What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Sisters: The Thunder, Perfect Mind
In the 1980's, an obscure graduate student was the foremost scholar on a newly discovered gnostic tractate entitled The Thunder, Perfect Mind. Previously, only one Harvard professor had significantly researched the work, but his untimely death left her alone in the field. On her own within the university stacks and the Egyptian intertestamental past, she struggles to break the code of a 2,000 year old buried writing, which in turn leads her down unexpected rabbit holes of stolen children, the FBI, and four generations of dead sisters. And with each revelation, she uncovers her own buried crimes. Unable to cope, she turns to The Thunder, Perfect Mind for answers. This is a not a story of one woman's forgiveness, but rather the story of a more unsettling idea: that forgiveness itself may be unnecessary.
290 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2015
20 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 18, 2015
There’s just something about family... Whether we’re talking about the family you’re born into or the one you create for yourself the best and worse parts of life are often found there.
I feel like no description of this book could sum it up better than that but I’ll give it a try. The author used vivid descriptions and unique characters to create a family that I found just dysfunctional enough to feel familiar. The main character, Bernadette, seems like a bit of an unreliable narrator at times but it was this fluidity that allowed the story to build across several generations. It also left me thinking about the part perception plays in our individual histories and world views.
I had a little difficulty engaging with this book at first, I must have read the first 20 pages three times. I wasn’t sure where the author was going and why I felt like I knew non-essential characters better than the main character. Then on page 25 I read, “I sat deep in the stacks of the university library, way back in an obscure section of the fifth floor, hunched securely over an old Buddhism treatise, when my sister tried to kill Brad.” After that sentence I was hooked and I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. If you’re looking for a happy-go-lucky, beach read this is not the book for you but if you want to explore some of the trials and tribulations of life this book will suck you in and keep you turning pages to find out if Dette and her family will be able to face and/or overcome their obstacles.
This book would be an excellent suggestion for any book club. It has several topics that could provoke interesting conversations and the potential to leave the reader pondering some big ideas.
I feel like no description of this book could sum it up better than that but I’ll give it a try. The author used vivid descriptions and unique characters to create a family that I found just dysfunctional enough to feel familiar. The main character, Bernadette, seems like a bit of an unreliable narrator at times but it was this fluidity that allowed the story to build across several generations. It also left me thinking about the part perception plays in our individual histories and world views.
I had a little difficulty engaging with this book at first, I must have read the first 20 pages three times. I wasn’t sure where the author was going and why I felt like I knew non-essential characters better than the main character. Then on page 25 I read, “I sat deep in the stacks of the university library, way back in an obscure section of the fifth floor, hunched securely over an old Buddhism treatise, when my sister tried to kill Brad.” After that sentence I was hooked and I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. If you’re looking for a happy-go-lucky, beach read this is not the book for you but if you want to explore some of the trials and tribulations of life this book will suck you in and keep you turning pages to find out if Dette and her family will be able to face and/or overcome their obstacles.
This book would be an excellent suggestion for any book club. It has several topics that could provoke interesting conversations and the potential to leave the reader pondering some big ideas.
December 11, 2023
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
January 25, 2024
Debra Manion's "Dead Sisters: The Thunder, Perfect Mind" offers a captivating journey into the enigmatic world of a newly discovered gnostic tractate. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, the narrative follows an obscure graduate student, thrust into the role of the foremost scholar after the untimely demise of her Harvard predecessor.
The plot weaves a tale of academic perseverance, as our protagonist delves into the depths of the university stacks and the mysterious intertestamental past of Egypt. The struggle to decipher a 2,000-year-old buried writing unveils unexpected connections to stolen children, the FBI, and a haunting lineage of four generations of dead sisters.
Manion masterfully constructs a narrative that not only explores the intricacies of Gnostic philosophy but also serves as a gateway to dark and enthralling revelations. The protagonist's journey becomes a labyrinth of mysteries, and with each twist, the story grows more riveting. The integration of historical elements adds a layer of authenticity, making the reader feel immersed in the intricate world of academia and ancient secrets.
The true strength of "Dead Sisters" lies in its ability to merge scholarly pursuits with a gripping thriller. Manion skillfully unveils layers of buried crimes, adding a psychological depth that keeps the reader hooked. The protagonist's turn to The Thunder, Perfect Mind for answers introduces a unique philosophical dimension, challenging conventional notions of forgiveness.
