Book Review: The Twisted Circle

I have been rereading How to Read a Book: A Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Adler and Van Doren. This week, I read the chapter on suggestions for reading stories, plays, and poems. While reading the section titled How to Read Stories, the authors discussed the frustration readers sometimes experience when they feel overwhelmed trying to remember characters. Some even give up on a book because they don’t want to keep track of its characters and their relationships.

The authors then offered the following advice:

“It does not always occur to such fainthearted readers that exactly the same thing happens to them when they move to a new town or part of a town, when they go to a new school or job, or even when they arrive at a party… We may not remember the names of everyone we met at a party, but we will recall the name of the man we talked to for an hour, or the girl with whom we made a date for the next evening, or the mother whose child goes to the same school as ours… However, by the time we have finished War and Peace or any big novel, we know who is important, and we do not forget.” (p. 219)

The novel I’m about to review is not as long as War and Peace, but the same principle applies. There is a character named Barbara who will stay with me for as long as my mind allows. She will join Hazel, Jade, Jane, Katie, and Eric among those memorable characters who have made a lasting impression on me.

The Twisted Circle by Rosaliene Bacchus tells the story of Sister Barbara Lovell, a Guyanese nun who joins a convent in the village of Santa Cruz, where she also serves the community as a schoolteacher and acting principal.

Rosaliene does a wonderful job of narrating the story through three perspectives: the inner lives of the sisters as they live in community and interact with local priests; the heinous events surrounding the abuse of children; and, in the background, a country trying to move forward as a republic after centuries of colonialism.

Sister Barbara is the main character, and through her, we learn about the horrible things that happen when religious vows and high moral standards are established but not upheld as they should be. The novel also explores the dynamics of a republic as it tries to find its footing, with corruption and retribution serving as stumbling blocks to progress.

Barbara is a strong woman struggling to maintain her faith and honor her vows as she grapples with the memories of a recent sexual assault by one of the priests, which led her to move to Santa Cruz. Even in this new place, Barbara is not safe, as a government official begins to sexually harass and assault her.

Through Barbara’s eyes, we see the hypocrisy within the Church, where nuns fall in love with priests, priests struggle to control their attraction to other men, and others indulge in their perverse passions for children. All the while, members of the religious community protect their own, concealing these realities and obstructing justice.

Barbara tries to help a boy named Raven, who is struggling after being abused by a priest. For a school end-of-term project, Raven paints twisted circles with a large, elliptical red eye staring out from a stormy blue and purple sky. The painting also includes dark areas across the forest, where “God’s light did not penetrate” (p. 67).

I really like how Rosaliene integrates flashbacks throughout the story, allowing us to discover the backstories of Barbara and Frances, an American nun who serves as Barbara’s nemesis throughout the novel.

Rosaliene also incorporates epistolary techniques, presenting Frances’s journal entries throughout the novel. These entries are illuminating and particularly well done.

The novel explores the dark side of Catholicism, which, for whatever reason, the institution seems reluctant to address fully and openly. It also shows the lasting effects of colonialism on people, effects that persist for many years after independence is achieved.

I got the sense that, even though Barbara has lost faith in the religious institution, she remains a believer.

I was delighted to find Rosaliene’s novel engaging from the start, with plenty of suspense and tension to keep me guessing until the end.

I highly recommend her novel, and I know I’ll be reading Under the Tamarind Tree next.

About the Author:

Rosaliene Bacchus grew up in Georgetown, Guyana, spent 17 years in Northeast Brazil, and now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her two sons. As a young idealist in the 1970s, the divorced mother and former import-export manager had dedicated seven years to the religious life as a Catholic nun and high school teacher. Her debut novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, was released in 2019.

80 thoughts on “Book Review: The Twisted Circle”

  1. I love how you interweave the advice from How to Read a Book with Rosaliene’s excellent book. You really have a gift for making reviews meaningful and bringing out the themes, my friend. There are so many layers in the Twisted Circle. Great review, Edward!

