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brendanlambourne's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concepts discussed in this book about insomnia. It is an entirely personal journey - this book did strike a chord with me.
1madchild's review against another edition
2.0
didnt really take any of that in and found it a bit scary talking about some of the experiments.
boygenius_'s review against another edition
3.0
El libro es muy interesante y está muy bien escrito. Me encantó todo lo relacionado con las camas, la intimidad que implica compartir la cama con alguien. También amé todas las referencias artísticas, desde Magritte, hasta Penélope, pasando por Sherezade. Y creo que todo el tema de la oscuridad, la noche, la ansiedad me toma mucho y es de lo mejor elaborado del libro. Mi único y gran pero es que a ratos la narración se me hizo difícil de seguir. No sé si por repetitiva o por cómo hilaba las ideas o yo no estaba en mi mejor momento lector, pero eso me sacó varias veces.
shiloniz's review against another edition
4.0
"What do I long for? I ask myself this question in the witching hours because it cannot be asked by day. On certain turbulent nights this longing is so great and deep and bald it swallows up the world. Defying comprehension, it just is. And I am a black hole, void of substance, greedy with yearning. To be without sleep is to want and be found wanting."
Insomnia is an investigation of all things sleep related, most importantly the void of sleep, where sleep doesn't exist and what rises up in its place: questions about marriage, long term love, our desires, our fears, what plagues us, our current sleep patterns verses centuries of sleep practices, stimulants we used to stay awake and the nightmare of exploitation that introduced those to us. While poignant and elliptical, I sometimes found myself wishing it would dig a bit more into the personal. Not that it didn't touch on it, but I wanted a tad bit more soul baring than what I got.
Insomnia is an investigation of all things sleep related, most importantly the void of sleep, where sleep doesn't exist and what rises up in its place: questions about marriage, long term love, our desires, our fears, what plagues us, our current sleep patterns verses centuries of sleep practices, stimulants we used to stay awake and the nightmare of exploitation that introduced those to us. While poignant and elliptical, I sometimes found myself wishing it would dig a bit more into the personal. Not that it didn't touch on it, but I wanted a tad bit more soul baring than what I got.
livembry's review against another edition
2.0
thought it would be funny to read this while i was jet lagged. i found it so incredibly boring, but ironically (and unfortunately), it did not put me to sleep . the author is obviously very well versed in the topic and could communicate her thoughts effectively, but i don’t know what to do with any of the information.
ineffablebooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was so soothing to listen to - I wanted to fall asleep listening to this, in only the best of ways. Dipping into science, ancient history, and psychology, the author sometimes meandered, but even that felt on theme so I didn’t really mind it and the book is so short that it didn’t effect the overall feel. Marina Benjamin’s narration was beautiful.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
theconstantreader's review against another edition
3.0
I made the mistake of trying to plow through this book on two seperate occasions. The first, when I started it and the second, when I finished it. Benjamin's prose are so poetic and well thought out, they demand thinking time. I'd recommend reading this book alongside another so you don't force it.
Now, when I flick through and look at the words that grabbed me, I'm still as moved as I was when I first read the same sentences.
Luckily for me, insomnia has never really been an ailment of mine - although I do fear it. I've had a few occasions when I've woken in the middle of night and fought to get back to sleep. Afraid that otherwise I'll be in this limbo land that will leave me fatigued on the day coming, where inevitably, as always, I have scheduled a lot for myself to do.
When I started reading, a whole book that pondered sleep and lack there of, kind of seemed excessive and I don't know, perhaps unnecessary? Then Benjamin talks at the end about the power of collages and it resonates beautifully because you realise that's exactly what this book is. It isn't just about sleep but about life, and feelings, subconscious and conscious. It's a collection of thoughts that should be ingested and appreciated slowly.
Now, when I flick through and look at the words that grabbed me, I'm still as moved as I was when I first read the same sentences.
Luckily for me, insomnia has never really been an ailment of mine - although I do fear it. I've had a few occasions when I've woken in the middle of night and fought to get back to sleep. Afraid that otherwise I'll be in this limbo land that will leave me fatigued on the day coming, where inevitably, as always, I have scheduled a lot for myself to do.
When I started reading, a whole book that pondered sleep and lack there of, kind of seemed excessive and I don't know, perhaps unnecessary? Then Benjamin talks at the end about the power of collages and it resonates beautifully because you realise that's exactly what this book is. It isn't just about sleep but about life, and feelings, subconscious and conscious. It's a collection of thoughts that should be ingested and appreciated slowly.