This is a poetic prose about the authors journey through love. Elizabeth Smart fell in love with George Barker’s writing and when they met for the first time (with his wife alongside them) she pretty much jumped off the cliff to complete devotion. We follow her from this first meeting through their relationship and to their downfall.
The book is split up into sections and is rather an easy read. It focuses less on the story, the emotions playing the main characters. The beauty of the writing is gorgeous and although you have to surmise the events through that writing, it becomes less important the more you read.
She goes into true, tragic and dramatic detail concerning her feelings at the time and I have to be perfectly honest and say that I don’t really relate to her at all. This is a complete personal thing, I cannot relate to that all-consuming love as I have never experienced it to the same extent. But this takes nothing away from what a stunning piece of art this is.
It is a book to keep on your shelf and revisit as years go by, as experiences happen and you grow as a person. This book ain’t leaving my bookshelf anytime soon and a good 30 years down the line… I may be singing a completely different tune and describe her as my idol/spirit animal/soulmate. Who knows.
By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart
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