδοση). Αυτό με απογοήτευσε στην αρχή, καθώς προτιμώ πάντα να διαβάζω το αυθεντικό.
Δεύτερο, ο Καρνέζης γράφει εξαιρετικά. Η πλοκή έχει τον σωστό ρυθμό ώστε να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη σε συνεχή αγωνία, το γράψιμο κυλάει νεράκι, και η ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων με άφησε εντυπωσιασμένη. Ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να μας μεταδόσει την κλειστοφοβικά απόκοσμη ατμόσφαιρα του απομονωμένου μοναστηριού και των μοναχών που το κατοικούν, πλέκοντας ταυτόχρονα μια συλλογή από αριστοτεχνικά σμιλεμένους χαρακτήρες. Κρίμα που ο Καρνέζης δεν γράφει στα ελληνικά, πραγματικά πιστεύω πως έχει πολλά να προσφέρει στην ελληνική λογοτεχνία.
Τρίτο και λιγότερο σημαντικό, για κάποιο λόγο που μου διαφεύγει εντελώς, ο μεταφραστής επιμένει να μεταφράζει το "καθαρτήριο" (purgatory) ως "πουργατόριο", η οποία έχει γίνει πλέον η καινούρια μου πιό μισητή λέξη μετά την "κολονοσκόπηση".
September 16, 2017
My last nunnery book was Muriel Sparks’ ‘The Abbess of Crewe,” a Watergate-inspired satire that was not the Dame’s finest hour. But the madness, secrecy and paranoia that were the watchwords of that novel are certainly a feature of this work by Panos Karnezis. And it works- at least at first. A baby boy is abandoned in a (ha ha, hole-y) suitcase outside the convent of Our Lady of Mercy and, to the Mother Superior, it is a sign from the Lord that she has been forgiven for sinful acts she committed when a young woman. The boy is a redemption motif in a landscape rich with imagery of sky-scuttling storks that nest on the convent chimneys and rescued strays (dogs) that skulk within the walls.
But there is something about Karnezis’ sentence structures that, particularly as the novel went on, brought me to a stop, at least on every page. This disconnect from the world he had created was irksome. The direction of the story, too, seemed fairly inevitable, and that was something of a shame. I found myself hankering for real madness, the kind Ken Russell portrayed in his version in extremis of Aldous Huxley’s "The Devils of Loudon."
When you marry God you must inevitably believe in the Devil and fear his snares. An obsession with light is also an obsession with the dark. This could have been a stunning novel, from the incredible opening line (‘Those whom God wishes to destroy he first makes mad”) to the richly picked setting, with its faded frescoes and falling-down halls. But Karnezis never quite takes advantage of the environment. The nuns roam their little kingdom and it is a purgatory unpurged, an antiquated ante-room, an unvented convent. In such circumstances you would expect an eventual bang rather than this book’s final whimper.
But there is something about Karnezis’ sentence structures that, particularly as the novel went on, brought me to a stop, at least on every page. This disconnect from the world he had created was irksome. The direction of the story, too, seemed fairly inevitable, and that was something of a shame. I found myself hankering for real madness, the kind Ken Russell portrayed in his version in extremis of Aldous Huxley’s "The Devils of Loudon."
When you marry God you must inevitably believe in the Devil and fear his snares. An obsession with light is also an obsession with the dark. This could have been a stunning novel, from the incredible opening line (‘Those whom God wishes to destroy he first makes mad”) to the richly picked setting, with its faded frescoes and falling-down halls. But Karnezis never quite takes advantage of the environment. The nuns roam their little kingdom and it is a purgatory unpurged, an antiquated ante-room, an unvented convent. In such circumstances you would expect an eventual bang rather than this book’s final whimper.
