Before I Wake

The story opens with three-year-old Sherry Barrett being hit by a truck as she crosses the street with her mother. Contrary to the doctors' expectations, Sherry remains alive but comatose. Meanwhile, the man who accidently hit her is overwhelmed with guilt and finds himself unable to return to normal life.

When the nurse who is caring for Sherry comes convinced that the little girl can heal the sick, the family is innundated with attention from people hoping for healing and supernatural figures who want to control Sherry's fate.

I read some really good reviews of this book, so my expectations were high and I was somewhat disappointed. The supernatural elements were jarring at first, and the constant jumping between viewpoints makes the show more story seem scattered at points. But it did come together at the end, and was interesting and worth reading. show less

Before I Wake from Canadian author Robert J. Wiersema is a story about young Sherry, a 3 year old girl who is seriously injured when she is involved in a hit and run accident on a traffic crossing by a pickup truck driver.

Sherry's parents Karen and Simon Barrett face their worst fears when their only child won't wake from her coma and unfortunately their marriage fractures under the pressure. Karen takes Sherry home, hires a nurse and settles into a steady routine with daily visits from Simon.

The plot really starts to pick up pace when Sherry's nurse Ruth begins to suspect that Sherry has had a role in curing the painful arthritis in her hands. Ruth's sister is dying of cancer so she brings her to Sherry's bedside and places the show more comatose little girl's hand on her chest in an attempt to heal her.

Before long, news crews, journalists and pilgrims are outside the front of Karen's house asking for statements about the reported miracle healings and asking to see Sherry. However, along with them come religious protestors led by a shadowy figure, Father Peter who claims Sherry is a false idol.

He threatens the Barrett family and is never far away when bad things start to happen. Father Peter travels all around the world, following reports of miracle healings, and shuts them down by whatever needs necessary. Father Peter believes he's doing God's work and clearing the way for the return of Jesus. However as one character put it, "how do you know you haven't already met Him?" Wiersema has given us an interesting look here at religion, in terms of the Church, faith and miracles.

Meanwhile the driver of the truck is consumed with guilt, but when he decides to take his own life, he jumps from a cliff only to find a mysterious hand pulling him back. The driver finds himself living in the 'in between' and must find himself and his purpose. I enjoyed the supernatural/fantasy element to this novel and the so-called true identities of the truck driver's mentor Tim, and Father Peter.

Before I Wake isn't a sunny, bright story. This is a 'what would you do' story, and a thought provoking tale that makes you think about bigger issues. I especially liked the identity twist and the men living in the 'in between' at the library. I was really curious to know their stories and to be left wanting more at the end of a book is certainly the mark of a great read. show less

I found this book to be an interesting look at the "what if". While it did jump between characters and different view points, that aspect was also enjoyable to see what each character thought of the situation. Some situations in the book - mother/daughter moments - were heart wrenching and I found myself feeling horrible for the mother. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it as a worthwhile read.

After she is hit by a truck, 3-year-old Sherry Barrett is taken off the respirator by her grieving parents, Karen and the philandering Simon. Her heart briefly stops, then starts again, and she is able to breathe on her own. The book picks up some months later, with Sherry in a coma but at home with Karen. Simon has moved in with his law firm associate, Mary, but faithfully visits Sherry twice a day. When Sherry's nurse Ruth discovers her arthritis has suddenly vanished, she brings her cancer-ridden sister over to meet Sherry, whom Ruth credits with her own miraculous healing. The sister quickly goes into remission, brings her cancer-support-group friend Pam over, and ditto. At which point the book kicks into gear with a theologically show more muddled battle between the forces of Good and the forces of Evil.

Shifts in point of view among the adult characters keeps the pace of the narrative up, but reveals little about the characters themselves. Events unfold with no discrepancies among the varying perspectives and little elucidation of those fuzzy theological underpinnings. Nonetheless, this is a readable novel that would appeal to the Oprah crowd or those struggling with tough medical decisions.

My favorite bit: The souls of the damned spend their nights in the reference section of the library, researching how to find their way out of this limbo, or "in between." At least that would explain all those books that migrate off the shelves... show less

I was very disappointed with this novel. I felt completely misled by the summary on the back cover of the book.

The first protion of the story was very well written ... I found myself crying for Sherry and her family. I was absolutely shocked when I realized that the whole premise of the novel was based on religion.

At that point I was tempted to stop reading, but I was curious to see how Wiersema's book would compare to Jodi Picoult's novel "Keeping Faith". At times I found myself wondering if Wiersema read Picoult's book before writing his own. The story lines did end up diverging significantly, however ... Wiersema succeeded in making the situation seem even more ridiculous than I had originally thought.

I wonder if Wiersema paid the show more Globe and Mail to put him on the Best Book list ... I cannot fathom how he could have made it otherwise. show less

Before I Wake by Robert J. Wiersema

Before I Wake by Robert J. Wiersema is praised as being a “Globe and Mail best book”. After reading this book I can see why it has this designation. It was a great story which forced me to ask myself some important questions.

One of the things I took a look at in myself was how I view miracles. Do I believe in miracles? In angels? Do I believe that there is someone, or are some persons, who are looking out for me? How about you, do you believe in miracles?

It wasn’t just my feeling about miracles which I questioned during the reading of this story. I also had to ask myself how I felt about forgiveness. Is there anything I would not do or some line that I would not be able to cross to show show more forgiveness to someone else? These were some very big questions for me.

Here are some of the answers I came up with: there are times in life when I believe it is probably easier not to forgive and not to believe that strange things happen every day. To forgive releases one from bondage to a past. Bad things happen even to good people. There are times when we all must face up to tragedy and learn something from it. Sometimes what we learn is what type of people we really are. Are we loving and kind or hateful and mean? Can we forgive even when something very dear to us is taken away?

In Before I Wake, when tragedy strikes the Barrett family has a lot on their plates to deal with, from adultery to watching as their beloved daughter is caught in a coma due to a hit and run accident. This book takes us on that journey with them and hopefully awakens in us a new faith or hope for something miraculous.

Before I Wake by Robert J. Wiersema has left me looking at tragedies in a whole new way and has helped me to refocus my efforts toward forgiveness. A great read with a surprising ending. Before I Wake is a story everyone should read and any who reads this story will enjoy it. show less

Another covid-19 book that was ok. I liked that it was a Canadian book set in Victoria, BC. I’m an agnostic and was surprised when the book took a religious turn. I kept reading since I wanted to know how the story would play out.