Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion

This thread is for posting thoughts about Books 7, 8, and 9 and the book as a whole.

I just finished the book last night. Overall it was decent. Some transitions between chapters seemed too choppy and abrupt. My biggest complaint is that the two father's names were too similar- Jean and Joseph. I had to keep checking back to match which one is the bishop. I do wonder if I was Catholic if I would have gotten more out of the story than I did.

I agree that there is not always a smooth transition between chapters. It seemed to me that it was typically a passage of time that had occurred before the abrupt change, so it didn't bother me too much.

I'm glad you enjoyed it somewhat. I gave it a glowing review when I read it last year and I am enjoying it just as much this time. I don't think I would like it more if I were Catholic, but possibly it would have made a positive difference for you. I am just starting Book 7, so I will post some of my impressions when I'm done.

I've finally made it to Book 9 where the cathedral that Bishop Latour wanted to build is now complete. I wondered what the cathedral looks like. Here is a picture of the cathedral which I think is beautiful.

While l was looking for a picture of the cathedral, I read about Father Jean-Baptiste Lamy whose life this novel is based on. Cather used many factual things about his life such as the part of France he was from, when he was named Bishop of the New Mexico Vicarate, the fact that he wasn't recognized by the native priests in the New Mexico territory when he first arrived, and being responsible for the construction of the cathedral He is buried under the floor of the basilica. This is a picture of the Bishop. His statue is in front of the cathedral.

I finished this just now, and I loved it just as much the second time around. I feel like I got to savor some parts more this time and I noticed more how sensitive the priests were to the differing beliefs of some of the native Americans and the local Mexicans. Father Latour and Vaillant were strict with wayward ptriests but not with the average believers who held on to some of the ancient ways. This would have been a necessary way to deal with groups of people who cannot let go of every ancient belief that has been part of their people for centuries. Still a 5 star book for me.

Amen, Laurie. Back when I was teaching ESL to adult refugees and immigrants, I occasionally used to say something to my students to the effect that they did NOT have to change their customs and/or life style radically now that they were going to live in the USA. I would advise them to keep all the parts of the "old" country ways that were most precious to them and adopt all the ways of their "new" country that they liked best. Anyone with an interest in immigrants really should read the sociologist Oscar Handlin's seminal work, The Uprooted. It's old, but when one reads it, one realizes how some things just don't change.