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    1. Thank you very much, my friend. I agree with you about the layers in the novel. I think this is one of those novels that deserves several readings to identify all the points of friction and have some deep discussions.

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  3. Thanks for the review, Ed. The corruption within the RCC and the institution’s failure to address it are topics I often discuss at my blog. I also note the irreconcilable difference between Rome’s gospel of salvation via sacramentalism and merit and the New Testament Good News! Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

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    1. You’re welcome, Tom. You definitely cover a lot of issues on your blog, and there’s a lot of good information there. I’m afraid this isn’t unique to the RCC; Christian and other religious organizations are guilty of this, too. I’m a Protestant, and I follow this issue closely. A lot of evangelical churches are in the same boat. It’s a really big issue, and it’s all about power. Thank you for reading and commenting.

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    1. She definitely is. I really don’t understand why the church’s moral principles don’t guide its response to all of this, since they should be the standard for addressing these violations. But I know the church doesn’t want to lose its power, control, money, and everything that comes with them. It’s really sad to see where some of these institutions’ priorities lie.

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  5. Sounds like a painful book. My former husband’s school friend was abused by a priest and decided to go public as an adult. He suffered so much with attempts on his own life. My former husband thinks the reason he himself was not targeted because his dad was a police officer. Sadly it is rife, perverts joining organisations where they have easy access to children. Only God himself will truly deal with these evil doers.

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    1. Thank you, Lana. Yes, some of the events were painful, but I think Rosaliene did a great job of softening them so they don’t get stuck in your head, so to speak. I know, it’s incredible how these individuals are joining organizations to get close to children. It reminds me of the case against the doctor for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting girls on the Olympic team. Terrible!

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    2. Lana, it was indeed a painful story to write, since I had buried those years in the convent in order to find my way again in the secular world. My best friend at the time (an American poet, now deceased) told me it was a story I had to tell.

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      1. I really hope this does not put you off following Jesus. We all need Him – not a religion, but a personal relationship. Only He can heal and transform those who love Him. Peace to you.

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  6. An interesting and timely book, for, sadly, this story broadly speaking keeps repeating here and there. Lives changed forevermore, often in a traumatic way, but also in divine closeness. Your sentence illustrates it well: “Even though Barbara has lost faith in the religious institution, she remains a believer.” Faith in men may sometimes disappear, but faith in God remains. Isn’t this a little bit what we are seeing worldwide these days? A wonderful review of what seems to be a great book! Thank you, Edward, for painting it so appealingly with your words. Much enjoyed! Sending light and blessings your way, always, dear friend! ✨🙏

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    1. Thank you so much, Susana. You’re absolutely right about the faithful around the world. I think religious institutions are going beyond what they’re supposed to do and trying to control people instead of building community. I know this isn’t new, but people now have more freedom to learn about what’s happening inside these institutions and push back. That’s happening more often, and people want community. I’m glad that you enjoyed the review, my friend.

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  8. Everyone is tempted even nuns and priests. It’s just different when they do these mistakes since they’re preaching for good words and deeds, but I’ll always remember that they’re human and only God can judge them, not me. I understand why some people stepped away church coz indeed, there’s hypocrisy in there, but I think not for every religious people.

    Wonderful review, Edward!

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    1. Thank you very much, Hazel. You’re absolutely right. We’re all human and can give in to temptation. I think the problem is that some people move from temptation to action, and that can be dangerous. But, as you said, God is the only one who can judge.

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  9. I really enjoyed reading your review. What stayed with me most was your thought that Barbara may have lost faith in the Church but not in God. I find that distinction so moving. It’s painful when an institution that should offer love, guidance, and protection becomes a source of hurt and injustice. Barbara sounds like the kind of character who makes you think long after you’ve finished the book. You’ve certainly made me curious about The Twisted Circle!

