I read most of Mark Salzman’s Lying Awake after my husband had gone to bed, and over a three-day period during which I was plagued by headaches. I had thought of starting the book on several instances when I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, but I hadn’t. But then I basically did. This wouldn’t be relevant, except that the main character in Lying Awake doesn’t sleep much and is constantly plagued by migraines.
Sister John of the Cross’s headaches coincide with spiritual experiences that bring her vocation as a Carmelite nun to life.
This was a great read. I’m looking forward to reading more of Salzman’s work, especially Iron & Silk, although Lost in Place and his newest, True Notebooks, also look good.
The cloistered lifestyle has fascinated me for some time, and it’s especially neat how this book is set in modern day Los Angeles.
The book and the struggles the character faces are real. I cried twice, but not really because it was sad; Rather, because it was touching.
My one complaint about the book was that it ended too quickly.
Oooh! Adding this to my (already ponderous) pile…
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