"The Conscious Parent" by Shefali Tsabary

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I tracked it down through my local library. I always approach "self help" books with slight trepidation and caution. I have read a fair few over the last decade and some have offered helpful insight, some were relevant at a particular moment in time and some have just exasperated me! My feeling with these sorts of books is that you will never fully embrace the whole theory presented to you - especially as they have a tendency to over zealously present the more extreme versions of their theories which are often impossible to follow to the letter - but even if you take one or two core thoughts away and are able to apply to your family, then that is sometimes enough. Maybe even having made time to reflect on your parenting is as important as what you actually read. However, I also think that for all the reading in the world- most good parenting probably comes from trail & error, tips from peer groups, the way you were parented and generally a mix up of a huge range of influences and experiences! 

I found this review really hard to write. Parenting is a highly emotive subject and it’s hard not to feel vulnerable and defensive when you are forced to consider the way you interact with your children. I hope I have understood the messages in the book as they were intended and I hope my attempts to explain the key points are clear enough to follow. I was surprised by how much I struggled to write a coherent and valuable review and it really has taken me hours! I apologise to the author if I have misunderstood anything and to the reader if I’ve been unable to fully articulate my opinions!

So the premise of this book is very different from anything I had read before. The basic message of the manual is that we need to be more aware - more "conscious"- in our parenting. By being more mindful of our own behaviour and engaging more fully with our children as individuals, then we will in turn become better parents and raise happy, well adjusted children. Tsabary explains that when we parent we are subconsciously influenced by layers of emotional baggage from our own childhood. Situations with our children can often trigger "hot spots" within us and therefore sometimes our reactions are muddled with our own issues rather than acknowledging what has actually happened and the appropriate reaction that the child actually needs from us. There was also a huge emphasis on “being present” and thinking more about what “being present” and “fully engaged” actually means.

In principle I found this quite enlightening and it made sense. The concept that we often parent from a “triggered” state was interesting.

“To be triggered is to be resistance to whatever may be happening in our life. By reacting we are saying “I don’t want this situation; I don’t like the way things are.” The reason for this is that the ideal view of ourselves to which we are attached is being shaken, which is threatening to us. In this state …..we react. The manner in which this reaction manifests depends on our unique life scripts, roles and emotional inheritance.”

Our “triggered spot” is when we react to a situation with an emotion which is bound up with our immense layers of baggage and history - possibly fears and anxieties which we have inadvertently inherited from our parents- therefore our response is processing something from within us. Are they pushing you into a state of conflict which you are uncomfortable with? Are they evoking a sense of helplessness or disbelief in yourself from your past conditioning? Our reactions are also governed by how we feel about ourselves. If I am tired, I am impatient and will be quick to chide the children; if we are late I will shout even though it’s ultimately the fault of the traffic which was beyond anyone’s control! If I am tired, or running behind on my chores, I may resent having to do homework and try to rush and nag them when in fact I need to accept I’m behind, forget it for the time being and focus on helping them. And ultimately I need to slow down, refuel, be better to myself and just “be”! We all need time to “be still”, “be bored” and to take time to just absorb the “present moment”.

The whole concept of "being present" did strike a chord and really resonated with me. Our family life is absolutely rammed full of after school activities, clubs, sports, music lessons, play dates and we spend most of our time together hurtling from one place to the other, briefly refueling either at home in great haste or on the go. Am I then a "good" parent by providing my children with numerous opportunities to develop skills, talents and greatness? Or am I a functional cog in a machine that feeds, drives, cleans, irons, packs bags, washes clothes, tidies up, shops, organises and generally "provides"? Do I make time to sit and just "be" with the children? Do I really listen to them? Do I respond to their conversation with interest and engagement or do I just utter the next instruction and time check? 

But it is never too late. And it doesn’t take much. We all know that children don’t need gadgets, expensive gifts or the latest technology to feel loved and affirmed. We all know we give in to “screen time” too easily and life moves too quickly for all of us as we are constantly bombarded with “updates” and “notifications” from numerous social media websites. We all know it is probably harming all of us, threatening family life and certainly preventing us from actually “engaging” fully and “being present” in the moment. There was some very valid discussion about this – but I found the more I read of the book, some of the advice was rather too idealistic and overly “spiritual”. For example I couldn’t help but smile inwardly at the suggestion that for your child’s 18^th Birthday you don’t buy them a fancy car but instead send them to a Third World country to earn the money to buy their own…..

