- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
The questions, discussion topics, and suggestions for further reading that follow are intended to enhance your group's reading of Mark Salzman's Lying Awake. We hope they will give you interesting ways to talk about this beautifully crafted novel about a middle-aged nun whose "dark night of the soul" raises profound questions about the nature of faith, identity, and artistic creation.
1. How deliberate and appropriate is the choice of locale of the monastery of Sisters of the Carmel of Saint Joseph in the very heart of Los Angeles rather than in a more pastoral setting deliberate?
The nuns follow a way of life established for centuries. In what ways, if any, are they allowed to express their individuality?
Salzman writes "The real penance in cloistered life, most Sisters agreed, was not isolation; it was the impossibility of getting away from people one would not normally have chosen as friends" [p. 21]. What incidents in the book support this statement? How does Salzman "humanize" Sister John and the other nuns—for instance, Sister Bernadette, Sister Anne, and Mother Emmanuel—without undermining his portrait of lives dedicated to serving God?
What specific roles do these women play in creating the reality of the religious life: the novice Sister Miriam, Mother Mary Joseph, the former prioress, and Sister Teresa, Sister John's novice mistress? What qualities does Sister John share with each of them? What do each of their lives teach her about herself?
The story of Sister John's past unfolds gradually throughout the novel. Why are some of her memories [for example, pp. 42-43, pp. 61-62 and pp. 86-90] set in italic type, while others aspects of her background are integrated within the narrative? In what ways did her family situation and her attachment to her teacher, Sister Priscilla, influence her decision to become a nun? Is she drawn to the religious life for spiritual reasons alone, or do other aspects of her life play an equally importantpart?
"For seven years she watched as the cloister got smaller and the silence got biggerÉ and the farther she traveled inward without finding Him, the more aware she became of His absence" [p. 98]. How does Sister John's period of spiritual aridity affect the decision she must later make about her medical condition?
Is Sister John's interpretation of her mother's visit as "an opportunity to end the relationship once and for all and to get away with the lie" [p. 105] fair? Is her reaction to the way her mother looks and acts surprising? What does her curiosity about her half siblings tell you about her feelings about her mother's choices and her own? Why does she pull off her wimple and veil after the visit [p.107]?
After years of feeling lost, Sister John finally feels God's presence while making preparations for the Easter service [p.115-6]. Why are both the setting and the time of year significant? In what way are the circumstances particularly relevant to the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila?
Sister John wonders "How . . . do you talk about infused contemplation with a neurologist?" [p.47]. In reacting to her account of her symptoms, as well as when he recommends surgery [p. 68], Dr. Sheppard treats her like any other patient. Why doesn't he respond more directly when she says of her pain "It's a wonderful experience, but it's spiritual, not physical" [p.47]? Later in the book, Sister John compares the hospital to her monastery and imagines how a doctor might characterize the cloistered life [p. 153]. Is her description an accurate reflection of how most people would regard a celibate life devoted to prayer and contemplation? How does Lying Awake inspire or reinforce ideas about or opinions of a religious vocation?
Sister John wonders whether Dostoevsky would have been treated for his epilepsy if he had had the option. In view of his description of his rapture [p. 120], how would you answer this question? Can artistic inspiration be related to mental imbalances, either physical or psychological? For example, how did the mental instability of artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Robert Lowell, and Sylvia Plath influence their work?
St. Teresa, who suffered epileptic seizures, agonized over how to tell the difference between genuine spiritual experiences and false ones and feared for her own sanity. Is her warning against "seeking illness as a means of cultivating holiness" [p. 121] still relevant today? Why is Sister John's struggle harder in some ways than the difficulties faced by St. Teresa and other Christian mystics of the past?
Why does the priest say "[W]e're all better off having doubts about the state of our souls than presuming ourselves to be holy [p. 125]? How does this compare to the teachings of most religion and most people's beliefs? To what extent do our behavior and the decisions we make entail making "presumptions" about ourselves and our place in the world?
"I made a commitment to live by faith, not reason," Sister John writes [p. 119]. In making her decision about surgery, does she rely entirely on faith, or does reason play a role as well?
How does the language and style of Lying Awake differ from most contemporary writing? In what ways do the words of nuns' prayers and Sister John's own poetry enhance the narrative? What details of daily life in the monastery help to establish the themes Salzman is exploring?
1. How appropriate is the choice of locale of the monastery of Sisters of the Carmel of Saint Joseph in the very heart of Los Angeles rather than in a more pastoral setting?
2. The nuns follow a way of life established for centuries. In what ways, if any, are they allowed to express their individuality?
3. Salzman writes, "The real penance in cloistered life, most Sisters agreed, was not isolation; it was the impossibility of getting away from people one would not normally have chosen as friends" [p. 21]. What incidents in the book support this statement? How does Salzman "humanize" Sister John and the other nuns—for instance, Sister Bernadette, Sister Anne, and Mother Emmanuel—without undermining his portrait of lives dedicated to serving God?
4. What specific roles do these women play in creating the reality of the religious life: the novice Sister Miriam, Mother Mary Joseph, the former prioress, and Sister Teresa, Sister John's novice mistress? What qualities does Sister John share with each of them? What do each of their lives teach her about herself?
