The Lilies of the Field

Little (and slightly battered) book

Author: William E. Barrett

Category: I saw the movie version of this book years ago. And recently, I saw this book at a library book sale. It was 50 cents, so I bought it.

My thoughts: This is a cute little book. It’s pretty good—I wouldn’t call it very good. But I did get a little teary at the end. The Lilies of the Field is the story of a black ex-G.I. named Homer Smith who wanders around the country, supporting himself with whatever work he can find. This wanderer aspect of the novel reminded me of The Odyssey, which, of course, was written by…Homer. I wonder if that was an intentional thing by the author. Anyway, Homer Smith comes across a group of East German nuns in a desert state (this book was written when there was such a country as “East Germany”) who want to build a chapel. The HNIC (Head Nun in Charge), Mother Maria Marthe, believes that Smith (or “Schmidt,” as she calls him) was sent to them by God to help them build the chapel. “Schmidt” himself isn’t so sure.

One reason I liked this book was because I like stories about people of different backgrounds who become friends. The Lilies of the Field reminds me of a children’s book, Mrs. Katz and Tush, about a young black boy who befriends an older Jewish lady (n.b. Mrs. Katz and Tush was wonderful book; read it to your kids if you have them. If you don’t, just read it anyway). The Lilies of the Field is a short book, and some of the writing, I feel, could have been better. And it would have been nice to have more background about the characters and what they went through in life. Both Mother Maria Marthe and Homer Smith are very stubborn, but they have a respect for one another that they either can’t or won’t articulate. Alas, some people are like that.

As I stated before, I saw the movie version of this book many years ago. I don’t remember much about it, but the final scene has always stayed with me. Check it out.

Great passage: He sat for a long time beside the station wagon after the nuns had retired. He told himself that he should have said “good-by” to old Mother, but it wasn’t his way to put his feelings into words. Old Mother looked into a man’s heart and she had an understanding mind. When he was gone, nobody would have to tell her anything; she would just know.

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