I do agree about “surrendering the need to do” and that we are often deluded into thinking that by “doing” we are engaging with the present when actually it is obsessing about yesterday and worrying about tomorrow. But it is hard to shelve the daily “to do list” and switch off your brain from the running commentary of everything you need to achieve by the end of the day. However, I think I can make some simple, more conscious choices, about how I speak to the children in order to validate and affirm them more. I can make more time for them in very small ways. I can listen better. I can look at them when they are talking to me. I can recognize when I am “triggered”, take a deep breath, step back and try to see the situation for what it really is. And I can definitely attempt to segregate my time for jobs, work and social media from that of my time with them.

I liked that Tsabary talked about how important it was to make sure you were fulfilled as a parent by something other than your children so that you are not piling on your own pressures and expectations upon them. Pressures that often stem from a need to be perfect, controlled, accepted and a feeling that you have to nurture brilliant, exceptional children. The children also need to see you fulfilled by other interests in order for them to form a sensible, balanced, grounded emotional intelligence and understanding of parenting. They don't have to be the only thing that makes you feel validated and important. Sadly, it is often hard to both find time to do this and to actually allow yourself to do this. But, then am I more “triggered” when I have spent all day cooking and cleaning only to be met with untouched plates and decimated bedrooms than if I had spent some of the day walking with a friend, half an hour reading a new book or a few hours completing a project for work which challenged me and reminded me of the wider world? 

There was a lot of good advice in this book. Yes, it is a book with a deep spiritual vision so at times this is a little bit much but it does make it a calm, gentle, soft read and there is plenty or reassurance for parents. The lists of phrases that show you how you could talk to your children in certain situations were helpful. There is also a leveling of what is acceptable, sensible and reasonable empowerment between the parent and child so it is not completely out of touch with modern parenting; it is relatively reasonable and realistic in what it expects from both parent and child. Yes, children definitely are the most precious gift in the world, and yes we are extremely grateful for them and all they give us. Although, to be honest, that's generally that’s how I feel about them when I check on them last thing at night -when they are lost in their dreams; quiet, clean, still and I have had time to forget the events of the day!

We went for a walk in the woods yesterday. It was extremely muddy. I tried to “just be”. I was firmly in the “present” and I was trying to “engage fully” and see "wonder in the ordinary and focus on the small things in life". It was fun. The children ran wildly, shouted loudly, climbed, threw sticks, laughed. They jumped in huge muddy puddles. They actively sought out the swampiest part of the pathway. 

Then one fell over –head first, one lost both his welly boots but kept walking knee deep in mud, one managed to splatter mud across their face while making mud balls to throw at his siblings. They were filthy. I was still hanging on to that moment…..clutching at it….

Until they started crying because they were cold, heavy with clods of stinking mud and hungry. One refused to walk back to the car. Two hours later with three baths, one washing machine load, one soaking bucket full of jeans, a bin liner full of socks that simply were not fit to be saved, a car boot full of boots that are still awaiting desperate attention, car seats smeared in dried mud and most of the forest floor and three over tired, exhausted, fractious children, I was a fully triggered, totally reactive, overbearing and shouting. A parent who would only be calmed by the “moment” everyone was asleep and there was a large glass of wine in my hand.

Well, as the book says in its opening lines, “To parent perfectly is a mirage. There is no ideal parent and no idea child.”

Let me know what you think of this book or parenting manuals by leaving a comment below!

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or subscribe to receive future posts by email using the box below.

"The Museum of You" Carys Bray

As were many other readers, I was completely entranced by Bray's debut novel "A Song for Issy Bradley" which was one of "Richard & Judy's Book Club Summer Reads 2015" and I rated it 4/5 stars, so I was really excited to get an advanced copy of her latest publication "The Museum of You" which is due out in June. I am absolutely in love with the front cover which I think really captures the beautiful story and character of the protagonist Clover.

The book is about 12 year old Clover, (who likes her name as it has the word "love" in it!) who is being raised by her father, Darren, since her mother died when she was 6 weeks old. Her father is struggling to move on even after all this time and there is a whole bedroom full of her belongings and "stuff" that he is unable to pack up and put away. After talking to a curator on a school museum trip who tells her that the best part of her job is handling the objects in exhibitions as "you get a feeling about them as you hold them....you're looking after other people's stories" Clover comes up with the idea of making an exhibit out of her mother's belongings as a surprise for her father. She can select, label and show the things and then they can be stored and finally put away. I thought this was a lovely and poignant concept for a story and spoke volumes about the deeply caring, loving and interesting character of Clover who also wants to learn more about her own "story" as well as hear more about her mother's life and personality.

