Nicci Gerrard, one half of the acclaimed Nicci French writing partnership, is recognized for her profound ability to delve into the complexities of the human psyche. Her narratives frequently explore tangled relationships and the hidden truths that shape our existence. Gerrard employs a sharp, insightful style to reveal the emotional landscapes and underlying motivations of her characters, drawing readers into compelling stories. Her writing excels at capturing the nuances of human nature and examining the consequences of our actions.
The book offers a poignant exploration of dementia, delving into the experiences of individuals affected by the condition and their families. Through a blend of lyrical prose and heartfelt narratives, it examines the emotional and psychological impacts of dementia, highlighting the resilience and struggles of those navigating this challenging journey. The author, an award-winning journalist, brings a compassionate lens to the complexities of memory loss, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience entwined with this illness.
After her own father's death from dementia, the writer and campaigner Nicci Gerrard set out to explore the illness that now touches millions of us, yet which we still struggle to speak about. What is it to be oneself, and what is it to lose one's self. Who are we when we are not ourselves, and where do we go? This is book is an attempt to understand thorough a touching exploration of dementia, structured around the stages of the disease from the outside and, as far as possible, from the inside as well. Full of people's stories, both sad and optimistic, it is a journey into the dusk and then the darkness - and then out on to the other side, where, once someone is dead, a life can be seen whole again.
Eleanor Lee has lived a fiercely independent existence for over ninety years,
but now it's time to tidy her life away - books, photographs, paintings,
letters - a lifetime of possessions all neatly boxed up for the last time. But
amongst them there are some things that must be kept hidden.
When Jonny went missing everything changed. His mother's heart is full of
terror and sadness instead of joy. His father's study overflows with newspaper
cuttings and profiles on missing people instead of the academic texts that
were there before. His sister, once carefree, now carries the weight of the
world on her shoulders.
When Marnie receives a phone call that summons her to the side of a once-beloved friend, she is wrenched from her orderly London life and sent back into a past from which she has fled but never escaped. Ralph, Marnie and Oliver once knew each other well and are still inextricably bound by ties of love and betrayal. Now they meet again in Ralph�s secluded cottage in the Scottish highlands, to spend the precious days that Ralph has left with each other. As they reminisce, Marnie is taken back to the summer years ago when everything changed between them and heartbreak and desire broke up their little group. Will Ralph have the chance to say what needs to be said before it�s too late? And can they put the devastating events of twenty years ago to rest and rekindle the intimacy they once shared?
Gaby and Connor seem to have a loving marriage — one that is built on knowing every last intricate detail about one another, or so Gaby has always believed. When their son Ethan sets off for university, discovering for the first time, the raw and uncontrollable intensity of falling in love, Gaby and Connor will be alone again — a chance to rediscover their relationship, just the two of them. But there is one person missing from Gaby’s life. One person who she cannot forgot – Nancy, her best friend since childhood. As teenagers they shared their deepest secrets, fears and dreams for the future. As adults they discovered love – Gaby with Connor and Nancy with Gaby’s adored brother, Stefan. The foursome became inseparable. Then one day, Nancy upped and left. Now, almost twenty years later, with Ethan away from home, Gaby finds herself idly watching television when a sharp stab of recognition hits her – the face she recognizes on the screen belongs to Nancy. Suddenly, the friend she thought she’d lost for good is within her reach. But does Nancy want to be found? The search for her long lost friend forces Gaby not only to revisit her past, but could also shatter the course of her future . . .
Irene has a husband, Adrian, three small children and - though she doesn't know it - a marriage that is going wrong. When she discovers that Adrian is having an affair, the family is blown apart.Solace is a story of contrasts. While Adrian finds new love and excitement, Irene spirals into exhaustion, self-destruction and a kind of madness.With their marriage in shreds and Adrian whisking their daughters on a trip of a lifetime ti Australia with his new lover, Irene finally reaches rock bottom. She decides to leave the unbearable silence of her home for a trip by herself to visit her brother Jem in France.And as Irene soon realises, being along can mean discovering freedom, elation and even in the darkest of times, finding your solace.
At 16, Edie's world was perfect, but her first love changes everything. Twenty years later, when she reunites with her sister, it seems the secrets of that time may finally be revealed.
