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Revelations
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
11 posts | 4 read | 9 to read
A fifteenth-century Eat, Pray, Love, Revelations illuminates the intersecting lives of two female mystics who changed historyMargery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. Bishops Lynn, England, 1413. At the age of forty, Margery Kempe has nearly died giving birth to her fourteenth child. Fearing that another pregnancy might kill her, she makes a vow of celibacy, but she cant trust her husband to keep his end of the bargain. Desperate for counsel, she visits the famous anchoress Dame Julian of Norwich. Pouring out her heart, Margery confesses that she has been haunted by visceral religious visions. Julian then offers up a confession of her own: she has written a secret, radical book about her own visions, Revelations of Divine Love. Nearing the end of her life and fearing Church authorities, Julian entrusts her precious book to Margery, who sets off the adventure of a lifetime to secretly spread Julian's words. Mary Sharratt vividly brings the medieval past to life as Margery blazes her trail across Europe and the Near East, finding her unique spiritual path and vocation. It's not in a cloistered cell like Julian, but in the full bustle of worldly existence with all its wonders and perils.
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kspenmoll
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Traveling along with medieval mystic & pilgrim Margery Kempe was,for me,an immersion in the 14th century patriarchal world,dominated by the Catholic Church.It was a world of divisions crested by men in power:Kings& Popes,Lords & Archbishops-Black & white,rich & poor,good & evil,men & women.Her life as a wife,mother,mystic & pilgrim in a world fraught with danger,simple acts of charity,varied geography is a thought provoking & wondrous read.#nunlit

jlhammar What a lovely excerpt. Immersive and thought-provoking - couldn‘t agree more! Thanks for reading this along with me. So glad you enjoyed it. 13mo
kspenmoll @jlhammar I am so glad this was on the list of books you put together for #nunlit. 13mo
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review
BookishShelly
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Mehso-so

It was just ok to me. I much prefer Illuminations by Sharratt. #NunLit

jlhammar I also prefer Illuminations. Still enjoyed this one though. 13mo
11 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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#bookreport

Finshed Middlemarch & Who‘s Body #pemberlittens #goldenagecrimeclub

Middlemarch was a reread for me so my reading went swiftly once I caught up. #chaptersday
Enjoyed Lord Peter & the ( for me) unexpected ending.
Others I did not even open this week. Reading today Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House in between errands & a walk- sunshine after a rainy Friday! ☀️☀️

Cinfhen Hurray for sunshine!! It was SUPER RAINY here last week, which added to my staying indoors!!! 13mo
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blurb
kspenmoll
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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All buddy reads but An Accidental Death.
@BarkingMadRead can you tell me what chapter I should be on for Middlemarch? I lost track. #chapteraday
#weeklyforecast #Feb12to18 #2023

BarkingMadRead Today was 43 13mo
Cinfhen Nice 😊 13mo
48 likes3 comments
review
jlhammar
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Pickpick

Margery Kempe was such a fascinating figure. Her autobiography, The Book of Margery Kempe, was lost to the world for five centuries! In 1934 it was found, entirely by accident, in a country house cupboard.

I added several books to my TBR while reading this novel and its fantastic historical afterward. Sharratt knows her stuff and I was immersed in the turbulent medieval times in which Kempe lived. Really enjoyed.
#NunLit

Aimeesue This one's on my TBR ❤️ 14mo
Librarybelle I really liked this one! 14mo
batsy Great review! I'm even more eager to get to it. 14mo
See All 6 Comments
jlhammar @Aimeesue @batsy I wouldn‘t say it really crosses over into literary fiction as books like Wolf Hall and Matrix do (and Corner was very literary), but it is really solid historical fiction. Hope you enjoy whenever you get to it! 14mo
kspenmoll Wonderful review! 13mo
jlhammar @kspenmoll Thanks, Katherine! 13mo
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jlhammar
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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“Her book was called The Mirror of Simple Souls…There was not a single unorthodox word to be found in those pages. Yet she was considered dangerous. How dare a mere woman look to the authority of God within her heart rather than in those flawed men who would be her superiors?”