July 1, 2022
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Πάνου Καρνέζη που διαβάζω φέτος, τρίτο συνολικά ("Ο λαβύρινθος" και "Το πάρτι γενεθλίων" τα προηγούμενα δυο). Το βρήκα και αυτό πολύ ενδιαφέρον, καλογραμμένο και αρκετά εθιστικό, ουσιαστικά δεν κατάλαβα πότε το ξεκίνησα και πότε το τελείωσα. Πρόκειται για ένα ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα με στοιχεία μυστηρίου, που ως επί το πλείστον διαδραματίζεται σε ένα γυναικείο μοναστήρι κάπου στην επαρχία της Ισπανίας στην περίοδο του Μεσοπολέμου, με την πλοκή να έχει τον σωστό ρυθμό και να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη συνεχώς σε μια κάποια αγωνία για το τι θα ακολουθήσει, ενώ ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να δημιουργήσει μια αρκετά κλειστοφοβική και ίσως απόκοσμη ατμόσφαιρα λόγω του όλου σκηνικού. Επίσης νομίζω ότι ο Καρνέζης έκανε αρκετά καλή δουλειά με τους χαρακτήρες του (τουλάχιστον με τους δυο-τρεις πιο σημαντικούς), χρησιμοποιώντας κάποια flashbacks ώστε να μάθουμε κάτι γι' αυτούς και πώς έφτασαν εκεί που έφτασαν. Εντάξει, ίσως η γραφή να μην είναι ακριβώς καθηλωτική και χειμαρρώδης (όπως θα την ήθελα), όμως αν μη τι άλλο ρέει σαν γάργαρο νερό και κάνει εξαιρετικά τη δουλειά της. Γενικά, είναι ένα ακόμα βιβλίο του συγγραφέα που με αφήνει ευχαριστημένο: Κατά τη γνώμη μου δεν φτάνει το "Ο λαβύρινθος", αλλά το βρήκα ανώτερο του "Το πάρτι γενεθλίων". Σίγουρα θα διαβάσω και άλλα βιβλία του συγγραφέα!
November 20, 2021
Reread
Αμαρτωλές καλόγριες, σεξ, ίντριγκες. και ένα παιδί σε ένα απομωνομένο γυναικείο μοναστήρι από το πουθενά (;).
Ο Καρνέζης ίσως είναι ο πιο υποτιμημένος Έλληνας συγγραφέας-με την έννοια ότι δεν έχει λάβει την προσοχή που του αξίζει- ζει στο εξωτερικό, έχει day job, γράφει κατευθείαν στα Αγγλικά (και από ότι κατάλαβα μεταφράζει ο ίδιος τα έργα του στα ελληνικά), και δεν χρειάζεται να γλείψει το ντόπιο κατεστημένο.
Θέλω να ξαναδιαβάσω τα έργα του (και αυτό reread είναι), τις Μικρές Ατιμίες (συλλογή διηγημάτων), τον συγκλονιστικό Λαβύρινθο που διαδραματίζεται την επαύριο του Σεπτεμβρίου 22, αλλά κυρίως το Πάρτι Γενεθλίων, μια ιδιοφυή μεταγραφή της ιστορίας του Ωναση. Βέβαια ποιος έχει τον χρόνο (άσε που από ότι βλέπω τα βιβλία του είναι εξαντλημένα και στον νέο εκδότη του...)
Αμαρτωλές καλόγριες, σεξ, ίντριγκες. και ένα παιδί σε ένα απομωνομένο γυναικείο μοναστήρι από το πουθενά (;).
Ο Καρνέζης ίσως είναι ο πιο υποτιμημένος Έλληνας συγγραφέας-με την έννοια ότι δεν έχει λάβει την προσοχή που του αξίζει- ζει στο εξωτερικό, έχει day job, γράφει κατευθείαν στα Αγγλικά (και από ότι κατάλαβα μεταφράζει ο ίδιος τα έργα του στα ελληνικά), και δεν χρειάζεται να γλείψει το ντόπιο κατεστημένο.
Θέλω να ξαναδιαβάσω τα έργα του (και αυτό reread είναι), τις Μικρές Ατιμίες (συλλογή διηγημάτων), τον συγκλονιστικό Λαβύρινθο που διαδραματίζεται την επαύριο του Σεπτεμβρίου 22, αλλά κυρίως το Πάρτι Γενεθλίων, μια ιδιοφυή μεταγραφή της ιστορίας του Ωναση. Βέβαια ποιος έχει τον χρόνο (άσε που από ότι βλέπω τα βιβλία του είναι εξαντλημένα και στον νέο εκδότη του...)
September 22, 2013
For every time that a staggeringly high GR rating leads me astray, there is the occasional opposite experience, such as The Convent. I have no idea why it has scored so low - and I want to wait until after my review to find out (I have occasionally changed my mind about books post reading reviews and that seems wrong) - when I found this book to be quietly, but wonderfully, moving and altogether fascinating.
