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An Unquenchable Thirst
An Unquenchable Thirst: A Memoir | Mary Johnson
7 posts | 4 read | 4 to read
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS “A candid, generous, and profound spiritual memoir that deserves a great deal of thoughtful discussion.”—Anne Rice At seventeen, Mary Johnson experienced her calling when she saw a photo of Mother Teresa on the cover of Time magazine; eighteen months later she began her training as a Missionary of Charity, a nun in Mother Teresa’s order. Not without difficulty, this boisterous, independent-minded teenager eventually adapted to the sisters’ austere life of poverty and devotion, but beneath the white-and-blue sari beat the heart of an ordinary young woman who faced daily the simple and profound struggles we all share, the same desires for love and connection. Eventually, after twenty years of service, Johnson left the church to find her own path, but her magnificently told story holds universal truths about the mysteries of faith and how a woman discovers herself. Includes new material: Two reading group guides—for groups that wish to take different approaches to the book; a conversation between Mary Johnson and Mira Bartók, author of The Memory Palace; and Mary Johnson’s recommended reading list. “A wonderful achievement . . . Johnson opens the window on a horizon of spiritual questions [and] takes an unflinching look inside her own heart.”—The Christian Science Monitor “An incredible coming-of-age story . . . [It] has everything a memoir needs: an inside look at a way of life that most of us will never see, a physical and emotional journey, and suspense.”—Slate “Reads like a novel . . . an exacting account of a woman growing into her own soul.”—More magazine “Engaging, heartfelt and entertaining . . . [Johnson] articulates her struggles with her God in words that will hit home.”—Los Angeles Times “An inspiration that transcends any particular religious belief . . . An Unquenchable Thirst is a journey that captivates, but its resonance lies in the life examined.”—The Denver Post
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jlhammar
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2024 #NunLit extra credit! I‘ll be reading #NunLit throughout next year - one per month, same as this year. Sharing my plans for those who might like to join me in reading any beyond our #NunLitQuarterly picks.

Top row JAN-APR (left to right)
Middle row MAY-AUG (L to R)
Bottom row SEP-DEC (L to R)

Suet624 Thanks for the info. 13mo
Librarybelle Good to know!!! Thank you! 13mo
kspenmoll Thanks! I plan to read as many as I can. I so enjoyed this past year 13mo
See All 6 Comments
jlhammar @kspenmoll Wonderful! It's been so fun having you read along with me this year. 13mo
rubyslippersreads These all look intriguing, especially 13mo
quietjenn Oo, I'll try to jump in for at least a few of these. 13mo
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AlaMich
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This writer is one of the main subjects/interviewees in the first season of the podcast pictured. It‘s about the Missionaries of Charity order, founded by Mother Teresa. I just finished listening and found it fascinating. The tagged is her book about her experiences joining the MCs and eventually leaving.
#nunlitquarterly #nunlit

jlhammar Sounds really good - both the book and podcast. Thank you for sharing! 2y
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Portsidelib
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Pickpick

This really was a beautiful book. There were moments where I had flashbacks to middle school - the way Mary was scolded as a novice nun sounds very similar to my experiences as wayward preteen with a spiky pixie cut Catholic school. The last two pages brought me to feel-good tears. A bit of an emotionally difficult read for me. Highly recommended, but with a hearty warning for other Recovering Catholics.

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Portsidelib

All this reading about church and obedience and chastity just makes me want to go out and do something depraved. Recovering Catholic School Student problems.

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Portsidelib
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My mental exhaustion face while reading this book. Mary Johnson spent twenty years as a nun. I've only read through the first two of them and I'm already frustrated.

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Portsidelib
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I could hear the capital letters in her voice, see them in the way her eyebrows rose. - what an absolutely perfect and delightful way to describe someone's speech.

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Portsidelib
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I attended a three-day writer's conference this past weekend, and instead of reading I've been WRITING MY OWN WORDS!! ?? Also, memoirist Mary Johnson spoke at the conference and I left that day with her book "An Unquenchable Thirst". Its already given me Catholic school nightmares and I'm only 50 pgs in.

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