zooloo1983
Written on Feb 5, 2019
How do you find the words to write a review on the last book in the trilogy. Knowing that the last words you read were the end of the most beautiful and breathtaking story. I’m broken, Jess is going to stay with me for such a long time and I am elated with the ending.
I didn’t say much in my review about my feelings about the previous book, I briefly touched upon one character. The behaviour of this said character carried on this book, I was shaking with rage, seething over how one person could act this way. It was absolutely disgusting and I was broken for Jess. She deserves so much better. And Polly, god don’t get me started on that jumped up so-and-so. Anyway enough of the negative horrifying characters and onto the beauty of the book.
Like Jess, the pullback to Ghana for me had been strong so when the mysterious opportunity came up for Jess to go back I jumped up and took it with two hands for her. I just wanted to go back and I wanted to hunt for Jim, my beloved…I mean Jess’ beloved. The drumbeats still when she was back in Ghana and the reasonings were all apparent, she was in her happy place. But the nightmare with Simon wasn’t over yet.
Each time Ms Ibbotson has described the setting, the actions of a character, I was there. I watched it all unfurl like everyone else, my heart sang for joy and broke in two with pain. Every word was so real, and at times with Jess’ realisation of how alone she truly is, resonated so deep within me and she made me take a long hard look at myself. Jess and her story, Julia and her writing are not going to leave me. It is untouchable, I cannot describe to you the magic that takes place in these three books. I am hoping Jess hasn’t finished her story, it would make my month to know she hasn’t. There is still too much to say. Who sent the newspaper clipping? Where is Simon? What happens in Washington?
Between my sobs, rage, joy, peace, I marvelled at how truly amazing and inspirational this story is. About finding yourself, about living your life not a shell of it, finding the right people to entrust and learning from your mistakes. Jess fell in love with an ill man and walked away from her true love. Fate had Jess and Jim lead similar lives, never forgetting their moments, their love, showing the reader the true light hidden within the drumbeats.
All three of these books are going to make my top 10 for the year. In fact, I will be buying copies of these for birthdays and Christmas (cringe at that words already) because that is how much these books resonate with me, the sparkle in life, the magic. I can not fault a word that has been written. In a nutshell, I bloody loved all three of these books. I hated having to write this review because I would have to try and accept Jess is safe living her life without me or any other readers and as much as I have been left feeling her happiness. I have a Jess shaped hole in my heart.
Until next time when I hear the drumbeats xxx