A Mother’s Heart | Carmel Harrington
It’s always an anxious moment picking up a book by a favourite author, and it took me a little while to attune to the narrative, but A Mother’s Heart became everything I’d hoped.
It’s filled to the brim with Carmel Harrington’s warm, heartfelt writing. This book leaves the reader feeling completely satisfied and not a little emotional.
I was expecting a total focus on Rachel as the central character, and she is a compelling person, being vivid and real. But it was the villain of the book, Sheila, whom I found most fascinating.
A sensitive exploration of motherhood
She’s vitriolic, bitter and unkind. And yet Carmel Harrington enables the reader to see why she behaves as she does, with her actions stemming from ‘a mother’s heart’.
I found myself completely manipulated by the author’s powerful writing as she steered my responses to Sheila. Indeed, the title could be applied to so many characters because A Mother’s Heart explores motherhood and family so sensitively.
The full range of motherhood, in all its manifestations, is considered here.
Sheila is the kind of character who enrages the reader because she’s so clearly depicted.
Her development throughout the story is completely compelling and I found her thread in A Mother’s Heart quite heart-breaking because Sheila damages herself every bit as she hurts others.
Can anyone truly be happy?
The plot revolves around Rachel’s attempt to do the right thing by children Olivia and Dylan. It’s so relatable that it tugs at the heart strings throughout.
There’s no cardboard cutout ideal family dynamic here. Rather there is a messy, blended family that doesn’t always get things right. The story is completely believable.
More than a touch of Tolstoy’s unhappy families concept underpins many aspects of the plot, so that the reader is desperate to know if any of the characters can ever truly be happy.
The ripples of intersecting lives
Alongside this is a gradually revealed mystery surrounding Niamh. With this intrigue Carmel Harrington adds another layer of interest.
It’s also extremely clever how Niamh and Lorcan are so influential in the story even though neither is physically present.
A Mother’s Heart is moving, realistic and thoroughly absorbing. It illustrates brilliantly how the ripples of our lives intersect and continue far beyond our intentions.
Filled with secrets, ‘what-ifs?’, choices and consequences, the book presents lives that so many of us can relate to and, indeed, learn from. I really enjoyed it – even if it did make me cry!
A Mother’s Heart by Carmel Harrington is published by HarperCollins, RRP £12.99 PB.
Pick up this week’s issue of My Weekly magazine to enjoy The Birthday Invite, an uplifting short story by Carmel Harrington! Plus lots more feelgood features.
