What do you think?
Rate this book
Randevu sa Nesanicom
Pet stranaca. Hiljadu noći bez sna. Savršen protivotrov strahu od samoće, nežna i uverljiva priča koja uliva nadu.
Ima ih petoro i sasvim su različiti. Kler, Lena, Mišel, Erve i Žak jedva se poznaju i imaju samo jedno zajedničko: noći bez sna. Iako svako na svoj način, svi su došli do svojih granica.
Nadajući se da će se rešiti te muke koja ih svakog dana sve više isključuje iz društva i normalnog života, odlučuju da učestvuju u grupnoj terapiji. Usporeni, nervozni, ovi sastanci isprva deluju besmisleno.
S vremenom će razgovori početi da teku. Kroz prizmu nesanice, stvoriće se neočekivane veze, podeliće se priznanja, otkriće se tajne. Noći će sada postati neobična pozornica prepuna neverovatnih situacija, a pet potpunih stranaca shvatiće da su sličniji nego što su mogli i da pomisle.
Ima ih petoro i sasvim su različiti. Kler, Lena, Mišel, Erve i Žak jedva se poznaju i imaju samo jedno zajedničko: noći bez sna. Iako svako na svoj način, svi su došli do svojih granica.
Nadajući se da će se rešiti te muke koja ih svakog dana sve više isključuje iz društva i normalnog života, odlučuju da učestvuju u grupnoj terapiji. Usporeni, nervozni, ovi sastanci isprva deluju besmisleno.
S vremenom će razgovori početi da teku. Kroz prizmu nesanice, stvoriće se neočekivane veze, podeliće se priznanja, otkriće se tajne. Noći će sada postati neobična pozornica prepuna neverovatnih situacija, a pet potpunih stranaca shvatiće da su sličniji nego što su mogli i da pomisle.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2019
11 people are currently reading
207 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 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 24, 2022
5 άνθρωποι με ένα κοινό χαρακτηριστικό. Δεν μπορούν να κοιμηθούν. Μέσα από μια σειρά συναντήσεων με ειδικό θα προσπαθήσουν να κατανοήσουν τις αιτίες που τους κρατάνε ξύπνιους. Παράλληλα θα δημιουργηθούν δυνατές διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις μεταξύ τους.
5 άνθρωποι απέναντι στον ίδιο εχθρό. Το τέρας της αϋπνίας που φαίνεται να βγαίνει νικητής στο παιχνίδι. Ένας σκληρός αντίπαλος που όσο αργεί να γιατρευτεί τόσο επηρεάζει την καθημερινότητα και τη δράση των ηρώων.
«02:00. Το κρεβάτι μου μοιάζει να υποχωρεί σαν το χώμα. Νιώθω το σώμα μου βαρύ, τους μυς μου τεντωμένους και σε κάθε κίνηση βουλιάζω όλο και περισσότερο. Το κρεβάτι μου είναι νοτερό και κρύο. Το σκοτάδι είναι βαθύ. Θάβομαι κάτω από τη σκόνη και όλα γίνονται πιο σκοτεινά. Κάθε βράδυ βρίσκομαι κάτω από την επιφάνεια του κόσμου και χάνομαι σε μαιάνδρους ανεξέλεγκτων σκέψεων».
Η συγγραφέας όντας και η ίδια αϋπνική προσπαθεί με ένα τρόπο ευαίσθητο και ανθρώπινο ν’ αναδείξει τις προκλήσεις που δημιουργεί αυτού του είδους η διαταραχή, προκλήσεις που πρέπει ν’ αντιμετωπιστούν. Δεν έχω υπάρξει ποτέ αϋπνική και ίσως να μη συνδέθηκα 100% με τις εξομολογήσεις των ηρώων, αν ταυτίστηκα όμως σε κάτι είναι το εξής πράγμα το οποίο θεωρώ ότι είναι και το βαθύτερο νόημα του βιβλίου: ο φόβος.
Οι φοβίες μας εκείνες οι οποίες καθορίζουν τη σκέψη και το μυαλό μας. ‘Αλλοτε είναι ο φόβος της μοναξιάς, άλλοτε ο φόβος του θανάτου, της απώλειας και ότι για να μπορούσε να γιατρέψουμε τις πληγές μας θα πρέπει να αποδεχτούμε τον εαυτό μας και την διαφορετικότητα του στοιχείο άκρως απαραίτητο για τη διατήρηση της ψυχικής μας ισορροπίας.
5 άνθρωποι απέναντι στον ίδιο εχθρό. Το τέρας της αϋπνίας που φαίνεται να βγαίνει νικητής στο παιχνίδι. Ένας σκληρός αντίπαλος που όσο αργεί να γιατρευτεί τόσο επηρεάζει την καθημερινότητα και τη δράση των ηρώων.
«02:00. Το κρεβάτι μου μοιάζει να υποχωρεί σαν το χώμα. Νιώθω το σώμα μου βαρύ, τους μυς μου τεντωμένους και σε κάθε κίνηση βουλιάζω όλο και περισσότερο. Το κρεβάτι μου είναι νοτερό και κρύο. Το σκοτάδι είναι βαθύ. Θάβομαι κάτω από τη σκόνη και όλα γίνονται πιο σκοτεινά. Κάθε βράδυ βρίσκομαι κάτω από την επιφάνεια του κόσμου και χάνομαι σε μαιάνδρους ανεξέλεγκτων σκέψεων».
Η συγγραφέας όντας και η ίδια αϋπνική προσπαθεί με ένα τρόπο ευαίσθητο και ανθρώπινο ν’ αναδείξει τις προκλήσεις που δημιουργεί αυτού του είδους η διαταραχή, προκλήσεις που πρέπει ν’ αντιμετωπιστούν. Δεν έχω υπάρξει ποτέ αϋπνική και ίσως να μη συνδέθηκα 100% με τις εξομολογήσεις των ηρώων, αν ταυτίστηκα όμως σε κάτι είναι το εξής πράγμα το οποίο θεωρώ ότι είναι και το βαθύτερο νόημα του βιβλίου: ο φόβος.
Οι φοβίες μας εκείνες οι οποίες καθορίζουν τη σκέψη και το μυαλό μας. ‘Αλλοτε είναι ο φόβος της μοναξιάς, άλλοτε ο φόβος του θανάτου, της απώλειας και ότι για να μπορούσε να γιατρέψουμε τις πληγές μας θα πρέπει να αποδεχτούμε τον εαυτό μας και την διαφορετικότητα του στοιχείο άκρως απαραίτητο για τη διατήρηση της ψυχικής μας ισορροπίας.
Read
July 19, 2022Razumem potrebu insomničara da piše o svom problemu. Ne razumem potrebu lektora koji ostavi junake da upale fen, upale lampu, upale kompjuter i prežive... Meni se 'upalio' mrak, jedva napisah dve proste rečenice.
May 8, 2021
As an insomniac myself, I was very interested in this title. Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.
The premise is simple yet powerful. Five insomniacs come together to discuss their issues and try to work out what keeps them awake. But will they get to the root of the problem? And will they be able to face it?
I expected this book to be a light read. What I didn't expect was the deep explorations of relationships and their intricacies that this book brought out so beautifully. The characters were well-written with their own quirks and traits that made it easy to follow.
All in all, a good book.
3.5 stars.
The premise is simple yet powerful. Five insomniacs come together to discuss their issues and try to work out what keeps them awake. But will they get to the root of the problem? And will they be able to face it?
I expected this book to be a light read. What I didn't expect was the deep explorations of relationships and their intricacies that this book brought out so beautifully. The characters were well-written with their own quirks and traits that made it easy to follow.
All in all, a good book.
3.5 stars.
March 6, 2021
As an insomniac myself, I was intrigued by the premise! It was a quick read, great for before bedtime (ironic I know), and I really enjoyed seeing the different characters develop and explain their reasons for their sleep troubles.
It was a darker book than I expected at times, but to me it made it more powerful. I did sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between the characters, so perhaps it would have been beneficial to have a character list at the start.
Overall, an enjoyable book.
It was a darker book than I expected at times, but to me it made it more powerful. I did sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between the characters, so perhaps it would have been beneficial to have a character list at the start.
Overall, an enjoyable book.
January 11, 2021
Η συγγραφέας είναι αϋπνικη. Η λέσχη της αϋπνίας είναι το πρώτο της βιβλίο και σε αυτό περιγράφει και τις δικές της νύχτες.
Πέντε άνθρωποι, τελείως άγνωστοι μεταξύ τους, αποφασίζουν σαν τελευταία προσπάθεια να πάρουν μέρος σε συναντήσεις για την καταπολέμησης της αϋπνίας.
Η χρόνια αϋπνία τους και όλα αυτά που τους στερεί, τους κάνει να μην είναι άγνωστοι πια. Οι νύχτες τους είναι κοινές και δρουν ως συνδετικός κρίκος. Έτσι, από καταναγκασμος η παρουσία τους στις συναντήσεις, γίνεται η μεγαλύτερη επιθυμίας τους.