Clover is such an endearing character. She is so positive and full of energy. She is gentle, thoughtful and inquisitive.  The book begins at the start of the summer holidays and there is a lovely atmosphere capturing both the relaxing heat and sense of freedom as well as some sense of anticipation and adventure. Bray's writing is highly evocative and full of wonderful lyrical imagery such as "summer coils around her like a cot.....flickering moth-like feeling of happiness ..... waiting for the sand of the six weeks to pass through the hourglass of summer". Clover loves museums and the conversation with the curator was, for me, one of the best passages about curiosity, vocation and the importance of museums that I've ever read.

Darren works as a bus driver and this summer is the first summer that Clover has been given a key of her own and will be left unsupervised while her father works his long shifts. The house is chaotic, filled with numerous piles of eclectic collections of things littering every available space- things that might be useful in the future or hold some vague recollection of the past. The description of the inside was very visual with lots of precise, entertaining detail, effectively revealing the character and lifestyle of Darren and Clover as much as their housekeeping skills. They are such appealing and genuine characters it is impossible not to fall in love with them right from the beginning of the story.

There are lots of references to happiness in the opening pages which alerts the reader that there might be something more hidden to discover; the reader wonders at the reason for Darren's overwhelming concern with protecting Clover and his continuous need to record "happy moments" in case they are "needed later." They end each day listing the three happiest things about the day and "Clover will laugh and it will be another moment he can call on should he need to." Clover begins to notice how he takes the "temperature of her mood and attempts to chart it. He'll stop once she smiles....he inspects her expression like a worried dentist." Darren is a highly conscientious parent. He is trying so hard to be both mother and father to Clover and his attempts to preempt issues or keep up with the modern world of girls are charming and winsome. You cannot help but feel affection for his desperately attentive manner and care for his precious daughter.

"He studied her like a seismologist, on the lookout for waves, trying to map her interior in order to forecast the magnitude and timing of any future quakes.....often mistaking impulse for instinct." 

Clover sets about her task of setting up her museum with great focus and concentration. She has make copious notes about how to set up an exhibition and is aware that it should have a very clear purpose - which should contain aspects of  "education, information, discussion, illustration and lots of other "ion" words so there is lots of purpose". She will collect objects from the second bedroom and catalogue them. She will be the designer, curator and keeper. It will be a "temporary exhibition....afterwards the objects will be stored elsewhere." Bray has created a wonderful character. Clover's exhibition will not only help her father to move on but also allow her to learn more about the woman she never knew as currently she feels she is "incomplete and a part written recipe, how can she imagine what she will be if she only knows half of her ingredients." As a 12 year old girl on the cusp of womanhood this is such an important moment in time for Clover and to a certain extent the novel is her emotional "coming of age" journey. In my opinion, Bray and Clover are so similar - both see stories and inspiration in everything around them. Both seek to know and explore "real" things about people, not the obvious. I loved Bray's description of Clover trying to extract more information from the neighbour about her mother:

"She would like to put Mrs Mackerel in a juicer and squeeze the story of her mother out all at once but Mrs Mackerel trickles her comments to sometimes say mean things on purpose." 

Clover's exhibition will be the "Untold Story of Becky Brookfield." Through her belongings this "compelling exhibition will give a unique insight into Becky Brookfield (add some unique insights below) Explore a room where she slept. Touch some of her personal items. Other highlights include (think of some other highlights)." Bray convincing captures the voice of a young girl and her pursuit to create a "real" museum. I enjoyed the mixture of "borrowed", "adult" words saved from her research and trips with her child like interpretation and comical efforts to recreate authentic placards. There is a very gentle, subtle humour in the recording of the way Clover adapts various techniques she's seen in practice in other museums which perhaps prevents the novel from becoming too overly emotional or unnecessarily sentimental. Bray's characterisation is so consistent and well managed; so well developed and honed, it shows immense skill, control and impressive craftsmanship.

There is also a lightness added from the comical character of Mrs Mackerel, the elderly neighbour who USES CAPITALS A LOT and offers a different perspective on the family. She is actually very caring but also a blunt voice of full of advice and observations about Darren, his parenting and Becky.

About two thirds of the way through the book, Darren discovers the evolving museum and the novel focusses on his back story, Clover's birth and his relationship with Becky, including the events leading up to her death. It is full of poignancy and so many intelligent observations about people, relationships, motherhood and love that I found myself continuously rereading sentences, phrases and paragraphs, making copious notes of the quotes that I found particularly compelling and bewitching. The beauty of Darren is that he appears to be a very straight forward and ordinary person but actually his insight is acute and intelligent. His comments are sometimes short asides like when reflecting on his grief he says almost flippantly that "people aren't speed bumps, you don't get over them", to more detailed, often quite profound, observations. I found his comment about friendship really resonant:

"One of the surprising things about adulthood is how few people accompany you there and what a relief it is to occasionally talk to someone who knew the child you and the teenage you , someone who had seen all your versions, every update and stuck with you through all of it. That's really something."

