Yrsa-Daily ward’s book is simply stunning and captivating. It speaks to the young adult who struggles with their identity – a memoir of discovery, growth, and experimentation. Yrsa’s lack of a relationship with her father feeds into an emotional story aching with passion and longing. Immediately, the reader is drawn into a vivid picture of her life with her little brother Roo in Manchester through the use of magical realism allowing readers to escape with the characters into another world.
This is the story of Yrsa Daley-Ward, and all the things that happened - 'even the Terrible Things (and God, there were Terrible Things)'. It's about her childhood in the north-west of England with her beautiful, careworn mother and her little brother who sees things written in the stars.
There is an ongoing switch between prose and poetry offering readers a chance to break away from the story every so often to catch a glimpse of Yrsa’s heart and mind and the conflicts she faces in carving her own path in life and discovering her purpose. The book also offers a bold look at sexuality – with Yrsa’s fearless and candid expressions of her experiences with men. And for this aspect deserves applause for its daring approach to this slightly taboo topic; especially considering Yrsa’s upbringing as a Seventh-day Adventist. Alongside the backdrop of a very strict upbringing, Yrsa breaks free of tradition and piety to bring us a raw story.
The Terrible Yrsa Daley Ward
The book also explores escapism through the vices of drugs/alcohol which seems to offer Yrsa an outlet for her ever bubbling emotions – and the reader is also carried by the hand through these experiences in a vivid way. Her talent as a writer becomes evident when the reader begins to feel apart her world – which permeates this short story so potently.
- “Yrsa Daley-Ward has left all of herself on the page yet again. An emotional look at growing up.” —HelloGiggles “Daley-Ward beautifully recounts her life thus far, equally reflecting on the wonderful and the terrible.” —Medium (21 New Books You Should Read this Summer).
- The Terrible by Yrsa Daley-Ward review – a wincingly honest coming-of-age memoir The extraordinary, troubled life story of the model, actor and ‘Instagram poet’ has a prose-poetry all her own Yrsa.
- This is the story of Yrsa Daley-Ward, and all the things that happened. It’s about her childhood in the north-west of England with her beautiful, careworn mo.
- Titled The Terrible, it’s “The truest thing I’ll maybe ever write.” Where it will take her remains to be seen. Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward is published by Penguin on 26 September, at £9.
This book is a must-read for anyone who likes poetry and prose, and themes on the struggles that come with finding one’s identity. The raw truths written by Yrsa challenges readers to uncover their own “Terrible,” in a way, challenging them to befriend it.
Please check for more information on the book – @penguinukbooks @yrsadaleyward
Which you can purchase on Amazon or Penguin
The Terrible Yrsa Daley-ward
The cool book trailer below was created by @watykang, who lives at this website 🙂