Monday, 9 May 2016

The Book of Living and Dying

- Natale Ghent

" Her heart pumped in her throat as he reached for her, his mouth swinging open and closed like the loosely hinged gate to a dark deadly garden. She tried to scream when his cold hand encircled her wrist, but could only game helplessly back at him, the darkness spilling from his lips and flooding into her brain. 'Please go away,' she whispered." - Taken from the book.

This is a story that I hold dear to my heart, about grieving and loss, and that has helped me through one of the hardest moments in my life. Natale Ghent is a Canadian author, I'd like to say that I've read more of her books, but if I'm being completely honest, none of her other novels have caught my attention quite like this one has.

Actually, I only really came across this book by chance, my high school library was throwing away old or damaged books, and because I was close to my librarian she gave me free reign over them before they were sent off to wherever books go to die, and out of all of the books that were there, this one with a missing cover and cracked spine was the one that I decided to pick up and take home with me.

At first glance this is a story about a sad girls life, her mother is negligent and depressed, her best friend isn't always the best influence, she's losing weight- fast, and to make matters worse, she's being haunted by a ghost like no other. Yet, somehow, the further in that you get with this read, the more you realize that the story isn't as sad as you originally thought, but instead much more tragic.

Then again, what better way to appreciate life, then to submerge yourself into a world of loss and death? This book came to me during a very emotional time in my life, and I hope that it arrives just in time for one of you. If you can't find it in stores, then you can find it online for purchase, and when you do, grab a blanket, make some tea, and keep warm & read.

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