I'd like to write that message on a postcard to a couple of special people in my life with whom that comment fits!

He is also bothered by some new parents who he meets on a job. I really enjoyed his glimpse into their irritatingly saccharine life and repellent behaviour. I felt Darren's loneliness and frustration as the woman speaks to him thoughtlessly and narcissistically about parenting which included making her sound like "Jesus, nailing herself to a cross of tiredness." His subsequent subtly undermining action left him (and me) pleased that "he had brushed against her perfect world and smudged it". Bray's ability to capture these secondary characters so deftly and with just a few snatches of dialogue and action is a real sign of her talent. There are several other characters who also are created with real authenticity and conviction. Again, appearing as quite superficial but actually full of depth, understanding and love.

The book also contains a lot of dialogue which I found was always very authentic and real. You could really feel, know and see the characters through their exchanges and Bray also revealed the relationships between the characters through her use of speech. The relationship between Clover and Darren is particularly absorbing and special. They are very close and care deeply about each other. They have a gentle and heartwarming friendship and share in simple pleasures together with lots of running jokes and shared moments of humour. They illustrate a very secure, happy and well nurtured family. They complete a journey independently and together throughout the novel that only brings them closer and to a even more shared understanding. Clover's simple idea about arranging the second bedroom into a catalogue of museum exhibits proves to have quite a profound effect on both of them and their future. It is an inventive and imaginative concept which then allows Bray to explore themes of parenthood, love and grief.

I loved this book. I will be rereading it. I will be recommending it to all my friends and I will be buying multiple copies when it is published. Bray has a true gift for description and capturing characters. She has a refreshing voice which is highly imaginative and creates brilliant characters who really come alive from the page and stay with you for a long time afterwards. Clover's emotions of confusion, grief and love are portrayed sensitively and thoughtfully. Darren is actually a complex character; haunted by ghosts, needing to let go of what could have been to confront what is, and face his desperate need to hold on to the past. As another reviewer wrote, the winning appeal of this novel is that:

The writing is so simple - very readable on the surface, immensely rich and complex underneath. This is a story about love in all its many colours, and tragically, beautifully real – and there’s a proper joyous, hopeful, happy ending too. 

If you enjoy books by Sarah Winman, Claire Fuller and Caroline Wallace, you will love this book. It is even better than her debut "A Song for Issy Bradley". 5/5 stars from me!

Why not leave a comment letting me know what you think about this book, "A Song for Issy Bradley" or the cover of "The Museum of You"?

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to subscribe to receive future posts via email.
 

"The Girl in the Photograph" Kate Riordan

After reading "The Shadow Hour" and completely falling in love with Riordan's writing style and epic narrative story, I decided to look her up and was really pleased to find out she had published a few other titles. I hastily ordered "The Girl in the Photograph" ready to save for my holiday as a real treat!

"The Girl in the Photograph" starts in 1933 with Alice who finds herself pregnant following an affair with a married man who will never leave his wife despite his empty promises. Her horrified and shamed parents pack her off to the remote Fiercombe Manor, under the false pretence of being recently widowed, in order to prevent any further disgrace falling upon her. The arrangement is that she will have the baby adopted as soon as it is born. In the meantime she is under the dutiful care of Mrs Jelphs, the housekeeper. We are then taken back in time to 1898 where we pick up the sad tale of Elizabeth Stanton, wife to Edward Stanton the previous owner of the Manor. As Elizabeth's tragic tale is revealed, it appears to mirror Alice's situation more and more; the stories then weave in and out of each other as each woman comes to terms with pregnancy, love, their pasts and now their futures as mothers.

The dual narrative structure worked really well and alternating between the two voices is an effective plot device. It keeps the story moving and also creates tension and intrigue. It also gives the reader time to draw parallels between the two women as well as having time to process some of the more emotional episodes from Elizabeth's life without it becoming overwhelming. As with "The Shadow Hour", the historical detail is excellent and the settings for both time periods is well established with authenticity and conviction. It is easy to visualise the house and its surroundings.

