The Red of my Blood: A Death and Life Story

Reviews

LaylaLane

It is not an easy read and so deeply difficult to delve into if you’re not feeling mentally strong. I do not know how she has survived this. Because she feels about her sister how I feel about mine. It is hard to recommend something that is so painful to read but she writes so beautifully, so masterfully articulating her grief that it is impossible to not be in awe and then how can you not recommend that?

The pain she describes, how it took over every inch and moment of her life (she struggled to appear normal, having to focus on a tiny detail like colour while her children talked to her or she tries to do normal things with her sanity hanging by a thread) is just almost unbearable to read…But read it I must! I don’t think reading it will help me in any way (other than being in awe of how articulate a writer she is) because I don’t have any grief to contend with but I feel compelled to finish it. Mainly I felt compelled to let my sister know that life without her would be unbearable.

I bought Clover’s book immediately after reading her article in The Guardian about the loss of her sister. I could not love her more than I do, our sibling bond means everything to me and plays such a huge role in my life. Perhaps what I would say is- proceed with caution.

I wanted to send a copy to my friend who just lost her sister but I don’t think I dare, not yet anyway.