Take My Hand

One of the great things about belonging to a book club is broadening your horizons; reading books you’d never select yourself. Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez was one of those. If I'd read the blurb in a bookshop, I would have put it down. And if anybody had summarised the story for me, again I probably would have passed. But I absolutely loved it and wholeheartedly recommend it. 

The novel is inspired by a court case on behalf of 2 underage poor, black sisters in Alabama who were sterilised in 1973 without their consent. The story is told from the viewpoint of a whistleblower, the girls’ nurse. The use of 2 timelines creates suspense and drive.  I found it so well written and the characters so compelling that I didn't feel I was reading a social issue novel.

Glamour Magazine says 'An utterly gripping tale from start to finish, Take My Hand is storytelling at its finest.' 

I didn't think about To Kill a Mockingbird while I was reading it, but now I come to review it, I can see some parallels. And it so happens that our book club’s July read is Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, which feels very appropriate.

On the subject of book clubs, I spent a lovely evening this month with Chequers book club in Roxwell, Essex, taking Q&A about The Twelfth Cross. It was great to have the opportunity to chat with a whole group who’d already read the book, so I didn’t have to be careful about spoilers! If you belong to a group and would be interested in an author visit, do get in touch.