Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop Alsop

I know the book is about more than just what mom and daughter are dealing with, but the beginning is super heartbreaking. Very well-written and makes you want to read more about your life.

My favourite part was the vivid description of your mother's childhood in Gibraltar. You created a sense of place and atmosphere that was engaging and evocative. I also liked how you connected the story of your mother with the larger history of Gibraltar and its people. It was also interesting to hear about your mother's childhood friends and experiences, which provided a nice contrast to the struggles she is currently facing.

This writing was of very high quality - smooth, delicate and nuanced, getting across the details of difficult but also rewarding relationships and their ever changing complexities. This feels like it has a great deal of potential as it weaves the intensely personal with the potential for wider political excitement with skill and heart.

The book is rich in character-building and language. From the opening, the reader dives into the story. The context is well presented besides the main storyline. The story is universally relatable beyond its characters- the writer tells a story of millions of others.

The honesty is refreshing. And the vividness of going through boxes of stuff rings true for many with aging parents, I am sure. And the urgency of your needing to get the stories out before they lapse from your mother’s mind is gut wrenching.