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    1. I really appreciate your comment, John. You’re right about how painful it is to see these institutions become sources of hurt and injustice. I think the Word is clear that those who are stumbling blocks to believers will face the consequences of their actions.

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      1. I agree with you. Jesus’ words about those who cause others to stumble are a serious warning. Those entrusted with guiding and protecting others have a great responsibility to live by the values they preach. It is painful when they fail, but I believe truth and justice must ultimately prevail. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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    2. John, I’m so glad that Edward’s review has made you curious. As an ex-nun, I lost my faith in the Catholic Church and years later, while living in Brazil, I left the Church. Since then, my spiritual life has grown stronger and deeper.

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  10. this sounds like an engaging read, edward. while the subject matter may be intense, the stories need to be read. even though a novel, the institutional injustices still apply.

    when reading a book with a lot of characters, i’ve learned not to give up and continue reading until they all fit together and make sense. the more you read, the more you remember them. some are only included as a literary device, a means to an end, but most become clear as i read on.

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    1. I completely agree with you, Beth. It’s a difficult subject, but we need to continue talking about it.

      I’m still getting my feet wet with fiction, and it was good to hear the advice to read through the story without worrying too much about the characters. It’s good to realize that, at some point, the important characters will become obvious and everything will make sense in the end.

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  12. Awesome review Edward… This sounds like a powerful and difficult story, especially through Barbara’s struggles with faith, abuse, and the failures of those who should have protected others.

    God Bless you.

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    1. Thank you, Willie. She did a great job describing the challenges and explaining how religious leaders and laypeople sometimes overlook the obvious and refuse to do justice. This is something we witnessed every week across all denominations.

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    1. You’re so welcome, Rosaliene. You did a phenomenal job portraying Barbara and capturing what she was feeling. I was angry about all the injustices committed against her and the children. I became deeply invested in the story, so I’ll say, well done. Barbara will stay in my mind for a long time.

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  14. That sounds like an intense novel! I had lunch last week with some neighbors and learned that the woman I was sitting next to moved to Arizona from Guyana. I look forward to learning more about her life there. She didn’t say much about it except call it “my country.”

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    1. It gets intense at times, but I would say that Rosaliene always provides a way out and kind of eases the situation, so the reader doesn’t stay “stuck.” She also did a great job describing the country, and I learned a lot about the people, culture, food, and other things that make them unique.

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    1. Thank you! I tend to follow my gut after reading about an author and some of their work. It’s not a very sophisticated method, but it’s served me well so far. I’ve only come across a couple of novels that didn’t impress me.

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  19. Who knew there was a book on “how to read a book” lol…but yeah, that happens to me! Takes a couple of chapters sometimes to get the characters all straight!

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    1. Yes, and it’s very good. This is my second time reading it, and it’s incredible how much you learn from it. I think I’m going to read it once a year until I have a good grasp of its content. That chapter was a good reminder, since I’m going to read some challenging novels pretty soon.

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        1. You’re welcome! Her background is super interesting, and we were discussing some of the subjects presented in her books, which piqued my curiosity. I really liked how she developed the characters and the narrative.

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  21. I agree, Edward. An enlightening and engaging story. If one wants to look behind the vail of religious institutions, this book will be worthwhile.

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    1. Absolutely! I was pulled in by the story. Interestingly enough, I read the other day about a U.S. deacon who left the church after his son was abused by a priest. The church then excommunicated him for leaving and joining a Protestant church. A lot happens behind institutional walls, for sure.

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  23. Ed, an excellent review. What particularly interests me is the distinction between an institution’s declared principles and the incentives that ultimately govern its behavior. Sister Barbara’s apparent loss of confidence in the institution, without necessarily losing her faith, suggests something considerably larger than a religious dilemma. Institutions can become so invested in preserving their authority that the very principles intended to legitimize that authority become secondary. Your observations about the parallels between religious hierarchy and postcolonial government make this especially compelling. Well done, my friend.

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