Book Spotlight and Give Away: An Unquenchable Thirst by Mary Johnson
Friday, June 29, 2012 Posted by Dina
An unforgettable spiritual autobiography about a search for meaning that begins alongside one of the great religious icons of our time and ends with a return to the secular world
At seventeen, Mary Johnson saw Mother Teresa's face on the cover of Time and experienced her calling. Eighteen months later, she entered a convent in the South Bronx to begin her religious training. Not without difficulty, this bright, independent-minded Texas teenager eventually adapted to the sisters' austere life of poverty and devotion, and in time became close to Mother Teresa herself.
Still, beneath the white and blue sari beat the heart of an ordinary young woman facing the struggles we all share -- the desire for love and connection, meaning and identity. During her twenty years with the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Donata, as she was known, grappled with her faith, her sexuality, the politics of the order, and her complicated relationship with Mother Teresa. Eventually, she left the church to find her own path -- one that led to love and herself.
Provocative, profound, and emotionally charged, An Unquenchable Thirst presents a rare, privileged view of Mother Teresa. At the same time, it is a unique and magnificent memoir of self-discovery.
Author Bio
Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life, moved with her family to Beaumont, Texas from Ann Arbor, Michigan at the age of twelve. After completing a year at the University of Texas, she joined the Missionaries of Charity, commonly known as the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, where she worked with the poor in the South Bronx, Washington DC, Winnipeg, and Rome. With the trust of Mother Teresa she rose quickly in the ranks and was sent to study theology at Regina Mundi, a pontifical institute aggregated to the Gregorian University in Rome, where she received a diploma in religious studies. For twenty years, as Sister Donata, Mary Johnson served as a Missionary of Charity until she left her life as a nun in 1997. She went on to complete a BA in English, at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. A respected teacher and public speaker, she has been named a Fellow of the MacDowell Colony and her desire to write her story was the initial impetus behind the A Room of Her Own Foundation. She lives in New Hampshire.
For more information please visit http://www.maryjohnson.co, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter (@_MaryJohnson). You can read an excerpt of her book here.
The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. / Canadian reader will win a copy of An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life!
To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.
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June 29, 2012 at 8:30 AM
The Age of Miracles.
June 29, 2012 at 8:55 AM
I love Jodi Picoult. Also recipe books. Patricia
June 29, 2012 at 9:09 AM
50 Shades of Grey, everyone keeps raving about it so that's on my list.
June 29, 2012 at 7:52 PM
I'm almost finished with Bossypants by Tina Fey. Hilarious!
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
June 29, 2012 at 8:21 PM
The Reckoning by Alma Katsu. I'll definitely be reading that soon.
July 1, 2012 at 1:00 AM
I just finished reading HEAVEN IS FOR REAL this morning. Now I am trying to decide on what to read next.
Thank you,
Christine W
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
July 1, 2012 at 8:39 PM
Girl with a Dragon tattoo, what a stretch from this book
July 2, 2012 at 7:45 PM
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
July 4, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Secrets by Jude Deveraux.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
July 6, 2012 at 6:41 PM
I just started The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and hope to read the other 2 books in the series as well.
rubymoonstoneATgmailDOTcom
July 7, 2012 at 9:18 AM
I'm almost donw reading Amish Values for Your Family and then will start Fifty Shades of Grey. Is that bad? :)
July 7, 2012 at 9:48 PM
I just finished Mindy Kaling's book, it was hilarious! Want to read Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend THis Never Happened next.
July 7, 2012 at 11:34 PM
reading the Girl with Dragon Tattoo series
July 8, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I'm about to get into The Hunt for KSM by Terry McDermott and Josh Meyer, thanks to you.
July 10, 2012 at 7:09 AM
Just finished Shades of Grey and looking forward to reading Wicked Nights, Sevin to start.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
July 11, 2012 at 6:44 AM
I am reading The Witness by Nora Roberts.
July 12, 2012 at 1:18 AM
The Hunger Games
July 12, 2012 at 9:22 PM
Rereading everything that Tamora Pierce has published so far.
July 13, 2012 at 12:38 AM
I'm reading Shadow of Night.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
July 13, 2012 at 2:13 AM
Please Enter Me In Your Book Giveaway.
It Would Be Great To Win A Copy Of
An Unquenchable Thirst:Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service,and an Authentic Life by Mary Johnson.
In Response To Your Question Of What Book Is On My Summer Reading List?
My Answer Is Jann Arden-
Falling Backwards-A Memoir.
Thank You For Having This Giveaway!!!!
July 13, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy!
July 13, 2012 at 3:26 PM
"An Arrow's Flight" by Mark Merlis!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
July 13, 2012 at 5:24 PM
My list is so long I can't fit it. dollmf@arvig.net
July 13, 2012 at 8:58 PM
CANCER ON THE BRAIN
lanalbradstream(at)yahoo(dot)com
July 13, 2012 at 10:02 PM
I want to read "The Fifty Shades of Gray". saltpepper1_2000@yahoo.com
July 13, 2012 at 10:02 PM
The Pretty Little Liars series
July 13, 2012 at 11:49 PM
been wanting to read hunger games - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com