Heartsease

Nelly (Ellen) has arranged to meet her sister, Lot, at a silent retreat in the Tasmanian mountains. As usual Lot (Charlotte) is late. On arrival participants are directed to their rooms where they unpack then wait in the lounge. Each participant takes something that is precious to them into the lounge and they are not to speak to anyone. Nelly waits patiently and observes the arrival of the other participants.

This book, largely about the complexities of grief and its varying affects on different people, is told in intersecting layers. Nelly's story is told in the first person in a time frame that leads to her death. Lot's story is told in the third person and in real time. It took me quite a while to work out the pattern and development of the plot but eventually it made sense.

Nelly was fourteen when her mother died and was looked after by her sister who was eight years older. Each of the girls reacted differently to their mother's death with Nelly never really being able to lead a settled life. It is further complicated by Nelly being aware of another prescence, the ghost of her mother. Nelly shares a house with Josh who is also a confused individual. They both rely on alcohol and drugs.

Nelly has complex memories of her mother and her mother's relationship with her two daughters. She has a vivid memory of her her mother planting a plant for each daughter - a serene regal rose for Lot and prickly wild rose for Nelly. Lot assures Nelly that this memory is not correct. Actually the mother planted heartsease, a plant representing peace of mind and tranquility, for her younger daughter.

Both Nelly and Lot are able to communicate with each other without words which is an advantage when they meet at the retreat. They decide to escape for a while and head off to a local hotel where they can talk properly about their lives now and in the past.

Heartsease by Kate Kruimink is a study of grief, love, interaction with family members and the bonds between sisters. It also looks at the impact of organ donation on family members. By the end of the novel I had become involved in the account of the challenges faced by the characters.

Kate Kruimink on writing Heartsease - Macmillan Books