Όσο προχωρούν οι συνεδρίες, μέσω της επικοινωνίας και της φιλίας τους, ανακαλύπτουν τα αιτία της αϋπνίας τους και σιγά σιγά τους τρόπους να την αμβλύνουν!
Η σπουδαιότητα της ψυχικής υγείας είναι εμφανής σε όλο το βιβλίο, όσο και η ανάγκη για ένα υγιές περιβάλλον γεμάτο αγάπη και υποστήριξη. Το ταξίδι του κάθε ήρωα για να τα αποκτήσει είναι διαφορετικό, όπως και του κάθε ένα από έμας, όμως ο στόχος κοινός, η ψυχική ηρεμία 💜
Πέντε άνθρωποι, τελείως άγνωστοι μεταξύ τους, αποφασίζουν σαν τελευταία προσπάθεια να πάρουν μέρος σε συναντήσεις για την καταπολέμησης της αϋπνίας.
Η χρόνια αϋπνία τους και όλα αυτά που τους στερεί, τους κάνει να μην είναι άγνωστοι πια. Οι νύχτες τους είναι κοινές και δρουν ως συνδετικός κρίκος. Έτσι, από καταναγκασμος η παρουσία τους στις συναντήσεις, γίνεται η μεγαλύτερη επιθυμίας τους.
Όσο προχωρούν οι συνεδρίες, μέσω της επικοινωνίας και της φιλίας τους, ανακαλύπτουν τα αιτία της αϋπνίας τους και σιγά σιγά τους τρόπους να την αμβλύνουν!
Η σπουδαιότητα της ψυχικής υγείας είναι εμφανής σε όλο το βιβλίο, όσο και η ανάγκη για ένα υγιές περιβάλλον γεμάτο αγάπη και υποστήριξη. Το ταξίδι του κάθε ήρωα για να τα αποκτήσει είναι διαφορετικό, όπως και του κάθε ένα από έμας, όμως ο στόχος κοινός, η ψυχική ηρεμία 💜
October 6, 2021
Geht es nicht jedem irgendwann mal so, dass man nachts daliegt und einfach nicht schlafen kann? Oder in der Früh aufwacht und einfach nicht mehr einschlafen kann. Ich habe zum Beispiel die Angewohnheit, schon um fünf oder halb sechs Uhr aufzustehen. Im Gegensatz zu den Hauptpersonen hier leide ich aber nicht an Insomnie. Während ich einfach ein Morgenmensch bin und um diese Uhrzeit so ausgeschlafen bin, dass ich arbeiten, schreiben und lernen kann und das ausgleichen kann, indem ich abends früher ins Bett gehe, sind die Hauptfiguren dieses Buchs wie erschlagen. Sie bekommen jede Nacht gar keinen oder nur sehr wenig Schlaf und das wirkt sich auf ihr Leben aus. Sie verlieren den Kontakt zur Realität, schotten sich von ihren Mitmenschen ab, sind nicht mehr in der Lage dazu, in der Schule oder in der Arbeit die Leistung zu erbringen, die sie sich wünschen würden. Und deswegen finden sie sich jetzt auch zu regelmäßigen Gruppensitzungen ein, die interessanterweise den geringsten Teil des Buchs ausmachen. Der Fokus liegt hier eindeutig auf dem Effekt, den der Schlafmangel auf ihr alltägliches Leben hat. Léna müsste zum Beispiel in diesem Jahr die Schule abschließen, weiß aber, dass sie ohne Schlaf keine Chance hat. Hervé macht immer mehr Fehler bei seiner Arbeit. Und Claires Ehe droht zu zerbrechen. Michèles Ehemann droht ihr mit der Einweisung. Kein Wunder also, dass alle Figuren sich Hilfe suchen wollen.
Und ich war überrascht vom Lösungsvorschlag der Gruppensitzungen. Denn ich kann mir einfach nicht vorstellen, dass diese Sitzungen irgendjemandem dabei helfen, besser zu schlafen. Im Gegenteil: Hier entsteht ziemlich viel Druck. Schlafkalender, die exakt ausgefüllt werden müssen, Schlafpläne, die genau eingehalten werden sollen, Mittagsschläfchen werden gestrichen und Schlafmittel verboten. Ich kann mir schon vorstellen, dass das hilfreich für einen guten Schlaf sein kann, aber die Protagonisten taten mir einfach echt leid. Gleichzeitig musste ich über die Protagonisten oft den Kopf schütteln. Manche der Tipps, die sie bekommen, könnten wirklich zu einem guten Schlaf beitragen. Warum weigern sie sich also zum Beispiel, nachts ihre Handys wegzulegen oder im Haus zu bleiben? Für mich machte das nicht wirklich Sinn. Allerdings muss hier betont werden, dass wohl nur jemand, der unter Insomnie leidet, beurteilen kann, ob das Verhalten der Protagonisten realistisch ist oder nicht.
Ich war etwas enttäuscht vom Schreibstil des Buchs. Den würde ich jetzt eher nur als mittelmäßig beschreiben. Er wirkte einfach unglaublich gestelzt und nicht authentisch. Vor allem mit dem ständigen Gebrauch von "dies/e/er" hatte ich meine Probleme. Jeder, der mir schonmal einen Text zu Korrektur gegeben hat, kann das bestätigen: Wenn irgendwie möglich, ersetze ich diese Wörtchen durch andere. Ich finde es schrecklich, wenn die übermäßig verwendet werden. Klar, manchmal geht es nicht anders, aber meistens eben doch und wenn dann trotzdem "dies/e/er" dasteht, dann ist das für mich ein stilistischer Fehler.
Mein Fazit? Interessante Geschichte. Die Protagonisten handelten für mich nicht immer ganz nachvollziehbar, allerdings kann ich das nicht wirklich beurteilen, da ich noch nie solche Schlafprobleme hatte. Der Schreibstil war für mich enttäuschend.
Und ich war überrascht vom Lösungsvorschlag der Gruppensitzungen. Denn ich kann mir einfach nicht vorstellen, dass diese Sitzungen irgendjemandem dabei helfen, besser zu schlafen. Im Gegenteil: Hier entsteht ziemlich viel Druck. Schlafkalender, die exakt ausgefüllt werden müssen, Schlafpläne, die genau eingehalten werden sollen, Mittagsschläfchen werden gestrichen und Schlafmittel verboten. Ich kann mir schon vorstellen, dass das hilfreich für einen guten Schlaf sein kann, aber die Protagonisten taten mir einfach echt leid. Gleichzeitig musste ich über die Protagonisten oft den Kopf schütteln. Manche der Tipps, die sie bekommen, könnten wirklich zu einem guten Schlaf beitragen. Warum weigern sie sich also zum Beispiel, nachts ihre Handys wegzulegen oder im Haus zu bleiben? Für mich machte das nicht wirklich Sinn. Allerdings muss hier betont werden, dass wohl nur jemand, der unter Insomnie leidet, beurteilen kann, ob das Verhalten der Protagonisten realistisch ist oder nicht.
Ich war etwas enttäuscht vom Schreibstil des Buchs. Den würde ich jetzt eher nur als mittelmäßig beschreiben. Er wirkte einfach unglaublich gestelzt und nicht authentisch. Vor allem mit dem ständigen Gebrauch von "dies/e/er" hatte ich meine Probleme. Jeder, der mir schonmal einen Text zu Korrektur gegeben hat, kann das bestätigen: Wenn irgendwie möglich, ersetze ich diese Wörtchen durch andere. Ich finde es schrecklich, wenn die übermäßig verwendet werden. Klar, manchmal geht es nicht anders, aber meistens eben doch und wenn dann trotzdem "dies/e/er" dasteht, dann ist das für mich ein stilistischer Fehler.
Mein Fazit? Interessante Geschichte. Die Protagonisten handelten für mich nicht immer ganz nachvollziehbar, allerdings kann ich das nicht wirklich beurteilen, da ich noch nie solche Schlafprobleme hatte. Der Schreibstil war für mich enttäuschend.
March 22, 2021
I chose this book during a recent book tour with two avid readers and was intrigued by its subject matter - five insomniacs with very different backgrounds who meet to try and resolve their insomnia. Written in diarised entries from all perspectives including that of the group convenor, Helene, the entries revealed very different individuals whose insomnia was caused by contrasting causes.
Parts of the account were tedious but overall it was an interesting read, especially the exploration of the distinction between people who cannot sleep temporarily or for extended periods of time from genuine insomniacs.
I am still not quite sure how I feel about the book overall especially as some outcomes seem slightly implausible but it raises some interesting insights into sleeplessness and the challenges that creates for all individuals who have to deal with it at some point in time.
Parts of the account were tedious but overall it was an interesting read, especially the exploration of the distinction between people who cannot sleep temporarily or for extended periods of time from genuine insomniacs.
I am still not quite sure how I feel about the book overall especially as some outcomes seem slightly implausible but it raises some interesting insights into sleeplessness and the challenges that creates for all individuals who have to deal with it at some point in time.
June 30, 2023
Ενδιαφέρον το θέμα αλλά κάπου το βιβλίο υστερεί στο σύνολο του.
