Kathleen Norris was a prolific author whose works sold millions of copies and established her as a leading female voice of her era. Her novels, often serialized in prominent magazines, resonated widely with readers, showcasing her narrative skill. Norris possessed a distinct talent for storytelling that captured the public's imagination. Her contributions significantly shaped the American literary landscape of her time.
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, this work captivates readers with its compelling narrative and rich character development. It explores profound themes that resonate deeply, engaging with the complexities of human experience and emotion. The story is set against a backdrop that enhances the plot, offering insights into the characters' lives and the challenges they face. This book promises a thought-provoking journey that leaves a lasting impression on its audience.
Why would a married woman with a thoroughly Protestant background and often more doubt than faith be drawn to the ancient practice of monasticism, to a community of celibate men whose days are centered around a rigid schedule of prayer, work, and scripture? This is the question that Kathleen Norris herself asks as, somewhat to her own surprise, she found herself on two extended residencies at a Benedictine monastery. Yet upon leaving the monastery, she began to feel herself transformed, and the daily events of her life on the Great Plains - from her morning walk to her going to sleep at night - gradually took on new meaning. She found that in the monastery, time slowed down, offering a new perspective on community, family, and even small-town life. By coming to understand the Benedictine practice of celibacy, she felt her own marriage enriched; through the communal reading aloud of the psalms every day, her notion of the ancient oral tradition of poetry came to life; and even the mundane task of laundry took on new meaning through the lens of Benedictine ritual. Kathleen Norris here takes us through a liturgical year, as she experienced it both within the monastery and outside it. She shows us, from the rare perspective of someone who is both insider and outsider, how immersion in the cloistered world -- its liturgy, its rituals, its sense of community -- can impart meaning to everyday events and deepen our secular lives, no matter what our faith may be
After the death of his parents, Jim is sent to live with his grandparents on the Nebraska plains. By chance on that same train is a bright-eyed girl, Antonia, who will become his neighbor and lifelong friend. Her family has emigrated from Bohemia to start a new life farming but soon lose their money and must work hard just to survive. Through it all, Antonia retains her natural pride and free spirit.
"... Classic about life on the Great Plains and its influence on the human spirit"--From publisher description.
Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century California, this romance novel explores the lives and relationships of sisters navigating love and societal expectations. Kathleen Thompson Norris, celebrated for her honest and sentimental prose, delves into the intricacies of upper-class life, offering vivid descriptions that bring the setting to life. As one of the highest-paid female writers of her era, Norris's work reflects her deep understanding of her characters and their emotional journeys, making it a notable addition to the romance genre.
This year’s Best American Essays is edited by the best-selling, award-winning writer Kathleen Norris, whose books include Dakota andThe Virgin of Bennington. “The writers in this volume invite us into hidden places: a surgical pathologist’s laboratory, the boxing gym where a college professor and his student learn unexpected lessons about discipline, pain, and growing to adulthood. There are many discoveries to be made here, and I gladly invite the reader to an uncommonly rich and rewarding book.” — Kathleen Norris
