Unexpected Lessons in Love
Unexpected Lessons in Love by Bernardine Bishop, published by John Murray in 2013, is a work of fiction that explores the complexities of family dynamics and personal challenges. The narrative centers around Cecilia Banks, who faces a multitude of life-altering situations, including the unexpected arrival of her son Ian and the responsibilities that come with it. Alongside her struggles with cancer and her relationship with her husband Tim, Cecilia navigates the ambivalence of motherhood while also dealing with the insights of her friend Helen.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of emotions as Cecilia’s life intertwines with that of Sister Diana Clegg, who connects the characters in profound ways. The story delves into themes of madness, guilt, and resilience, inviting reflection on the nature of human relationships and the impact of unforeseen circumstances. With 378 pages, this edition offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and transformations that arise when faced with unexpected lessons in love.
Official synopsis Publisher
Shortlisted for the 2013 Costa Novel Award
Cecilia Banks has a great deal on her plate. But when her son Ian turns up on her doostep with the unexpected consequence of a brief fling, she feels she has no choice but to take the baby into her life. Cephas’s arrival is the latest of many challenges Cecilia has to face. There is the matter of her cancer, for a start, an illness shared with her novelist friend Helen. Then there is Helen herself, whose observations of Cecilia’s family life reveal a somewhat ambivalent attitude to motherhood. Meanwhile Tim, Cecilia’s husband, is taking self-effacement to extremes, and Ian, unless he gets on with it, will throw away his best chance at happiness.
Cecilia, however, does not have to manage alone. In a convent in Hastings sits Sister Diana Clegg who holds the ties that bind everyone not only to each other, but to strangers as yet unmet. As events unfold and as the truth about Cephas is revealed, we are invited to look closely at madness, guilt, mortal dread and the gift of resilience. No one will remain unchanged.
‘Frank, courageous and entertaining. I felt better for reading it’ Margaret Drabble
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