A Work Of Great Beauty

This Child Of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson is a simply beautiful contemporary tale that will tug at your heart. Tissues will be needed.

The story is told in the first person from the point of view of the leading lady. We can ‘feel’ her pain and her fears. We understand her tears.

Receiving the best and the worst of news on the same day, is enough to tear anyone apart. We see a rift appearing as a character decides to take control of the only thing she can – her choices. Life moves from ‘our’ to ‘my’, and as it does, journeys of isolation begin.

On our hardest days, we need not travel alone, as those who love us will journey beside us, if we let them. “Grief is a path best walked in company.” We can never take away the pain but we can hold hands and walk together.

There has been much loss in the lives of both leading characters. “We were falling apart, in separate places.” In our hurt and pain, we sometimes pull away. The hurt and pain that we are pushing down, never goes away, it is just hidden. Those who know us, offer tea, sympathy and “the I get it hugs and the it gets easier smiles” – except it doesn’t get easier, we just learn to cope – or not.

We witness a character drowning in guilt. Words spoken in anger can never be taken back.

There are the difficult topics of miscarriage and cancer diagnosis. Emma-Claire Wilson has sensitively portrayed them. I identified with the character who tried to ignore the cancer diagnosis and hoped it went away. This was me last year, following my husband’s cancer diagnosis. I thought if I didn’t say the c-word, it couldn’t be happening. Emma-Claire Wilson’s characters were very relatable to me.

Without giving the ending away – I absolutely loved the ending. It was very beautiful, very moving and totally believable. It is worth reading the book on the strength of the final chapters alone.

I absolutely loved This Child Of Mine. It was so very beautiful. It made me cry as I ‘felt’ the pain and identified with the characters. It is a work of great beauty.

I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON