A Book A Week

 "Why is it always our mistakes that linger in our memory?"

How many books have you read this year? I'm wrapping up my ninth year of reading a book each week, and am reflecting on how many incredible titles I've had the pleasure of reading over the years. Blogging and reviewing books has introduced me to a wider variety of genres and authors, making me a much more well-rounded reader. This year, I finished my goal of reading 52 books a bit early. Somehow I managed to read more than a book a week, ending with a holiday-themed read that did little to capture the magic of the season.  Not wanting to end the reading year on a negative note, I decided to pick up Olaf Olafsson's The Sacrament for one final read of the year. 

Sister Johanna Marie has been sent by the Catholic Church to Iceland to investigate claims of abuse against two school-aged boys. The young nun is fluent in Icelandic, but beyond speaking the language she has no real background in investigating matters as serious as this one. As Sister Johanna Marie begins her inquiry into the serious claims of abuse, she quickly feels as if she is in over her head. You may ask why the church would send someone so ill-equipped to handle this situation. Indeed, even the nun has her own doubts about the process. It almost seems as if the church has sent her there precisely because she is unable to fully investigate the alleged crimes that have occurred. Perhaps there is truth to that assertion. Perhaps some sins are better left buried. 

Twenty years later, the same nun is sent to the same place to speak to the same young man she spoke to before. Both parties have aged into their wisdom, and the boy turned man has decided to alter his original testimony. Sister Johanna Marie begrudgingly accepts the assignment to relive that time. You see, the sister has a secret of her own, one that goes completely against the teaching of the church that she's devoted her life to. As she embarks on the journey of coming to terms with the sins of her institution, she must also come to terms with the sins that she's committed. She is about to discover that forgiveness is not something judicially divided. Some sins are simply more unacceptable than others. 

The Sacrament is a remarkable work of fiction that balances a gripping literary mystery with quiet contemplations on religion and sin. Olaf Olafsson writes with assured minimalism that perfectly captures the essence of both the sprawling Icelandic landscape and the introspective character beats. The internal turmoil of the characters is as captivating as the larger claims of abuse within the church. These conflicts play out in tandem as Olafsson switches between past and present, driving his story toward a spellbinding conclusion. I couldn't help but fall into the trance of this book's words, the pages ever turning as I followed the lives of both the nun investigating the crimes and the alleged victims. The Sacrament will haunt me long after I've finished my review. It was the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic year of reading. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 53)