Things I Want My Daughters to Know..

This is one of my ALL TIME favourite books - I've probably read it about 10 times. I'm not even kidding...

Here's what the blurb says:

How could you say goodbye to those you love most in the world?

Barbara must say a final farewell to her four daughters. But how can she find the words? And how can she leave them when they each have so much growing up still to do?

Take Lisa, in her thirties but terrified of commitment - or brittle, unhappily married Jennifer. Amanda, the traveler, is always a little apart from her sisters and Hannah faces adult life without a mother at her side. 

Barbara's answer is to write each daughter a letter, finally expressing the hopes, fears, dreams and secrets she couldn't always voice. These words will touch the girls in different - sometimes shocking - ways, unlocking emotions and passions to set them on their own journey of discovery through life. 

Here's what I thought:

This book really has a character for everyone - no matter who you are, you'll be able to connect with at least one character.

Lisa - Barbara's eldest - is smart and sassy with a gentle heart and a great love for her mum and sisters. Then there's Jennifer - stoney and cold - is facing more internal battles of her own that even Barbara isn't aware of. Jen really just needs a bit of TLC but is the kind of person who doesn't know how to ask for the help of others.

Amanda - the wanderlust middle child - is always away travelling as a way to avoid her problems at home and her struggle to find a place within her family. Barbara's illness is Amanda's biggest problem that she wants to avoid. Lastly, Hannah - only 15 - is scared about the fact that she wont have a mother present for the landmarks in her life that are still yet to come. Hannah is also worried about her dad, Mark.

The novel surrounds the struggles of the girls and Mark after the death of their beloved matriach - and although Barbara has already passed away when the novel begins, she is a prominent figure from the onset and throughout...

This story speaks to me on a really personal level and there's never been a time that I've read it and not cried my eyes out. Anyone that has a close relationship with their mother and/or sisters will relate to this novel in someway.

Elizabeth Noble writes in the most beautiful way and has such a magical way of connecting with her audience. And as it says on the back of of my novel: "Elizabeth Noble. So good you have to share her."

You can buy Things I Want My Daughters to Know here and check out Elizabeth's website and other novels here. 

Thanks for reading,
xoxo, Orlagh