Journal Entry 1 by Antheras from Waterloo, Ontario Canada on Saturday, August 11, 2007

Book Description:
A Canadian fiction debut with the emotional weight of The Lovely Bones, Before I Wake reveals how hope can be renewed even in the face of unimaginable sorrow.

Tragedy can arrive at any time. In a single moment of distraction, in one misjudgment . . .

On a bright spring day, three-year-old Sherry Barrett is left comatose after a hit-and-run accident. When it appears she will never recover, her devastated parents, Simon and Karen, agree to remove her from life support. Amazingly, she doesn’t die – nor does she wake.

Meanwhile, the driver of the truck, Henry Denton, attempts suicide. But he doesn’t die either, instead finding himself in a place of darkness, somewhere between this world and the next, invisible to all except a group of mysterious and downtrodden men. Haunted by his own guilt, Henry struggles to understand this limbo, and what he must do to free himself.

Under the pressure of caring for their child, the fissures in Simon and Karen’s marriage become gaping wounds, and the family is pushed to the point of collapse. And then they are pushed even further – by the undeniable fact that their little girl, trapped in her living death, is a source of miracles.

As the world turns its lens on the family, and the sick and dying arrive to be healed, Simon and Karen must decide whether or not to allow these “pilgrims” access to their daughter. At the same time, a larger battle is brewing – one that has been raging for close to two thousand years, and that might yet claim the lives of Sherry and her family.

Part domestic novel, part thriller – contemporary realism touched with the fantastic – Before I Wake is an exploration of the limits of human strength, of the power of forgiveness, and of the true nature, and cost, of miracles.

How do you hold a moment, knowing that it is the last? How do you take in enough to last you through a lifetime of absence?

I don’t want to remember her like this – broken and bleeding, the machine pressing air into her tiny lungs. I want to remember yesterday, the way she laughed and ran; so alive, so filled with joy. I want to carry the stones she chose as a reminder of her, smiling and running.

But I can’t choose. I know that I’ll remember this room as much as those mornings with the three of us in the big bed, snuggling and tickling and refusing to face the day. I know that I’ll remember these bloodstained bandages as much as I’ll remember last Christmas, her look of wonder as Simon read the note that Santa Claus left her, thanking her for the cookies. I know that I’ll remember the moment I choose to let her go, the moment I feel her last breath, as vividly as I remember that gush of blood and love I felt as I heard her first cry, as I first saw her, tiny and twisted and perfect, wailing to raise the moon.

Ashes to ashes. Blood to blood. Cries to silence.
–From Before I Wake 

Journal Entry 2 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Thank you Antheras! I'd forgotten all about this, so it was a lovely surprise to find it in my mailbox this morning :)

I've added it to Mt TBR, and will get it moving again as soon as time allows. 

Journal Entry 3 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Thursday, January 10, 2008

What a lovely and strange book. I found it very disturbing at times, and vacillated between being supportive of and horrified by the actions of the people surrounding Sherry. I admit that I didn't feel much towards Henry until the end, but overall the characters in this story were beautifully portrayed. A lyrical and moving book.
Thank you for sharing this, Antheras...I will get it moving asap :) 

Journal Entry 4 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, January 11, 2008

I am offering this up as an International Bookray since there were several lovely BC'ers waiting to read this over at Cliff's. I will be updating this post as new people sign up (so the order may change to reflect postage preferences).

Usual etiquette: please journal the book once it arrives, and try to move it along within a month (or keep us updated if there's a delay). Please make a journal entry when you pass it along to the next person, and be sure to let us know what you thought of it :)
Surface/media mail is fine.
Last person in the ray may do as they like with the book :)
Enjoy!

aceofhearts (CN) - prefer outide of CN
meshe (USA) - USA
oi-reader (USA) - Intl
brookler (CN) - N America
ajsmom (CN) - Intl
teuffi (UK) - Intl
yourotherleft (USA) - prefer US



 

Journal Entry 5 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Saturday, February 09, 2008

And we're off!
Posted to Ace earlier in the week (surface mail).
Thanks to everyone who has signed up for this ray! 