Alice is immediately struck by Fiercombe Manor. It is welcoming but at the same time there is something mysterious about it. Hints that there is something deeper hidden within the property are conveyed through the more magical descriptions such as "out above me a whirl of dust motes glittered, the sun's alchemy turning each into a speck of gold." Her curiosity about the house's history is further awakened by the discovery of the ruins of another home also on the grounds- Stanton House, and she remembers Mrs Jelphs words that is it "tainted", then "it seems to leach out across my mind, rusty, like old blood". Alice is determined to find out what happened here.

Elizabeth's story is unravelled through her diary which Alice finds, as well as her own narrative and bits of conversation gleamed from Mrs Jelphs and local villager Mr Morton. Mrs Jelphs certainly knows more than she is letting on and sometimes reacts oddly to Alice as if her pregnancy is somehow threatened or at risk. Alice is unsure if she is imagining things and although a little suspicious of her overactive imagination and emotional state, the house seems to be full of echoes and messages for her. Alice is intrigued and excited by the house. She feels as if 'a mystery had presented itself to be solved."

Both women have been poorly treated by the men in their lives. Elizabeth's marriage to Edward is a desperately sad one: "He derived some perverse pleasure from standing away or looking impassively on as she tried to make amends. Once she had learnt to match his coldness with her own it was disquieting how quickly her ardour for him had ebbed away."  She is under immense pressure to have a son and now pregnant again she is terrified of another miscarriage and what might happen is she "failed" Edward again. There is also some mystery surrounding the period of time following her first daughter's birth that involved Doctors and illness, but Elizabeth seems unable to recall anything from this time, apart from the odd half memory. To a degree, Elizabeth is unreliable in her narration of events and observations such as "Edward looked at her as if she were a danger, not just to herself but to her daughter" indicate there may be something more sinister going on making the reader eager to find out just what she has blocked out from the last few years. But, even bearing this in mind, ultimately it is still hard to feel much sympathy for Edward who frequently appears to bully her and show little empathy for her pain and grief. Riordan has chosen an interesting time in which to set this part of the story as it not only allows her to explore the role of women in marriage and motherhood but also the attitude of the medical (male) profession to childbirth, pregnancy and mental health. I found this fascinating and tragic.

With both women being pregnant, Riordan is able to intensify the eerie atmosphere that runs throughout the novel. The unborn babies remind us of their presence with their haunting, ghost like "shifting and roiling", and their "flutters". These references to their movements are a shadowy reminder of their existence, their power to determine the future of these two women and as a constant reminder of the sad circumstances under which they will come into the world. It also allows Riordan to work with characters who are undergoing physical and emotional changes; a heightened awareness of their senses and perhaps more susceptible to suggestions and allusions. Both women as consumed with anxiety and fear for their babies. Alice is torn between what she wants and what it is the right thing to do and Elizabeth lives in terror of not having a boy or losing another child preterm. Both women are mentally and emotionally fragile. The reader is captivated by both story lines and although it is clear nothing can be done for Elizabeth, I willed Alice to survive her confinement and complete her psychological journey as she tries to confront and accept her past and take some control of her future. Alice's enlightenment and her subsequent maturity made this feel like a "coming of age" novel even though she is a little older at 22 years.

There is a lot of trauma, grief and pain in the novel but there is also friendship, hope and love. The final revelations are cunningly kept until the very last pages keeping the reader in complete suspense for as long as possible. This is not a ghost story or a thriller but it is still hugely atmospheric, unsettling, haunting, memorable and affecting. The reader feels compassion for both protagonists and invests in their stories.

This is an absorbing saga in which to lose yourself and become completely immersed in the fabulous setting of Fiercombe Manor which is depicted with such poetical imagery and description. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it while on holiday -visiting stately homes and rambling country estates seemed the perfect environment in which to relish this book! "The Girl in the Photograph" reminded me of "Rebecca", "The Woman in Black", "The Woman in White", "The Secret Garden" and "Jane Eyre". If you enjoy Katherine Webb, Kate Morton and Kate Mosse you will love this novel.

For further recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to subscribe to this blog. Please feel free to leave a comment about this post if you'd like to! I'd love to hear from you!

"The Girl in the Ice" Robert Bryndza

Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one. 

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

This is the first book in the DCI Erika Foster series. It is set in Dulwich, South London. The sense of location is well captured and the precise detail ensures that the reader is firmly placed in this very real setting. I thought part of the book's appeal was the vividness of the locations and the authentic descriptions.

The chapters are short and there is a lot of action. The opening is great - the discovery of the body and the impact this has on the man that discovers it are very well told with great dramatic tension. From this point on the plot is fluent and well delivered. Suspense keeps building, pulling in lots of different threads and complications.

