Changing Habits
Written by Debbie Macomber
Narrated by Trini Alvarado
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
They were sisters once.
Almost forty years ago, in a more innocent time, two girls enter the convent. Angelina and Joanna come from vastly different backgrounds, but they have one thing in common -- a desire to serve, to join in the community of sisters.
Despite the relative seclusion of the convent house in Minneapolis, they're not immune to what's happening in the world around them. In 1972 Angie's involvement with a pregnant teenager triggers a crisis of faith. At the same time, Joanna's relationship with a Vietnam veteran brings her face-to-face with the choices she made -- and didn't make -- in her own life.
Then, Angie and Joanna leave the sisterhood, abandoning the convent for the exciting and confusing world outside. The world of choices to be made, of risks to be taken. Of men and romantic love. The world of ordinary women ...
Debbie Macomber illuminates women's lives with compassion, with love and with grace. In Changing Habits she proves once again why she's one of the world's most popular writers of fiction for -- and about -- women.
Performed by Trini Alvarado
Debbie Macomber
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers, with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over one thousand weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Seventeen of these novels hit the number one spot. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and her husband, Wayne, live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town that inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Reviews for Changing Habits
34 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Angelina Marcello, Kathleen O'Shaughnessy, and Joanna Baird all had different reasons for becoming nuns but all shared one thing in common - their love of God and their faith. Nothing about their journey into sisterhood is easy and it is a continual struggle for all three to remain nins in a changing world. All of them will eventually leave the sisterhood, again for different reasons and all must adjust to a world they have long been sheltered from. "Changing Habits" is a different type of book from Debbie Macomber's usual style, but it is quite good. You know from the very beginning of the book that all three will leave the sisterhood, but it is still interesting to read as each of them decide to become nuns, how they react to their new restricted life, the day-to-day struggles of each to remain faithful, and why they eventually leave the sisterhood. Macomber has created three completely different characters in Angelina, Kathleen, and Angelina and I like the way the three had completely different reasons for becoming nuns (and leaving the sisterhood). Of the three, I thought Joanna's story was the strongest and Kathleen's the weakest - although all three were good. As for the religious elements - although I was never a nun, I was raised Catholic and to me the religious elements ring true. Macomber does an excellent job of showing how the nuns had to adapt to a new life after the events of Vatican II. Their struggles accepting some of the church teachings is also very believable (and at times heartbreaking) as the struggle of one with her attraction to men. Macomber shows how the church has always covered up certain things, but this book is not really an attack on the Catholic Church but more of appointing out of the flaws. Interestingly enough (perhaps because it was first published in 2003) she doesn't really touch on the pedophile scandal, and only alludes toward homosexuality among priests at the end of the book. "Changing Habits" is another nice book by Debbie Macomber.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An interesting plot, one that I have never read before. As a Catholic, I have always wondered what life was like as a nun. Ms. Macomber paints the picture of convent life in the 1960's. An engaging story that will keep you turning the pages to find out more.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5For different reasons, three young women enter the convent to dedicate their lives to God. But times are changing, even within the convent walls and the church. Eventually, each chooses to leave the convent and face the world outside--the world of ordinary women. An interesting read, I was caught up in the lives of the women.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This a story of three women who joined the convent for the usual coventional reason, unlucky in love, brainwashed by parents and the pull of a real calling to the service of the church. In th e end they all left for better reasons all having to do with personal decisions.
What I found intriguing about the story was the fact that it took place in the era of dawning feminism and the women's lives change in many ways for that reason. It also spotlights some of the reasons there is a crisis in the Catholic Church without being a heavy about them.
What I didn't like about the story was I felt that women were drawn too superficially. Macomber didn't capture enough of the real essence of these women for me.
Maybe I am comparing it too harshly to THE NUN'S STORY written long ago. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book was kind of lovely, I love the idea of looking at different parts of all three of these women's lives as they progress from being young women finding their vocation, to their time in the religious life and their decisions to finally leave and find lives on their own, also their eventual adjustments to life outside of the convent. The style in which this is written makes it very easy to understand and get into the heads and hearts of the characters. I was able to follow this story and never thought of putting it down. I thought that this was sweet and it made me think about a subject that I had hardly thought about before in life. Overall good read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school, you will truly enjoy reading about these three nuns.