The Convent's premise is a great one - a baby turns up at the steps of a convent, abandoned in a suitcase, newly born. This in itself is fabulous - forget where the child came from, that's the least of it - suddenly you have women who have sworn off this very thing forced to contend with it. I don't know about you, but it never occurred to me that a nun's vow of chastity also meant a vow against motherhood. I mean, obviously, but I never really put it in those terms. This tension was dealt with really well - the women are all thumbs, and are in fact frightened of the child. The presence of the child also cast a certain interesting light on the life of a nun; the accepted reality of a life of mild suffering (no heat in winter, meager meals) suddenly was unacceptable for a child. More than that, the child is a boy, begging the question of how long such a person can coexist within the nunnery.
The story gets juicier as we discover (early on) the Mother Superior's incentive behind keeping the child - she herself aborted a fetus back in the day, forever feeling guilty, now sees this child as her second chance. But she cannot admit this to the sisters, and her behavior is perceived as strange, and indeed often cruel. Once we do find out the origin of the child, well, let's just say that the very question of all things holy in the book is broadened even more.
I really, really enjoyed this. The writing is tight and eloquent, the scenes are gripping, the characters are, for the most part, very well sketched and multi dimensional. There is the sister that no one likes, and the sister who is harboring a secret, and the sister who nurtures stray dogs out of a thinly disguised need to be a mother. Much of the church is explored in a way that I loved to read about, and I thought that, while it has minor flaws, this was a really wonderful (and underrated) work.
The Convent's premise is a great one - a baby turns up at the steps of a convent, abandoned in a suitcase, newly born. This in itself is fabulous - forget where the child came from, that's the least of it - suddenly you have women who have sworn off this very thing forced to contend with it. I don't know about you, but it never occurred to me that a nun's vow of chastity also meant a vow against motherhood. I mean, obviously, but I never really put it in those terms. This tension was dealt with really well - the women are all thumbs, and are in fact frightened of the child. The presence of the child also cast a certain interesting light on the life of a nun; the accepted reality of a life of mild suffering (no heat in winter, meager meals) suddenly was unacceptable for a child. More than that, the child is a boy, begging the question of how long such a person can coexist within the nunnery.
The story gets juicier as we discover (early on) the Mother Superior's incentive behind keeping the child - she herself aborted a fetus back in the day, forever feeling guilty, now sees this child as her second chance. But she cannot admit this to the sisters, and her behavior is perceived as strange, and indeed often cruel. Once we do find out the origin of the child, well, let's just say that the very question of all things holy in the book is broadened even more.
I really, really enjoyed this. The writing is tight and eloquent, the scenes are gripping, the characters are, for the most part, very well sketched and multi dimensional. There is the sister that no one likes, and the sister who is harboring a secret, and the sister who nurtures stray dogs out of a thinly disguised need to be a mother. Much of the church is explored in a way that I loved to read about, and I thought that, while it has minor flaws, this was a really wonderful (and underrated) work.
November 6, 2010
Convents, like colleges and country estates are perfect microcosms to play out Big Ideas in novels. Authors can full these snow globes up with characters and unleash the drama without a lot of real world constraints. These are controlled, understandable environments that are always knocked for a loop by the arrival of an outsider. We all bring a common knowledge of their workings so readers go in understanding that the outsider will threaten the status quo and in general bring out the best and worst in people. In The Convent by Panos Karnezis it is a baby left on the convent doorstep that is the catalyst for change.
Our Lady of Mercy is a crumbling convent hidden away in rural 1920's Spain. It's a six person land that time forgot. Mercy is a close-knit, self sufficient community. Sister Maria Ines is the Mother Superior. When a novice finds an abandoned baby outside of the convent Sister Maria is determined to keep the child. In that baby she sees a sign of forgiveness from God for her sins of long ago. Is this a miracle? Is it an offer of temptation? Her desire/vision is not shared by everyone else at the convent. It isn't long before the interloper has divided the Sisters.
Karnezis tells the story of the Sisters in a straightforward style. The old deceptively simple straightforward style in beautiful language. As the left behind worldly emotions of these women intrude on their cloistered lives and the unraveling begins, Karnezis creates a fascinating and moody page turner. There are some details left unexamined, the baby's mother for instance, that keep The Convent from being the novel it could be but on the whole I was impressed. Karnezis is a strong storyteller who is adept at masking the heroes and villains and keeping the reader engaged.
