Pass the book

I was the lucky recipient of Sian's Pass the Book - Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon. This came to me via Mel who had it in December. I have read it in January and am now ready to 'Pass the book'.

This book left me with very mixed feelings. Whilst I was reading it, at times my heart ached for the main character and I felt that I could actually be her. When I finished the book I really felt as if there was something missing in my life and on analysing myself realised that there is. I am missing my children being little. In fact, I am missing it dreadfully. The realisation that Ben will be leaving home properly (rather than just going to uni) this year and the fact that he and Penny are now adults has left me with an extremely sad and aching heart. I so thoroughly enjoyed them being little. OK, there were times when I was tired and fed up, what parent isn't, but on the whole I absolutely loved being a SAH mum and I miss those days tremendously.

But, I don't want to put you off the book! It is a great book and an author I had never heard of, which is always a good thing.

Sian has said that we don't need to do a review of the book, so I haven't done that, just told you what feelings it raised in me - it might make you feel completely different! However, she has said that if we are inspired by it, to reveal what the book inspired in us.

Well, apart from the realisation of what I am feeling at the moment, which I think will help me to cope now I know why I have been feeling blue recently, the book inspired me to do the following layout.

The book also inspired me to go on the website of Persephone Books, who published this one, and to order another book from them.  Persephone Books publishes 'forgotten fiction and non-fiction by unjustly neglected authors'.  Some of the authors I had heard of, a lot of them I hadn't. So, how did I chose my next book from them? Well, I just read down the list until a title sang to me!

I have already read this book and it was brilliant. I even had to share a chapter with Hugh, as there is an absolutely brilliant description of a train journey to Cornwall and of course the GWR is Hugh's greatest love (after me of course!). Needless to say, this won't be the last book I am ordering from them. They would also make brilliant birthday presents, as they are so pretty!

So, now it is time for me to pass on 'Still Missing'.

If you would like to be in the draw for this book (see all the details about Pass the Book on Sian's site) then please leave a comment below. I will make the draw on Valentine's Day, Monday 14th February, at 9pm. I am happy to pass it on to anywhere in the world, so just make sure you leave your name by Monday 14th.