An Unquenchable Thirst is at its core a story about seeking love and meaning . . .it is everybody's story.

I came across Mary's book when looking for authors to interview for the New Books in Secularism podcast. At first I thought it might be odd to interview an ex-nun for a secularism podcast, but then I figured 'what on earth is a book in secularism' anyway? So many of those in the secularist movement were once religious anyway - rare are those who have not been influenced by religion in some way.

Before I started reading the book, I was intrigued that someone who had actually known Mother Teresa as a living being had written about her. Everything I had ever heard about Mother always accompanied some caption or headline, usually something with the word "saint" or "holy" in it. And sure, she looked awfully cute in her blue and white sari. I remember doing a project on Mother Teresa for school when I was little - I dressed up as her and everything (of course, in my case it was a bed sheet - super embarrassing when I think of it). But, like Mary and most Catholic girls, I loved Mother, too.

Of course, childhood is a time for dreaming, and age and education can impose critical thinking skills that our hearts often don't appreciate until much later. I know as an adult that Mother Teresa was just a person, but what struck me about "An Unquenchable Thirst" is at what lengths she went to deny it. Mary's accounts portray her as a very unique woman, but not terribly honest in any emotional or intellectual way. Those are my words, not Mary's. At times in the book I wanted to reach in and shake Mother Teresa (incidentally, Mary has a great story in the book about shaking people) and say, "Come on, Agnes!! REALLY? You really think abortion is the most serious problem in the world? You really think becoming a saint is the only approved ambition? You really think Jesus is all that matters and that you as a person are nothing? If you felt so tormented all these years why didn't you JUST SAY SO?!" I know it must have been hard for her, but it boggles my mind.

Having said that, this book isn't about Mother Teresa, and thank goodness for that. This book is about an idealistic young girl who joins the convent in search of love, service and an authentic life (hence, the title), and to some extent, finds it. However, in clear violation of Missionaries of Charity etiquette, she also finds that her wishes and talents and sense of self do not "decrease in order for God to increase". In a way, Mary has managed to do what Mother Teresa never could - tell her story from a personal point of view. As someone who has known many a nun, and a few ex-nuns, I can tell you this is rare. And I am grateful for it.

An Unquenchable Thirst is at its core a story about seeking love and meaning, and in that way it is everybody's story. Mary Johnson did end up leaving the convent, and in this book she does criticize certain aspects of the Missionaries of Charity and of the Church, though I think overall she is quite kind and forgiving of them.

Mary's story is about being human and imperfect in a system where all that matters is the afterlife. Instead of "hurrying up and dying" as Mother Teresa once told her sisters they should do so they could all become saints, Mary did the opposite. Mary lived. And she wrote a beautiful book.

Annie Sapucaia is a sociologist and ESL teacher.  She is the host of New Books in Sociology and New Books in Secularism, podcasts of the New Books Network, which feature interviews with authors from different fields.  Hobbies include being sarcastic, reading books, and talking about how awesome cats are.