(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“The love, the hatred, the fascination with everything he had or had not done, fascination that spiraled into fervid curiosity. Into obsession. Into madness.”
A teacher combats her insomnia by baking cakes in the middle of the night. In between, she plays scenes in her head from her short marriage. Why did her husband of only fourteen months die? Did she really know him? Would she ever find love and passion again?
Sleepless Nights takes us through a gripping journey of a woman trying to figure out the past and her life today. Though it is from the young widow’s point of view, there are a few supporting characters who both verify and discredit her memories.
I was mesmerized as much by the writing style as with the actual story. The translated prose is tantalizing, filled with rage, confusion and intensity of emotion. It could have been depressing, but strangely it is not. Though short at only 122 pages, it is still wonderfully complete.
This may be for a niche audience, like me, who relish in beautiful, passionate writing along with very human, imperfect characters. I read it in one sitting, as I couldn’t tear myself away from the addicting story.
