The Story

La Neuvaine de Colette follows Colette, a young woman living a simple, somewhat constrained life in provincial France at the turn of the 20th century. Feeling a deep, personal need, she decides to undertake a 'neuvaine' – a nine-day cycle of prayer. She makes a private vow to complete it, but she guards the subject of her prayers as a fierce secret.

The plot is deceptively simple. We simply follow Colette through those nine days. We see her interactions with her family, her friends, and the local priest. Everyone notices a change in her – a new serenity, a distracted air, a different kind of strength – and they all try to guess what she's asking for. Is it about the young man who seems interested? Is it about her ailing mother? The story's engine is our own curiosity, mirrored by the characters around her. The tension comes from watching a personal, spiritual act ripple through a small community.

Why You Should Read It

I loved this book for its quiet power. Jeanne Schultz doesn't give us big dramas or shocking twists. Instead, she gives us a profound look at interior life. Colette's secret prayer becomes a lens to examine faith, privacy, and how we define our own hopes. In a time when so much is shared, there's something revolutionary about a character who holds something so important completely to herself.

Schultz's writing is clear and observational. She paints the daily rhythms of small-town life with affection but without sentimentality. Colette feels real – sometimes stubborn, sometimes doubtful, but always committed to her private journey. The book asks a great question: Can a private act, unseen and unknown, truly change a person's world?

Final Verdict

This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories or historical fiction that feels intimate rather than epic. It's for readers who like a puzzle of human motivation and appreciate stories about faith that are personal, not preachy. If you loved the quiet tension of Penelope Fitzgerald's novels or the detailed social observation of Jane Austen, you'll find a kindred spirit in Jeanne Schultz. It's a short, thoughtful book that stays with you, a beautiful snapshot of a woman's inner world from over a century ago.