The third and final memoir from the author of bestsellers Salvation Creek and The House At Salvation Creek. In this memoir, Susan Duncan reaches an age where there's no point in sweating long-term ramifications. There aren't any. This new understanding delivers an unexpected bonus – the emotional freedom and moral clarity to admit to hidden and often fiendish facts of ageing and, ultimately, to find ways to embrace them. It also unleashes an overwhelming desire to confront her intractable 94-year-old mother with the dreadful secrets of the past before it is too late, no matter the consequences. It is the not-knowing, she says, that does untold damage. Interwoven with stories from the land – building a fully sustainable eco-house in the mid-coast of NSW with her engineer husband Bob, and grappling with white-eyed roans, dogs, bawling cattle markets, droughts and flooding rains, not to mention blunt-speaking locals – this is a book about a mother and daughter coming to terms, however uneasy, with the awful forces that shaped their relationship. As the inconstancies of age slow her down, Susan Duncan writes with honesty about discovery and forgiveness and what it takes to rework shrinking boundaries into a new and rich life.
Susan Duncan Book order (chronological)
Susan Duncan transitioned to fiction after a distinguished 25-year career in journalism, where she helmed prominent Australian women's magazines. Her narrative voice is characterized by an engaging storytelling style that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and memory. She draws readers into stories that resonate with lived experience and the enduring power of hope. Her works often explore themes of personal growth and the search for meaning.
The narrative follows Susan Duncan, who seemingly had it all until the sudden loss of her husband and brother shattered her life. After enduring 18 months of grief while maintaining a facade, she reaches a breaking point that leads her to reassess her life choices. With humor and honesty, she embarks on a transformative journey, leaving her successful career behind to seek love and healing in a secluded paradise. This poignant story captures her struggle for survival and the courage to embrace new beginnings amidst heartbreak.