GRACEFUL EXITS: Catholic Women and the Art of Departure

Campbell claims that "Catholic women's reputation for obedience shrouds more complex realities." In this book, she uses the personal writings of Mary McCarthy, Karen Armstrong, Mary Gordon, Monica Baldwin, Mary Daly and others to demonstrate and analyze the "art of departure" (from the cloister, from the teachings of the Church or from the Church itself) that she says characterizes Catholic women. But because non-Catholic women's experiences are not seriously discussed here, readers will be left wondering if those experiences are truly unique after all. Still, this is a brave examination of many different kinds of spiritual border crossings. (Dec.)