A Thousand Sleepless Nights by Michael King

In this well written novel, we are taken into the lives of Nena and Jim. Nena inherited a horse farm in northern Virginia and she has spent her life trying to keep it from going bankrupt. It has been an all consuming job – even to the neglect of her children.

Now, as an older adult, the children gone far away, Nena discovers she has cancer. The cancer is serious. As she and Jim face the future, Jim's thoughts go back to their meeting and how he came to marry her.

Nena asks Jim to have their children come to see her before it is too late. It is not an easy task as there are antagonistic feelings toward their mother, the mother who abandoned their care for a more important farm.

King has managed to write a touching and thought provoking novel. It is a novel of memory, of forgiveness, and of restoration. King has cleverly paralleled the children's lives to that of their mother. Each of them must deal with issues they are facing.

I was amazed at how a novel about a woman dying of cancer could be so uplifting, so positive. It gives the reader a real sense of God working through all circumstances, even the death of a parent.

This is a novel of hope, even in the midst of a hopeless situation.

This is a novel of love, even when there has been hurt and separation.

It is a novel of God's forgiveness, despite Nena's reluctance to admit she needs it.

It is a novel of God's grace and restoration, even when the recipients are hesitant to participate.

Carve out a few hours of time because you will not want to put this novel down. And make sure you have some tissues near by. Enjoy.

Michael King was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008. He was thirty-five and married with three young daughters. Many of his memories and the emotional blueprint formed by them have been worked into this story. “Cancer changes you,” he writes. He sees his life differently, he sees others differently, God differently, and his work differently. (x) He wrote this story hoping that readers would see something of themselves, others, the world, and God. He hopes readers find encouragement, inspiration, hope and courage where it is needed most.

Well done.

Realms (an imprint of Charisma House Book Group), 292 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.