cover image The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows

The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows

Dolores Hart and Richard DeNeut. Ignatius Press, $26.95 (350p) ISBN 978-1-58617-747-8

Many young women dream of being Hollywood starlets, so it seems unlikely if not downright bizarre for a famous actress to step out of the limelight and enter a cloistered convent. In this amazing tale, former actress and now Benedictine nun Hart and former Hollywood publicist DeNeut detail the glory days of the Hollywood scene when stars like Anthony Quinn, George Peppard, and Gary Cooper were all the rage. An on-screen kiss with Elvis Presley helped catapult Hart into stardom and allowed her to work alongside some of the biggest film stars of all time. She portrayed St. Clare in a film about the life of Francis of Assisi, and while shooting on location she began seriously contemplating a different style of life. While several of the anecdotes are entertaining, the narrative style is choppy, with the two authors trading paragraphs with little transition. Still, it is fascinating to get an insider glimpse into the life of a movie star and a cloistered nun, especially since these perspectives come from the same person. Many will question Hart's decision to walk away from such a glamorous life with great potential, but her vivaciousness and contentment shines through; she is doing what she was meant to do. Readers may find themselves reflecting on their own vocations. (Mar.)