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The Haunting of Strawberry Water Tara Gould

The Haunting of Strawberry Water By Tara Gould

The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould


$10.00
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<20 in stock

Summary

A gripping tale of post-natal depression, this short story reads like a modern retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and has much in common with Sarah Water's The Little Stranger in its realisation of psychological distress as a supernatural phenomenon.

The Haunting of Strawberry Water Summary

The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

A new mother, traumatised by an arduous labour, tries to come to terms with being abandoned as a baby by Olivia, the mother she never knew. Set in the eponymous `Strawberry Water', a mysterious 1920s country bungalow which overlooks a fast-flowing river, the story begins with a faded photograph of the woman our narrator assumes to be her mother. Spotlight is a collaboration between Creative Future, New Writing South and Myriad Editions to discover, guide and support writers who are under-represented due to mental or physical health issues, disability, race, class, gender identity or social circumstance. In the same series: Stroking Cerberus by Jacqueline Haskell; Memories of a Swedish Grandmother by Sarah Windebank; Summon by Elizabeth Ridout; Crumbs by Ana Tewson-Bozic and Cora Vincent by Georgina Aboud.

The Haunting of Strawberry Water Reviews

'This dazzling series shows that if the barriers can be vaulted there is true beauty to be had from the lesser-walked streets of literature. These works are both nourishing and inspiring, and a gift to any reader.'-Kerry Hudson; 'A sensuous and strikingly visual story, this tale about motherhood is at once singular and universal. It taps into those equivocal feelings we all have about the conflicting burdens and joys of creating and supporting a tiny life, while showing us one woman's particular challenges. It is a ghost story which, even in these supposedly rational times, we completely fall into.'-Julia Crouch; 'Tara Gould knows an essential truth, that ghosts exist in the darkness of the mind. And that sometimes those ghosts can exit the mind and take up residence in the world. They need to be both real, and unreal, at the same time. It is a difficult task to pull off, and Gould tackles it superbly. This beguiling and unsettling story has a very powerful effect on the reader.'-Jeff Noon; 'An eerily evocative snapshot of a young woman possessed by her own lost history, The Haunting of Strawberry Water takes what should be the most secure of bonds, the relationship between mother and daughter, and transports it to a new and terrifying landscape of the uncanny.' Ian Breckon; 'Elegant and profound, this is powerful nature writing as much as it is a compelling ghost story, and an expertly handled meditation on the prickly nature of intimate relationships.'-Hannah Vincent; 'Tara Gould depicts an elegant but deeply heart-breaking tome that displays the links between motherhood and mental health. It's disturbing but so very perfect. A totally original, emotionally charged short story.'-The Coy Caterpillar Reads; 'Gould's prose is beautiful, and her story feels like such an honest one, as she relates the everyday struggles of motherhood. Once the more sinister elements start to creep into the narrative - strange noises heard around the house, the baby being unable to settle - I was absolutely invested in the story.'-NB Magazine; 'A beautifully-written tale of a motherless girl growing up to become a mother struggling against her destiny.'-Anne Hill, Sussex Life magazine Must-Reads for May 2020; 'Tara Gould depicts a mother suffering from post-natal depression with sensuous, visceral language. The protagonists' fatigue seeps into your bones as you read.'-Viva Brighton; 'This little gem of a book first caught my eye because of it's cover and it's enticing name; and I'm very pleased to say that it didn't disappoint! The Haunting of Strawberry Water is powerful, creepy and deeply unsettling.With a tantalizing hint of the supernatural, I thoroughly enjoyed this eerie yet tense short story and look forward to reading more work by Tara Gould.'-Mrs Cooke's Books; 'Highly recommend. In the vein of Shirley Jackson but with a more languid approach that adds to the haunting tone. I can't wait to read more by her!'-Contrary Reader; 'A novella that explores motherhood and postnatal depression, (with a nod to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman). It's dark in places and packs a punch.'-Bookish Steph; 'The Haunting of Strawberry Water is a rather chilling story of a mental breakdown, of dealing with the trauma that comes with being a new mother particularly with a lack of support, how difficult it can be to cope. I thought it was fabulous.'-Short Books and Scribes; 'This haunting book focusing on motherhood and post-natal depression is small enough to slip into a pocket, yet the 48 pages really do pack an emotional punch. A ghost story with a difference, The Haunting of Strawberry Water slips into thoughts and throughly provokes feelings.'-Liz Robinson, LoveReading

About Tara Gould

Tara Gould studied visual arts at Brighton University and an MA at Sussex University. Her short stories have been published in anthologies including the Asham Anthology for Women Writers, and her plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2016 she was Writer in Residence at Creative Futures. She lives in East Sussex.

Additional information

NGR9781912408504
9781912408504
1912408503
The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould
New
Paperback
Myriad Editions
2020-01-29
64
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time

Customer Reviews - The Haunting of Strawberry Water