Contrition

by Maura Weiler

WINNER OF THE 2016 CAL FICTION AWARD
WINNER OF THE 2016 CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD
In this sweeping, heart-wrenching and inspiring tale, twin sisters separated at birth reconnect through art, faith and a father who touched the world through his paintings.

When journalist and adoptee Dorie McKenna learns that her biological father was a famous artist, it comes with another startling she has a twin sister, Catherine Wagner, who inherited their father's talent. Dorie is eager to introduce her sister's genius to the public, but Catherine is a cloistered nun with a vow of silence who adamantly refuses to show or sell the paintings she dedicates to God.

Hoping to get to know her sister and research the potential story, Dorie poses as an aspiring nun at the convent where Catherine lives. Her growing relationship with Catherine helps Dorie come to terms with her adoption, but soon the sisters' shared biological past and uncertain futures collide as they clash over the meaning and purpose of art. Will they remain side-by-side for the rest of their lives, or will their conflicts change the course of the future?

Find out in this beautifully detailed story that takes you on a spellbinding journey of the heart.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Womens

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2015

About the author

Maura Weiler grew up in Connecticut and earned her BA and MA in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, respectively. She is a former columnist for The Connecticut Post and a trash artist whose work has been featured on NBC Television and in galleries and shows across the country. As Director of Development at Blue Tulip Productions, she helped develop the screenplays for such films as Speed, Twister, The Paperboy and Minority Report. Her debut novel, CONTRITION, won the 2016 CAL Mainstream Fiction Award and the 2016 Catholic Press Association Novel Award. For more information or book club queries, visit www.mauraweiler.com.

Reviews

[Anj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read anything like CONTRITION. Both moving and thought-provoking, it would make a fantastic book club pick. Dorie and Catherine are sisters--twins separated at birth--who are struggling to understand their place in the world. Each twin turns to both art and religion for solace, with very different results.

Both created their best artistic work outside the public eye, when the process was far more important than the end result. But when Catherine tried to paint while knowing that the world was watching, she couldn't do it. Art was no longer a spiritual experience; that creative spark of genius was gone. I'm left wondering what might happen in a sequel, should Weiler choose to write one. Perhaps we could get Catherine's point of view? (If a sequel comes out, I'll be in line for sure!)

This book will definitely appeal to the religious and nonreligious alike. I'll be contemplating it for a while...

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very contrived. I can picture the author sitting in a museum viewing a religious painting in which one of the subject's hands is in the "peace" position and coming up with this story. I rarely felt for any of the characters. I can't think that in the history of tabloids has an article been so well written as to inspire such adoration and acclaim for the author. Also Catholic themed art work like that described hasn't been in demand for centuries. There was an interesting premise somewhere in the story of the sisters, but it was never fleshed-out.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a really sad book. I know the author intended us leaving with a feeling of hope and peace, but it left me cold and wanting more for the characters and people who live similar lives and make similar decisions.

[Cara Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly unusual story - I've read nothing else like it. Although it is not a thriller, I found myself eager to turn pages, feeling the sort of suspense that arises from the very human question: what if? However, I also forced myself to slow down a bit so I could savor the author's keen insights. The choices her characters made are just what Aristotle said belonged in great drama: surprising yet inevitable. I was deeply invested in what happened to the two sisters, whom I would not have typically expected to relate to, yet I did because they were drawn with such great empathy.

Maura Weiler offers readers a look inside a world that most of us never see and rarely think about, through the experience of two characters who have each made wildly different life choices, yet who share a bond that transcends separation and time. Contrition is an exceptional read, which also asks a question that is often on my mind: what is the meaning and purpose of art?

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer (RMFW) blog. Two weeks ago a guest writer, Maura Weiler posted an article, "Your Non-Agent Might Know Best. Or Does She?" If you commented on the article, you were eligible for a signed copy of Weiler's first and recent novel, Contrition. Well guess who won? Yep, me.

Received the signed copy last Friday and just finished reading the book. I enjoyed Maura Weilers writing style along with the storyline.

I'm sure it will be a big success for Maura Weiler.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I will be thinking about this book for a long time!

[Betsy Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading this book in the middle of a bout of stomach flu. Excellent medicine. This is a popular novel—easy reading—with a simple story that would translate well to film. In fact, the metronome rhythm sounds like reporting or deposition—which is fitting since the protagonist, Dorie McKenna, is a journalist on a quest to get to know her twin sister, who is a Sister cloistered in a monastery. Dorie was adopted and until the start of the book was unaware of her biological connections.