Our Lady of Mercy is a crumbling convent hidden away in rural 1920's Spain. It's a six person land that time forgot. Mercy is a close-knit, self sufficient community. Sister Maria Ines is the Mother Superior. When a novice finds an abandoned baby outside of the convent Sister Maria is determined to keep the child. In that baby she sees a sign of forgiveness from God for her sins of long ago. Is this a miracle? Is it an offer of temptation? Her desire/vision is not shared by everyone else at the convent. It isn't long before the interloper has divided the Sisters.
Karnezis tells the story of the Sisters in a straightforward style. The old deceptively simple straightforward style in beautiful language. As the left behind worldly emotions of these women intrude on their cloistered lives and the unraveling begins, Karnezis creates a fascinating and moody page turner. There are some details left unexamined, the baby's mother for instance, that keep The Convent from being the novel it could be but on the whole I was impressed. Karnezis is a strong storyteller who is adept at masking the heroes and villains and keeping the reader engaged.
February 17, 2011
The plot seemed to be interesting at first but turned out to be somewhat predictable with rather predictable ending. The story took a long time to develop and at times it got so slow, it was painful to read. I finished the book, but felt no emotional attachement to the characters and was relieved that it now is done....
I usually like this kind of books, and could not understand what was missing here. Finally, I think I get it: it feels that all characters somehow detached from the story, existing in separate dimentions. It's like author does not even get emotionally attached to them. He describes them, describes their past and present, the events take place and story develops.....but there is no real zest in it, no Karnezis's belief in the life he is writing.
I usually like this kind of books, and could not understand what was missing here. Finally, I think I get it: it feels that all characters somehow detached from the story, existing in separate dimentions. It's like author does not even get emotionally attached to them. He describes them, describes their past and present, the events take place and story develops.....but there is no real zest in it, no Karnezis's belief in the life he is writing.
March 2, 2018
το διαβασα το 12 αλλα θυμαμαι οτι ηταν ενδιαφερουσα η ιστορια (3.5 αστέρια) και πηρα κ το παρτυ γενεθλιων αργοτερα
April 11, 2024
Nåh, der er stjerner for sproget og oversættelsen, som er særdeles god, flydende og letlæst.
Men der er noget galt.
Igen er det noget med, at det er svært helt at mærke, hvor forfatterens sympati - måske lidt hos dem alle, måske ikke hos nogen af dem - og det låner måske lidt realisme til fortællingen, men ... det er jo fiktion, for filan.
Og så er bogens kriminalgåde ikke svær at gennemskue og man undrer sig over, at søstrene har så svært ved at se og forstå det.
Og da tiøren endelig falder, følger også tre meget forklarende afsnit, som sagtens kunne have været overladt - det meste i hvert fald - til læseren.
Men der er noget galt.
Igen er det noget med, at det er svært helt at mærke, hvor forfatterens sympati - måske lidt hos dem alle, måske ikke hos nogen af dem - og det låner måske lidt realisme til fortællingen, men ... det er jo fiktion, for filan.
Og så er bogens kriminalgåde ikke svær at gennemskue og man undrer sig over, at søstrene har så svært ved at se og forstå det.
Og da tiøren endelig falder, følger også tre meget forklarende afsnit, som sagtens kunne have været overladt - det meste i hvert fald - til læseren.
January 3, 2019
Με τον Καρνέζη νομίζω ότι την έχω πατήσει άσχημα. Το Μικρές Ατιμίες είναι ένα από τα πιο αγαπημένα μου βιβλία. Φοβάμαι ότι ψάχνοντας να βρω κάτι ανάλογο δικό του θα πέφτω σε ύφαλο.
Το Πάρτυ Γενεθλίων που διάβασα ακριβώς μετά, ήταν μια πανωλεθρία. Δεν μπορούσα να πιστέψω ότι ήταν ο ίδιος συγγραφέας στα δύο αυτά βιβλία.
Το Μοναστήρι στέκεται κάπου στη μέση. Θα το ξεχάσω όμως γρήγορα.
Ακόμα ελπίζω σ εκείνη την απόκοσμη γραφή του που δυστυχώς ούτε κι εδώ την βρήκα.
Το Πάρτυ Γενεθλίων που διάβασα ακριβώς μετά, ήταν μια πανωλεθρία. Δεν μπορούσα να πιστέψω ότι ήταν ο ίδιος συγγραφέας στα δύο αυτά βιβλία.
Το Μοναστήρι στέκεται κάπου στη μέση. Θα το ξεχάσω όμως γρήγορα.
Ακόμα ελπίζω σ εκείνη την απόκοσμη γραφή του που δυστυχώς ούτε κι εδώ την βρήκα.
January 2, 2011
In a remote area somewhere on the Spanish Sierra lies the Our Lady of Mercy convent. The Catholic convent was built in the 1600s, and many years later (1930s), the school for novices has closed its doors because of lack of interest. Now only six nuns remain at the crumbling convent. When a well worn suitcase with a baby boy inside is found on the steps on the convent steps, the delicate balance of convent life that the nuns have come to known is set to turmoil.
Of the six nuns, only two are hoping to keep and raise the mysterious newborn. Mother Superior, Sister Maria Ines, names the baby Renato, believes that his arrival is a sign from God. She has a dark secret past, and is sure that the baby is God's way of letting her know that her past sins are forgiven. Bit by bit the secrets are revealed, and when strange happenings begin to occur around the convent, the simple life of prayer and work is upset and the forces become divided. One nun even believes that the baby was sent by Satan and, Mother Superior becomes paranoid that others at the convent do not have the best interest of the baby in mind.
Although none of the nuns talk about their past to each other, each has secret reasons for choosing to enter the convent. It seemed that none of the nuns chose convent life so that they could devote their life to God, but rather at the time, convent life for at least a few of these nuns seemed to have been their best option in life at the time.
Overall I liked this novel. I loved the setting, the mystery element (even though it was easy to unravel), and I liked the writing as well. What disappointed me was the fact that the reader really only got to know two of the six nuns: Mother Superior and Sister Ana. The only male in the story was Bishop Estrada, and he was pretty much a non entity. The Convent is a short novel, just 212 pages, but I think the character development could have been expanded just a bit. If you enjoy a quick read, a story with long buried secrets fully revealed, and an unambiguous ending, then I suggest you add this one to your list of future reads. It did make me research other stories about convent life, as the setting was terrific.
October 3, 2010
The Convent is the story of six nuns who inhabit a decaying convent in a remote region of Spain in the 1930s, and what happens when a baby suddenly turns up on the convent steps. The clue to the narrative is given in the very first line: "Those whom God wishes to destroy he first makes mad." It's a simple story told in 214 pages; but like all good literary fiction, there's a lot more to the novel than meets the eye.
And this is very good literary fiction. The writing is characterized by lightness of touch and a fluid, understated style that pulled me through the story at high speed. The way the psychology of the characters is brought out in a few scattered paragraphs is just beautiful. Panos Karnezis also has a way of starting and ending chapters that has me wanting to hang on to this ARC for further study.
I was slightly unsettled by what was going on underneath the story. If this was the author's intention--and he hides himself so well that it's very hard to tell what his intention is--he succeeded completely. I couldn't make up my mind whether he was showing what the introduction of sin could do in a place of good, or whether he was laughing at everything the religious characters stood for. I suspect the latter. The novel is rife with images of decay, corruption, foulness and bestiality, although not once are these themes made explicit. They just sit there, waiting to be discovered; everything that Karnezis describes has a surface and an underneath. And of course there is also the convent's almost total isolation from what we'd call civilization; I'm always attracted by themes like this.
The Convent screams "book club"--it's the sort of novel that will provoke discussion, and yet it's not at all "difficult." An exemplary piece of writing. Recommended.
And this is very good literary fiction. The writing is characterized by lightness of touch and a fluid, understated style that pulled me through the story at high speed. The way the psychology of the characters is brought out in a few scattered paragraphs is just beautiful. Panos Karnezis also has a way of starting and ending chapters that has me wanting to hang on to this ARC for further study.
I was slightly unsettled by what was going on underneath the story. If this was the author's intention--and he hides himself so well that it's very hard to tell what his intention is--he succeeded completely. I couldn't make up my mind whether he was showing what the introduction of sin could do in a place of good, or whether he was laughing at everything the religious characters stood for. I suspect the latter. The novel is rife with images of decay, corruption, foulness and bestiality, although not once are these themes made explicit. They just sit there, waiting to be discovered; everything that Karnezis describes has a surface and an underneath. And of course there is also the convent's almost total isolation from what we'd call civilization; I'm always attracted by themes like this.
