Iona has just turned 21 and her life is at a bit of a crossroads. An immensely talented musician, she’s given up her beloved cello and left university because it dredges up too many painful memories of her mother, Grace, who died of a form of ALS 10 years earlier. She also mostly avoids her father, because of blame and resentment related to her mother’s death as well.
On her 21st birthday, her father sends her a letter her mother wrote her years before. In the letter, Grace urges Iona to visit her old music teacher, a man Grace worshipped and trusted more than any other. At the same time, Iona finds an old photo in the bottom of her cello case, of her mother when she was much younger.
Visiting Grace’s music teacher starts to help put the events of her childhood in perspective. And this visit is just the start of a journey that her mother is sending her on, to help her find a way back to the things—and the people—she loves and needs. Along the way, she starts to better understand her mother and the choices she made.
This beautiful book resonated with me in so many ways. Can you imagine what it must be like to receive letters from someone you lost years ago, and whom the adult you never got to know? The book deftly explores so many emotions and choices but allows you to make your own decisions about what happened, as it did Iona.
This is the second book I’ve read by Ragsdale (I read her story collection, The Liar and Other Stories, earlier this year), and man oh man, can she tell a story! The book takes place in Scotland (a place I’ve always wanted to visit) and her imagery was so vivid I could see the places she described so well. Plus there’s nothing quite like a good cry late at night while you’re reading!
I was fortunate to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Alison Ragsdale provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Read this if you love family drama.
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