The sister/Sister is a fabulous painter, so the reporting extends not only to what life is like in a Catholic nunnery but to the art world. Fun. Dialogues resemble a reporter's interviews and the book feels well researched. It also delivers a spiritual/psychological parable about the conflict between ego-driven creation and truly surrendered creation, as well as the complex way we can trick ourselves into believing we are surrendered when we are actually in a full-fledged ego battle against our ego—by avoiding everything that might tempt it to reveal itself publicly. This is a sneaky battle that many people who work in the arts will resonate with.

The book has a lovely and moving ending.

I recommend Contrition to people who enjoy popular fiction, parables, and appreciate learning about other kinds of lives through a sturdily written simple plot.

[Bower Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrition is a fascinating and beautifully written story of twin sisters separated during infancy, and of the quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) implosions each experiences upon their reunion. I loved this novel. It was both gripping and moving, and as a (now-adult) adoptee, I found it to be an honest and satisfying read.

Dorie McKenna is grieving the death of the only parents she’s ever known when she learns that the then newly-widowed and struggling biological father who gave her up as a child had gone on to become a world-renowned artist before his early death from alcoholism. He’s left behind an only child, Catherine — Dorie’s fraternal twin sister — who’s inherited their father’s artistic genius. Dorie seeks her out to discover her living in a convent, a cloistered nun who destroys the brilliant works she creates to paint over them again. Catherine shrinks from every hint of accolade, determined to paint only for God. Dorie is enthralled by her sister’s talent and equally determined to present her work to the public.

Opposing worlds and world-views fuel the sisters’ inevitable clashes, which are delicately laid out but pull no punches. Contrition is a lovely and compelling book, and I found it to be an interesting response to (just about) every adoptee’s secret fantasy of discovering that he or she could be the biological product of genius married to fame. That sort of grass might not look so green, after all. Five stars.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster/Atria for an advance copy of this book for review.

[Eye of Sauron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm trying to be generous here while still reflecting my own opinions about this novel. It really wasn't my kind of book; I would probably give it one star based on my enjoyment, but I felt a little guilty because I know it's not bad at all within its genre.

The reason it's not my kind of book is not that it involves a lot of Catholicism and monastic living and theological dialogue. I actually quite enjoy that when it's done well. St. Augustine's Confessions is one of my favorite books of all time. In Contrition, though, it all seems a little contrived. Like it only really exists because it fits in well with the characters' story arcs.

I found this rather dull, because it's kinda slow-moving without reason. Slow pace says nothing about a novel's quality (see Les Misérables), but here the pace is slow and no introspection/reflection of any real intellectually or emotionally stimulating substance fills in the gaps. The whole premise makes me a bit uncomfortable; trying to exploit a nun's artwork to sell for profit (not so bluntly, but essentially). I have a high respect for these devoted people, and Catherine's eventual behavior left a little taste of disgust in my mouth.

The ending is terribly anticlimactic, and there seems to be a bit of Camus in the emotional detachment with which the narrator relays the information (at odds with the rest of the story). I did like the ending for the MC, but other than that I found this to be rather disappointing.

That's probably mostly my fault, though. always blame the Dark Lord

[Mirella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrition is a fabulous debut novel about twin sisters separated when they were small children. A talented, but struggling artist, stuggles to raise his twin daughters alone. Dorie he gives up for adoption, and Catherine he keeps. Catherine has inherited her father's talent for art, while Dorie works as a journalist. In search of the secrets of her past, Dorie searches for her sister and finds her, a nun in a convent. But when she meets her sister, she is met with silence. Catherine has taken a vow of silence and has not spoken a word for years. While visiting at the convent, Dorie discovers that her sister is an incredibly talented author, but Catherine refuses to sell or let anyone beyond the cloister's walls see her work.

As their two lives collide, the two sisters must delve deep into their hearts to discover the key for happiness. It is a journey of reckoning, ultimate forgiveness, deep understanding, and most of all love. With its stunning ending, the story pulls at the heartstrings, poignant and unforgettable. An unforgettable tale written with insight. A great newcomer in the genre of women's fiction!

[Carrie Esposito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a book can draw me into a world that I previously knew nothing about, and Contrition does this as we discover, along with Dorie, the funny and sincere main character, what it’s like to live as a cloistered nun.
A central tension in this story becomes the question of private versus public, as Dorie’s twin sister, Catherine has chosen not only to live as a cloistered nun with a vow of silence, but to keep her amazing paintings within the cloister walls.
Dorie starts as a tabloid journalist who can’t understand why anyone would want to keep silent about anything, let alone art that could not only garner admiration, but significant cash. However, she soon learns the value of silence as her life takes a turn she never would have expected.
Contrition is a worthwhile story for anyone seeking a book that entertains as it delves into significant issues within art, religion, and sibling relationships.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An original take on a "twins separated at birth" story. Maura Weiler's writing is beautiful and thought-provoking. Both twins, Dorie and Catherine, are likable and sympathetic -- though very different from one another (as twins so often are, whether raised together or apart). I had a pretty good idea where this was going from early on, but that didn't take away from the story -- rather, it kept me turning the pages. As an author, I'm always fascinated by whether a writer can get the story from beginning to end in a satisfying way, without throwing in red herrings or contrived plot turns. Maura Weiler plots her story expertly, while at the same time introducing readers to a world that, for many, is probably not well known or understood. A lovely read and highly recommended.