DCI Erika Foster is a strong, brave character. She shares some of the traits of the stars of the popular Scandinavian TV programmes "The Bridge" and "The Killing" but this mixture of being slightly awkward, slightly socially unaware but very focussed, clever and committed creates an appealing  and intriguing character. The added dimension of her personal battle and her need to prove her reputation following the disastrous consequences of the last case she was involved in create a further level of interest and depth.

Bryndza shows excellent knowledge of police procedure in his writing and has clearly researched his novel well. This makes the writing very authentic and ensures that the story remains believable and convincing. If you like Rachel Abbott, Karin Slaughter and Karen Rose then I would recommend this book for you.

Children's Fiction: "Return to the Secret Garden" by Holly Webb

It's 1939 and a group of children have been evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall. Emmie is far from happy to have been separated from her cat and sent to a huge old mansion. But soon she starts discovering the secrets of the house - a boy crying at night, a diary written by a girl named Mary and a garden. A very secret garden...

This is as magical as the original story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Webb has placed her sequel in 1939 which is really effective as it presents a believable way to bring children back to Misselthwaite Hall with the same sense of abandonment, a search for family and a need to belong that Mary had in "The Secret Garden". It is also effective as the whole concept of being taken away from the city and deposited in the middle of the countryside in a big rambling old house is very appealing to children and perhaps echoes the same idea used by Rowling and Blyton with boarding schools.

Orphaned Emmie, the main protagonist, has the same traits as Hodgson Burnett's Mary, making her a little awkward and hard to like or warm to because of her stubborn attitude and slight unkindness, but again, in keeping with the original characterisation, this is deliberate and initially children will still respond to Emmie as they will relate to the way she is judged and poorly treated by her teachers. Emmie's character softens very quickly as the novel continues and there is a lot of empathy and sympathy created for her when her more lonely and vulnerable side is revealed once the children arrive at the Hall and she explores the grounds.

Emmie is desperate to find something for herself - a place for herself, a place to belong and in which to be happy. She stumbles across an old diary written by Mary and the similarities between them are subtly revealed. On her discovery of the Robin, who seems to want to communicate so much more to Mary than just his pretty song, Mary writes sadly "I don't think I ever had a friend and I should like one." Emmie's relationship with her kitten Lucy exactly mirrors this. Webb has successfully modernised Mary's voice so her diaries are very accessible and read as fluently as a contemporary character.

Emmie is able to find the hidden key and then discovers the secret garden. She is so disappointed to find that it is no longer secret but decides that "It wasn't a secret garden anymore - but it could still be her garden full of secrets." Once again, the garden will show its healing power and work its magic!

I thought the way Webb weaves her story in and amongst Hodgson Burnett's story was really clever and interesting. She captures the same tension and suspense of the howling wind, the crying at night, the discovery of a secret place and the connections it has with the family's past. The references and cross overs were sensitive and totally in keeping with the original. Emmie's character is well constructed; her emotions are well represented and we follow her journey from being lonely, frustrated and angry to healing others around her and finally becoming part of something very special. Webb's writing shows respect and real affection for "The Secret Garden" and a very deep understanding of its themes and ideas. It is an authentic sequel and one of which France Hodgson Burnett would definitely approve! Webb shows that the themes in Hodgson Burnett's novel are still very relevant to a modern audience and still as heartwarming and affirming. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to share it with my daughter. For me, it is as captivating, memorable and as special as "The Secret Garden".

Webb also recommends "The Painted Garden" by Noel Streatfeild.



Life is tough for the Winter family in London, with little money and Dad out of work. Luckily Aunt Cora comes to the rescue with an invitation to live in California. From that moment on, talented Rachel and Tim dream of stardom in America. The family couldn't be more surprised when a movie producer picks plain peevish Jane for the lead part of Mary in The Secret Garden. No one's ever noticed Jane before. Could this be the chance of a lifetime?

Children's Books to Celebrate the 200th Birthday of Charlotte Bronte

It is Charlotte Bronte's 200th Birthday on the 16th April this year. Here are some editions of her most famous novel, "Jane Eyre" to introduce the story to younger readers for the first time and a few other fiction books which have been inspired by Bronte's work.

There are several versions of retellings of "Jane Eyre", appropriate for various different ages and abilities. Here are a few I found, produced by trusted publishers such as Usbourne and Oxford Reading Tree.




This board book is stunning and I am very sad that I no longer have anyone little enough with which to share this! I have some of the Austen versions of this series and they are beautifully illustrated and produced! A little treat for the tiny tiny bibliomaniac!


