Life behind holy bars and the journey to freedom
As a twenty-one-year-old postulant at the Abbey of St Clare, Miriam is uncertain about her vocation. The community is led by a plump and greedy woman called Mother Hildegard, whose stomach is her main priority. There is Sr Chiara the harsh novice mistress, and Sr Juliana - an ex hippy who turned down a place at Oxford in favour of the messiah. Faraway in Shropshire, Miriam's parents are devastated at their daughters actions.
During a week's retreat Miriam reflects on what led her to the cloister, and whether a life behind the grille is for her. Her decision may come as a surprise, as the reader explores a world of boundaries, both physical and emotional, and how rough a road it is to freedom.