[Susan Cabaniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I had concerns initially given the religious title/subject matter, but after the first few chapters, I settled in for an excellent read. The author steeps us in the unseen world of a convent, and walks a fine line between not making the religious aspects preachy, and at the same time, not allowing it to be mocked. The artistry of writing and painting are given the same level of reverence, and the descriptions of the paintings made me want to wander through art museums. This world is fascinating, and the storyline of these two sisters finding each other in this space was lovely to read. I can't wait for another book from this talented writer.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrition was a great read from the first chapter! I loved this book and its ability to see the life inside the cloister, from both sides. This book just moved me in a way that other books haven't. The love between the two sisters, and how long it took to get comfortable with one another after their heartbreaking start in life.
I admire this author and her ability to deliver such a great read. Thank you Goodreads Giveaway for choosing me to receive this book, free! This is a book I would go out and purchase if I didn't own my own copy!

[Ann B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maura Weiler has written a compelling page turner about twin sisters separated at birth. Their hunger for connection, to God and to one another, despite the internal and external forces that keep them apart, drives the story. Once they succeed, their lives are altered in ways they never imagined. The author moves fluently between the secular art scene in Los Angeles and the devotional world of nuns in a cloister in Big Sur. Contrition is a thought provoking, yet entertaining novel. I loved it!

[Tiffany Quay Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrition is an utterly surprising novel about what it means to live a creative life. The story of these two sisters, separated at birth and raised in very different circumstances, is compelling, but it's the exploration of what it means to live the artist's life that really makes this book worth reading. Highly recommended.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! It has many layers of rich stories (art, family, adoption, separated twins, questioning faith, what counts as a good work life, ethics, media and privacy -- along with well played consequences related to life choices in all of them. Contrition is a refreshing and unique book. Looking forward to more from this author!

[Susan Swiderski · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and boyohboy, am I ever glad.

It's a unique story that takes readers somewhere few of us have ever been before, and will never have an opportunity to be: inside the walls of a cloistered convent. That in itself is fascinating, and well worth the read, because the author does a beautiful job describing the physical and spiritual nature of the secluded convent, and the nuns who live there.

But that isn't all this book is about. It's about twin sisters who were separated shortly after their mother died in childbirth, and who are finally meeting as adults. One twin, Sister Catherine, lives in a convent, where she spends most of her time praying... and painting. She paints inspired, breath-taking works of art, which to her are yet another expression of prayer, and meant to remain private, just between her, God, and the other nuns. In addition to her vow of poverty, which prompts her to paint over her works so she can re-use the canvases, she has also taken a vow of silence. On the other hand, the second twin, Dori McKenna, is anything but silent. She works as a journalist for a tell-all, make it up if you have to, kinda newspaper. When Dorie visits the convent in hopes of meeting her sister, she's stunned by the beauty of her paintings, and firmly believes such God-given talent should be shared with the world.

To get to know her new-found sister the Sister, and in hopes of telling her story, and persuading her to show her artwork at a gallery, Dorie pretends to have an interest in becoming a nun. While she's living, working, and praying at the convent with the other nuns... let's just say, God takes over from there, and life changes dramatically for both sisters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would give it four and a half stars.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Maura Weiler gave a personable, humorous, and intriguing introduction to her novel at the Tattered Cover (Colorado's local independent bookstore), where I was very pleased to get my hands on a signed copy!

Tabloid journalist Dorie McKenna's quest (using less than honest tactics yet humorous antics) to gain access to her twin sister Catherine Wagner--a cloistered nun and gifted painter--is both agonizingly self-reflective and wildly entertaining.

Weiler presents an intense juxtaposition between the two vastly different lifestyles inhabited by the two blood-sisters. Dorie makes her living churning out sensationalist out-of-this world stories for mass consumption while Catherine-who has taken a vow of silence-considers her privacy sacred and has sheltered herself from society in order to serve the Divine.

One of the novel's major themes is of a young woman's struggle with identity and the surprising and unpredictable process in which she discovers her life's calling. With straightforward prose and plot twists, this is a page turner and a delightful read!