November 1, 2020
“…night time is the best time for communication with your inner voice”
The Insomniac Society is a novel about a group of “hard-core, incurable” insomniacs, who, at first glance, have nothing in common but their inability to sleep at night. A woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, a girl who can’t sleep past 4.30 am, a retiree who hears what others don’t, a middle-aged accountant whose greatest wish is to go unnoticed, and an aloof psychiatrist addicted to sleeping pills. Claire, Lena, Michèle, Hervé, and Jacques.
The opening of the book is a short paragraph that sets the story, describing an insomniac’s perception of the darkest hour of the night. The narrative comprises of different days, each devoted to one of the insomniacs’ storylines. These come together during the morning meetings with the sleep psychologist, as shown from Claire’s perspective.
I haven’t realised until reading this book how severe insomnia can be. It starts with a single sleepless night, then turns into a patterned behaviour that can carry on for decades, while you grow too weary to fight it. The only lasting solution would be to find the cause, some psychological and emotional distress buried deep in your past, and by facing it head-on, strip it of its control and allow yourself to “relearn how to sleep”. Whether one can achieve this depends on their willingness and readiness to break free from their addictions. After all, insomnia is an addiction too. Michèle is addicted to her late-night visits to church, Jacques – to the midnight phone call from his troubled patient. The author shows us that night-time is when you can be someone who is no longer tied down by their anxieties and fears of judgement, as it is for Hervé. For Claire and Lena, however, it represents something to hold onto, whether they want it or not. One has grown used to the feelings of panic and dread that come with the nightfall, the other can’t let go of the habit that once made her feel reassured.
The Insomniac Society is the sort of narrative that talks about the emotional journeys, the kind that does not necessarily have a lot of action and focuses on character development, reflection and retrospection. It’s a mesmerising, thought-provoking read, and if you’re suffering from insomnia, you just might find your cure on the pages of this book.
The Insomniac Society is a novel about a group of “hard-core, incurable” insomniacs, who, at first glance, have nothing in common but their inability to sleep at night. A woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, a girl who can’t sleep past 4.30 am, a retiree who hears what others don’t, a middle-aged accountant whose greatest wish is to go unnoticed, and an aloof psychiatrist addicted to sleeping pills. Claire, Lena, Michèle, Hervé, and Jacques.
The opening of the book is a short paragraph that sets the story, describing an insomniac’s perception of the darkest hour of the night. The narrative comprises of different days, each devoted to one of the insomniacs’ storylines. These come together during the morning meetings with the sleep psychologist, as shown from Claire’s perspective.
I haven’t realised until reading this book how severe insomnia can be. It starts with a single sleepless night, then turns into a patterned behaviour that can carry on for decades, while you grow too weary to fight it. The only lasting solution would be to find the cause, some psychological and emotional distress buried deep in your past, and by facing it head-on, strip it of its control and allow yourself to “relearn how to sleep”. Whether one can achieve this depends on their willingness and readiness to break free from their addictions. After all, insomnia is an addiction too. Michèle is addicted to her late-night visits to church, Jacques – to the midnight phone call from his troubled patient. The author shows us that night-time is when you can be someone who is no longer tied down by their anxieties and fears of judgement, as it is for Hervé. For Claire and Lena, however, it represents something to hold onto, whether they want it or not. One has grown used to the feelings of panic and dread that come with the nightfall, the other can’t let go of the habit that once made her feel reassured.
The Insomniac Society is the sort of narrative that talks about the emotional journeys, the kind that does not necessarily have a lot of action and focuses on character development, reflection and retrospection. It’s a mesmerising, thought-provoking read, and if you’re suffering from insomnia, you just might find your cure on the pages of this book.
February 15, 2021
Διάλεξα να το διαβάσω γιατί μια μικρή ταύτιση την ένιωσα, με τον τίτλο και το γενικότερο περιεχόμενό του. Η ιδέα μιας μυθιστορηματικής, ομαδικής ψυχοθεραπείας αυπνικών μου φάνηκε πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα ιδέα και προσέγγιση, όμως εν τέλει δεν έμεινα ενθουσιασμένη (ή τέλος πάντων αρκετά ικανοποιημένη).
Υπήρχαν στιγμές που ένιωθα αυτήν την παράξενη παρηγοριά του ότι όλοι έχουμε από κάποιο βάρος, έντονο ή μη, και υπήρξαν και στιγμές που συγκινήθηκα ή και αγχώθηκα. Ωστόσο όλο το κείμενο είχε παράξενη, ψυχρή και ακανόνιστη ροή και μερικά πράγματα δεν έβγαζαν νόημα. Σαν η συγγραφέας να προσπάθησε, να ένιωθε πραγματικά αυτό που ήθελε να πει, αλλά να μην είχε τον κατάλληλο τρόπο να το κάνει.
Υπήρχαν στιγμές που ένιωθα αυτήν την παράξενη παρηγοριά του ότι όλοι έχουμε από κάποιο βάρος, έντονο ή μη, και υπήρξαν και στιγμές που συγκινήθηκα ή και αγχώθηκα. Ωστόσο όλο το κείμενο είχε παράξενη, ψυχρή και ακανόνιστη ροή και μερικά πράγματα δεν έβγαζαν νόημα. Σαν η συγγραφέας να προσπάθησε, να ένιωθε πραγματικά αυτό που ήθελε να πει, αλλά να μην είχε τον κατάλληλο τρόπο να το κάνει.
March 12, 2021
"Δεν ξέρω αν η Μισέλ είναι έτοιμη να με παρασύρει στην τρέλα της ή φταίει η έλλειψη ύπνου που μας οδηγεί σε τέτοιες καταστάσεις, όμως δεν έχει σημασία... Αυτή η σκηνή έχει κάτι ιερό."
Για κάποια που έχει τον ύπνο στο τσεπάκι της, πέρασα απο μια σύντομη περίοδο αϋπνίας, πολύ πρόσφατα. Την ίδια ακριβώς περίοδο έτυχε να διαβάσω τη Λέσχη της Αϋπνίας. Σημαδιακό; Διαβάζοντας, λοιπόν, πληροφορήθηκα πως υπάρχει επιστημονικός όρος για το συγκεκριμένο πρόβλημα, αϋπνικός. Όπως επίσης και οτι οι χρόνιες περιπτώσεις είναι πολύ δύσκολο να απεξαρτηθούν απ' αυτό.
Στην ιστορία που μας αφηγείται η συγγραφέας συναντάμε πέντε ανθρώπους. Τρεις γυναίκες και δύο άντρες με διαφορετικές ηλικίες και ζωές. Η παντελής έλλειψη ύπνου την νύχτα έχει τεράστιο αντίκτυπο στην καθημερινότητα τους, στον οικογενειακό αλλά και στον επαγγελματικό τους κύκλο, ακόμα και στον ίδιο τους τον εαυτό. Αποτέλεσμα, οι πέντε τους θα βρεθούν σε μια ομάδα θεραπείας, αυτή των σοβαρών περιπτώσεων. Ξεκινά έτσι να ξετυλίγεται, κομμάτι κομμάτι, η ρουτίνα του καθενός ξεχωριστά, μέσα από το πρίσμα πάντα των αποτελεσμάτων που απέφερε η χρονιά αϋπνία τους. Εύλογα έρχονται στο προσκήνιο αναδρομές στο παρελθόν τους. Γιατί, κάθε πρόβλημα έχει μια αιτία. Η αϋπνία, όμως, έχει άπειρες.
Από την αρχή της ανάγνωσης ήταν ξεκάθαρο πως η ροή της ιστορίας θα φτάσει αρκετές φορές σε κρεσέντο. Καθενός η ζωή είναι ένας Γολγοθάς. Από το πρωί μέχρι το βράδυ. Καθενός οι διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις περπατάνε σε τεντωμένο σχοινί, κάποιων έχει ήδη σπάσει. Και οι πέντε τους είναι σφιχτά δεμένοι στις άγκυρες των πρέπει, αφήνοντας τα θέλω τους να πνίγονται αβοήθητα στον ωκεανό του τι θέλουν οι άλλοι από αυτούς. Κάπου εκεί, ξεκινάει μια νέα στροφή. Και οι πέντε, έχοντας πλέον την ανάγκη της στήριξης έρχονται πιο κοντά μεταξύ τους. Μιλάνε ανοιχτά δίχως ντροπή για το πρόβλημα τους και η μικρή τους λέσχη παίρνει ζωή. Οπωσδήποτε, μια ιστορία που μας αφυπνίζει όλους!
Το ενδιαφέρον που προσωπικά μου γεννήθηκε, διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο, ήταν σχετικά την έκταση που μπορεί να πάρει το πρόβλημα της αϋπνίας στην προσωπική ζωή του ίδιου του ασθενή. Δυστυχώς όπως διαπίστωσα είναι αρκετά μεγάλη, ψυχοφθόρα και σε μεγάλο ποσοστό μη αναστρέψιμη. Το θετικό βεβαίως είναι πως ένα μέτρο αντιμετώπισης, μπορεί τελικά να υπάρξει αρκεί να έχει τις σωστές δομές. Σε αυτό το κομμάτι, βασίζει την αφήγηση της η συγγραφέας προς το τέλος της ιστορίας μας. Αφότου έχουμε ζήσει, πλάι στους ήρωες της και την κορύφωση του δράματος τους.