The Convent screams "book club"--it's the sort of novel that will provoke discussion, and yet it's not at all "difficult." An exemplary piece of writing. Recommended.
November 3, 2013
I'm giving this four stars even though it was admittedly kind of putdownable for me, and I really wavered about reducing my rating to three. Ultimately, though, four won out because of the book's haunting quality and stimulating questions which stayed with me after I closed it.
An unsuspecting nun about to leave for her errands finds a suitcase on the doorstep of the convent and discovers a sleeping baby. The mother superior instantly takes the baby as her own, and we soon discover her psychological reasons for doing so. Other nuns react as well, and the social structure of the convent slowly erodes.
This quiet book evoked convent life in a way that was atmospheric and believable. The characters were interesting and the conflicts were set up in a natural way. Various incidents arose that seemed like cheap ways for Panos to create drama, but happily Panos never took that easy way out, instead choosing to develop things in a more complex, subtle, and realistic way. The whole issue of religion and deprivation vs. the responsibility to this baby; religion vs. petty politics; etc. etc.; all of these were explored in a subtle way that kind of creeps up on you.
I usually reserve four-star ratings for books I have a hard time putting down. I can't really say that about this book, unfortunately. Its quietness and subtlety made for a more contemplative read but certainly a less exciting one. With that said, it was short and gave me a lot to think about when I closed it. Really better than a three-star. So four stars it is.
An unsuspecting nun about to leave for her errands finds a suitcase on the doorstep of the convent and discovers a sleeping baby. The mother superior instantly takes the baby as her own, and we soon discover her psychological reasons for doing so. Other nuns react as well, and the social structure of the convent slowly erodes.
This quiet book evoked convent life in a way that was atmospheric and believable. The characters were interesting and the conflicts were set up in a natural way. Various incidents arose that seemed like cheap ways for Panos to create drama, but happily Panos never took that easy way out, instead choosing to develop things in a more complex, subtle, and realistic way. The whole issue of religion and deprivation vs. the responsibility to this baby; religion vs. petty politics; etc. etc.; all of these were explored in a subtle way that kind of creeps up on you.
I usually reserve four-star ratings for books I have a hard time putting down. I can't really say that about this book, unfortunately. Its quietness and subtlety made for a more contemplative read but certainly a less exciting one. With that said, it was short and gave me a lot to think about when I closed it. Really better than a three-star. So four stars it is.
November 30, 2010
An isolated convent in the Spanish sierra...home to 6 nuns of varying ages, whose lives are devoted to God, reflection and solitude....Everything changes the day that a baby is found, in a padded suitcase, on the front steps.
Everything changes..the world comes to the convent in an emotional sense, at least. Jealousy, cruelty, zealotry, pride...make for a heady, deadly mix..The MOTHER SUPERIOR is at the center of the storm, having kept her own secret for many years. ....in the misguided belief that the orphaned child is the expiation of her own past sin...she delves into madness and shame...wherein the story becomes itself. Too many tales of this ilk become tacky..this one does not
This book is not a religious screed, nor is it a tabloid expose...it is a story of 6 women living isolated lives whose world is suddenly shattered from without...how each one deals with this new "truth". This book won't set the world on fire..but may give a reader food for thought...regarding the sanctity of the Church..and the price it exacts from its "sons & daughters"
3 Stars
Everything changes..the world comes to the convent in an emotional sense, at least. Jealousy, cruelty, zealotry, pride...make for a heady, deadly mix..The MOTHER SUPERIOR is at the center of the storm, having kept her own secret for many years. ....in the misguided belief that the orphaned child is the expiation of her own past sin...she delves into madness and shame...wherein the story becomes itself. Too many tales of this ilk become tacky..this one does not
This book is not a religious screed, nor is it a tabloid expose...it is a story of 6 women living isolated lives whose world is suddenly shattered from without...how each one deals with this new "truth". This book won't set the world on fire..but may give a reader food for thought...regarding the sanctity of the Church..and the price it exacts from its "sons & daughters"
3 Stars
April 20, 2015
The third book I've read by this author, and it's at least as good as the others. Karnezis seems to get compared to Graham Greene a lot for some reason, but to me he's closer to Garcia Marquez. This is a terrific story about how the arrival of a baby abandoned at a convent awakens suppressed memories and emotions in the nuns who live there, and the consequences that ensue. It's such a perfect novel it should be required reading for anyone considering writing a book - there are no plot holes, the characters are totally convincing, it's told with admirable concision and just the right amount of detail... It would also make a fantastic film! A great read from an author who deserves to be much better known.