5. The story of Sister John's past unfolds gradually throughout the novel. Why are some of her memories [for example, pp. 42–43, pp. 61–62 and pp. 86–90] set in italic type, while other aspects of her background are integrated within the narrative? In what ways did her family situation and her attachment to her teacher, Sister Priscilla, influence her decision to become a nun? Is she drawn to the religious life for spiritual reasons alone, or do other aspects of her life play an equally important part?
6. "For seven years she watched as thecloister got smaller and the silence got bigger . . . and the farther she traveled inward without finding Him, the more aware she became of His absence" [p. 97–98]. How does Sister John's period of spiritual aridity affect the decision she must later make about her medical condition?
7. Is Sister John's interpretation of her mother's visit as "an opportunity to end the relationship once and for all, and to get away with the lie" [p. 105] fair? Is her reaction to the way her mother looks and acts surprising? What does her curiosity about her half siblings tell you about her feelings about her mother's choices and her own? Why does she pull off her wimple and veil after the visit [p. 107]?
8. After years of feeling lost, Sister John finally feels God's presence while making preparations for the Easter service [p. 115–6]. Why are both the setting and the time of year significant? In what way are the circumstances particularly relevant to the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila?
9. Sister John wonders, "How . . . do you talk about infused contemplation with a neurologist?"[p. 47] In reacting to her account of her symptoms, as well as when he recommends surgery
[p. 68], Dr. Sheppard treats her like any other patient. Why doesn't he respond more directly when she says of her pain, "It’s a wonderful experience, but it’s spiritual, not physical" [p. 47]? Later in the book, Sister John compares the hospital to her monastery and imagines how a doctor might characterize the cloistered life [p. 153]. Is her description an accurate reflection of how most people would regard a celibate life devoted to prayer and contemplation? How does Lying Awake inspire or reinforce ideas about a religious vocation?
10. Sister John wonders whether Dostoevsky would have been treated for his epilepsy if he had had the option. In view of his description of his rapture [p. 120], how would you answer this question? Can artistic inspiration be related to mental imbalances, either physical or psychological? For example, how did the mental instability of artists and writers such as Vincent Van Gogh, Robert Lowell, and Sylvia Plath influence their work?
11. St. Teresa, who suffered epileptic seizures, agonized over how to tell the difference between genuine spiritual experiences and false ones and feared for her own sanity. Is her warning against "seeking illness as a means of cultivating holiness" [p. 121] still relevant today? Why is Sister John’s struggle harder in some ways than the difficulties faced by St. Teresa and other Christian mystics of the past?
12. Why does the priest say, "We’re all better off having doubts about the state of our souls than presuming ourselves to be holy" [p. 125]? How does this compare to the teachings of most religion and most people's beliefs? To what extent do our behavior and the decisions we make entail making "presumptions" about ourselves and our place in the world?
13. "I made a commitment to live by faith, not by reason, "writes Sister John [p. 119]. In making her decision about surgery, does she rely entirely on faith, or does reason play a role as well?
14. 4. How does the language and style of Lying Awake differ from most contemporary writing? In what ways do the words of the nuns' prayers and Sister John's own poetry enhance the narrative? What details of daily life in the monastery help to establish the themes Salzman is exploring?
Indy-Snow
Posted August 16, 2011
I bought this book for a week long vacation back when it was brand new. I finished it in the first day because I couldn't put it down. I've since lent it to 6 people (and the copies never get returned so I buy a used copy each time). All of them have adored it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2009
I loved Lying Awake. It was thought provoking, engaging and insightful. This is one of the books that I did not want to put down. Every time I picked it up it caught my attention with the way the story was written and the way it flowed. It was written in such a way that it was not hard to read at all and it grabbed my attention. There was so much substance in this book but it was very easy to read. However, I had to stop multiple times to think about what was going on, especially when Sister John was reflecting on knowing God. So many of the things she said were so deep that I just had to stop and reflect a bit. Her desire to know God and the emptiness she felt within her really broke my heart. I could just see her straining and doing everything she thought she needed to know God only to be left dry and wanting still to know Him. And then when she finally seems to find God, to discover that it was being caused by epilepsy was just heart wrenching to me. I felt like I was right there with Sister John as she went through this whole process of learning about her epilepsy, wondering about knowing God, and then having to make a decision of what to do about the epilepsy. So much of this book just made me stop reading and think and I have not had that experience while reading a novel in a long time. Lying Awake was an amazing book to read, I enjoyed every minute of it and it made me think about my own life and not just about the book and the character I was reading about. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 4, 2008
I purchased LYING AWAKE because the premise sounded intriguing. How many times has the central character of a novel been a nun? Hardly ever, right? I had never read a book quite like this before, and I am glad that I did. I wouldn't say that it was one of the best novels that I've read, but it was very interesting. The author impressed me with his use of knowledge/learnings of convent life, the contemplations of nuns, and especially his writing style. Not being a totally devout/religious person, this was a new experience for me. I was glad to have read it to learn about faith and how others viewed it, especially from someone as 'extreme' as a nun. There was no sex, no violence, no action. Just a great simple story about the trials and tribulations in a convent. I had expected more drama and conflict as Sister John wrestled with her past and considered her future, but unfortunately didn't get that. Thankfully, the writer's prose was enjoyable enough, and I recommend this book for anyone wanting a break from fast-paced life.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 17, 2003