This book has been especially published to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Bronte and looks gorgeous. It is a mix of story telling, illustration and comic strip to introduce young readers to the lives of the Bronte sisters, their influences and inspirations as well as the story lines of their most famous novels. Mick Manning was born and bred in Haworth so is very well placed as the author to really enthuse his audience about this fascinating family of writers.

There are few re-imaginings of "Jane Eyre" for children and young adults but this is one. The reviews suggest this will suit readers aged 11-14 and it sounds like an entertaining and humorous read, inspired by some of the aspects of the famous classic.


This is not a retelling of "Jane Eyre" but has some similarities. It is set in 1876 and Hetty Feather is abandoned by her mother at a Foundling Hospital. She spends some time with a foster family but the majority of the story is set in the Hospital itself where life is very difficult. It would be a great historical story for young readers and would pave the way for an understanding and context for some of the aspects of Jane's challenging childhood. The BBC series certainly reminded me of aspects of Lowood Charity School. Wilson can always be depended on for an entertaining, thought provoking read full of strong female characters (which surely Jane Eyre is!) and her books are always a real hit.


This is not based on "Jane Eyre" but Young Adult author Becca Fitzpatrick is heavily inspired by Anne Bronte and the characters from "Wuthering Heights". They have been a huge influence over her own writing and Fitzpatrick novels are full of tension and vivid characters which reflect this passion in the Bronte's work - perhaps this is the kind of novel they would produce if they were around today?!


Award wining author Hardinge is also heavily inspired by the Bronte's work. She explains that "Jane Eyre" is a great female role model and without characters like her we would be without many of our modern day heroines. Hardinge's protagonist in "The Lie Tree" is a 14 year old girl who dares to dream of being a scientist and is a strong character. Novels such as "Jane Eyre" also introduced Hardinge to the gothic novel and "The Lie Tree" is an example of a gothic murder mystery set in Victorian times.


A classic but echoes of "Jane Eyre" in the sense that Mary is orphaned and sent away to a family who she doesn't know and seem to care little for her. There are also mysterious noises in the dead of night and characters hidden away from sight in a house full of secrets and sadness.


Again, this is not really a strong link to "Jane Eyre" but is about a family of sisters - one of whom is a writer and it is about their passions, loves and developing understanding of the world around them so it could be said to mirror some of the Bronte's real life. It is a good, stock read for any teenagers beginning to discover the classics and extend their range of reading material.

I hope that inspires some sharing of Charlotte Bronte's great novels and the intriguing story of the family of sisters (and their one brother) who lived on the windswept moors, spending their childhood writing stories of imaginative worlds and fantastical places.

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or subscribe to receive posts via email.

Books to Celebrate Charlotte Bronte's 200th Birthday

The 16th April 2016 will mark 200 years since the birth of Charlotte Bronte, one of Britain's most famous female novelists. Why not celebrate by revisiting one of her classic novels? They are all FREE on kindle!! Or if you fancy something more contemporary, have a look at the selection below which are all inspired by her novels.


Possibly the most well known novel inspired by "Jane Eyre" is this "prequel", which although it was written in 1966, I could not write a post on this topic without including it! It is only 176 pages long so is a short, quick read but an absolutely mesmerising one. This is the story of "the mad woman in the attic" before she is in the attic! It is set in the West Indies and describes the meeting of Rochester and Bertha, their courtship and marriage. It is hugely evocative and full of rich imagery and language. Rochester is portrayed sensitively and after reading this, I found I looked very differently at both him and Bertha each time I re-read "Jane Eyre". It offers a refreshing interpretation of her character and will add depth to a reader's appreciation of the original novel. Well worth a read.


I have reviewed this book in a previous post and rate it a 5/5 stars - a rating shared by many other reviewers, book bloggers and tweeters. It was only published in March but is a fantastic read. Faye's character Jane Steele returns to Highgate House to work for Mr Thornfield, seeking revenge as she believes she is the rightful heir to the property. She is also a murderess - but what happens when she meets Thornfield and becomes part of his household? Here is an extract from my review:

This is a truly gripping and riveting novel. It is not a sequel to "Jane Eyre", it is not a reimagining. It is something completely different. Faye has taken the most unsettling, sinister aspects of Bronte's story and then with the classic features of the gothic horror genre has produced something unique and original. There is also a dose of satirical humour and more ironic tone in some of Steele's observations and remarks. Her skill at creating such an enigmatic, intriguing and captivating character is impressive and shows her to be a very talented writer. For me, it was a perfect read. A great plot with unexpected twists and turns, highly original writing in the style of a classic novel with a hugely refreshing, beguiling and chilling protagonist.


