Now that I have read it, I would propose that the book reads in a similar vein as works like Vladimir Nabokov's Speak Memory; it is neither a dry nor an encyclopediac account of Donner's experiences, but rather comes across as an extended memoir, describing her thoughts, feelings, and impressions, not only the facts of what occurred.
Donner describes how a new acquaintance, Delia, encouraged her to go see a Mexican healer about her intense, recurrent nightmares. From there, she met a group of men and women who professed to be sorcerers, and suggested that Donner had the natural talent for "dreaming-awake", a state of heightened awareness that gives the sorcerers their power. Over the course of many years, Donner repeatedly ran across members of the group, including the new nagual (leader), Isidoro Baltazar, with whom she fell in love. Nearer the book's conclusion, she describes how she finally committed to the sorcerer's path for herself, and how she was eventually initiated into the practice and lifestyle.
The book was definitely not what I had anticipated upon picking it up. In some ways, it felt like reading a fantasy novel, especially as the reader understands the context from Donner's outsider perspective. It is definitely not a comprehensive instruction in Mexican sorcery, nor does it particularly describe a way in which the layman could formally enter into such a tradition. That being said, I couldn't put it down. I will also say that because the book is similar to a memoir, certain chapters tend to skip ahead by months or years, which can be a little confusing, as this is not always clearly explained.
Otherwise, the imagery is delightful, the people involved intriguing, and the discussion extremely feminist. The philosophy of dreaming provides a thought-provoking and gripping core concept for the text. It was an absolutely fascinating read, and one which I would gladly recommend to anyone looking to learn about a magic(k)al system not based out of Western Europe.
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