Journal Entry 6 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, February 12, 2008

received today in the mail. Can't wait to read :) 

Journal Entry 7 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Friday, February 15, 2008

An accident, a horrible accident is how Before I Wake starts. Sherrilyn Barrett is hit by a truck and life changes dramatically for the Barretts. Sherry lives in a comotose state taken care of by her mother, Karen. Simon, her father visits every day but separates from Karen and starts living with a younger colleague. Henry Denton, the driver of the truck attempts suicide. Ruth, Sherry's nurse discovers that she has the gift of healing.

This books looks at miracles and discusses the limits of these gifts. Are they gifts or curses? How far does a family have to go to help others and at what cost? How do you forgive those who unintentionally harm our loved ones?

Wiersema lets each character speak for himself and I found this to be a very interesting way of telling a story. A very thought provoking story that will keep you thinking for weeks 

Journal Entry 8 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, February 17, 2008

mailed to Meshe today 

Journal Entry 9 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Monday, February 25, 2008

received in today's mail. will put aside the book I started yesterday and get right on this one 

Journal Entry 10 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Saturday, March 01, 2008

I'm not sure why I asked to be included in this bookring. This isn't a story I would generally be drawn to. I'm not a religious person, so that part of the story was lost on me and without that I guess there wouldn't have been much of a story. So...for me it was only an average story. The author's descriptions and the general feel of his writing was 'lyrical' as a reviewer said and that made the book a worthwhile read.

pm sent to oi-reader, will mail asap 

Journal Entry 11 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Wednesday, March 05, 2008

mailed today 

Journal Entry 12 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Arrived safely today. Am currently reading 2 others but will get to asap. Thanks for inviting me to participate. 

Journal Entry 13 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Friday, March 21, 2008

This was a bit of a strange read. I loved the strong story line and the characters, the portrayal of good vs evil was a bit much and I felt that there should have been more of an explanation of that for those of us who aren't traditionally religious. I do thank cats-eye for inviting me to participate. am sending out to brookler today. 

Journal Entry 14 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Monday, April 07, 2008

Received today. Thanks, I plan to start it tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 15 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, April 12, 2008

I greatly enjoyed this book. It was neat having a story take place in a city I lived in for 4 years; in fact, I actually lived walking distance from the Hillside mall with my 3 year old son.

I like a complex plot where you're not completely sure what's going on. I thought it was a nice blend of the fantastical with the realistic. The book took me totally by surprise when fantasy elements are suddenly introduced into what first appears to be a straight fiction story.

A very moving book, so sad in some parts, so foreboding in others, but heart-warming overall.

I brought home a lily bulb to plant in my garden today. 

Journal Entry 16 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mailed today to ajsmom. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 17 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Monday, May 05, 2008

Caught today, thank you! 

Journal Entry 18 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Monday, May 12, 2008

I've been reading Wiersema's book reviews for years, so it was interesting to read his own material. I thought it was well-written, and liked the different voices. I found the religious stuff (The Wandering Jew, Judas) to be a little strange, although really interesting. It was very unexpected.

PMing the next in line now. Thanks for the ring!! 

Journal Entry 19 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, May 20, 2008

No response from teuffi - trying yourotherleft now. 

Journal Entry 20 by ajsmom at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 22, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/22/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to teuffi in the end, as I got an address! 

Journal Entry 21 by teuffi from Wandsworth, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, July 05, 2008

Received the book today, thank you ajsmom for passing the book on!

I am finishing another book today so should start this one this weekend!

Thank you cats-eye for sharing! 

Journal Entry 22 by teuffi from Wandsworth, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, July 20, 2008

Finished the book today. I did get a bit worried when it turned out that Sherry could heal people that the story would turn out to be too religious but I was glad to see that apart from the ending, the book is more a constant struggle to define what is good or bad and how to handle it best for all the parties involved. I really liked the fact that Father Peter and Tim appear to be as unaware about what is right and wrong as the rest of us!

I enjoy this book a lot. Thank you cats-eye for sharing!
I shall send the book forward as soon as I have yourotherleft's address! 

Journal Entry 23 by teuffi from Wandsworth, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 24, 2008

Sent today by surface mail. Thanks again cats-eye! 

Journal Entry 24 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, July 28, 2008

This came in the mail today. Thanks!