July 27, 2016
Wow! I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, so thank you for sending me a copy of this unexpectedly brilliant book.
I love books set in castles, convents, etc and this book didn't disappoint. It is contextually rich and I adore the descriptions of the convent. A thoroughly fascinating read with interesting characters.
At its heart is a story of sin, redemption and religion.
I would highly recommend this book.
4 stars.
I love books set in castles, convents, etc and this book didn't disappoint. It is contextually rich and I adore the descriptions of the convent. A thoroughly fascinating read with interesting characters.
At its heart is a story of sin, redemption and religion.
I would highly recommend this book.
4 stars.
May 15, 2011
I was anxious to read this book and read it in two days. Not that I couldn't put it down, but rather because it's an easy read. It is intended to be a bit of a mystery, but I had figured out the main plot twists long before they were revealed. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have liked it better if it had been in Spanish. It might have felt more authentic.
January 31, 2018
A newborn baby boy is left at the doorstep of a convent, carefully placed inside a padded suitcase with holes drilled for intake of fresh air. The Mother Superior immediately takes upon herself to care for the boy and she sees him as a sign from God that she is forgiven for a sin she committed when she was Young, and for which she has never forgiven herself.
The Mother Superior wishes to raise the child in the convent and she is supported by the Young nun, Sister Beatriz, who helps her with the boy. However the other four nuns living at the convent do not share this opinion and one of them is even convinced that the boy is not sent by God but by Satan after a blood sacrifice.
The story revolves around the life in the convent after the arrival of the newborn and from time to time it strays back in time to tell the backstory of our main characters. I quickly got a feeling for who each of these characters was and where they were each coming from, and I found it quite interesting how some things were very obvious to the reader while the characters remained oblivious.
I really enjoyed the book with its quiet charm and it is a genuinely touching story. I can highly commend it.
The Mother Superior wishes to raise the child in the convent and she is supported by the Young nun, Sister Beatriz, who helps her with the boy. However the other four nuns living at the convent do not share this opinion and one of them is even convinced that the boy is not sent by God but by Satan after a blood sacrifice.
The story revolves around the life in the convent after the arrival of the newborn and from time to time it strays back in time to tell the backstory of our main characters. I quickly got a feeling for who each of these characters was and where they were each coming from, and I found it quite interesting how some things were very obvious to the reader while the characters remained oblivious.
I really enjoyed the book with its quiet charm and it is a genuinely touching story. I can highly commend it.
October 16, 2025
No surprises in this book.
When a baby boy is found abandoned on the steps of a convent in a remote region of Spain the mother superior believes he is a gift, a sign from God that she has been forgiven for a terrible sin she committed many years ago. The small community of nuns have doubts that this is the right course of action and the mother superior is only truly supported by sister Beatrix who helps care for him. Sister Ana believes the child is an evil omen and that he must be removed to an orphanage. She petitions the Bishop to support her .
It becomes obvious to the reader who are the parents of the child are and as the story unfolds the mother of the child and the mother of the convent clash with the Bishop’s decision to remove the child to an orphanage.
The author’s portrayal of mother love is weak and ill informed.
There is no critique of the father’s peripheral yet ultimately final influence on his child’s destiny and the devastation felt by the two women closest to the child.
If I hadn’t known the novel was written by a man I would have known
When a baby boy is found abandoned on the steps of a convent in a remote region of Spain the mother superior believes he is a gift, a sign from God that she has been forgiven for a terrible sin she committed many years ago. The small community of nuns have doubts that this is the right course of action and the mother superior is only truly supported by sister Beatrix who helps care for him. Sister Ana believes the child is an evil omen and that he must be removed to an orphanage. She petitions the Bishop to support her .
It becomes obvious to the reader who are the parents of the child are and as the story unfolds the mother of the child and the mother of the convent clash with the Bishop’s decision to remove the child to an orphanage.
The author’s portrayal of mother love is weak and ill informed.
