Culture Street

Books

The Second Child by Caroline Bond

On June 11, 2018

By Sophia Whitfield

Bond’s poignant debut novel questions the very basis of family life. Why do we love our children? Is it because we are their parents or because of their achievements in the classroom or on the sports field?

Phil and Sarah have two children, James and Lauren. Soon after they bring Lauren home from the hospital they discover she has medical issues that will enormously impact their family life. She will never be able to achieve the same things as her brother, and will always need a carer with her to assist her in life.

The challenges of parenting Lauren soon get absorbed into everyday life. It is made easier by Phil and Sarah’s shared efforts to care for her.

But during one of Lauren’s hospital visits blood tests are carried out and the results throw Phil and Sarah into confusion. Lauren is not Phil’s child. It would have been so much easier if it was simply infidelity. But it’s not. The revelation threatens to tear their family apart.

The Second Child is full of complex emotions sensitively explored as parents grapple with the truth of their situation.

A thought provoking read from an author to watch.

You can buy the book here in Australia and here in the UK.

You Might Also Like

Books

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce #haroldfry

By Sophia Whitfield

On April 16, 2012

Books

Melting the Snow on Hester Street by Daisy Waugh

By Sophia Whitfield

On May 27, 2013

Books

Tippi Hedren makes claims of harassment against Alfred Hitchcock in memoir

Tippi Hedren, one of the biggest names of classic Hollywood and star of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Marnie, tells her story of abuse at the hands of controlling director...

On November 2, 2016
 

Books

Disclaimer by Renee Knight

By Sophia Whitfield

On February 22, 2016

Books

Kylie Ladd selects Five Books of Influence

Kylie Ladd is a novelist and freelance writer. She has published four novels: After the Fall, Last Summer, which was highly commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award for fiction,...

On August 27, 2014

Books

This week in publishing. It was all about the celebrity.

Following David Walliams bestseller Gangsta Granny, HarperCollins will be releasing his next book, Ratburger, on September 19. The book promises to be full of Walliams trademark humour. HarperCollins have just...

On August 10, 2012
 
Copyright © 2012 - 2019 Culture Street
Contact: info@culturestreet.com.au