Δομημένη σωστά, από την αρχή της θα έλεγα, με καλή ροή και απλό λόγο, η ιστορία των πέντε μας φανερώνει πτυχές του νυχτερινού κόσμου που ζει και αναπνέει γύρω μας αλλά οι περισσότεροι από εμάς δεν αντιλαμβανόμαστε. Διαβάζοντας την, σίγουρα θα υπάρξουν στιγμές που θα τσατιστείς με τον υποτακτικό χαρακτήρα ενός ήρωα, ή με τον εγωκεντρισμό ενός άλλου. Εδώ είναι που έρχεται η συγγραφέας και σού δείχνει με παραστατικό τρόπο τους λόγους που οι ήρωες της λειτουργούν με αυτό τον τρόπο, δηλώνοντας πως πίσω από μια κλειστή πόρτα κανείς δεν ξέρεις τι γίνεται. Το ίδιο και στην ψυχή ενός ανθρώπου.
Για κάποια που έχει τον ύπνο στο τσεπάκι της, πέρασα απο μια σύντομη περίοδο αϋπνίας, πολύ πρόσφατα. Την ίδια ακριβώς περίοδο έτυχε να διαβάσω τη Λέσχη της Αϋπνίας. Σημαδιακό; Διαβάζοντας, λοιπόν, πληροφορήθηκα πως υπάρχει επιστημονικός όρος για το συγκεκριμένο πρόβλημα, αϋπνικός. Όπως επίσης και οτι οι χρόνιες περιπτώσεις είναι πολύ δύσκολο να απεξαρτηθούν απ' αυτό.
Στην ιστορία που μας αφηγείται η συγγραφέας συναντάμε πέντε ανθρώπους. Τρεις γυναίκες και δύο άντρες με διαφορετικές ηλικίες και ζωές. Η παντελής έλλειψη ύπνου την νύχτα έχει τεράστιο αντίκτυπο στην καθημερινότητα τους, στον οικογενειακό αλλά και στον επαγγελματικό τους κύκλο, ακόμα και στον ίδιο τους τον εαυτό. Αποτέλεσμα, οι πέντε τους θα βρεθούν σε μια ομάδα θεραπείας, αυτή των σοβαρών περιπτώσεων. Ξεκινά έτσι να ξετυλίγεται, κομμάτι κομμάτι, η ρουτίνα του καθενός ξεχωριστά, μέσα από το πρίσμα πάντα των αποτελεσμάτων που απέφερε η χρονιά αϋπνία τους. Εύλογα έρχονται στο προσκήνιο αναδρομές στο παρελθόν τους. Γιατί, κάθε πρόβλημα έχει μια αιτία. Η αϋπνία, όμως, έχει άπειρες.
Από την αρχή της ανάγνωσης ήταν ξεκάθαρο πως η ροή της ιστορίας θα φτάσει αρκετές φορές σε κρεσέντο. Καθενός η ζωή είναι ένας Γολγοθάς. Από το πρωί μέχρι το βράδυ. Καθενός οι διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις περπατάνε σε τεντωμένο σχοινί, κάποιων έχει ήδη σπάσει. Και οι πέντε τους είναι σφιχτά δεμένοι στις άγκυρες των πρέπει, αφήνοντας τα θέλω τους να πνίγονται αβοήθητα στον ωκεανό του τι θέλουν οι άλλοι από αυτούς. Κάπου εκεί, ξεκινάει μια νέα στροφή. Και οι πέντε, έχοντας πλέον την ανάγκη της στήριξης έρχονται πιο κοντά μεταξύ τους. Μιλάνε ανοιχτά δίχως ντροπή για το πρόβλημα τους και η μικρή τους λέσχη παίρνει ζωή. Οπωσδήποτε, μια ιστορία που μας αφυπνίζει όλους!
Το ενδιαφέρον που προσωπικά μου γεννήθηκε, διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο, ήταν σχετικά την έκταση που μπορεί να πάρει το πρόβλημα της αϋπνίας στην προσωπική ζωή του ίδιου του ασθενή. Δυστυχώς όπως διαπίστωσα είναι αρκετά μεγάλη, ψυχοφθόρα και σε μεγάλο ποσοστό μη αναστρέψιμη. Το θετικό βεβαίως είναι πως ένα μέτρο αντιμετώπισης, μπορεί τελικά να υπάρξει αρκεί να έχει τις σωστές δομές. Σε αυτό το κομμάτι, βασίζει την αφήγηση της η συγγραφέας προς το τέλος της ιστορίας μας. Αφότου έχουμε ζήσει, πλάι στους ήρωες της και την κορύφωση του δράματος τους.
Δομημένη σωστά, από την αρχή της θα έλεγα, με καλή ροή και απλό λόγο, η ιστορία των πέντε μας φανερώνει πτυχές του νυχτερινού κόσμου που ζει και αναπνέει γύρω μας αλλά οι περισσότεροι από εμάς δεν αντιλαμβανόμαστε. Διαβάζοντας την, σίγουρα θα υπάρξουν στιγμές που θα τσατιστείς με τον υποτακτικό χαρακτήρα ενός ήρωα, ή με τον εγωκεντρισμό ενός άλλου. Εδώ είναι που έρχεται η συγγραφέας και σού δείχνει με παραστατικό τρόπο τους λόγους που οι ήρωες της λειτουργούν με αυτό τον τρόπο, δηλώνοντας πως πίσω από μια κλειστή πόρτα κανείς δεν ξέρεις τι γίνεται. Το ίδιο και στην ψυχή ενός ανθρώπου.
July 23, 2021
3,5 Sterne Levys Debütroman hat mich interessiert, da chronische Schlaflosigkeit ein Thema ist, das in unserer Gesellschaft viel zu wenig thematisiert wird. Die Autorin hat fünf Figuren geschaffen, die aufgrund verschiedener Probleme an chronischer Schlaflosigkeit leiden, die sich den Figuren selbst und dem Leser Stück für Stück offenbaren. Die Ursprünge der Schlaflosigkeiten wurden feinfühlig beschrieben und waren nachvollziehbar. Allerdings hat sich die Handlung besonders in der ersten Hälfte für mich sehr gezogen. Dafür hat mir das Ende gefallen, da es kein "Alles ist wieder gut" Ende ist. Allerdings hatte leider Probleme die beiden Figuren Jacques und Hervé auseinanderzuhalten. Teilweise waren sie mir charakterlich zu ähnlich. Ich würde das Buch nicht empfehlen, wenn man selbst gut schläft. Da es mich meinen Schlaf oft in Frage stellen lassen hat und das im negativen Sinne. Ich glaube aber, dass dieses Buch für Menschen mit Schlaflosigkeit ein Hoffnungsschimmer sein könnte und ihnen zeigt, dass sie mit ihrem Problem nicht allein sind. Ich finde es schade, dass das Netzwerk für Schlaflose im Roman nicht in der Öffentlichkeit bekannt ist. Es hätte ein gutes Beispiel dafür sein können, dass dieses Leiden mehr in der Gesellschaft präsent sein sollte.
March 14, 2025
Il libro parla dell'incontro di cinque persone molto diverse fra loro che in comune hanno soltanto l'insonnia, cioè l'incapacità di riuscire a dormire di notte.È Interessante leggere quanti possano essere i diversi problemi o traumi che le persone adulte si portano dall'adolescenza o infanzia per poi traformmarsi in insonnia.
Riporto qui una citazione, parte del dialogo della psicologa Hélène, esperta del sonno, ai suoi pazienti: " La notte potrebbe essere un momento speciale in cui si può entrare in contatto con la propria voce interiore. Ma questa preziosa premessa è rovinata e annichilita dall'angoscia, dalla paura e dalla collera, dal fatto di non essere capaci di fare come tutti: essere al meglio di giorno. E questa gente di cui lei parla, Jacques, forse ha bisogno della notte per esprimere il proprio dolore, per sfogare la sofferenza in un luogo in cui non si senta sola. Di giorno non ha né lo spazio né il tempo! Guardate oggi come funziona la società. Bisogna andare veloci, essere reattivi e affidabili, andare avanti costi quel che costi [...]."
Riporto qui una citazione, parte del dialogo della psicologa Hélène, esperta del sonno, ai suoi pazienti: " La notte potrebbe essere un momento speciale in cui si può entrare in contatto con la propria voce interiore. Ma questa preziosa premessa è rovinata e annichilita dall'angoscia, dalla paura e dalla collera, dal fatto di non essere capaci di fare come tutti: essere al meglio di giorno. E questa gente di cui lei parla, Jacques, forse ha bisogno della notte per esprimere il proprio dolore, per sfogare la sofferenza in un luogo in cui non si senta sola. Di giorno non ha né lo spazio né il tempo! Guardate oggi come funziona la società. Bisogna andare veloci, essere reattivi e affidabili, andare avanti costi quel che costi [...]."
