Speaking Of Love
By Angela Young
‘Your stories have relieved
me of my madness.’ This quote, attributed to Sally Pomme Clayton, really sums
up the story of ‘Speaking Of Love’.
The novel is about the
complications of family and love, and the problems caused by the inability of
those involved to speak about love. It is also a book about storytelling and as
such the structure, with stories stacked within stories, is a little like a
series of Russian dolls.
Iris is a storyteller – she
tells us her own story, but she also tells us a number of the other stories
that run through her like her lifeblood. The stories she tells are also about
family relationships, and serve as a counterpoint to the main narrative.
The other main theme of the
book is mental health. With Iris, and to a lesser extent, her daughter, Vivie,
we see the effects on people’s mental wellbeing of the inability to speak about
love, or about feelings and needs.
In many ways this is quite a
difficult book to read, with some very dark and distressing themes. But there
are also some beautifully uplifting moments, and in the end, it is a rewarding
read.
Relief from the darkness
which Iris and Vivie both seem to have locked themselves into, ultimately comes
from Iris’s former neighbour, Dick, and his son who has long been in love with
Vivie.
In bringing these four
together the author provides an ending that, whilst left fairly open, is full
of hope for the future. At this point, all the stories, both told and untold
come together.
Thanks very much to the author
for a review copy of this book.
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