Thank
you to Lucy Pearson (@UnlikelyBookWrm) for the copy of Love is a Thief by Claire Garber which I received for free in return for my honest review.
“I might just be ‘that’ girl. You know the one. The girl who, for no particular reason, doesn’t get the guy, doesn’t have children, doesn’t get the romantic happy ever after.
So I needed to come up with a plan. What didn’t I do because I fell in love?"
When I first received Lucy's email, and read the brief intro to this new book (which is published by MIRA in paperbook and ebook on 5 July 2013), I jumped at the chance to read it! As a hopeless romantic, yet at the same time quite cynical when it comes to my own love life, it sounded like the perfect read. I must admit, I even bumped it to the top of my "to read list" as soon as it arrived.
What has love stolen from you?
When I first opened the book, it reminded my of one the most poignant poems I have ever read. Love after Love by Derek Walcott:
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
This book is about knowing yourself, knowing what you are without love, and recognising that love changes who you are.
I found this book to be inspiring, unique and funny. I loved the characters, who are so wonderfully defined. Kate's grandma and the other residents of Pepperpots are fabulous. I adored Peter Parker (and I challenge you not to!), and his wonderfully unique story (I didn't see the twist, and was totally engrossed at the potential catastrophe ). I even loved Chad, who some of you will hate....but his constant use of the word 'twat' or 'twatting' as every other word in a sentence did make me laugh.
This story is based on real life heartbreak, yet at the same time it is full of uplifting moments. It makes you think about your own life - “If you knew you were going to spend the rest of your life alone, you would never fall in love, never settle down, never have children, what would you want to do? What would make you happy? What would fill up your time, your heart, your soul for the rest of your days? Are you currently doing that thing?”
Ultimately, it made me smile, it made me laugh and it made me want more.
If you'd like to get a taste of what Love is a Thief is about, you can download the free short story Love's Stolen Dreams here and you can visit the Love is a Thief website here
You can also follow Claire on twitter @ClaireGarber