So fascinated by the beguines and French mystic Marguerite Porete. Love the idea of these medieval women forming their own communities. More info below. #NunLit

Suet624 This is why I love Litsy. I learn so much about so many things. The website Know Your mothers is fantastic. Thank you for introducing me to it. 14mo
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jlhammar @Suet624 You're so welcome, Sue! I feel the same way. 14mo
kspenmoll Thank you for the amazing website! I loved Illuminations & this book is just as fascinating. 13mo
jlhammar @kspenmoll I also loved Illuminations! Glad you‘re enjoying this one so far. 13mo
49 likes6 comments
blurb
jlhammar
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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A little Margery this morning before the work day begins. Crazy to me that by the time she was 40 (a bit younger than myself), she had given birth 14 times! Can‘t even imagine. And then she dictates what is likely the first autobiography in the English language. I‘m only five chapters in, but enjoying it so far. You do not want to be considered a lollard in medieval England! Related In Our Time episode and Electric Lit article below.
#NunLit

batsy Oh, I do want to read this! But I might not be able to this month. I hope I can fit it in before our April read 🤞🏾 14mo
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BookishShelly I've been reading this as well and that's wild. Thanks for the links. I always like to see what's fiction and what's fact with these kind of books. (Though I'll wait to read the linked articles til I finish just in case it might affect my reading of the book.)
14mo
jlhammar @batsy I hear you, where is this month going? Can't believe it is already the 9th. Hope you are able to squeeze it in eventually! 14mo
jlhammar @BookishShelly Yay! Glad to hear you've started. I'm up to chapter 8 and look forward to finishing this weekend. 14mo
57 likes6 comments
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LitsyEvents
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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@jlhammarhas opened voting for #NunLitQuarterly See original post to vote or sign up
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2496291

jlhammar We actually finished voting last month and have our 4 picks set for 2023. Jan-The Corner That Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner, April-The Land of Spices by Kate O'Brien, Jul-And Then There Were Nuns by Jane Christmas and Oct-A Shameful Murder by Cora Harrison. See previous #NunLitQuarterly posts for details. All are welcome to join us! 1y
Libby1 Hi, @jlhammar ! This looks brilliant. Count me in. I‘ve added all four books to my Waterstones wish list. 1y
jlhammar @Libby1 Yay! So happy to have you join us. I‘ll be sure to include you in future #NunLitQuarterly posts. 1y
Libby1 Thanks, @jlhammar . 1y
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jlhammar
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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#NunLitQuarterly QUARTER 3 VOTING

Which one is calling to you for July? Medieval or memoir?

All are welcome! If you‘d like to join in the #NunLit fun, just let me know.

LeahBergen Medieval for me! My vote goes to 1y
kspenmoll I have both books- would love to join in. 1y
jlhammar @kspenmoll Wonderful! I'll be sure to add you to the group for future posts. 1y
See All 21 Comments
Centique I‘ll vote Medieval too please 😍 1y
Aimeesue Margery Kempe! I'll have 1y
batsy Oooh! Medieval is calling me, too. I vote 1y
rubyslippersreads I just noticed, one nun is wearing ruby slippers! 😄👠 1y
marleed My judge a book by the cover is calling and telling me to go with 1y
marleed Oh also I‘ll tag #LitsyEvents so maybe they‘ll give a shout-out to this fun 2023 reading group! 1y
Tamra The medieval world! 1y
Kristin_Reads They both are interesting… Although I have been wanting to read Revelations for a long time! 1y
jlhammar @UwannaPublishme @Penny_LiteraryHoarders @MicheleinPhilly @JamieArc @DivineDiana Would any of you like to add your vote for this one before we call it? 1y
JamieArc And Then…looks fun and has my vote! 1y
38 likes21 comments
review
Librarybelle
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Pickpick

Based on the true story of Margery Kempe, a woman living in Medieval England who receives Divine prompting to go on a pilgrimage, this novel is intricate and powerful. Margery faces ridicule and even accusations of heresy. Her personal life is in tatters. And yet, her desires to spiritually connect with her faith are astounding.

I am drawn to Medieval settings featuring strong women fighting against social mores. This book fits perfectly.

Ruthiella I read this a few years ago and found it fascinating 3y
rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 3y
Librarybelle @Ruthiella Much of the historic information that Sharratt uses comes from Margery‘s autobiography. Her life sounds fascinating…I‘ll have to add it to my to read list! Thanks! 3y
88 likes5 comments
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lynneamch
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Looking forward to a great conversation with Mary and Greer on May 2. Time enough to read The Arctic Fury ahead of time with this TODAY (April 15) ONLY $1.99 deal on all platforms!
https://www.greermacallister.com/blog/2021/4/15/one-day-deal-on-the-arctic-fury
@tpixie loved it. I did too. What a deal!

theladygreer So looking forward to this event! 3y
tpixie @lynneamch thanks for the tag! I signed up for the event! @theladygreer I can‘t wait for this event. Loved Arctic Fury! 3y
theladygreer @tpixie Excellent! 3y
24 likes3 comments