How Could He Do It?

Oct 3, 2024 11:34 AM

Author:Emma Charles

How Could He Do It?

'In many ways we were an ordinary family: mum, dad, two kids, three dogs, one rabbit, two guinea pigs. I stayed at home, studying with the Open University, and dad worked, and the kids went to private schools. We lived in a rather nice semi in a rather nice area of Edinburgh, with a rather nice Volvo in the drive, and took rather nice holidays, wearing rather nice clothes. I loved Daniel deeply and I thought - no, I was sure - he loved me deeply, too. And we both loved our kids deeply (I thought). And that was as it should be. We had it made.

In some ways we weren't a completely ordinary family. There was Daniel, for one; he worked for most of the time we were married as a ship's engineer, and so he was away from home for up to four months and then home on leave for up to two. And Tamsin, our fifteen-year-old daughter, had specific learning difficulties.

But I'm pretty ordinary: an unlikely heroine. I am disabled because of back problems. I'm pretty fat - I've put on a lot of weight through lack of exercise and, yes, comfort-eating! Not the stuff of movies.

But I never for a moment dreamt that my family was all that extraordinary - until that day when Tamsin broke down and told me that her father, my loving husband, had been sexually abusing her.'

Reviews

a terrific mix of pathos and humour

—— Cheryl Baker , Daily Mail

Honest, heart-warming and, at times, heart-wrenching ...Told with sometimes painful insights, mixed with delightful flashes of humour, these stories are illuminating and inspiring and will give great encouragement to everyone who wonders when their baby will come

—— Karin Bishop, Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald

a delightful and helpful book ... This is an invaluable resource for couples struggling to conceive

—— Dr Judy Ford, Geneticist and Fertility Advisor

The stories in this wonderful book resonate strongly with the stories that my clients have shared with me over many years. Well done to Michaela Ryan for helping us feel the overwhelming emotions which can be experienced, as well as illustrating ways of coping with the downs and ups of infertility

—— Miranda Montrone, Psychologist and Infertility Counsellor

It is, for me, professionally gratifying to have a book written by someone who brings such a balanced approach to both breast- and bottle-feeding. Too often mothers are given so much differing advice as to what they should, or should not do. This book will help a new mother make her own choice and give her expert advice, which will help her with the successful feeding of her baby

—— Betty Parsons MBE

This has to be one of THE best parenting books I have ever read. It covers toddlers to teenagers, light hearted but yet deadly serious and there really is something for every parent to relate to! It was so addictive and appropriate for me with three girls, that I had recommended it to more than 20 people when I was only a quarter of the way through it! All parents should read it.

—— MumKnowsBest.com

Simple, accessible tools which cover everything from getting your child to clean his teeth to picky eaters and bullying.

—— Mail on Sunday, YOU Magazine

Reading this book is like having a chat with your friends or with other mums at the crèche or the school gate.

—— Mothers and Babies

A no-nonsense guide to running a family – whatever your personality.

—— Easy Living

In this memoir she describes her eccentric, dangerous, wonderful bohemian parents...Blackburn emerged from this turmoil as a fine writer, and this book is full of understanding and reconciliation

—— Margaret Drabble , New Statesman

a rich account...brilliant vignettes

—— Camilla Long , Sunday Times

This piercing memoir paints in vivid colours Julia Blackburn's nightmarish childhood

—— Alison Flood , The Telegraph

Blackburn tells us about these things in a compelling authorial voice which is by turns numb and incredibly sensitive

—— William Leith , Evening Standard

Brutally honest book ...deeply moving testament to the love that can somehow survive

—— Aimee Shalan , Guardian

An extraordinary family memoir... A bohemian classic

—— Week

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