Book Review: "Black Narcissus" by Rumer Godden

Reading the Virago Modern Classics series has been part of the thing I'm doing with my new reading interest nowadays. As of this being written, it is the 27th of December 2024 and I'm on my way back to Nottingham from my hometown of Birmingham, England and thank god they aren't too far away from each other. Within this, I have enjoyed doing some reading over the last few days, including Christmas Day - I have also enjoyed drinking coffee and wrapping myself up in comfortable jogging bottoms. But, as I make my way back to my residence...that's right...I'm probably just going to do the same thing in a different place. Here's the review.

A group of Anglican nuns, led by Sister Clodagh, arrives at Mopu, a remote and windswept Himalayan village, to establish a convent and school. The palace, once a luxurious residence for a local general’s concubines, is donated to the nuns by the Old General, a wealthy ruler who desires the establishment of education and healthcare in the region. The exotic history and isolated setting immediately cast an unsettling atmosphere, its location perched high on a cliff exposing it to relentless winds and stunning, yet overwhelming, vistas. I have to say, the descriptions are amazing in this book. There is something so out-there and different and yet, has this very almost mysterious feel whilst remaining enclosed as Anglican nuns come on to the scene. The writing truly is wonderful.

The nuns face numerous challenges in their attempt to adapt to the local culture and customs. Language barriers and mistrust from the villagers slow their progress. The local caretaker, Ayah, remains attached to the palace's hedonistic past, resisting the nuns' attempts to instil discipline and change. Mr. Dean, the General’s agent, provides practical assistance but also challenges the nuns with his irreverence and cynicism about their mission. His casual attitude and worldly nature unsettle Sister Clodagh, creating friction and unspoken tension between them. I imagine that this is still a struggle of ex-pats and immigrants alike who move to places and cannot, for the life of them, understand or speak the language. There are these cultural clashes that arise in the book and honestly, it really produces a great amount of tension.

The convent's isolation begins to unearth Sister Clodagh’s buried memories. Through flashbacks, we learn she was once deeply in love with a man in Ireland. Her relationship ended when he left her to pursue a different life, leaving her heartbroken and prompting her decision to join the religious order. The emotional strain of the environment at Mopu exacerbates these memories, causing Sister Clodagh to question her faith and purpose. I absolutely love these troubled memories side-stories that happen in times of strife. They really bring out some great character development and make for a strong storyline.

Each nun battles personal conflicts, which are magnified by the palace’s haunting atmosphere. Sister Philippa, the gardener, becomes obsessed with planting decorative flowers rather than the vegetables needed for survival, reflecting her mental withdrawal from reality. Sister Ruth, prone to emotional instability, grows increasingly erratic. She develops a dangerous fixation on Mr. Dean, interpreting his kindness as romantic interest. The sense of isolation and cultural alienation begins to unravel the unity of the sisterhood, with growing tensions among the women. This is great because it starts with Sister Clodagh and spreads on to other people in the convent.

Sister Ruth becomes increasingly unstable, her obsession with Mr. Dean spiralling out of control. She rejects her vows, discarding her habit and applying makeup in an attempt to seduce him. Mr. Dean, recognising her instability, rebuffs her, which only deepens her rage. Her hatred towards Sister Clodagh intensifies as she perceives her as a rival for Mr. Dean’s attention, even though Sister Clodagh maintains a strictly professional and distant relationship with him. This becomes part of the essential tension in the storyline, it's brilliant because you can see how it has developed step by step. The best part about it is, it has yet to develop further. The pacing of this book is incredible.

All in all, I think that I would not have given this book a try if it were not for it being in the Virago Classics series. However, I am still glad I did - there is a crucial amount about pacing and tension that can be learnt, the character development is one of the prime aspects of the novel and the cultural and moral clashes bring this out tenfold.