Before I Wake: A Novel (Reading Group Gold) [Paperback]

Robert J. Wiersema (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 2008 | Series: Reading Group Gold

After an unthinkable tragedy happens, an unbelievable miracle begins. . . Three-year-old Sherry is the adored only child of Simon and Karen Barrett. But when Sherry is critically injured in a hit-and-run accident, the fault lines in the Barretts's marriage begin to show. As her parents' marriage falls apart, it is discovered that Sherry has miraculous healing powers. 

Meanwhile, the guilt-stricken driver of the truck attempts suicide--but is unable to die. Henry Denton instead finds himself in a place of darkness, somewhere between this world and the next, invisible to all but a group of mysterious and downtrodden men. Haunted by his shame, Henry struggles to understand this mysterious limbo.

As word of Sherry’s powers spread, her parents must decide how best to shelter their daughter and help the many sick and dying who are drawn to her side. At the same time, a larger battle is brewing-- one that has been raging for two thousand years, and one that might yet claim the lives of Sherry and her family.

Robert J. Wiersema's brilliant debut novel sheds light on the inner lives of characters struggling against tragedy, who find each other and themselves in the darkness. Before I Wake reveals the power of forgiveness, and the true nature, and cost, of miracles.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this impressive debut, Wiersema crafts an intelligent, contemplative supernatural thriller replete with well-rounded characters, artless dialogue and a plot that, while imbued with the unexplained, develops organically, revealing its secrets at just the right pace. In the novel's opening pages, three-year-old Sherry Barrett, an only child, is rendered comatose in a hit and run accident. What follows could have been a typical thriller full of cartoonish villains and escalating peril; it also could have been a treacly fairy tale about God's miraculous healing power. Happily, Wiersema steers clear of these well-traveled roads and, by way of multiple first-person narratives, tells an engrossing story of flawed but genuinely good people who must bear up under the stress of loss, betrayal, unwarranted miracles and unconventional spiritual warfare. Particularly well-imagined is the purgatory of sorts that Henry, the truck driver, must endure after he fails to come forward after the accident. Reminiscent of Wim Wenders's film Wings of Desire, Henry's nature, longings and environs paint a poignant picture of souls in need of redemption. While some readers may find one of the novel's final revelations less original than the rest of the story, Wiersema gets nearly everything else right, and the result is an engaging, emotionally resonant read. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“[An] intriguing supernatural thriller in which a sudden tragedy befalls a family and strange, wondrous events take place in its wake . . .”--Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Wiersema provides a deep thriller that will keep his audience wondering until the revelatory final confrontation.” --The Midwest Book Review

“Wiersema threads the supernatural throughout a novel grounded in domestic conflict and tragedy . . Intriguing.” --NY Daily News

“An intelligent, contemplative supernatural thriller replete with well-rounded characters, artless dialogue and a plot that, while imbued with the unexplained, develops organically, revealing its secrets at just the right pace . . . an engrossing story of flawed but genuinely good people who must bear up under the stress of loss, betrayal, unwarranted miracles and unconventional spiritual warfare . . . an engaging, emotionally resonant read.” --Publisher's Weekly

"Before I Wake is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." --Michael Connelly, New York Times #1 bestselling author of The Closers

“Riveting. . . grips the reader in a chokehold on page one and doesn’t let go until the very last line. . . . Wiersema’s story is utterly fearless, right to the very end. It never shies away or backs down from its questioning of faith, theology, morality and mystery. . . a unique, spellbinding, and ultimately uplifting gem.” --The Globe and Mail

“Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death." --Andrew Pyper, author of Lost Girls and The Wildfire Season

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (July 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312381050
• ISBN-13: 978-0312381059
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,523,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great supernatural thriller, May 19, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before I Wake: A Novel (Hardcover)

The truck slammed the car containing Karen Barrett and her three years old daughter Sherry Barrett; the driver failed to stay at the scene of the accident. Karen's injuries are minor, but Sherry suffers a head injury that leaves her comatose and surviving on life support. To the amazement of the medical community, a despondent Karen legalizes pulling the plug but the brain dead child lives on her own. Karen's spouse Simon deserts his wife and child moving in with another woman.

Nightmares even when awake haunt the hit and run truck driver Henry. He is so depressed over what he caused and compounded by fleeing he considers suicide. Unable to cope he leaps off a cliff, but instead of dying in the abyss, some force holds him safely back on the ledge. He joins the legion of ghostly immortals led by Tim.

Karen and the arthritic wracked nurse Ruth cares for the child. A miracle occurs when the nurse's arthritis is cured; soon her sister dying from lung cancer visits Sherry and her disease goes into remission. News spread of the miracle worker leading to those seeking a cure from the holy child and those led by Father Peter wanting to kill the blasphemous devil's offspring.

There are three prime subplots driven by key characters that merge into a great supernatural thriller. Readers will feel the despair that debilitates Karen and the suicidal despondency that haunts Henry even as the tense family drama spins into a miracle worker plot. Robert J. Wiersema provides a deep thriller that will keep his audience wondering until the revelatory final confrontation what is happening with Sherry and Henry and who is Tim and Father Peter?

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Gripping Novel...is Haunting my thoughts!, November 10, 2008

By 

Lindsay Hilton (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before I Wake (Paperback)

I was haunted by this book from the first 2 pages. The gripping way the author writes about the accident brought me to tears.
It was a very interesting book and I loved the way Wiersema told the story from everyone's perspective.
I would recommend this to anyone. My hubby (NOT a reader) is reading it now after the way I talked about it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, September 19, 2007

By 

D Wilson (M. Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before I Wake: A Novel (Hardcover)

I was hesitant to buy this book after reading the review by Liza, so I borrowed it from the library. I am in the process of buying this book! This is the best story I have read since Whistling in the Dark. It really is fantastic. It has an ending that will leave you in awe! I wish Liza would go back and read this story because by skimming through it, she really missed a heart felt, beautiful and exciting story. I hope Mr. Wiersema writes more books just like this. It has so many things happening that it gives everyone something to like. It is supernatural, thriller, romance, spiritual, action and drama. I can't imagine anyone not loving this book. I rate it 5 stars easily. It is well worth the money.