Lying Awake is good writing. The nuns are real people! Kudos! However, the conflict that the entire story revolves on is unrealistic for a cloistered nun! No nun would confuse 'experiences' for the reality of the God who Is. No nun would even think twice about having to make a decision as to whether or not to choose the 'experiences' over the life of Faith. Any nun, actually any christian, knows that knowing and loving God is in concrete, flesh and blood reality of serving Him in your 'neighbor' whether that be the sisters you live with, and in fidelity to Him in prayer and penance. Everything else is icing on the cake!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 30, 2002
As like most of the books I read I picked the ones that have never been checked out. They seem to hold the most promise. While I am not a religious person myself, this was nothing short of lovely. I enjoyed every minute of it. It is a fantastic read and I would suggest it to all.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 22, 2001
Written in the prose style, this book is easy to read. However, the impact is not easy. The cloistered life of the Carmalite convent, seems excrucating to me sitting on the outside. The heart of the book is finding God. I learned a path through this writing.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 19, 2001
I adored the characters in this book. Nuns may change their lifestyle when they take their vows, but, contrary to popular belief, they don't cease to be human. I was pleased to see Salzman create his 'nun-characters' as individuals who struggle with doubt, who have personalities, and who have the same emotions as the rest of us (they laugh, they cry, they get angry, they joke, etc). The story was lovely, realistic and hopeful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 27, 2001
In just a few pages I was pulled deeply into the quiet peace of the cloistered Sisters' lives, only to be surprised and entranced by the rich interior life of Sister John of the Cross. Her dilemma is riveting, to be faced with the decision of whether to risk her identity, her life's purpose. I found this to resonate with an experience common to many people: whether to medicate with antidepressants, etc. and risk losing the gifts that make each person unique. I love this book and will long enjoy the intellectual, emotional and spiritual questions it inspires.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 22, 2001
Mark Salzman, author of a number of excellent books, including 'The Soloist', has captured a way of life in a voice that is at once sparse, and yet quietly beautiful. Like the spare poetry of the haiku, 'Lying Awake' evokes a simple imagery with as few words as possible. This is by far, one of his best works. Sister John of the Cross is searching for answers, and hopes to find that her response will be the Voice of God, guiding with a gentle hand. A celebrated poet, Sister John lives her days uneventfully and quietly in the last vestiges of solitude in Los Angeles. That is until she is visited by images so powerful and breath-taking, that she believes her journey to God is drawing to a climax. Not so, says the doctors to whom Sister John is taken when she begins to experience mild epileptic seizures. Her 'visions' are none other than hallucinations brought on by a tiny 'smudge' on her brain just above one ear. This revelation about the true source of her Godly images sends Sister John into a crisis of faith that threatens the rest of the nunnery as well as her own peace of mind. Salzman writes as if in a whisper, the quiet ways of those on the chosen Path of God, with delicate reticence, yet manages to tell a poetic story that brings the reader a certain sense of inner peace as well. A book to savor and reflect upon in a world that is filled with the faithless and the lost.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 21, 2001
Can an exquisite little book about a Carmelite Contemplative nun be a page-turner? Yes, says this reviewer, who likes a quick read. This book is too beautifully written to put down and yet the central plot has only one clearcut question to be resolved. An exotic locale found in somewhere as approachable as the hills above Los Angeles invites close, thoughtful enjoyment. Lying Awake is a poetic novel that rivals the poetry of Kathleen Norris in Cloister Walk. Highly recommended.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 1, 2000
This book helped me understand my own search for God. Mother Mary Joseph sums up Sister John's predicament in her statement: 'Everything we learn about God leads to deeper mystery.' A very captivating story that helps the reader empathize with Sister John's struggles.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 14, 2000
This was a surprisingly good book to read. I was intrigued by the theme of the book - a nun who must make a decision to have a physical malady corrected. It is this same malady that has brought her close to God and given her the reason for having taken on her vocation. It is a sensitive work that does not preach to the reader, but draws them into this world that is quiet and complex. Not one that I can readily identify with except through the literate hand with which Mr. Salzman paints such a believable picture. The closing thoughts scribe a message about belief and commitment that, best of all, has led me to many new thougths of my own. My thanks for this book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 27, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 27, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 1, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Mark Salzman's Lying Awake is a finely wrought gem that plumbs the depths of one woman's soul, and in so doing raises salient questions about the power-and price-of faith.Sister John's cloistered life of peace and prayer has been electrified by ever more frequent visions of God's radiance, leading her toward a deep religious ecstasy. Her life and writings have become examples of devotion. Yet her visions are accompanied by shattering headaches that compel Sister John to seek medical help. When her doctor tells her an illness may be responsible for her gift, Sister John faces a wrenching choice: to risk her intimate glimpses of the divine in favor of a ...