A Fabulous Debut
That Time Everything Was On Fire by Kerry Downes is a powerful contemporary debut novel that gripped me from the start.
This is a book about women, friendship and life. It is a roller coaster read as we celebrate the highs and lows of life. Life is a journey, and it is a journey that is better together, but there are some roads that we traverse alone.
The reader joins four female friends who are roughly thirty years old. The book is told through the eyes of lifelong friends Sam and Daisy. It is split into ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ over several years.
We see the extremely difficult road of infertility as we follow a character through several rounds of IVF. “Infertility is like a shadow of grief, shimmering in the background of every aspect of your life… And who can understand such an experience other than those forced to enter its dark vicinity.” Kerry Downes really speaks straight from the heart and of personal experience.
We witness the loneliness of the character who is excluded from events/conversations as her friends for fear hurting her. “Don’t decide for me what I’m capable of.” She is far stronger and more resilient than her friends think. “I don’t feel like a warrior. I don’t feel brave; I feel tired.” IVF takes its’ toll physically and mentally. “The endless roller coaster of hope, grief and uncertainty.” There are some absolutely heart-breaking scenes as well as those of love and support.
In contrast, there is an unplanned pregnancy and decisions to be made. This too, is a lonely journey as it cannot be shared with the one person, they really want to share it with.
And there is the happy news of a planned pregnancy. We witness the love and chaos of the early days with a new baby.
Relationships come in many guises but ultimately “kindness is everything.”
This is a powerful book that is sensitively written and that will tear your heart in two. A character declares, “You have to find the beauty in the world, remind yourself of the good parts.”
This is a very beautiful book about friendships that loves and supports through all the seasons of life.
I look forward to reading more from Kerry Downes.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
