The Falling Nun: And Other Stories

By Pamela Rafael Berkman

In this collection of twelve dazzling and sensual stories, Pamela Rafael Berkman explores the perplexities of contemporary life through the eyes of women searching for love, truth, and faith. In the title story, a group of coworkers who order miniature plastic nuns rumored to bring love suffer surprising and disheartening consequences. In "Tat," the heroine gets an elaborate Victorian valentine tattooed on her arm and learns the real meaning of wearing her heart on her sleeve. And in "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown," the classic holiday program brings temporary peace to a troubled young woman. Throughout, miracles and revelations abound, appearing in the most unexpected places -- a planetarium on a college campus, a yuppie Christmas party, a silversmith's booth at an outdoor fair, a corner bar on Halloween. In capturing the dilemmas and difficulties of our times, Berkman brings to life the eternal longings of the human heart.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743230191
• ISBN13: 9780743230193
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Tired of goofy chick lit?

This is a wonderful, beautifully written, thoughtful, sexy collection of short stories about young women. I found it a great antidote for all the silly lowest-common-denominator chick lit out there with the pictures of sexy legs on the covers. This is all about women of our generation, but it's told with intelligence, wit, a bit of darkness and a bit of humor. A wonderful collection--buy it!

Daring and Insightful

This collection is a wonderful find. Sharply observed and elegantly written, Berkman's stories present the struggles of young urban women to develop social and sexual mores that they can believe in. The struggle is ultimately a hopeful one. Over and over again, in stories that are alternately gritty and graceful, the characters rediscover--or reaffirm--a fragile faith in the world. To renew your faith in contemporary fiction, buy this book.

Fascinating and provocative stories

This is one of the most original and daring short-story collections I?ve read in a long time. The stories are sexy and provocative but the characters are very real people, even when they are in extraordinary circumstances. Berkman challenges our assumptions about women and sexuality but does so by telling darn good stories. The characters have both a sense of youthful exploration and precocious maturity and the sleek writing style reminded me a lot of Alice Munro.

A constellation of clever short stories!

Ever read a collection of short stories whose female theme (office politics, dating, get-togethers with friends) is mixed with dark and gothic undertones (witchcraft, self-destruction, twisted religious themes)? In The Falling Nun, Pamela Rafael Berkman touches on some rather disturbing subjects in women's quest to find love, success and happiness. As a result, she conveys a profound message in the aforementioned struggles. My favorite stories are "Gold Glitter," "Snakes," Playing Crucifixion," and "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown." If you're in the bargain for a literary and thought provoking collection of short stories, then I suggest you pick up The Falling Nun.

Original, funny and sexy stories

This is one of the most original and daring short-story collections I've read in a long time. The stories are sexy and provocative but the characters are very real people, even when they are in extraordinary circumstances. Berkman challenges our assumptions about women and sexuality but does so by telling darn good stories. The characters have both a sense of youthful exploration and precocious maturity and the sleek writing style reminded me a lot of Alice Munro.