Catching up on the new season of Call the Midwife, I was captured by Sister Monica Joan’s compulsion to get her books in order. The Nonnatus House moves to a new location; she is fixated on her boxes of hardbound books, her board and brick shelves. And I watch with abounding empathy. I. get. her.
I snort when she says, “I have put Plato here, next to Mr. Freud, so they can be companions in their ignorance.”
Like Violet, the Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey, Sister Monica Joan gets the best lines. The community of Nonnatus House are patient and proprietary as SMJ toggles between dementia and a sound mind.
In a moment full of poignancy, Sister Monica Joan admits, “Sister, I cannot deny that my memory is in need of — — refreshment.”
This exchange had me talking aloud to the computer screen:
Sister Monica Joan: I am not brought down now!
I am well….and filled with purpose.
[Yes, I cheer. Yes! Yes! Yes! Organizing bookshelves is replete with purpose!]
Sister Evangelina: I can see that.
Never been a reader, always a doer.
Books passed me by when I was young.
[It’s not too late, I plead with a character on a TV show.
I know I could find a good book for you to read.]
Sister Monica Joan: Oh, books have been my friends!
I do not intend to forget what they have taught me.
[No, I nod, we can’t forget. Well, we try hard not to forget.]
Sister Monica Joan, I love you.
(I conducted a long and fruitless search for pictures from that scene, and settled on a few screen shots.)
The most economical deal I found ($5.87) on the books (which we—the royal we—must read) is Tales from a Midwife: True Stories of the East End in the 1950s
I’m highly interested in Jennifer Worth’s book about end-of-life care.
A Living Pencil 
This is my favorite show and I love Sister Monica Joan too. : ) I’ve read the first book from Jennifer Worth and really liked it. Beautiful stories.
I enjoyed reading your post! I’m visiting from the Saturday Review of Books link-up.
Welcome, Cathy!
Oh, Carol, we just need to live closer! Like within walking distance!
I so loved reading this. How we both can pick up conversations about books, reading, and bookshelves!
I’ve watched several episodes of Call the Midwife via Netflix, but I’m only in the first season. Since I really didn’t think my dh would like it, I’ve only watched on the nights he has call duty, and then, only occasionally. But he did see one, or parts thereof, and liked it. So, it may move into regular viewing together.
The books…..I’d really never thought about them…that they even existed. Soooo, off I trotted to Amazon. My set of four is coming from the UK also, but my cost was much higher than yours, although decently priced for a set of four new books. Where did you find your deal….through Amazon? ABE?
Keep reading, and keep writing about your reading. Before long, my shelves will be refilled!
~Janie
Wait a minute, Janie! You are my role model for culling books! I have an April 30 deadline to go through two boxes.
I got the deal through Amazon, but only the three midwifery books. I still need to buy In the Midst of Life.
Two more things:
1. Being your neighbor would be crazy wonderful. Oh, man. It’s too much fun to imagine.
2. I watch these alone, for the most part, because my elk hunting, mountain man husband can’t abide the birth scenes. He actually covers his ears and hides behind me. He likes the other parts of the show, but women in labor are just too much for him. I think that’s funny!
I’m just now seeing this……guess I forgot to check the “notify me of follow-up comments via email” box.
I got my four books this week. My soldier-girl dd from Maryland was in and got the mail for me exclaiming, “Mom! Who has sent you something that required custom forms?? And from Sweden!” Not sure I would have noticed the Sweden part. I thought they were coming from England. 🙂
My dh dislikes birth scenes too. He doesn’t like that aspect of privacy broadcast, nor does he care for the vocalizations!
So………., did you make your Apr 30 deadline?
Love you and wish we were backdoor neighbors!
~Janie
I so enjoyed the first season of Call the Midwife (except for the obligatory pro-abortion episode, yuck!). I am looking forward to watching more of this show, and Sister Monica Joan sorting her books sounds like a lovely development.
The first season had many more scenes of the nuns singing. I miss that. I read somewhere that CtM is a nostalgic look back, implying that it idealized the 50’s. I can’t agree with that. There are some grim scenes in the East End.
I got one or two of Worth’s books for cheap (or free?) for my (gasp!) Kindle, but I still haven’t read them.
I enjoyed this post–almost as much as I do the show! 🙂
Amy, you write the most encouraging comments. I sure appreciate them! Thanks!
I agree, SMJ is a favorite of mine and yes, is blesed with marvelous lines.
As I mentioned before, I found “In the midst of Life” edifying and sobering. Jennifer Worth was a multi-talented lady. I purchased my copy from Amazon.co.uk and it was mailed to my place in Switzerland. I don’t recall the price and that is probably for the best
*blessed* tapping on my kindle, which is a challenge for me!
I’m thinking of you in Alaska, Miss Swiss Miss turned Frau M.
thanks! 🙂
You have encouraged me Carol. I am going to go back to watching CTMs. My husband did not like it either and so I stopped. Lovely Sister Monica Joan, she is a kindred soul with books as are you Carol. I am always excited when your blog entry comes up at my gmail account. love and prayers, jep