December 1, 2021
Having a bout of my own insomnia it felt appropriate to pick this book up and hopefully persuade my brain to switch off . On the contrary, I found myself wide awake and keen to follow the characters through their struggles . A satisfying read ...and now I'm off to have a nap. 😴
July 5, 2021
Väldigt snabb läsning. Handlar om ett gäng fransoser som går i sömnterapi - konceptet väckte intresse men själva innehållet i boken är inget märkvärdigt. Men, mysig ändå.
December 1, 2020
Έχω υπάρξει αϋπνική στη ζωή μου. Βρήκα τρόπους, ορθόδοξους και ανορθόδοξους, να αντιμετωπίσω την πάθησή μου, αλλά πάντοτε η κατάσταση αυτή, οι λευκές νύχτες, είναι αγκάθι στο μυαλό και στην καρδιά μου. Ίσως γι' αυτό να μου άρεσε τόσο το ψυχολογικό/κοινωνικό μυθιστόρημα χαρακτήρων της Gabrielle Levy "Η λέσχη της αϋπνίας", που κυκλοφορεί από τις Εκδόσεις Διόπτρα σε μετάφραση της Εύης Γεροκώστα. Σε αυτό πρωταγωνιστούν πέντε άνθρωποι που υποφέρουν από αϋπνίες, που η ύπαρξή τους έχει καταστραφεί από την έλλειψη ύπνου, που βυθίζονται μέρα με τη μέρα στη δίνη μιας ατέρμονης κόπωσης και ταυτόχρονα μιας αδυναμίας να κοιμηθούν, και μια ψυχολόγος που προσπαθεί να τους θεραπεύσει με μια ανορθόδοξη, κατά τη γνώμη τους, μέθοδο. Οι φαινομενικά εντελώς διαφορετικοί μεταξύ τους αϋπνικοί σταδιακά έρχονται κοντά, έστω και μέσα από τις σπάνιες και αποτυχημένες συνεδρίες τους, και οι ζωές τους αρχίζουν να εμπλέκονται, όπως εμπλέκονται και οι αφηγήσεις τους. Χωρίς να συμβαίνει κάτι κοσμοϊστορικό, σε πολλά σημεία, το βιβλίο είναι σκληρό, ιδιαίτερα αν έχεις κάποτε βρεθεί στη θέση των ηρώων του και "ξυπνάει" μέσα σου η ενσυναίσθηση. Άλλωστε, για να φτάσει κάποιος στο σημείο να είναι αϋπνικός, πρέπει να έχει μια ή περισσότερες τραυματικές εμπειρίες και φυσικά αυτές εντάσσονται μέσα στην πλοκή, αν και είναι όλες παρελθούσες. Όμως, με μαεστρία, η συγγραφέας, αϋπνική και εκείνη και γράφοντας, προφανώς, με βάση τα δικά της βιώματα, καταφέρνει να δώσει στην ιστορία της ένα -όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο- happy end και μια λύτρωση, προσοχή όχι γιατρειά, αλλά λύτρωση στην Κλερ, στον Ερβέ, στη Μισέλ, στη Λενά και στον Ζακ. Φυσικά, ως άνθρωπος με ανώμαλο κιρκαδικό ρυθμό, ελεγχόμενο, αλλά σαφώς εκτός υγιούς πλαισίου, διάβασα το βιβλίο μια νύχτα [δεν είναι άλλωστε πολυσέλιδο] και, πέραν της συμπαθητικής πλοκής του και της γαλήνης που ένιωσα διαβάζοντας το τέλος μέσα στο οποίο φαντάστηκα με ανακούφιση και τον εαυτό μου, βρήκα ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον το γεγονός ότι η αϋπνία ως παθολογική κατάσταση έρχεται στο λογοτεχνικό προσκήνιο, ώστε να γίνει περισσότερο γνωστό ότι δεν πρόκειται ούτε για καπρίτσιο ούτε για κακή συνήθεια, αλλά για μια αρρώστια που αν δεν γίνει αντιληπτή ως τέτοια μπορεί εύκολα να καταστρέψει, ακόμα και να σκοτώσει, τον πάσχοντα.
February 11, 2021
What a wonderful idea, not to sleep anymore. Yet, if it happens too often or you spend too much time lying awake in bed, it becomes insomnia and can even be pretty frightening. Thus, Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé become a therapeutical insomniac group lead by specialist Hélène to find sleep again. It is due to quite diverse reasons that the five of them spend their nights roaming. Hervé is stressed out by his job, Lena misses her father, a former baker who always got up very early in the morning, Michèle is haunted by the children she lost and Jacques by a fatal mistakes that happened months ago. Claire is just fed up with her whole life, her job, her relationship, her living in small village outside Paris. The five strangers quickly become a small but fond community not only united by their inability to sleep.
Even though all of the characters are at a critical point in their life where they are confronted with making tremendous and far-reaching decisions and where they have to confront inconvenient truths of themselves and their lives, Gabrielle Levy’s novel nevertheless has to offer some feel-good factor. I adored the five patients from the start, they are drawn with so much care and love that you simply cannot not like them. They are ordinary people, people you can meet anywhere, at work, in the stairwell, on the street, but they immediately develop a bond due the fact they form a brotherhood in suffering.
Beautifully written, I simply floated through the novel enjoying sharing some time with the small group who meet as strangers and whom you leave as friends. The author wonderfully captured those small moments, hazardous encounters that can make a difference in life.
Even though all of the characters are at a critical point in their life where they are confronted with making tremendous and far-reaching decisions and where they have to confront inconvenient truths of themselves and their lives, Gabrielle Levy’s novel nevertheless has to offer some feel-good factor. I adored the five patients from the start, they are drawn with so much care and love that you simply cannot not like them. They are ordinary people, people you can meet anywhere, at work, in the stairwell, on the street, but they immediately develop a bond due the fact they form a brotherhood in suffering.
Beautifully written, I simply floated through the novel enjoying sharing some time with the small group who meet as strangers and whom you leave as friends. The author wonderfully captured those small moments, hazardous encounters that can make a difference in life.
August 13, 2021
Inhalt:
Hervé, Michèle, Jacques, Claires und Lena, fünf Menschen mit unterschiedlichen Interessen und Problemen und doch sind Sie eigentlich gleich. Denn eine Sache verbindet Sie - die Schlaflosigkeit. Alle 5 kämpfen seit Monaten und Jahren damit, nachts wach gehalten zu werden. Ob von Alpträumen, Halluzinationen, Gedanken oder anderen Dingen. Doch Sie wissen alle, dass sich schnell etwas ändern muss, weil Sie langsam den Halt und Ihr Leben verlieren und in Trance fallen. Die fünf lernen sich in einem Seminar kennen und gründen dort den "Club der Schlaflosen". Dort lernen Sie Methoden kennen, die Ihren Schlaf zurückholen soll und lernen sich ganz neu kennen. Ob Sie am Ende den Schlaf wieder finden und friedlich in Ihre Träume eintauchen können, müsst Ihr selber rausfinden 💫🌜
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe auch eine lange Zeit an unruhigem Schlaf und Alpträumen gelitten. Genau deshalb hat dieses Buch mich so angesprochen. Die Autorin hat auf eine sehr berührende Art und Weise die einzelnen Schicksale der Protagonisten erläutert und als Leser konnte man immer mit Ihnen mitfühlen und vieles nachvollziehen. Bei vielen Dingen konnte ich verstehen, dass gewisse Situationen einen den Schlaf rauben und einen nicht zur Ruhe kommen lassen. Der Schreibstil war sehr einfach und doch nicht zu leicht. Man konnte das Buch mit dieser Thematik sehr gut lesen ohne das es langweilig wird.
Auch das Ende ist sehr schön gemacht von der Autorin und ein perfekter Abschluss.
Alles in allem hat mir das Buch echt gut gefallen und ich kann es empfehlen 😊
Hervé, Michèle, Jacques, Claires und Lena, fünf Menschen mit unterschiedlichen Interessen und Problemen und doch sind Sie eigentlich gleich. Denn eine Sache verbindet Sie - die Schlaflosigkeit. Alle 5 kämpfen seit Monaten und Jahren damit, nachts wach gehalten zu werden. Ob von Alpträumen, Halluzinationen, Gedanken oder anderen Dingen. Doch Sie wissen alle, dass sich schnell etwas ändern muss, weil Sie langsam den Halt und Ihr Leben verlieren und in Trance fallen. Die fünf lernen sich in einem Seminar kennen und gründen dort den "Club der Schlaflosen". Dort lernen Sie Methoden kennen, die Ihren Schlaf zurückholen soll und lernen sich ganz neu kennen. Ob Sie am Ende den Schlaf wieder finden und friedlich in Ihre Träume eintauchen können, müsst Ihr selber rausfinden 💫🌜
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe auch eine lange Zeit an unruhigem Schlaf und Alpträumen gelitten. Genau deshalb hat dieses Buch mich so angesprochen. Die Autorin hat auf eine sehr berührende Art und Weise die einzelnen Schicksale der Protagonisten erläutert und als Leser konnte man immer mit Ihnen mitfühlen und vieles nachvollziehen. Bei vielen Dingen konnte ich verstehen, dass gewisse Situationen einen den Schlaf rauben und einen nicht zur Ruhe kommen lassen. Der Schreibstil war sehr einfach und doch nicht zu leicht. Man konnte das Buch mit dieser Thematik sehr gut lesen ohne das es langweilig wird.
