{"product_id":"2940153899916","title":"In This Vale of Tears","description":"\u003cp\u003eTHE SECOND BOOK IN THE WINTERBINE TRILOGY\u003cbr\u003eIn chapter four of THE CASTLE OF HEAVENLY BLISS (the first book in the Winterbine trilogy), Aine O’Riordan arrives in Binawarra, her spirits shattered, the causes of which are only darkly hinted at. IN THIS VALE OF TEARS begins with the mysterious events that led to her shattered spirits as a postulant in the order of the Sisters of the Suffering Saviour, events which force her to give up her desire to join the religious life. With deep sorrow she leaves behind dear friend and fellow postulant Virginia Pearson to deal with the unexplained happenings and an atmosphere of foreboding that seems infect the life of the convent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVirginia Pearson (later Sister Agnes), suspicious of Margaret McGuigan’s (later Sister Catherine) role in all this, enters into a barely suppressed conflict with her through their religious training to their university course in 1962. The intrusion of Virginia Pearson’s former fiancé – and senior lecturer – into her life as Sister Agnes adds a serious unexpected problem. Dr Philip Stevenson is still in love with her. Her guilt over their breakup returns. She struggles to suppress her feelings for him and maintain distance. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring this time, strikingly beautiful Aine, who has maintained contact with Virginia\/Sister Agnes, has been lured into the world of fashion modelling by Jannie de Kam, also a former postulant. It is Jannie's photographer Harry who proclaims her 'stunning future' in the fashion world. Aine now married with a little daughter and seemingly unaware of where personable handsome Harry is leading her, unwittingly plays a connecting role in the deepening conflict and the continuing mysteries that see Virginia and Aine each rushing towards a crisis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe themes of the ‘Goddess’, neo-paganism, the occult and Gnosticism introduced in The Castle of Heavenly Bliss are further developed in In This Vale of Tears. The ideological conflicts of the 1960s form part of the background to the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome reader comments:\u003cbr\u003eVery interesting story with an original theme. Suspenseful without being gory. religious theme runs through it but in no way is it sanctimonious or bothersome to non believers. I recommend it as good and original reading.\u003cbr\u003e 5 stars Amazon review, Evelyn Felice, 6 October 2012\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘…a gripping follow-up to The Castle of Heavenly Bliss, with engaging characters and a masterful treatment of the ideological issues…\u003cbr\u003eDr Paul McKenna South Caulfield VIC\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘I enjoyed In This Vale of Tears…the feminists were well done…know your enemy…this is a gutsy book’\u003cbr\u003eMargaret Condon, Castle Hill NSW\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e…an accurate account of happenings within some religious orders…an uncanny representation of the experiences of religious…as gripping and targeted as The Castle of Heavenly Bliss\u003cbr\u003eFr Terence Naughtin, Franciscan Friars, Kellyville NSW\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gerard Charles Wilson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47074691743984,"sku":"2940153899916","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940153899916_p0.jpg?v=1764059608","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940153899916","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}