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this but I think it has appeal that connected to a few specific interests. The situation of "twins separated at birth" souonds hackneyed but it really works here. Her description of convent life, since one sister is a cloistered nun, is revealing and thought provoking. The description of painting is pretty good but as much as I enjoyed the supporting characters I never felt the the sister in the convent was well fleshed out and remained a bit of a cipher. It is a good read with some beautiful language and a real feel for spiritual quests.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contrition, by Maura Weiler, is a wonderful story of twins separated at birth, finding one another later in life, and discovering their missing half in the isolated world of a monastery. I am amazed at the wording of the author (the first twin) and her descriptive wording of the second twin who painted spiritual art but didn't want anyone to see her paintings, while the first twin had the compulsion to write for her professional vocation, however, she didn't want anyone to read what she had written.

[Megan]

Contrition reads like watching a satisfying movie. Characters that are unique with interesting professions and lives. A world inside a cloister which you don't get to experience otherwise. And the tension between siblings that is the stuff of good drama.

I appreciated the questions in this novel of why we make art: Is it for ourselves, for others, or as a spiritual practice (“for God”)? And who is to say which is a better reason?

Disclosure: I personally know the author.

[Susan Knudten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read—interesting characters, a compelling story, and a thoughtful theme. Learning about life inside a cloister is fascinating, although it's not a 'religious' book in any way. It's really a book about humanity—how we deal with the circumstances life gives us, why family matters so much, and what it means to be a creative person. Thumbs up!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different take on twins separated at birth, and how the narrator (one of the twins) comes to terms with the situation. I think a sequel from the perspective of the other twin would be fascinating!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book that draws the reader into the inner world of cloistered nuns. I was raised as a Catholic, and had a number of relatives who were nuns, so this book was very special to me. Really touches the heart of what it means to forgive self and others.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a huge page turner. Maura found the perfect balance of suspense, character development and graphic descriptions to immerse you in the experience. I felt like I was in the convent and feeling what these two sisters might have been feeling. Awesome debut novel!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Please stay off Sister Teresa's flowers," I called out to no one in particular. A few people chose their next steps more carefully, but most ignored me.
"Not my flowers, never were." The extern's dismayed expression belied her cheerful tone. I saw her mouth droop when a middle-aged woman in neon pink shorts stepped on a hydrangea bush to peer through a first-floor window nearby. Teresa appeared to resign herself to the desecration and mustered a smile. "I'm just grateful I'll be here in a few weeks to replant them. Meantime, I can't keep up with the demand for water."
"Let me help you." I set out more cups on the extern's gardening bench.
"People are asking where the vending machines are, as if we had those. What should I tell them?"
"Tell them to go to hell," I muttered under my breath, forgetting that nuns accustomed to silence had very keen hearing.
"That's not a destination we particularly endorse," Teresa said.
I broke out into a loud guffaw in spite of myself.


~~Examples of nuns' habits over the centuries, and from country to country.

Meet Dorie McKenna. She's a young, adopted woman in her 20's. Living on the outskirts of Los Angeles in a rent-controlled apartment, she writes pieces for a local sensationalist newspaper-- The Comet (think a local version of Star ). Her adopted father recently followed her adopted mother to the grave, leaving the lawyer for her biological father's estate free to contact her. She learns that her birth father was a famous painter...and that she has a twin sister living in a cloistered nunnery up in Big Sur. Naturally Dorie's curiosity kicks in, and she works up the nerve to contact her sister. The clash of these twins' worlds, after being separated at birth, forms most of the tension (and plot) of the novel.

Turns out her sister, Catherine, is also a painter. Separated from the influences of the world, she has created masterpieces which rival those of their father. Dorie wants to convince her sister to show her paintings. But can Catherine survive the scrutiny of the art world? And just how involved is Dorie's editor from The Comet going to get? After all, he can smell a sensational story a mile away, and cloistered nuns are always a juicy topic. Read this short novel to find out what happens!

My two cents: Weiler's offering reads like the typical first person POV, paper back "dime" novel. Her dialogue is average, and infused with just a hint of humor (shown in my opening quote). The plot dragged somewhat though. I alternated between interest in the world of the nuns, which I am far from an expert in, and disbelieve at some of Dorie's actions. The ending brought the book up to solid 2 star or "average" territory though. I liked the little twist. Recommended *only* as a library check out if you want a fictionalized version of a story that tends to be more common now that social media is invading all aspects of our lives--whether monastic life can ever truly be separate from main-stream culture.

Futher Reading: A link to a non-fiction variation on Weiler's story--https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/2...
~~And a link to the wonders Big Sur, California. I hope to go there someday!! It's easy to see how Dorie didn't want to head back down to LA after seeing these vistas.
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/desti...

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book until the ending. I though it very improbable and ridiculous.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! had a hard time putting it down!

[Peter Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved getting to know the characters in this enjoyable novel.