For the Love of God: The Faith and Future of the American Nun - Softcover

Using her strong narrative skills, Kaylin takes us inside the altruistic world of nuns. We learn of the true grit involved--the tough inner-city service jobs as well as the rugged rural chores. We witness vulnerable moments, such as the time when Vatican II allowed nuns to shed their habits and women were faced with learning to style their hair for the first time in adulthood. One of her most tender chapters speaks to the myths and realities of a nun's sexuality, where sisters speak of the struggles and comfort that come from their profound vow to chastity. By the time Kaylin addresses the future of nuns, readers of all denominations are wholeheartedly rooting for their survival. This is where Kaylin hits the hardest--challenging the church to accept women in the ranks of the clergy, "thus ensuring them full participation in the faith to which they have devoted themselves utterly." Ultimately, this is a feminist, spiritual, and heartrending piece of investigative writing that captures the importance of nuns' ongoing existence, hopefully before it's too late. --Gail Hudson

Lucy Kaylin has been a senior writer at GQ for the past six years. Educated at William Smith College and Columbia University, she lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.