Auch das Ende ist sehr schön gemacht von der Autorin und ein perfekter Abschluss.
Alles in allem hat mir das Buch echt gut gefallen und ich kann es empfehlen 😊
June 26, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Such an insightful read into the plight of insomniacs. A short easy to read book but with a definite element of darkness in it too. The characters were quite engrossing even if not typically likeable. I had such an empathy for their chronic condition - I can't imagine how I would be if I had to go through what they suffered with. The way it was all weaved together in the end was quite thought-provoking too.
Here are some highlights I want to remember:
"I have to work tomorrow. I must have several angry emails waiting for replies. I hear Thomas cough. He's been doing that a lot lately. If I have to take him to the doctor tomorrow, there's no way I'll get in a nap. And I don't like the sound of that cough either. I read somewhere that tuberculosis is making a comeback and that antibiotics aren't always enough to beat it: if I carry on like this, I'll have Stage 4 cancer in an hour"
"The next day I am exhausted after my night-long battle. There's no optimism, no hope anymore. All I want to do is draw the curtains and stay in bed all day. For my own peace of mind, I force myself to finish the most urgent things on my list. The rest will have to wait"
"I'm utterly exhausted, but there are no signs of sleep on the horizon. My eyes are burning, as they always do after a sleepless night. I prop myself up on two pillows, my arms crossed over my stomach. There's no moon tonight, no stars. Just darkness. It feels as if this place has been deserted to the living"
"Fatigue makes people irritable. No one regrets this side of my personality more than I do. This endless night could swallow us all up, I think"
"I get into bed an begin my usual nightly ritual. I start by staying still for a few minutes, afraid that moving might stop me from falling asleep. Then I turn onto my right side, then the left. My gymnastics annoy my husband who abruptly pulls the covers around him more tightly. It's funny how seemingly insignificant gestures can be so full of hostility. Every night I get a long sigh followed by a quick shuffle to the far edge of the bed to get as far away as possible from the disturbance, a.k.a, me. He has a gift for making me feel that I'm an annoyance. I'm always searching our past for signs that we were once in love. I make a list of them, then sort them into categories from strongest to weakest. Holidays, surprises, the early days when we moved in together, the difficulties we facd. But I'm forced to admit it was all a long time ago, and that the bond between us has continued to fray over the years. Will it break altogether one day? I wonder"
"That's the problem. I never know which memories to trust - the ones based on feelings or the ones based on facts"
"When I watched them lower my father's coffin into the ground, I felt like an amputee"
"The thing I've never told my mother, or any other mother, is the way I really see women like them. How respectful and humble they make me feel as they bravely push their buggies through the streets. Their pale faces convey something indescribable, somewhere between exhaustion, distress and pride. Warriors. Superheroes. They know what's what. They have carried life in their wombs. And now whatever the cost, they'll watch over their babies every night and protect them from the slightest danger. I'm secretly jealous because I could never live up to that role"
"I'd like to join in, but I'm just so tired. I always come back to the same eternal, unanswerable question: how is it that I'm so exhausted all day, but unable to sleep at night? What, for most people on earth, is the most natural thing in the world is a nightly torture for all of us sitting around this table"
"To cut a long story short, each insomniac benefits from individual monitoring to get a clear picture of their sleep needs. We've noticed that, following a productive period of completing fulfilling tasks, they fall into a deep sleep around the middle of the night.
Could you give us a concrete example?
Helene stands up her body expressing her impatience though her voice stays perfectly level.
....."Let's say it's after midnight, so you think there's no chance of getting enough sleep since your alarm is set to 6:30am. Well imagine what it would be like if you were in a warm and welcoming place where everyone else was in the same situation. You could join a discussion group, work in a study room to catch up, sleep in a relaxing bedroom, or talk to a doctor. And all that without the fear of the alarm going off in the morning. One of our goals is to help our members keep their jobs or find a new one that allows them to work from home. It's the most difficult piece of the puzzle since it simply doesn't work for certain professions and quite a few companies are unwilling to try it out. But our list of cooperative companies is growing. Sometimes the network itself hires people, too such as psychologists, osteopaths and accountants. You get the idea"
"Theodore also believed that this subset of insomniacs doesn't really want to go back to sleep normally. I know it might sound crazy, but try not to react without really thinking it through. His theory was that they don't realise this until they're freed of the obligations imposed on them by society. So he wanted and could afford to create a community where insomniacs would feel at home. Somewhere they could work, create, talk, write - whatever - without having to be lone with their existential anxiety, doubts and fears. Somewhere they could do everything they were unable to do during the day, after a sleepless night"
"The second theory is that insomnia may be the consequence of an unmet need - perhaps something as simple as a lack of safety or affection. People often turn up at the Network relatively early in the night - not everyone is brave enough to get out of bed in the early hours of the morning and get comfortable in one of the rooms where they take part in a group discussion or simply savour a cup of herbal tea. Just knowing they're surrounded by others like them is soothing. Before long, they stop coming, or come in only now and again. Just knowing that the place is there and open to them is enough to get them sleeping again. Everyone uses the Network as he or she sees fit. We adapt things to suit their needs, using our knowledge and infrastructure to support them. The only rules are mutual respect and kindness. People from all different backgrounds come together and get to know one another. At the Network, there are no labels for gender, religion, socio-economic status or profession"
Such an insightful read into the plight of insomniacs. A short easy to read book but with a definite element of darkness in it too. The characters were quite engrossing even if not typically likeable. I had such an empathy for their chronic condition - I can't imagine how I would be if I had to go through what they suffered with. The way it was all weaved together in the end was quite thought-provoking too.
Here are some highlights I want to remember:
"I have to work tomorrow. I must have several angry emails waiting for replies. I hear Thomas cough. He's been doing that a lot lately. If I have to take him to the doctor tomorrow, there's no way I'll get in a nap. And I don't like the sound of that cough either. I read somewhere that tuberculosis is making a comeback and that antibiotics aren't always enough to beat it: if I carry on like this, I'll have Stage 4 cancer in an hour"
"The next day I am exhausted after my night-long battle. There's no optimism, no hope anymore. All I want to do is draw the curtains and stay in bed all day. For my own peace of mind, I force myself to finish the most urgent things on my list. The rest will have to wait"
"I'm utterly exhausted, but there are no signs of sleep on the horizon. My eyes are burning, as they always do after a sleepless night. I prop myself up on two pillows, my arms crossed over my stomach. There's no moon tonight, no stars. Just darkness. It feels as if this place has been deserted to the living"
"Fatigue makes people irritable. No one regrets this side of my personality more than I do. This endless night could swallow us all up, I think"
"I get into bed an begin my usual nightly ritual. I start by staying still for a few minutes, afraid that moving might stop me from falling asleep. Then I turn onto my right side, then the left. My gymnastics annoy my husband who abruptly pulls the covers around him more tightly. It's funny how seemingly insignificant gestures can be so full of hostility. Every night I get a long sigh followed by a quick shuffle to the far edge of the bed to get as far away as possible from the disturbance, a.k.a, me. He has a gift for making me feel that I'm an annoyance. I'm always searching our past for signs that we were once in love. I make a list of them, then sort them into categories from strongest to weakest. Holidays, surprises, the early days when we moved in together, the difficulties we facd. But I'm forced to admit it was all a long time ago, and that the bond between us has continued to fray over the years. Will it break altogether one day? I wonder"
"That's the problem. I never know which memories to trust - the ones based on feelings or the ones based on facts"
"When I watched them lower my father's coffin into the ground, I felt like an amputee"
"The thing I've never told my mother, or any other mother, is the way I really see women like them. How respectful and humble they make me feel as they bravely push their buggies through the streets. Their pale faces convey something indescribable, somewhere between exhaustion, distress and pride. Warriors. Superheroes. They know what's what. They have carried life in their wombs. And now whatever the cost, they'll watch over their babies every night and protect them from the slightest danger. I'm secretly jealous because I could never live up to that role"
"I'd like to join in, but I'm just so tired. I always come back to the same eternal, unanswerable question: how is it that I'm so exhausted all day, but unable to sleep at night? What, for most people on earth, is the most natural thing in the world is a nightly torture for all of us sitting around this table"
"To cut a long story short, each insomniac benefits from individual monitoring to get a clear picture of their sleep needs. We've noticed that, following a productive period of completing fulfilling tasks, they fall into a deep sleep around the middle of the night.
Could you give us a concrete example?
Helene stands up her body expressing her impatience though her voice stays perfectly level.
