• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Breaking the Habit - Life in a New Zealand convent 1955-67 review
In 1955, at seventeen years of age, Judith Graham entered the Dominican Order and began her life as Sister Stephen. In this compassionate yet frank account she recalls her years as a Dominican nun during the repressive pre-Vatican II era.
The vows of a nun - those of poverty, chastity and obedience - encapsulated in the commitment of 'death to self', proved too much for Sister Stephen. Her battle for acceptance and spiritual fulfilment was stifled by the rules and regulations of the Church. Yet leaving the Order was even more difficult. After a twelve-year struggle she escaped from the convent 'feeling like a battered wife'.
Breaking the Habit, first published in 1992, is a warm, personal story of increasing doubt and subse- quent growth, and of freedom of spirit - 'a freedom I will never take for granted'. It also captures a way of life that no longer exists, and one woman's struggle to regain her sense of self.
Gladiatrix
Ten wriggly wriggly caterpillars
I, Robot: To Obey
Birthdays for the Dead
The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it was None of His Business
Pippa Morgan's Diary: Love and Chicken Nuggets
Stan the Van Man
The Yeti Files: Monsters on the Run
The Midas Legacy
Brushstrokes of Memory
Ernie and the Magic Kennel
Geomancer Book 1 - In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen
The Sparkling Stories of Phoebe and Her UnicornProduct reviews...
Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 7th of June, 2006
Breaking the Habit is a gripping and compulsive read. I had some trouble putting the book down. I was totally engrossed within its pages.
Breaking the Habit tells the autobiographical story of Judith Graham who was a nun in the Dominican order during the mid 1950s until late 1960s. Her clear narrative bring home the stark reality of a life within a convent and the three clear and abiding rules of povety, chastity and obedience that governed her daily life.
Graham also tells of her own internal struggle with herself and her feelings of being trapped within this order and the words and comments passed by the other sisters that kept her imprisioned within the convent walls. Clearly narrated is the daily life and rituals.
The book finishes with Graham leaving the order and her return to civilian life outside the order, and finally into normal family life.
The book is an easy read, filled with light humour, refreshing honesty and stark realism of a life that no-one could ever comprehend; nor would anyone except the most devout ever wish to live. The tale contained therein will survive as a grim testament to those selfless people who do God's work. The true unpaid heroines in so many walks of life.
Thumbs up to Graham for bringing us this tale and giving us outsiders a brief glimpse into a world go by, a tale of life which few will ever get to tell, and a story of a quickly disappearing way of life.
Random listing from 'Books'...
Brave Bidibidi decides to follow the rainbow and meets friends along the way... But look out for danger, Bidibidi!
Bidibidi, a high country sheep in the South Island of New Zealand is tired of her boring life and a scanty diet of dry mountain grass.
She decides to follow the rainbow in search of a more meaningful life. After many exciting and at times life-threatening adventures she meets Rainbow Jackson, the old rainbow maker. Her life is about to change forever...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life."
Andrew Brown