The book's unsettling exploration of forgiveness as an unnecessary concept is both thought-provoking and bold. Manion takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving them questioning societal norms and the nature of redemption.
While the plot is intricate and well-developed, the complexity may be overwhelming for some readers. However, those who enjoy intellectual challenges and multidimensional narratives will find "Dead Sisters: The Thunder, Perfect Mind" a rewarding experience.
In conclusion, Debra Manion's book is a testament to her storytelling prowess, blending mystery, academia, and philosophy in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. "Dead Sisters" is a must-read for those seeking a unique and thought-provoking exploration of buried secrets and the unsettling nature of forgiveness.
The plot weaves a tale of academic perseverance, as our protagonist delves into the depths of the university stacks and the mysterious intertestamental past of Egypt. The struggle to decipher a 2,000-year-old buried writing unveils unexpected connections to stolen children, the FBI, and a haunting lineage of four generations of dead sisters.
Manion masterfully constructs a narrative that not only explores the intricacies of Gnostic philosophy but also serves as a gateway to dark and enthralling revelations. The protagonist's journey becomes a labyrinth of mysteries, and with each twist, the story grows more riveting. The integration of historical elements adds a layer of authenticity, making the reader feel immersed in the intricate world of academia and ancient secrets.
The true strength of "Dead Sisters" lies in its ability to merge scholarly pursuits with a gripping thriller. Manion skillfully unveils layers of buried crimes, adding a psychological depth that keeps the reader hooked. The protagonist's turn to The Thunder, Perfect Mind for answers introduces a unique philosophical dimension, challenging conventional notions of forgiveness.
The book's unsettling exploration of forgiveness as an unnecessary concept is both thought-provoking and bold. Manion takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving them questioning societal norms and the nature of redemption.
While the plot is intricate and well-developed, the complexity may be overwhelming for some readers. However, those who enjoy intellectual challenges and multidimensional narratives will find "Dead Sisters: The Thunder, Perfect Mind" a rewarding experience.
In conclusion, Debra Manion's book is a testament to her storytelling prowess, blending mystery, academia, and philosophy in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. "Dead Sisters" is a must-read for those seeking a unique and thought-provoking exploration of buried secrets and the unsettling nature of forgiveness.
November 5, 2015
If ever there was a time not to judge a book by its cover, this is it. Debra Manion's story is about so much more than the back cover suggests. Not that the back blurb lies. The Thunder, Perfect Mind is a story of a graduate student who loses herself down the rabbit hole of research, and she uncovers and solves family mysteries.
But it is so much more than that.
For the first 20 pages or so, I didn't really know who Bernadette was. Or, at least, I didn't think I did. She seemed to be a sort of golem, created from pieces of what people thought she should be. The more I read, though, the more I realized that Manion's created a picture in my mind. At times, this image was grainy, like that of an old photo. At others, it was orange tinted, like most of my childhood memories. Her imagery was simply, though the vocabulary used throughout the book suits a grad student in the midst of her research. Behind the words was heart, and that heart hurt.
It's not an easy feat. It's difficult to embed humor into text because everyone reads differently. But to get such yearning and pain, to feel Bernadette's despair for her sister. To want to throw the book every time Sean opened his emotionally abusive mouth. Manion masterfully conveyed these feelings without beating the reader over the head with them. She brought to life a woman struggling to make sense of her world, to find common ground with her parents, to understand her grandfather. To cope with the pain of lost love, the anger sorrow felt for her sister. The people between these pages are real.
For the first 20 pages, I didn't think I could get into this story, but then I realized that I was trapped. I was sucked in. I cared about the lives of Bernadette and her family. I raged for the injustices they had to face. I hoped for their happy endings. Though I'm not religious, I sort of prayed for them, especially when they were dealing with unimaginable yet very real things.
There is no way I can do this book any sort of justice in this little text box. It's one of those things you have to witness for yourself, because there were times when I thought I was reading a memoir and not a work of fiction.
