What do you think?
Rate this book
#LNF
"All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
But first .
Roberta Denys thought it would be relatively simple to abandon her affluent Silicon Valley lifestyle and pursue a holy, devout monasticism-a life she'd dreamed of since childhood, but set aside in favor of marriage and family. Now, having nursed her husband through a lengthy illness, Bertie watches her home burn to the ground on the day of his funeral-the work of an arsonist-and she knows it is time to go.
And so she goes, moving into a tiny shed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But with the arsonist still at large and her grown son suspiciously missing Bertie finds it difficult to leave her world behind, especially with a cell phone that continues to ring, a meddling best friend, and quirky neighbors who insist on invading her solitude. As she struggles to find peace, Bertie learns things about her old life she never wanted to know, and it leaves her with a nagging question: should she be seeking God, or her lost son?
It will take a miracle to find them both.
But first .
Roberta Denys thought it would be relatively simple to abandon her affluent Silicon Valley lifestyle and pursue a holy, devout monasticism-a life she'd dreamed of since childhood, but set aside in favor of marriage and family. Now, having nursed her husband through a lengthy illness, Bertie watches her home burn to the ground on the day of his funeral-the work of an arsonist-and she knows it is time to go.
And so she goes, moving into a tiny shed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But with the arsonist still at large and her grown son suspiciously missing Bertie finds it difficult to leave her world behind, especially with a cell phone that continues to ring, a meddling best friend, and quirky neighbors who insist on invading her solitude. As she struggles to find peace, Bertie learns things about her old life she never wanted to know, and it leaves her with a nagging question: should she be seeking God, or her lost son?
It will take a miracle to find them both.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 12, 2021
I love how unique this book is. It has a little bit of everything and some great messages without being preachy. It was a fast read and hard to put down. I liked so many of the characters even though none were perfect. But they were all loveable.
August 27, 2021
Bertie took me on her emotional journey and I cried with her and celebrated with her. Great book!
December 10, 2024
I loved this book.
January 21, 2009
This book will help you to simplify your life and realize what is really important in life. Even when one tries to pull aside from people, it doesn't work. People is where we find ourselves. There will always be people come into our lives we can reach out to.
Friendships can be so opposite and yet end up helping you each find what is important as you support each other.
A fabulous book and I would read it again and again. But now it will be going to someone as a gift so they can enjoy it and get to know this author. I think as times are hard this book could help so many today to learn to simplify. Also it would let them know what they are missing out on not knowing some people. I have dealt with a wayward daughter and not knowing where she was so I could relate to looking for a son.
Friendships can be so opposite and yet end up helping you each find what is important as you support each other.
A fabulous book and I would read it again and again. But now it will be going to someone as a gift so they can enjoy it and get to know this author. I think as times are hard this book could help so many today to learn to simplify. Also it would let them know what they are missing out on not knowing some people. I have dealt with a wayward daughter and not knowing where she was so I could relate to looking for a son.
January 22, 2014
I liked it. Possibly because I could relate to the life-stage Bertie is in : and because as a young girl, I too had ambitions of becoming a nun. That simple, devout life is still so attractive to me. But now I try to find ways to live out the essence of the practice, without the actual cloister.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews