Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer [Paperback]

Katherine Murphy (Author), Antoinette Bosco (Foreword)

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Suncreek Books (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932057056
• ISBN-13: 978-1932057058
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,214,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Search for Healing and Truth, January 21, 2004

By 

Marie DisBrow "wildernesswriter" (Southeastern Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer (Paperback)

AWAKE, O SLEEPER is more than Katherine Murphy's story of her battle with breast cancer. It is also an account of her spiritual journey toward an intimate relationship with God. Although raised in the church, it was only after her cancer diagnosis that she began to read and understand the Bible. The book's title is from a Scripture verse, Ephesians 5:14: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

It's obvious that AWAKE, O SLEEPER is written from the heart. Murphy is honest about her fears, the effects of her disease on family relationships, her doubts, and her search for truth. Several of Murphy's poems from her diary are included and they add to the open and vulnerable style of her writing. The author's descriptive passages and use of word images provided interesting and easy reading.

Murphy's story is a testimony of God's faithfulness and grace. She was strengthened through her battle with cancer, saw good arise from bad circumstances, and discovered the true meaning of life.

AWAKE, O SLEEPER will be helpful and encouraging for anyone struggling with cancer or other life-threatening diseases. Murphy provides hope by sharing her own experience and her faith in a loving God.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Memoir, August 11, 2003

By 

Marni Gillard (Schenectady, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer (Paperback)

I just spent the last two days reading this wonderful book. Wow. I was totally involved in the author's journey, both the frustrations from her cancer and her willingness to allow God to be in charge. I found this book to be so moving. I wish I could have had such a book to share with my mother when she was going through three bouts of cancer back in the 1980s. I'm so glad things have changed for women today. I'd like to think this book would have helped her a lot. I'm sure it will help others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for the Struggle, April 21, 2004

By 

Diane H. Pitts (Gulf Coast) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer (Paperback)

Some people tell a story so you can hear it; Katherine Murphy tells a story so you can live it. Awake, O Sleeper ushered me into Murphy's soul in the first few pages. Not only did Murphy take me through her personal cancer walk, she also skillfully opened windows into the lives of her husband, children, and friends. Cancer wraps tentacles around the victim as well as bystanders. It takes courage to survive; it takes God to give it meaning.

Katherine Murphy lost many dreams with the nightmare of cancer but awoke with the vision of God in her circumstance, and the reality has never dimmed. As she vividly described the loss of physical strength and appearance, Murphy discovered a true identity and inner beauty. Seasons of the year come and go just as our existence depicts the same cycle; however, Katherine Murphy views life as "a world of borrowed time." She seizes each opportunity as a gift. Awake, O Sleeper is her gift to us.

Awake, O Sleeper is an honest exploration of the hatred and blessing of cancer. Katherine Murphy has chosen to buoy others with her own life jacket. I am pleased to recommend a book that will speak for a very long time.