Incendiary

Description

You aren't stupid. You know there's no such thing as a perfect mother. Plenty of other books will tell you there is, but this one won't lie to you. I was weak and I cheated and I was punished, but my god I loved my child through all of it. Love means you never break, and it means you're stronger than the things they do to you. I know this is true because I have been through fire, and I am the proof that love survives. I am not a perfect mother but I will tell you the perfect truth, because this is you and me talking. This is my story.

Awards

Winner of Somerset Maugham Award 2006. Shortlisted for Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2006.

Reviews

'Stunning... a haunting work of art.' -- Newsweek 20051101 'Chris Cleave has the ability to create moving and beautiful scenes within a terrifying backdrop. I couldn't put it down; it's subversive, thought-provoking and well-written.' -- Observer, Books of the Year 20051101 'Richly sardonic and often disarmingly poignant... How can one fail to be impressed and moved?' -- Guardian 20050720 'Cleave's heroine is by turns funny, sad, flawed, sympathetic, both damaged and indomitable, and triumphantly convincing.' -- Sunday Telegraph 20050901 'Stunning' -- New York Times AND International Herald Tribune AND Bookmarks Magazine 20050801 'This is a compulsive read, sure to stir the dust' -- CITY AM 20050801 'Searing. poignant and compelling. Utterly believable and mesmerizing' -- Newsday 20050801 'Dark, tense and undeniably provocative' -- Metro 20050801 'Hilariously sympathetic and convincing' -- San Francisco Chronicle 20050801 'Mesmerizing' -- Washington Post 20050801

Author description

Chris Cleave is married with three children, and lives in Kingston-upon-Thames. He keeps a website at www.chriscleave.com and can be found on twitter.com/chriscleave.