Sleep Towards Heaven

In the novel Sleep Towards Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward, the pages tell a story of relationships combined with constant suspense and foreshadowing. The entire book was written in the third person, following the lives of three very diverse women. There is the serial killer, the doctor, and the librarian. Throughout the book, the three separate lives alter to eventually join each other in the end, in a dry Texas town on a boiling day, to create a bond the unexpected bond.

The book begins with the story of Karen Lowens, also known as the Highway Honey, a name given to her by the media. She is located in Gatesville, Texas at an all women’s prison. She has been on death row for five years, and finally received the date for her to be executed in August. At this certain point in time, no woman in Texas has been executed, so Karen is in denial. It is not until Jackie gets executed, one of her friends from death row, that Karen realizes her time is coming. Franny Wren is the next character introduced in the book. She began living in New York City with her fiancé Nat. At her job she took care of a young girl who had cancer, and she died from it. She blamed herself for the death, and never forgave herself or returned to her normal self. After certain relationships ended, and a family tragedy occurred, Franny moved to Gatestown to fill a job at the all women’s prison as a doctor. Her primary patient happened to be Karen Lowens. Celia Mills is the third and final main character in the book. She recently lost her husband Henry, the absolute love of her life, in a quick, unfair, tragedy. Throughout the book she lives by herself in Austin, Texas. Near the end of the novel, all three women gather in one place, for one event. After knowing each other for less than forty-eight hours, they create an unimaginable bond.

The style the book was written in, made the story more intriguing to read. Each chapter is told from a different woman’s life. So every ten pages or so you read, you are switching from Karen to Franny to Celia. This makes the reader able to understand each character and their life. It also makes each chapter have a new setting, so you don’t get bored with the same plot the whole book. For instance, Karen is a female serial killer, so the public stereotypes her as a terrible person with no soul. But when Ward puts you in Karen’s life you learn about her past relationships and her disease, and you look more at Karen as a person, rather than a worthless criminal. Karen also made an intense impact on Franny and Celia, both for the good and the bad, which changes their lives forever.

I would highly recommend people to read this book. The main reason is because the story is moving, entertaining, and a quick read, even though there are complex concepts presented. The story goes through deaths, crimes, relationships, and life changing decisions, which can create some controversial opinions between readers. With each chapter, the reader gets a new perspective from the different character. The way the author tied all three stories and perspectives together to form one conclusion, is great. She really did a well job forming relationships between her three characters, especially because each woman was so different, and typically would not be united. Also, the reader can connect and relate with each character on some level through their pasts, relationships, jobs, or certain situations. Overall, the book gives a solid story about the strength and capability women can have.