....."Let's say it's after midnight, so you think there's no chance of getting enough sleep since your alarm is set to 6:30am. Well imagine what it would be like if you were in a warm and welcoming place where everyone else was in the same situation. You could join a discussion group, work in a study room to catch up, sleep in a relaxing bedroom, or talk to a doctor. And all that without the fear of the alarm going off in the morning. One of our goals is to help our members keep their jobs or find a new one that allows them to work from home. It's the most difficult piece of the puzzle since it simply doesn't work for certain professions and quite a few companies are unwilling to try it out. But our list of cooperative companies is growing. Sometimes the network itself hires people, too such as psychologists, osteopaths and accountants. You get the idea"
"Theodore also believed that this subset of insomniacs doesn't really want to go back to sleep normally. I know it might sound crazy, but try not to react without really thinking it through. His theory was that they don't realise this until they're freed of the obligations imposed on them by society. So he wanted and could afford to create a community where insomniacs would feel at home. Somewhere they could work, create, talk, write - whatever - without having to be lone with their existential anxiety, doubts and fears. Somewhere they could do everything they were unable to do during the day, after a sleepless night"
"The second theory is that insomnia may be the consequence of an unmet need - perhaps something as simple as a lack of safety or affection. People often turn up at the Network relatively early in the night - not everyone is brave enough to get out of bed in the early hours of the morning and get comfortable in one of the rooms where they take part in a group discussion or simply savour a cup of herbal tea. Just knowing they're surrounded by others like them is soothing. Before long, they stop coming, or come in only now and again. Just knowing that the place is there and open to them is enough to get them sleeping again. Everyone uses the Network as he or she sees fit. We adapt things to suit their needs, using our knowledge and infrastructure to support them. The only rules are mutual respect and kindness. People from all different backgrounds come together and get to know one another. At the Network, there are no labels for gender, religion, socio-economic status or profession"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2020
A group of 5 strangers from different backgrounds and interests all have 1 thing in common. They are all struggling to fight against the tide that is slowing drowning them, insomnia. There is a glimmer of hope with the sessions from a sleep specialist but it’s not as straightforward as they expected, following the strict sleep schedules is too hard of a challenge. Each member of the group slowly realises that they need to let go of their very own personal demons before they can move on but that’s easier said than done.
Fiction gives a window into different situations and allows the reader to see through the eyes of someone else. I found the characters of Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé interesting and appealing. As each of their backgrounds were unravelled, their emotional traumas became easy to sympathise with and you genuinely hoped they could break their cycle of misery.
My only issue was the switching of the characters by the times of the evening. At times, I felt that it could’ve been clearer as sometimes it took a few moments to understand which character the story was focusing on.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Fiction gives a window into different situations and allows the reader to see through the eyes of someone else. I found the characters of Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé interesting and appealing. As each of their backgrounds were unravelled, their emotional traumas became easy to sympathise with and you genuinely hoped they could break their cycle of misery.
My only issue was the switching of the characters by the times of the evening. At times, I felt that it could’ve been clearer as sometimes it took a few moments to understand which character the story was focusing on.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
February 11, 2021
As someone who does have trouble with sleeping the premise of this book did interest me. Dealing with a group of 5 people who suffer badly from insomnia it made me realise that perhaps I'm nowhere near as bad as they are.
The book starts off slowly as it flits from one character's viewpoint to another, which is confusing to start with, but I found that I did get used to this and it let their reasons for their problems to be gradually revealed. The story did start to grow on me as it went on, the subject matter can be depressing but this is part of the character of the book, which never pretends to be a light read. Instead you can see how the characters struggle as the course continues and their lives start to intermingle and hoping for a successful outcome. Again not an exciting or romantic book, but an insight into other people's problems against which you can relate your own and, hopefully, make you appreciate your life.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
The book starts off slowly as it flits from one character's viewpoint to another, which is confusing to start with, but I found that I did get used to this and it let their reasons for their problems to be gradually revealed. The story did start to grow on me as it went on, the subject matter can be depressing but this is part of the character of the book, which never pretends to be a light read. Instead you can see how the characters struggle as the course continues and their lives start to intermingle and hoping for a successful outcome. Again not an exciting or romantic book, but an insight into other people's problems against which you can relate your own and, hopefully, make you appreciate your life.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
February 1, 2021
Depression is one of the main causes of insomnia.
“They are strangers with one thing in common: none of them can sleep”
This story follows Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé’s lives and the hours from 10pm to 6am when they cannot sleep. Each one struggling with elements of their lives with the insomnia making those things 10 times worse.
The 5 of them meet with sleep specialist Marie and regularly discuss their sleeping journals and the things keeping them up at night. They begin to develop friendships and when a accident happens it brings when even closer together.
When I read the synopsis for this book I knew I needed it in my life. I do get a lot of reading done in the evening when I can’t sleep. It was super light read yet packed with so much hope and relatability.
“They are strangers with one thing in common: none of them can sleep”
This story follows Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé’s lives and the hours from 10pm to 6am when they cannot sleep. Each one struggling with elements of their lives with the insomnia making those things 10 times worse.
The 5 of them meet with sleep specialist Marie and regularly discuss their sleeping journals and the things keeping them up at night. They begin to develop friendships and when a accident happens it brings when even closer together.
When I read the synopsis for this book I knew I needed it in my life. I do get a lot of reading done in the evening when I can’t sleep. It was super light read yet packed with so much hope and relatability.
December 30, 2020
The Insomniac Society follows five insomniacs who meet at group therapy and slowly become entwined in each other’s lives. The book follows all five characters as they struggle through life living with insomnia.
This book is a slow pace, but ironically it’s perfect for an easy read before bed time! I’d say the last 10% a lot happens than in the rest of the book, and the ending seems somewhat rushed, I would have preferred to spread out the end a bit more.
It’s a nice easy read, nothing too mind boggling, just a little rushed at the end.
This book is a slow pace, but ironically it’s perfect for an easy read before bed time! I’d say the last 10% a lot happens than in the rest of the book, and the ending seems somewhat rushed, I would have preferred to spread out the end a bit more.
It’s a nice easy read, nothing too mind boggling, just a little rushed at the end.
January 19, 2021
This is not an easy read. I wanted to read this book as like a lot of people right now am suffering from light insomnia, so I wanted to know more. As you learnt more about the 5 characters I became more and more grateful for my own situation.
Although not an easy read I am really glad I did read it and I have learnt a few things from the book.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review which I have done so.
Although not an easy read I am really glad I did read it and I have learnt a few things from the book.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review which I have done so.
March 23, 2021
Ovoj knjizi su i 3⭐ puno, a ja sam čak darežljiva kad su iste u pitanju! Muka mi je i da trošim vrijeme na utiske, reći ću da mi je samo iskreno žao što sam potrošila vrijeme na čitanje uopšte! 2⭐ i misao da je ovo sigurno jedna od knjiga koju sam bez griže savjesti mogla da batalim na pola i nikad je više ne otvorim!
April 22, 2021
I don’t often wish for a book to be longer but I fell this one could have been. I’d love for the characters to have been more fleshed out.
Enjoyable but I think if you were someone with insomnia and could relate to the characters and themes more that you would enjoy it a lot more than I did
Enjoyable but I think if you were someone with insomnia and could relate to the characters and themes more that you would enjoy it a lot more than I did
September 8, 2020
VOTO: 3,5 STELLINE.
RECENSITO DA QUEEN PER IL BLOG DI "LIBRI E SOGNALIBRI"
Sarò sincera, non so bene come presentarvi questo libro perché, L’appuntamento degli insonni di Gabrielle Levy, non racconta una storia soltanto.
Il libro parla dell’incontro di cinque persone molto diverse fra loro che in comune hanno soltanto l’insonnia, cioè l’incapacità di riuscire a dormire di notte. Questi cinque personaggi s’incontrano in riunioni settimanali, un po’ come gli alcolisti anonimi, e cercano così di venire a capo del loro problema.
Il cuore dell’insonnia. Aspetto l’alba e allo stesso tempo la temo. Sancirà la fine di un calvario, ma anche l’inizio di un altro, quello della grande prova di oggi.
L’autrice ce li mostra nei loro momenti di massima fragilità, da cui nascono tutti i disagi e gli incubi che non permettono loro di dormire, quasi che la notte, rappresentando l’ignoto e il momento di massima vulnerabilità di ogni individuo, sia per loro mortale.
Questo sfinimento che domina tutto, sempre. La deriva contro cui non può fare nulla.
Potremmo dire che questo libro è un viaggio nella psiche umana e un’analisi dei mostri che spesso popolano il nostro inconscio. Scopriamo che ognuno dei personaggi ha subito un trauma che si era radicato nel loro cervello portandoli a credere che addormentandosi l’incubo ricominci, e per questo lo combattono. Scopriamo che anche le fobie più semplici possono diventare muri invalicabili e fonte di grande vergogna o disagio quando il nostro Io è debole e non riesce a collocarle nella giusta dimensione.
E nonostante la mia reticenza, quando guardo queste quattro persone che a malapena conosco, sedute intorno al tavolo, intente a svelare porzioni delle loro vite attraverso il prisma della loro insonnia, sono commossa dalla loro fragilità che mi è così familiare.
Scopriamo che, quello che terrorizza uno, può risultare insignificante per un altro e che il confronto dei vari pdv spesso aiuta a vedere le cose nella giusta prospettiva. Ancora una volta scopriamo che l’unione fa la forza e che la solitudine è la vera fonte di ogni male.
