As we wandered through the heritage-listed grounds—its gardens, chapels, and many historic buildings—it was impossible not to reflect on the connection to the characters in our latest read, The Convent by Maureen McCarthy. Elements of the story came vividly to life as we stood near the Sacred Heart building, where thousands of women and girls once lived in its secure confines, and the Magdalen Laundry, where they toiled in anonymity. The novel’s themes were made tangible by our surroundings.
It’s no surprise, then, that our discussion was wide-ranging and passionate. We delved into themes of religion, institutionalisation, family, history, and the broader social structures that shaped the lives of the women in the book. The conversation continued over a relaxed lunch at Cam’s Kiosk, the Convent’s café, where we were intrigued to learn that an elderly nun who once lived there still drops in for coffee now and then.
Rarely do we have the chance to engage with a book in the very setting that inspired it, and the experience was a powerful one—one that deepened our understanding and connection to the story.
The August meeting was such a success that future plans now (jokingly!) include a world tour: to Bath for Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, Switzerland for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and the Deep South for Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird!