Lily is fifteen and three quarters years old when her life is tragically cut short by a hit and run driver. What follows is her journey afterwards. And this is an extraordinary read.
Along the lines of Alice Sebold’s ‘The Lovely Bones’ this is Lily’s story of her family’s grief, sorrow and ultimately moving on in their lives without her. She is a twin, and Ben, her brother, the other part of her, feels bereft. Her parents feel as if they somehow failed to protect her. Her boyfriend is lost. Everyone is feeling something.
This is a poignant book, well written and beautifully observed. The author has created a fabulous character in Lily, who is angry that she wasn’t allowed to grow up. I am guessing the reading audience for this is teenagers, however as I’m old enough to be a parent of one, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing is fabulous, eliciting emotions and thoughts throughout. It is sad, yet hopeful and funny.
There are no chapters as such, but frequent breaks which makes this an easy read. However parts of it are not ‘easy’ but haunting and wistful. It will make you feel glad to be alive. It will make you want to cherish your family. So there are important messages in the book. I’ve never read anything like this but it reminded me slightly of ‘The fault in our stars’ which I also loved. The teenage style of being in love amongst tragedy also follows in ‘Sunflowers in February’.
This is a bold debut novel and is something which is particularly hard to write about and, at times, read. However the author takes us through sadness, anger, devastation and disbelief to bring in acceptance, humour and moving on after a bereavement. I loved the way the book told us from so many perspectives the effect Lily’s death had on everyone, young and old, which is why I think ultimately this book will appeal to many different ages.
Suffering and bereavement follow all of us at some point unfortunately and this is a gentle way of observing that life does carry on around us, even without our loved ones. "The irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author. Recommended wholeheartedly. A unique and special read that will give you hope. It will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Fabulous.
Along the lines of Alice Sebold’s ‘The Lovely Bones’ this is Lily’s story of her family’s grief, sorrow and ultimately moving on in their lives without her. She is a twin, and Ben, her brother, the other part of her, feels bereft. Her parents feel as if they somehow failed to protect her. Her boyfriend is lost. Everyone is feeling something.
This is a poignant book, well written and beautifully observed. The author has created a fabulous character in Lily, who is angry that she wasn’t allowed to grow up. I am guessing the reading audience for this is teenagers, however as I’m old enough to be a parent of one, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing is fabulous, eliciting emotions and thoughts throughout. It is sad, yet hopeful and funny.
There are no chapters as such, but frequent breaks which makes this an easy read. However parts of it are not ‘easy’ but haunting and wistful. It will make you feel glad to be alive. It will make you want to cherish your family. So there are important messages in the book. I’ve never read anything like this but it reminded me slightly of ‘The fault in our stars’ which I also loved. The teenage style of being in love amongst tragedy also follows in ‘Sunflowers in February’.
This is a bold debut novel and is something which is particularly hard to write about and, at times, read. However the author takes us through sadness, anger, devastation and disbelief to bring in acceptance, humour and moving on after a bereavement. I loved the way the book told us from so many perspectives the effect Lily’s death had on everyone, young and old, which is why I think ultimately this book will appeal to many different ages.
Suffering and bereavement follow all of us at some point unfortunately and this is a gentle way of observing that life does carry on around us, even without our loved ones. "The irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author. Recommended wholeheartedly. A unique and special read that will give you hope. It will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Fabulous.