Words of wisdom from the Abbess of Crewe:

On saying grace – “Oh, it isn’t necessary… there’s nothing wrong with my food.”

“Only the beautiful should make love when they are likely to be photographed.”

“I love you so dearly, Winifrede, that I could eat you were it not for the fact that I can’t bear suet pudding.”

In answer to the question what are scenarios. – “They are an art-form, based on facts. A good scenario is a garble. A bad one is a bungle. They need not be plausible, only hypnotic, like good art.”

“A Lady is cheerful and accommodating when dealing with the perpetrators of a third-rate burglary; but a Bourgeoise calls the police.”

Would I recommend it? The book is only six chapters long so if an abbey full of plotting nuns, electronics, scandal, blackmail, and English poetry sounds amusing or interesting go ahead and pick it up. I’m thinking that it must at least sound interesting so you’d better go read it… it’s only SIX chapters after all, and tell me what you think!

Don’t forget to stop by and see what Simon and Harriet have to say about Spark this week too.

I read that Muriel Spark is like the J.D. Salinger of the U. K. read in schools and the whole nine yards. I’d never heard of her before, how about you?