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Good Reading : June 2007
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JUNE 2007 ı goodreading 35 biography / memoir word of mouth Silent Footsteps Sally Henderson There is always something wonderful about a person who makes a life-changing decision and sees it through. They are people to be admired. Sally Henderson is one such person.While on holiday in Africa with her first husband, Sally was saved from an attacking lion by an elephant. Deeply moved by her experi- ence, Sally realised that the incident had awakened in her a desire to dedicate her life to conserving elephants. Retur ning from her trip she set up a charity, ‘Elefriends’, which raises awareness and money to help in the conservation and research of elephants. In 1990, along with her second husband Jer, she was invited to join an elephant research project in Zimbabwe. Silent Footsteps is a remarkable account of the life cycle of a herd of elephants and the relationships within that herd. It is also an account of the ever-changing landscape of Africa and the relationship between nature and man. Sally is a beautiful writer who encapsulates the essence of the land and the animals around her. She has that wonderful ability, often found in people who are passionately committed to a cause, of immersing herself in her surroundings. Her passion for the elephants and for Africa make for a compelling read. The world needs more Sally Hendersons. ★★★★ Macmillan $32.95 Reviewed by Kylie Field One Unknown Gill Hicks On 7 July 2005 a bomb exploded in a London train car riage; Australian Gill Hicks was one of the passen- gers who took the full impact. On that day she lost her legs and was very close to losing her life but she held on and with the help of extremely dedicated medical staff survived. Gill Hicks takes us through her own personal hell of accepting her injuries and dealing with the dramatic changes to her life, including her experiences in the outside world and the ultimate achievement of her goal of walking down the aisle at her own wedding. This deeply moving memoir also tells the story of her partner Joe and how he deals with the changes, and the amazing support he and other friends and family provide. Despite what happened to her, Gill Hicks is a very positive and strong person and at no point in the book does she indulge in self-pity. What comes across loud and clear is that she is now acutely aware that every second she lives counts and that it is her duty to make a differ- ence. Her current involvement with charities and support groups is testament to this. One Unknown will certainly make you consider your own mortality and question what you are doing with your time. ★★★★ Rodale $35.00 Reviewed by Melissa Wilson Bear is Now Asleep William Verity Four years ago William Verity was just another jour nal- ist with a wife and two kids. But when his three-year-old daughter India died after being hit by a falling portable goalpost, his life turned completely upside down. Bear is Now Asleep (India was sing- ing and dancing to a Wiggles song about Bear when she was struck on the head) is in part a cathartic diary of the tumultuous 12 months that cover India’s tragic, senseless death and her father’s growing acceptance and under- standing. It is also a signposting of the seven stages of grieving, in which William and his family forge through the crisis that threatens to tear them apart and emerge stronger and closer as a result of their terrible experience. Verity is a compelling writer and his voice is honest, clear and unsentimental. He doesn’t shy away from the difficulties, anger or resentment India’s death inspires. His search for meaning leads him to some painful soul-searching, but he is never cloyingly preachy. Only occasionally does the book’s structure fail to be coherent or detailed: for example, very little space is devoted to his wife’s longstanding national cam- paign to ensure sports grounds are safe. Nevertheless, no reader could emerge untouched, or dry-eyed, from this searing account of love and loss. It’s a very beautiful, compassionate and emotionally charged book. ★★★ RG Random House $27.95 Reviewed by Dina Ross Find a bookshop that stocks the books YOU LIKE TO READ! Find out what book events are HAPPENING NEAR YOU! Let us help you find an OUT-OF-PRINT BOOK! www.goodreadingmagazine.com
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