Strange Sally Diamond

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Nugent fashions an unforgettable protagonist in Sally, and never loses sight of her characters’ fundamental humanity, even as she piles on twists and steers the narrative into exceptional darkness. Inventive, addictive, and bold, this deserves a wide audience.” Yet as Sally begins to deal with the fallout from her actions, she finally begins to connect with others. But then strange notes start to arrive, and a ragged teddybear she instinctively knows is hers. And Sally's world, which is already shifting, will tip on its axis as she discovers the truth about who she really is... This is the story of two people: Sally and Peter. We first come to know Sally in her 40s when her father dies. Sally is socially stunted to the point where she pretends to be deaf when in town so she doesn't have to interact with anyone. Sally's father had made an off the cuff remark to her that she should just "put him out with the trash" when he passes away, and she took him literally and burns his body with the rest of the trash. This sets forth a cascade of events where Sally learns the secrets of her past and has to learn to move forward with this news. Peter is a mysterious character that we meet in the early 1970s when he is a young boy. He too learns some secrets his father has been keeping from him. Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she cannot remember. As she begins to discover the horrors of her childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends and big decisions, and learning that people don't always mean what they say.

Strange Sally Diamond Emily May (The United Kingdom)’s review of Strange Sally Diamond

So, so good! Sally gets under your skin and worms her way into your heart. I didn't want it to end' Jane Fallon I really enjoy Liz Nugent novels and was thrilled to be given early access to her latest book as I just knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the setting of this novel was very close to my home. The blurb doesn't tell you much more, so I won't spoil the plot, but Sally is pulled into a deep and dark journey of discovery into her past and the family secrets that have been kept hidden.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band returning to Ireland — and confirm Cork date

You see, we’re first introduced to Sally Diamond, having thrown her recently deceased dad’s remains into an incinerator behind their house, because she has mistaken his instructions on how he would like to be buried: “When I die, just put me out with the trash.” This “ haunting and poignant tale, one that won’t be easy to forget any time soon” ( Mystery and Suspense Magazine), follows an enigmatic woman confronting her unknown past—from internationally bestselling author Liz Nugent. The graphic descriptions of child abuse are VERY graphic & violent. When a pregnant woman who has spent the majority of her life in one room suffers horrible physical and emotional abuse from an adult man, and is then abused by her son, who is a CHILD....I'm out and only wish I could scrub the scenes from my brain.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent - Penguin Books New Zealand Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent - Penguin Books New Zealand

Interestingly, it has more in common with another book by a female author of Irish heritage: Emma Donoghue and her novel Room.

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I wanted to ask her how often they had sex, if she enjoyed it, if she was going to have him cremated, if I was expected to go to the funeral, but I didn’t. Vivid, pacy, taut but so very moving . . . This novel feels *different* . . . it defies categorisation Marian Keyes That being said, I don’t regret reading it, I mean… I enjoyed 90% of it? and it’s one I’d still recommend as I seem to be in the minority of readers who felt this way!