"This is not a story of [...] forgiveness[...]" This is a lie. No one ever said, "I forgive you/him/them" in so many words, but by the time you reach the last 20 pages, there's a lightness to the narrative, a hope that things will actually be okay. It feels like there was a forgiveness, a letting go. We don't forgive for the other person's sake, but for our own. I think that happens, but no two people will read the same story, though they read the same book.
Read this book for its realness, for its broken hearts and mended fences.
But it is so much more than that.
For the first 20 pages or so, I didn't really know who Bernadette was. Or, at least, I didn't think I did. She seemed to be a sort of golem, created from pieces of what people thought she should be. The more I read, though, the more I realized that Manion's created a picture in my mind. At times, this image was grainy, like that of an old photo. At others, it was orange tinted, like most of my childhood memories. Her imagery was simply, though the vocabulary used throughout the book suits a grad student in the midst of her research. Behind the words was heart, and that heart hurt.
It's not an easy feat. It's difficult to embed humor into text because everyone reads differently. But to get such yearning and pain, to feel Bernadette's despair for her sister. To want to throw the book every time Sean opened his emotionally abusive mouth. Manion masterfully conveyed these feelings without beating the reader over the head with them. She brought to life a woman struggling to make sense of her world, to find common ground with her parents, to understand her grandfather. To cope with the pain of lost love, the anger sorrow felt for her sister. The people between these pages are real.
For the first 20 pages, I didn't think I could get into this story, but then I realized that I was trapped. I was sucked in. I cared about the lives of Bernadette and her family. I raged for the injustices they had to face. I hoped for their happy endings. Though I'm not religious, I sort of prayed for them, especially when they were dealing with unimaginable yet very real things.
There is no way I can do this book any sort of justice in this little text box. It's one of those things you have to witness for yourself, because there were times when I thought I was reading a memoir and not a work of fiction.
"This is not a story of [...] forgiveness[...]" This is a lie. No one ever said, "I forgive you/him/them" in so many words, but by the time you reach the last 20 pages, there's a lightness to the narrative, a hope that things will actually be okay. It feels like there was a forgiveness, a letting go. We don't forgive for the other person's sake, but for our own. I think that happens, but no two people will read the same story, though they read the same book.
Read this book for its realness, for its broken hearts and mended fences.
May 25, 2016
This is a novel about family, religion, sisterhood and making sense to your life. It's the story of Bernadette, a brilliant studentwho has given up everything for her beloved perfect husband Mikhail. One day, however, she decides she wants a divorce and leaves him to begin a search that includes religious studies, egg donation and helping her sister. All through the pages of this very special and different novel she studies the mysterious book "The Thunder, Perfect Mind" (quoted in every chapter), tries to help another woman become a mother, fights to understand the story of her family... but, above all, searches for herself, to build her own story, to find her place in this generations of dead sisters, mothers and lost love.
An excellent book, different, with deep idas but also with an entertaining plot that will keep the reader interested.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
An excellent book, different, with deep idas but also with an entertaining plot that will keep the reader interested.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
October 18, 2015
I stayed in bed and read this book until I was done. And then I cried. I cried because I'm not ready to be through with the dead sisters. Can there be a series? I need more. But it's also because of how it's written. It's haunting, funny, beautiful, moving and so very real. I read a lot and check out at least ten books a week. Maybe one out of those ten are readable. Most of the time they all go back in two days. At a young age, I started with the classics and worked my way through War and Peace to the zombie apocalypse. I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of writing, of books in general, content, entertainment value, heartstring pulling, composition, prose and the whole putting together of a great story. I would read this author's grocery lists. Even to the clueless, this book reaches out and grabs you by the hair and won't let you go. It's a great story line, made me laugh, cry and ignore the phone. A solid ten!
December 8, 2015
First of all I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway present.
The blurb on the back cover indicates mystery and crime but it is only a family drama with happy ending. The topic about The Thunder could have been anything other, the book's story barely scratches this topic.
However I could not stop reading this book. The story is well constructed and has some unexpected turnarounds which made me skip working while commuting but reading this book. That's why it deserves these three stars.
The blurb on the back cover indicates mystery and crime but it is only a family drama with happy ending. The topic about The Thunder could have been anything other, the book's story barely scratches this topic.
However I could not stop reading this book. The story is well constructed and has some unexpected turnarounds which made me skip working while commuting but reading this book. That's why it deserves these three stars.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews