Title: As A Book, Terrible; A Hagiography of Mother Berchmans
Product review: Mother Berchmans was a trappestine nun who was instrumental in the success of the first Japanese monestary of her order. While I generally like Merton, this is nothing like Merton's typical style. It is in the literary format of a "life of a holy person" or hagiography. It emphasizes the holy and selfless behavior of the nun and the religious effect on the community. I read it as part of academic work on Merton.It tells you a lot that even Merton did not particularly like this book (but Merton disliked much of his own work).If you have a specific reason for buying this, it's a good example both of early Merton (just after his admission to the Abbey of Gethsemani) or of religious biography. If not, try one of Merton's other works. If you're new to Merton, I'd recommmendNew Seeds of Contemplation (New Directions Paperbook).
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