Review of Dear Abigail

[GenieG]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Dear Abigail" by Richard Rees.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In Dear Abigail, Richard Rees relives the last years with his daughter, Carys, in an effort to make sense of all that has happened. He decides to write it all down in a letter for his little granddaughter, Abigail, so that when she’s old enough, she can come to know her mother through his writing, as well as understand more about herself, her family, and the past. As the story unfolds, so does the gut-wrenching grief of a father and grandfather who must now face yet another loss.

The letter seems to be as much for himself as it is for Abigail, as Rees works through his own emotions and explores his lack of faith and his anger with God at times. At one point, he asks God, “Would it have spoilt some great eternal plan to have let them live…? Would the world have stopped spinning?”

In this letter to his little “six-pence,” Richard Rees has opened up his heart and laid it bare for the reader to see. At times it is quite painful to read, poignant, yet almost unbearable to struggle through. It will leave you thinking about your own family and how much they mean to you, about how short our time on earth is. And at times it will leave you angry—angry at the injustice in the world and the cruelty of people who are supposed to love you.

Dear Abigail is more than just a five-star read (although it is that)—it’s a deeply moving story that will stay with you for a very long time. It is simple in the telling, without over-embellishment, and is more powerful for it. Heartwarming and humorous at times, and at other times heart-rending, Dear Abigail will have you on a seesaw of emotions. This is not a book you will put down and quickly forget about. More than anything else, you will find yourself hoping Abigail will read it herself.

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Dear Abigail
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