This book pulled me in all the way. Even when I was doing something else -- like watching the Super Bowl (Who Cares vs Whoever; Go Detroit Lions!) my fingers kept itching to pick it up and read during the cracks/commercials. Quakers (I am one) are called to make our lives testify to "simplicity" -- understood to be stripping away distracting "superfluities" that would keep us from aligning our outer doing with our inner knowing. I recognize that in this abbey full of flawed women, supporting each other toward honesty, kindness, humility, willingness and courage. The frankness and accountability with which they acknowledge those flaws (in themselves and each other) give me hope that all the rest of us flawed people can do the same. There's just enough "plot" to support the rich character development with real-world challenges. I'm pretty sure I'll read this again in a few years.