Louise Beech is a unique author who I feel like I have a personal connection with, after the incredible experience of reading her debut novel How To Be Brave in October 2016, which for me included communicating with her as I endured a hellish experience on the 9th floor of Timone Hospital in Marseille. Twitter hashtags truly can bring incredible people into your lives at pivotal moments, both the living and those that have passed on. #LouiseBeech
I originally bought her book because it was an intriguing fictional response, written by a mother whose daughter at the age of nine was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes, as my daughter had been. Curious, I read that she had used fiction as a conduit for channelling her experience as a distraught mother and the roller coaster journey the two of them went through during those early months of the diagnosis, as it would change them irreversibly.
What made it all the more appealing was the difficulty they had endured, I’d been exposed to too many “good” stories, examples of where children had so readily adapted to this new routine of four injections a day for life, and gone on to do great things, I wanted to read about the opposite, I wanted to hear from those who had found it tough, those who’d rejected it, fought against it, mothers who’d almost been broken by it, and had found a way through; Louise Beech was that mother for me, she still is; an incredible role model, a fabulous writer, unique storyteller and a woman with a great sense of humour.
It was also the story of her grandfather who had been lost at sea for over 50 days when he was a young man. Both the diagnosis and the story of the grandfather are true stories, however she used her creativity and imagination to write a novel that blends fact and fiction, taking the reader on an emotionally charged, high sea journey towards healing.
If you haven’t already read How To Be Brave, do read my review (linked) and better still buy the book, it is a courageous story and it coincided with a personal experience I will never forget.
But I digress, for this is a review of her second novel The Mountain in My Shoe beautifully prefaced by the wonderful Muhammad Ali quote displayed below.
The novel begins with a chapter entitled The Book and from then on each consecutive chapter is an extract from this book, which we learn is something called ‘A Life Book’ and as one of the inserts in the book explains:
Lifebook – Principles and Aims
Every Looked-After Child is entitled to an accurate and chronological account of his or her early life. It should have enduring value and can be given to them when they reach adulthood, or sooner if preferable.
It is a book that social workers and foster carers write notes and memories in, and can place mementos and/or photos of important people in their lives.
In chapter two a woman named Bernadette tells us that the book is missing. It is the day she has finally summoned the courage to leave her husband, she’s spent all day preparing and fretting about it, he is a man who values impeccable timing, expecting others to meet his standards, especially his wife Bernadette. She is waiting for him to walk through the door at 6pm like he does every evening before she intends to leave. Only he is late, more than late, he doesn’t come home at all.
Neither does Conor, the ten-year-old boy she has officially befriended for the past five years, whose Life Book she had hidden on the bookshelf, that document that should be preserved until he comes of age. And much to Bernadette’s horror, the book is missing too.
As the narrative progresses we follow Bernadette and Conor’s foster carer Anne on their journey to try to find Conor, we learn more about him from the pages of his Life Book that unfold between each chapter. It is a sad depiction of the inability to nurture, and the damage caused by those who think they can but are incapable, the yearning created by absence and neglect and the profound ability of unconditional love to heal and bring joy.
It’s a compelling, hair-raising read as we get closer to finding Conor and try to ignore that terrible feeling that somehow grows inside of being a little too late. In that respect, it reads like a psychological thriller as Beech cleverly leads the reader to a few false conclusions before the facts are revealed.
While nothing can match the experience of reading her debut How to Be Brave, The Mountain in My Shoe is equally compelling, a heart-felt read that I loved. Fortunately there is a third novel recently published called Maria in the Moon, I can’t wait to read that one too.
So nice to see a review of this novel, which I also found compelling. “How to Be Brave” is sitting on my TBR shelf, so I will need to push it up the list to the top, now.
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Thanks Beverly, good to know you enjoyed it as well and that you have How to Be Brave to read, I hope you enjoy it, make sure you have plenty of water handy while reading, many of suffered from dehydration symptoms while reading!!
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We have our Looked After Children Awards coming up next month at work and was wondering if this might be a book some our carers might enjoy – or would that psychological tension be a bit too distressing for them to read?
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I’ll ask Louise to respond to that since she has been involved directly in the area, but I would think it’s a grand choice personally.
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Hi Col!
I really love to think that your carers would enjoy this! There are perspectives from the ten-year-old LAC himself, Conor, from Bernadette who is his volunteer befriend, and from the various foster carers and social workers via Conor’s Lifebook. Look me up on Twitter or Facebook and I will happily donate a copy, signed, for you to give away, and maybe other carers will then enjoy and order for themselves.
Louise x
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Both books sound very compelling. Let’s see how quickly I can get my hands on one of her books. 🙂
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I hope they cross your path very soon, I look forward to your thoughts on them!
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This story, and most of all, its writing, had such an impact on me. Louise is an amazingly talented writer, but also a wonderful human being.
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Ah yes, an Orenda fan, there is something compelling about the books that fall under this imprint and I’m so glad Louise’s books have found a home there, she is such a natural talent, a great writer and yes an exceptional woman!
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What a lovely personal review. Both of these sound fantastic!
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Thanks Cathy, they are indeed, incredibly well written books that take you on quite a ride!
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I have not heard of Beech before and this does seem to be a fascinating book. This must be a book close to your heart since it helped you get through a difficult time at the hospital. The premise is definitely fascinating and I am glad to hear the writing keeps you on the edge as well.
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Both books are great, How to Be Brave was a bit more than just reading a novel, I couldn’t have chosen better when considering what reading material to take with me, it was an instinct made me choose it and then it became this incredible experience, forever connected with the rollercoaster ride of that stay in hospital with my daughter.
The Mountain in My Shoe I was able to read in a less charged environment thankfully, it has its own drama to follow, without having to feel like you’re living it at the same time, both exceptional, I hope her books make it onto your TBR!
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These sound wonderful books. They’ll go on the list, but certainly not as ‘holiday reads’.
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They’re both great reads Margaret, you won’t be disappointed.
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I think the Universe is asking me, through you, to read ‘How To Be Brave’. Thank you, Claire. ❤
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Follow the call then Deepika! There are words in there waiting to be found by you ❤
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Er…I’m still rather moved by your post about How to Be Brave – I love that the book was good medicine and I hope that you and your own daughter are doing well.
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