Rating: 
Summary: A primer on faith
Review: Salzman's books are great. Whether he is writing about Tai-chi, or a cello player who becomes a teacher or this beautifully written book on faith, he is right on target. This story of Sister John of the Cross whose mystical experiences may be caused by medical problems is a book you cannot put down. Very spiritual in tone but never condescending or dogmatic.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully profound, not pretentious
Review: I loved this novel. I read it in one sitting, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since then. Salzman manages to create a world that is not only utterly real -- the Carmelite monastery -- he also makes the drama of that world irresistible and close. The miracle of this novel is the way it makes Sister's John's crisis both utterly singular and -- by the end -- universal. You don't have to be a nun -- or even particularly religious -- to be affected by this story. It is profound without being pretentious, and that's a tough act to pull off. It's also beautifully written, in a deceptively spare way. This is an easy, but deeply satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: A very insightful book
Review: Beautifully written, this book would be a good read even if it were not so spiritually edifying. The basic plot is that Sr. John, a contemplative nun, has deep experiences of God and writes beautiful poetry about it. She then discovers that there may be a biological basis for her experiences. The dilemma is: Should she keep the illness and her experiences, or give them up and face dryness and ordinariness. In so many ways, this book is true to the Carmelite experience. How does the author know all these details that are so true?
Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful and economical gem
Review: This lyrical novel delves into the foundations of fath. While it is about Carmelite nuns, the message is universal: what happens to faith when one's belief system is turned upside down? Unlike some other melodramatic Job-esque stories which delve into personal tragedy, the dilemma here is more subtle, which makes it more profound.It is a brief novel, but the story is rich and layered. Each word and phrase is deliberate, though I hesitate to say that it's a poetic novel. The story's rhythm and language is more analgous to music. This is a beautiful, breathtaking story that will resonate with readers for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A small, perfect novel that blew me away
Review: I read this book in one sitting, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. It is perfect, amazing, hard to believe it's only 192 pages. Like Kazuo Ishiguro's "Remains of the Day," this novel finds suspense and emotional drama in the smallest details, and it is just as beautifully written. The life in this Carmelite monastery, where speech is almost completely forbidden, comes to life with such full, tactile detail. Most importantly, Salzman manages to write about a crisis of faith without becoming touchy-feely or vague. He goes right to the heart of the matter -- to the heart of this character -- and writes about her dilemma in a way that makes it universal, whether you're religious or not: the search for grace. I was incredibly moved. Salzman continues to amaze with his range. This is his most transcendent work.
Rating: 
Summary: My Beloved is My Bridegroom. . . Oh What a Joy!
Review: I have read very few books in one sitting, but this is one of those books. There are many compelling virtues to "Lying Awake," the least of which is simplistic, almost naked, prose that enhances that the plight of an extremely likeable protagonist, Sister John of the Cross. As it turns out, Sister John of the Cross, despite recent extraordinary spiritual leadings, undergoes what non-religous people might refer to as a "mid-life crisis." Salzman does an amazing job with this character by treating her very gently and tenderly. The best part about Sister John's recent mystical leanings is that they aren't overzealous evangelical rantings that a non-Catholic couldn't connect with. Instead, they are appealing and soft, the way sprituality should be. Salzman weaves past and present, scientific and spiritual, religous and secular, and personal and professional together quite seemlessly. Questions about the purpose of life, while couched in the context of Sister's vocation, are easily recognizable to believer's and non-believer's alike. There is a particular scene where a mother and daughter reunite that carries the impact of Schlink's "The Reader." I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks life is a journey. In addition there are some incredible etchings that are quite romantic in nature.
Rating:
Summary: A Loving Human Story of a Soul
Review: Author Mark Salzman in this short novel,develops the
character of Sister St. John,a cloistered,discalced(without
shoes)Carmelite nun so completely,you are drawn into this
remarkable story of Faith versus Science.
Sister St. John experiences severe headaches and otherworldly
feelings which make her think she is becoming closer to
experiencing God.She feels she has been blest.
Her Superior Sister is concerned about the headaches that
proceed Sister St. John's ecstasy,accompanied by a deep desire
to write volumes of religion,after the painful attack subsides.
She understandably sends Sister St. John to a neurologist.
The author explains how when a cloistered nun leaves the
convent for a Drs. appointment,the nun will observe people
with their eyes,due to the fact,that they do not use speech
most of the day.Also,seldom do they leave the quiet confines
of the convent.Sister St. John,who is so lovingly human,
develops a sixth sense this way.A young Dr. examines Sister
and orders tests.The result is a phenonomen when discovered,
surely tests her Faith.
Sister St. John is a very likable person,she is also very
human.Sister's like people in the everyday world,accept by
Faith alone and do not seek to be different.Their struggle is
lifelong as is ours.
A fascinating book.You cannot help but question your own
connection to God and other humans.
An unlikely subject,well researched,this is a beautiful
and interesting work of literature.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written
Review: I read this book on two strong recommendations. The concept was intriguing - a nun suffering from severe headaches must determine whether the visions she has been blessed with are from God or a side effect of her affliction. As the reader learns more about Sister John of the Cross, the reader is drawn into her quest to truly know and serve the Lord with all that she is.
Sister John of the Cross is a contemplative nun who has devoted her life to serving the Lord. When she first begins suffering from these migraines, she finds herself in an even deeper relationship with God. Words flow from her into notebooks of poetry and she feels an overwhelming sense of completeness in her prayer life. Yet when a doctor diagnoses her condition as a sort of epilepsy, she must make a decision between her visions and a surgery that would take them away. As a nun, she must search for God's will instead of her own.
Mark Salzman is a gifted writer. "Lying Awake" is beautifully written and filled with imagery that comes to life before the reader's eyes. He weaves Sister John's story with her earlier years, and with the struggle and the doubt that she endured before her headaches began. Salzman eloquently paints pictures of the nuns' daily lives, interspersing his prose with biblical quotes and prayers that enhance the story. "Lying Awake" is a powerful book that will make any reader contemplate their relationship with God.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful rendering of a deeply moving story
Review: Ever found one of those books which you don't want to hurry because every word is placed like a jewel in a mosaic? and at the same time you want to know how the people (and particularly Sister St. John) will resolve the dilemma? This is one of those very few.
Utterly beautiful, thoughtful; the kind of book which makes you want to be a better person (and, if a writer, a better writer).
Thank you, Mr. Salzman. I've given away 20 copies already.
Rating: 
Summary: boredom
Review: The story has great potential, but the character development is slow and the plot drags on without much meaning. I would not recommend this book, although it is an easy read.
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