Devo dire che non è stato facile seguire il percorso dei vari personaggi e che non ho apprezzato del tutto le scelte fatte dall’autrice, ma man mano che leggevo mi sono resa conto che a tratti non si poteva fare altrimenti e ho cominciato a sperare in qualcosa di diverso.
«È una cosa brutta» dico io «dover tenere nascoste le proprie paure alla persona con cui si condivide la vita». «Be’, ma dopotutto non si è mica obbligati a condividere il peggio» mi risponde Jacques. «No, però almeno i lati più intimi, quello non sarebbe male».
Ancora, trattandosi di un libro basato su una storia vera, sono rimasta un po’ perplessa nell’apprendere le proposte finali di Hèlene, non so se la realtà di cui parla esiste davvero (non ho fatto ricerche) ma ho fatto fatica a crederci e mi è sembrata un po’ forzata all’interno di questo racconto.
A parte questo, L’appuntamento degli insonni resta un libro molto delicato, che si legge sottovoce ma che rivela una grande verità: se siamo sereni, nulla ci spaventa e dormiamo sonni tranquilli.
RECENSITO DA QUEEN PER IL BLOG DI "LIBRI E SOGNALIBRI"
Sarò sincera, non so bene come presentarvi questo libro perché, L’appuntamento degli insonni di Gabrielle Levy, non racconta una storia soltanto.
Il libro parla dell’incontro di cinque persone molto diverse fra loro che in comune hanno soltanto l’insonnia, cioè l’incapacità di riuscire a dormire di notte. Questi cinque personaggi s’incontrano in riunioni settimanali, un po’ come gli alcolisti anonimi, e cercano così di venire a capo del loro problema.
Il cuore dell’insonnia. Aspetto l’alba e allo stesso tempo la temo. Sancirà la fine di un calvario, ma anche l’inizio di un altro, quello della grande prova di oggi.
L’autrice ce li mostra nei loro momenti di massima fragilità, da cui nascono tutti i disagi e gli incubi che non permettono loro di dormire, quasi che la notte, rappresentando l’ignoto e il momento di massima vulnerabilità di ogni individuo, sia per loro mortale.
Questo sfinimento che domina tutto, sempre. La deriva contro cui non può fare nulla.
Potremmo dire che questo libro è un viaggio nella psiche umana e un’analisi dei mostri che spesso popolano il nostro inconscio. Scopriamo che ognuno dei personaggi ha subito un trauma che si era radicato nel loro cervello portandoli a credere che addormentandosi l’incubo ricominci, e per questo lo combattono. Scopriamo che anche le fobie più semplici possono diventare muri invalicabili e fonte di grande vergogna o disagio quando il nostro Io è debole e non riesce a collocarle nella giusta dimensione.
E nonostante la mia reticenza, quando guardo queste quattro persone che a malapena conosco, sedute intorno al tavolo, intente a svelare porzioni delle loro vite attraverso il prisma della loro insonnia, sono commossa dalla loro fragilità che mi è così familiare.
Scopriamo che, quello che terrorizza uno, può risultare insignificante per un altro e che il confronto dei vari pdv spesso aiuta a vedere le cose nella giusta prospettiva. Ancora una volta scopriamo che l’unione fa la forza e che la solitudine è la vera fonte di ogni male.
Devo dire che non è stato facile seguire il percorso dei vari personaggi e che non ho apprezzato del tutto le scelte fatte dall’autrice, ma man mano che leggevo mi sono resa conto che a tratti non si poteva fare altrimenti e ho cominciato a sperare in qualcosa di diverso.
«È una cosa brutta» dico io «dover tenere nascoste le proprie paure alla persona con cui si condivide la vita». «Be’, ma dopotutto non si è mica obbligati a condividere il peggio» mi risponde Jacques. «No, però almeno i lati più intimi, quello non sarebbe male».
Ancora, trattandosi di un libro basato su una storia vera, sono rimasta un po’ perplessa nell’apprendere le proposte finali di Hèlene, non so se la realtà di cui parla esiste davvero (non ho fatto ricerche) ma ho fatto fatica a crederci e mi è sembrata un po’ forzata all’interno di questo racconto.
A parte questo, L’appuntamento degli insonni resta un libro molto delicato, che si legge sottovoce ma che rivela una grande verità: se siamo sereni, nulla ci spaventa e dormiamo sonni tranquilli.
February 14, 2021
I recieved an e-copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the premise of this book I was really intrigued as to where it would go, but unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I personally found the book confusing and kept loosing track of which character was which, and what we already knew about them. I don't know if it was because I was reading this as an e-book, but I tried both the kindle download and the NetGalley app download and neither helped me. I even tried using the text to speech function on the kindle to get it read out loud and still didn't help me.
The book follows 5 characters, Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé who all have one thing in common: Insomnia. They are brought together in a support group ran by Marie-Hélène who is determined to help them fix their problems and be able to sleep again.
However I found the characters infuriating as they had all signed up for this group and being hand-picked from a bigger group, yet none of them took it seriously or wanted to be there, and so were not helping themselves at all. They didn't fill out their sleep logs properly (I know therapy homework is annoying and can seem ridiculous but from experience I know it can also be eye-opening to potential causes and can help you change your ways to help yourself) and didn't follow any of the specialist's advice (such as stop taking sleeping tablets, going to bed at a certain, no naps etc) and then blamed her when nothing changed and their lives worsened.
As someone who struggles with sleep myself, I understand how frustrating it can be lying there and knowing that your alarm will go off soon and you'll have to function on X amount of hours sleep. But these people were being given advice and support and were completely ignoring it. There was also another plot line involving mysterious goings on, seeing a strange woman or recieving a call at the same time each night but honestly I didn't really care for it.
I think others would really enjoy this book but personally I just got confused and frustrated with the characters and didn't care for what was happening to them. I would be interested in potentially reading more from this author in the future.
When I read the premise of this book I was really intrigued as to where it would go, but unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I personally found the book confusing and kept loosing track of which character was which, and what we already knew about them. I don't know if it was because I was reading this as an e-book, but I tried both the kindle download and the NetGalley app download and neither helped me. I even tried using the text to speech function on the kindle to get it read out loud and still didn't help me.
The book follows 5 characters, Claire, Jacques, Michèle, Lena and Hervé who all have one thing in common: Insomnia. They are brought together in a support group ran by Marie-Hélène who is determined to help them fix their problems and be able to sleep again.
However I found the characters infuriating as they had all signed up for this group and being hand-picked from a bigger group, yet none of them took it seriously or wanted to be there, and so were not helping themselves at all. They didn't fill out their sleep logs properly (I know therapy homework is annoying and can seem ridiculous but from experience I know it can also be eye-opening to potential causes and can help you change your ways to help yourself) and didn't follow any of the specialist's advice (such as stop taking sleeping tablets, going to bed at a certain, no naps etc) and then blamed her when nothing changed and their lives worsened.
As someone who struggles with sleep myself, I understand how frustrating it can be lying there and knowing that your alarm will go off soon and you'll have to function on X amount of hours sleep. But these people were being given advice and support and were completely ignoring it. There was also another plot line involving mysterious goings on, seeing a strange woman or recieving a call at the same time each night but honestly I didn't really care for it.
I think others would really enjoy this book but personally I just got confused and frustrated with the characters and didn't care for what was happening to them. I would be interested in potentially reading more from this author in the future.
August 16, 2021
Das Buch wurde mir empfohlen und da ich selber schon lange Schlafprobleme habe, hat mich dieser Roman sehr neugierig gemacht. Das Cover finde ich absolut passend und sehr ansprechend und auch die Schäfchenbilder über den einzelnen Kapiteln sehr liebevoll gestaltet.
Claire, Michèle, Hervé, Jacques und Lena leiden an ihrer Schlaflosigkeit und besuchen nun eine Gruppe, die von der Schlaftherapeutin Hélène geleitet wird.
Jeder von ihnen hat eine eigene Geschichte, ganz andere Sorgen, zum Teil unterdrückte Gefühle und Ängste, die ihnen den Schlaf rauben. Es war schön, diese Geschichten zu lesen,die Charaktere zu begleiten und mehr von ihnen zu erfahren. So manches Mal musste ich auch schlucken, weil es mir so nah ging und ich das teilweise sehr gut nachvollziehen und verstehen konnte. Den Schreibstil fand ich dabei sehr angenehm, nicht zu schwer, aber für mich auch mit der richtigen Ernsthaftigkeit, genau passend. Die tollen Ideen und Möglichkeiten, die in dieser Geschichte beschrieben werden, haben mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen!
Das Ende fand ich, trotz oder gerade wegen einer Sache, sehr gut. Glaubwürdig und echt. Es wird nichts beschönigt, aber es ist trotzdem sehr hoffnungsvoll und bietet dadurch einen wunderbaren Umgang mit der Schlaflosigkeit. Und damit die besten Voraussetzungen für erholsame Nächte.
Ich empfehle dieses schöne Buch sehr gern weiter!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews