The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

The Fifth Child is the story of a child born into the 'perfect' family. A family of dreams and hopes made up of a couple who long to have a family of as many children as they can. Both from dysfunctional families, Harriett and David through their idea of what a family should be start their married life together buying a three-storey house that they cannot possibly afford and are obliged to ask for financial assistance from David's father. The happy couple move in and are soon breeding like rabbits.

Not one Christmas passes without either a birth or the announcement of one on the way. Their families are totally disapproving yet feel the love and desire between the couple and are happy to spend many an Easter and Christmas filling up the bedrooms for weeks at a stretch. David and Harriett are overjoyed at being the core of the two families and although signs of tiredness and strain are starting to show on Harriett and in spite of their families' disapproval at so many kids, she and David are still happy and delirious with the family they have got.

As beautiful a picture author Doris Lessing paints for us towards the middle of the book, she shatters it completely with the birth of David and Harriett's fifth child. The birth of this "goblin neanderthal alien" leaves little of him to be loved by anyone even his own mother who is left terrified with what she has brought into this world.

 A frightening and gripping novel that will chill you to the bone not for its vivid contents but also for its chilling ordinariness and believability. The sequel, Ben In the World, is already on its way in the post. I can't wait.

A New Year Resolution?

I must be getting older. No new year resolutions except maybe to spend more time with my better half doing what couples do these days and trying to actively find time for each other. A promise I have made to myself - I shy from calling it a resolution is to appreciate - truly appreciate the things I have. A family, a son, and my health. Too many times we take for granted what we have and when too little time is available is when we wake up to the beauty of our lives. Humankind is capable of so much atrocity and yet we are also capable of so much beauty too. War is still going on in too many parts of the world and it seems as if we learn from history only how to make it more harrowing.

Today brought to my mind The Cellist of Sarajevo who like so many others in Bosnia endured cold, mortar shells and sniper bullets during the siege of Bosnia. His character is who Canadian author Steven Galloway based his novel upon  and which carries the title of the same name. This cellist who now lives in Northern Ireland commemorated the lives of 22 civilian Bosnians who fell victim to a shell attack while lining up to buy bread. For 22 days the cellist, Vedran Smajlović played the Albinoni Adagio in G Minor for each life lost in that massacre. Listening to him play gave hope to those living and the will to survive in a war considered one of its worst in Europe. In the midst of atrocity and calamity he served as a reminder to all that amongst the destruction beauty can still be found and that life not only goes on but the hope of a better future is always there.

I re-read The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway today and was amazed how dazzled by the book I still am even the second time round. It has a magnificent simplicity yet a profound meaning and poignancy that impacts on the soul rendering one speechless, dazed and amazed. You can hear the cello in the background of the novel, you can feel the agony of the characters and you are fully willing to rejoice in the little triumphs and everyday heroism of ordinary civilians who seek no claim to fame or fortune and are only trying to live through an impossible situation. A wondrous book that will never cease to amaze. If you are lost for resolutions this year, then I have just offered you one that will more than suffice.

To listen to the Adagio in G Minor, click here.