A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT

by Margaret Wander Bonanno ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1979

Another in the line of polemical post-Vatican-II fiction--earnest, preachifying novels that go after the more controversial shibboleths of Catholic institutions. The tradition-bound and stultifying Old Ways are represented here by college president Sister Francis, who is in the process of ousting medieval scholar Sarah, a grand gal, who has lost the ability to read in a near-fatal stroke. But the good and life-giving forces come to Sarah's rescue: middle-aged priest Pietro (he has adored Sarah ever since she free-spiritedly did him a sexual favor) and young mother Joan, who would rather read to Sarah and listen to her life story than deal with her own, soon-to-be-divorced, alcoholic husband. A mini-strike is staged at the college for Sarah's benefit, the good faculty people (they're the earthy ones who swear a lot) rally to the cause, and Sarah gets her day in academic court. With tedious flashbacks of Sarah's career and segments from some rather weird lectures, this first novel makes one yearn for the dear old repressive days when Catholic writers used stilettos instead of battering rams to re-commit themselves to Mother Church.

Pub Date: March 1, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Seaview--dist. by Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION