satisfying on many levels
Occasions Sin Passing Rites ebook
Occasions of Sin takes place in Germany between the world wars and focuses on a moneyed but mysterious countess and physician, Margarethe von Stahle. The year is 1931 and author Elena Graf opens this compelling tale in the cloistered convent of Obberoth, whose walls seem to whisper as nuns silently come and go. The atmosphere is charged with suppressed desire, untold secrets and perhaps scandals, the hush of centuries, and a layer of sensuality so thick you could cut it with a dueling sword. Dr. von Stahle has arrived to interview a young nurse new to the convent, Sister Augustine, whose beauty is so striking that her habit cannot conceal and indeed can barely contain it. And Sister Augustine has a few secrets of her own. (I should mention that the book is historical fiction but so vividly drawn that I reminded myself repeatedly that it was not history.)
As the story unfolds, the author maintains the tension between Dr. von Stahle and her aunt, the Mother Superior of the convent, the unfolding attraction between the doctor and Sister Augustine, the untold secrets of the characters, the inherent conflicts between science and religion, the sexual decadence in Weimar Berlin's notorious nightclubs, the street battles incited by Nazi brownshirts shortly before Hitler came to power--and the conflicts inherent in every person of soul and conscience. I don't know how author Graf evokes this time so vividly, unless she did an enormous research, is married to a nun, or has the ability to time-travel.
The real power and beauty of the book for me was the love affair that slowly and at times painfully develops between Dr. von Stahle and Sister Augustine in an incipiently fascist Germany, where any transgressions of the established order can mean ostracism or worse. I don't want to tell too much of the story lest I spoil your pleasure, but some of the most haunting, lyrical passages invoke women's love for each other in a way that could only be called timeless. And here the story comes full circle--a circle as full as birth and death. A very accomplished first novel. Highly recommended.
Category Article pressure washer
Occasions of Sin takes place in Germany between the world wars and focuses on a moneyed but mysterious countess and physician, Margarethe von Stahle. The year is 1931 and author Elena Graf opens this compelling tale in the cloistered convent of Obberoth, whose walls seem to whisper as nuns silently come and go. The atmosphere is charged with suppressed desire, untold secrets and perhaps scandals, the hush of centuries, and a layer of sensuality so thick you could cut it with a dueling sword. Dr. von Stahle has arrived to interview a young nurse new to the convent, Sister Augustine, whose beauty is so striking that her habit cannot conceal and indeed can barely contain it. And Sister Augustine has a few secrets of her own. (I should mention that the book is historical fiction but so vividly drawn that I reminded myself repeatedly that it was not history.)
As the story unfolds, the author maintains the tension between Dr. von Stahle and her aunt, the Mother Superior of the convent, the unfolding attraction between the doctor and Sister Augustine, the untold secrets of the characters, the inherent conflicts between science and religion, the sexual decadence in Weimar Berlin's notorious nightclubs, the street battles incited by Nazi brownshirts shortly before Hitler came to power--and the conflicts inherent in every person of soul and conscience. I don't know how author Graf evokes this time so vividly, unless she did an enormous research, is married to a nun, or has the ability to time-travel.
The real power and beauty of the book for me was the love affair that slowly and at times painfully develops between Dr. von Stahle and Sister Augustine in an incipiently fascist Germany, where any transgressions of the established order can mean ostracism or worse. I don't want to tell too much of the story lest I spoil your pleasure, but some of the most haunting, lyrical passages invoke women's love for each other in a way that could only be called timeless. And here the story comes full circle--a circle as full as birth and death. A very accomplished first novel. Highly recommended.
I loved the setting of this book and its spare, elegant language. I'm intrigued by between-wars Berlin and enjoyed the detailed descriptions of its life and customs, which had a convincing verisimilitude. The two main characters were drawn carefully and with a lot of love. They're destined to come together from the get-go, and as someone who's tired of the Wham-Bam and maybe not even Thank-You-Ma'am style of sexual encounter, I enjoyed the buildup to what was inevitable. When they finally happen, the sex scenes are convincing and fun.
I found the descriptions of the coming Nazi disaster riveting and would have liked more along these lines. This book could be the first in a series, as the exploration of what happened in Germany between the wars offers many possibilities. Also, the characters, particularly the surgeon, have some growing to do, and I hope the author intends to go into that in more detail in a later book.
As an atheist with a strong Protestant background, I found the emphasis on Catholic ritual and practice both fascinating and creepy. As a woman with interest in women's issues, I found this book head and shoulders above most in its genre. The whole issue of lesbianism in that era and place; the intersection of class privilege and prejudice against women in positions of authority; the role of women in society - all play an interesting role in this book.
This author is obviously intelligent, a careful researcher, and knows her subject matter backward and forward. I'm glad to find her on the scene and look forward to more from her in future.
Enjoyed this book very much. Well written and keeps your interest. Cannot wait for the next book in this series!
One of my favorite time periods for historical fiction is Europe between World War I and World War II so right from the start I was intrigued by the description of 'Occasions of Sin'. I read the online version and had a difficult time putting it down.
This is a wonderful story, told in tight prose, filled from start to finish with well-drawn characters and vivid detail. As a Catholic with a fairly strong knowledge of religious communities I found the author's treatment of the convent to be very accurate. The author also handles some delicate subjects with style and grace leaving the reader waiting for more. I definitely look forward to the next Elena Graf novel.