There is no critique of the father’s peripheral yet ultimately final influence on his child’s destiny and the devastation felt by the two women closest to the child.
If I hadn’t known the novel was written by a man I would have known
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2017
Κλειστοφοβικό, εμμονικό και οι χαρακτήρες φαίνονται σα να περνάει από πάνω τους μεγεθυντικός φακός! Ενας μικρόκοσμος που είναι ενα μοναστηρι καλογραιών στην Ισπανία των αρχών του 1900, απομονωμένο από τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο με μια δράκα γυναικών που κάθε μια έχει το δικό της λόγο να επέλεξε το ράσο, που δεν ελιναι πάντοτε η αγάπη για τη μοναστική ζωή. Ο συγγραφέας εμβαθύνει σε δυο κυριως χαρακτηρες γυναικών αλλά στο τέλος αλλάζει εντελώς τη ρότα της ιστορίας! Ανθρώπινα λάθη και πάθη, ανθρώπινες αδυναμίες και η κυρίαρχη δύναμη, αυτή της ζωής. Το βιβλίο μου έδινε την εντύπωση ταμπλώ βιβάν (Tableau vivant) σε πολλές από τις σκηνές του! Εξαιρετικό ψυχγογράφημα που με συνεπήρε! Ελπίζω να διαβάσω και άλλα δικά του!
August 27, 2025
oh, dear... what a strange book
I was frequently lost between the chapters; one chapter described the way sister Maria cared for Renato and the next one described some things from Bishop estrada's past and his diplomacy studies. I feel like this doesn't bring much to the story... the twist, however, was unpredictable, but I felt like it was underdescribed somehow. like... sister ana saw sister beatriz breastfeeding the child; ok! but how did sister ana react, though? what did sister beatriz tell her? did she say the raw truth (pun intended)? I was highly curious about that and I feel somehow deceived.
sister Maria's delusions and that suicide attempt, though... left me with a sour taste.
I was frequently lost between the chapters; one chapter described the way sister Maria cared for Renato and the next one described some things from Bishop estrada's past and his diplomacy studies. I feel like this doesn't bring much to the story... the twist, however, was unpredictable, but I felt like it was underdescribed somehow. like... sister ana saw sister beatriz breastfeeding the child; ok! but how did sister ana react, though? what did sister beatriz tell her? did she say the raw truth (pun intended)? I was highly curious about that and I feel somehow deceived.
sister Maria's delusions and that suicide attempt, though... left me with a sour taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
This was very frustrating. I was interested in the story, but I couldn't even finish reading the entire book. Punctuation errors, poor sentence structure, awkward and incorrect word choices, and many other errors are so extensive that entire passages don't make sense. The dialogue was also confusing and completely unrealistic because the emotions, and even the actual words, didn't fit their respective situations.
August 29, 2023
I really enjoyed the suicide scene of the crazy sadistic nun after her inhumane poisoning of dogs. Retribution was sweet. It’s a pity that sister Carlotta wasn’t mentioned after her conversation with Maria Ines, but it’s not a perfectly written book overall. I only gave it four stars because it gets you thinking, not because I was that interested in the plot. The truthful depiction of weird mad nuns and fornicating bishop was refreshing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2020
A nice inbetween-read! No big story and a predictable one, but still nice. Especially for those who are into the magic and mystery of lost places, where it seems that time stopped. Sin and justice and two different worlds of life are the essential themes packed in here, written by a talented storyteller. 3,5-4*
June 8, 2023
Ατμοσφαιρικο μυθιστόρημα που διαδραματίζεται σ’ ένα απομονωμένο γυναικείο μοναστήρι της Ισπανίας. Ανθρώπινα πάθη και λάθη που παρουσιάζουν οι χαρακτήρες των μοναχών και του επιβλέποντος επισκόπου δίνονται αριστοτεχνικά από τον συγγραφέα. Για μία ακόμη φορά παρουσιάζεται η αδυναμία της ανθρώπινης φύσης και το παράλογο της προσπάθειας άρνησής της.
October 26, 2017
This is a well-written book that I did not exactly enjoy due to the subject matter, but I was enthralled from the beginning. It's very good, though, and I recommend it.
April 28, 2019
Dark, bleak, lacking in hope, fatalistic. Did not enjoy at all.
January 7, 2022
Prachtig verhaal!
June 23, 2022
Not very good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews