The Light In The Window
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4.7 • 31 Ratings
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- £1.99
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- £1.99
Publisher Description
'I promised that I would one day write a book and tell the world about the home for unmarried mothers. I have at last kept my promise.'
In Ireland, 1951, the young June Goulding took up a position as midwife in a home for unmarried mothers run by the Sacred Heart nuns. What she witnessed there was to haunt her for the next fifty years. It was a place of secrets, lies and cruelty. A place where women picked grass by hand and tarred roads whilst heavily pregnant. Where they were denied any contact with the outside world; denied basic medical treatment and abused for their 'sins'; where, after the birth, they were forced into hard labour in the convent for three years. But worst of all was that the young women were expected to raise their babies during these three years so that they could then be sold - given up for adoption in exchange for a donation to the nuns.
Shocked by the nuns' inhumane treatment of the frightened young women, June risked her job to bring some light into their dark lives. June's memoir tells the story of twelve women's experiences in this home and of the hardships they endured, but also the kindness she offered them, and the hope she was able to bring.
Customer Reviews
The light in the window
An excellent read.
The light at the window
Excellent book...what those poor unfortunate young women went through at the hands of a nasty nasty nun...doesn't bear thinking about...why did the mother superior not step in...I am a qualified Nurse myself and I couldn't imagine what June Goulding went through delivering all those babies and caring for all the women on her own...I just hope these cruel nuns get what's coming to them I don't care how old they are...
The Light In The Window
I read this book years ago,&was deeply moved by it. It's extremely well written,you can actually visualise the very rooms, the contorted bitter face of that horrible abusive Nun! When she refers to Judy, that she knows a dinner dance, is So different to a dance, you can't help but wonder,did She have a child out off wedlock,and then Eventually become a Nun,and that was why she treated the girls&women with Such scorn...? Though more than likely, she was just a cold hearted, bitter, horrible woman!! It's a Wonderfully written ,but extremely Sad book! To think that those poor poor girls,had no proper food,not to mention no pain relief.....It's devastating! How Could Judy work there for two years? And yet how it must have broken her heart to leave them there as well. How cruel to be So close to your baby, breast feeding your child,only to have it taken from you forever..... Heartbreaking!!! No other word.....