I really enjoy books which take the "untold" story from a sub plot in a classic or take the secondary characters and give them centre stage. This is exactly what Stubbs has done in her book. This is the story before Jane Eyre arrives - the story she never knew. It is set in Thornfield Hall 1821, Alice Fairfax takes up her new role as housekeeper. Then Rochester presents her with a woman who has to be hidden on the third floor and soon she finds she is responsible for something much more than just the house. This is the story of the servants working to keep Mr Rochester's secret undiscovered.......


Luccia Gray has written the Eyre Hall Trilogy which begin here, 22 years after the marriage of Jane and Rochester. Richard Mason - brother of Rochester's first wife Bertha, returns and sets off a series of events that reveal Rochester's disloyalty to Jane, his murderous plots and a whole litany of other sins. What will Jane to do protect her family and the man she thought she loved?
This books sits comfortably in the genre of Romantic Historical Fiction and sequels are always met with a mixed review from critics but this one scores highly on both Amazon and Goodreads with an average of 4/5 stars rating. Gray's writing shows a deep understanding of the original characters and of Charlotte Bronte herself and she has chosen an interesting point from which to pick up the story which is imaginative and intriguing. What's even more appealing is that there are three books to feast on if you enjoy this one! If you are looking to immerse yourself in a new series of novels full of your favourite characters then this is definitely for you!


This has only just been published and I am yet to get hold of it but it is definitely on my To Read list! It has had rave reviews so far and offers another original interpretation of the Bronte's legacy. Here is a copy of the blurb taken from Goodreads:

Samantha Whipple is used to stirring up speculation wherever she goes. As the last remaining descendant of the Brontë family, she's rumored to have inherited a vital, mysterious portion of the Brontë's literary estate; diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts; a hidden fortune that's never been shown outside of the family.

Samantha enrolls at Oxford University and bits and pieces of her past start mysteriously arriving at her doorstep, beginning with an old novel annotated in her father's handwriting. As more and more bizarre clues arrive, Samantha soon realizes that her father has left her an elaborate scavenger hunt using the world's greatest literature. 


This is on my "Absolutely Desperate To Read" pile! 21 stories inspired by "Jane Eyre" by some of the finest female writers of our time including: Tracy Chevalier, Helen Dunmore, Emma Donoghue, Susan Hill, Francine Prose, Sally Vickers, Esther Freud, Lionel Shriver and Audrey Niffenegger to name but some of them. This will be a beautiful collection of stories to read, showing us how inspirational Bronte remains today. The reviews so far are very positive.


I reviewed this in a previous post when it was published in February and rated it 5/5 stars. Baker takes the story of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (yes, I know, Anne Bronte, not Charlotte - but it's such a good book!) and sets it in contemporary Yorkshire with the protagonist as a war photographer. It is a great "grip lit" psychological thriller and a fantastic reimagining of the story, staying true to the key themes of the original. It's a 5 star rating from me! Highly recommend!

Audio Book:

In March, Woman's Hour -BBC Radio 4- broadcast a new dramatisation of "Jane Eyre". It was written by Rachel Joyce (award winning author of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" and "The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy") and stars Amanda Hale and Tom Burke. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is (just about) still available on iPlayer but also to buy as an audio book from Amazon. In 15 minute episodes, it is a great way to enjoy the story again. Treat yourself!




Why not read a biography of Charlotte Bronte? There are many from which to choose but I recommend these. Elizabeth Gaskell (of "Cranford" and "North and South" fame) was a great friend of Bronte's and this is her biography, written shortly after Charlotte's death and with personal insight and knowledge of the writer, this is an interesting book, particularly given it's literary and historical context. Claire Harman's biography was published in October 2015 to celebrate Bronte's Bicentenary and unfortunately I have not yet been able to read it - although I hope to rectify this very soon! It has had very good reviews and is heralded as "a groundbreaking biography that places an obsessive, unrequited love at the heart of the writer's life story, transforming her from the tragic figure we have previously known into a smoldering Jane Eyre......Drawing on correspondence unavailable to previous biographers, Harman establishes Brontë as the heroine of her own story, one as dramatic and triumphant as one of her own novels". It sounds like a very educative and enlightening read.


I hope you find something to tempt you here and enjoy celebrating Charlotte Bronte's birthday this April. If you live in Yorkshire, visit Howarth and see the Parsonage and the village in which they lived and wrote or take a walk along the inspirational moors!

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