Author Description

A <b>groundbreaking novel </b>exploring <b>the intersection between race, class and mental health in the UK</b><br><b><br>'A strong and humane work of fiction' Jackie Kay</b><br><br> 'That is the glory of being a mental patient. Nothing is impossible.'<br><br>It is the 1990s, and Gloria is living in a London psychiatric ward. She is unapologetically loud, audacious and eternally on the brink of bursting into song. <br>After several months of uninterrupted routine, she is joined by another young black woman - Merle - who is full of silences and fear.<br><br> Unable to confide in their doctors, they agree to journal their pasts. Whispered into tape recorders and scrawled ferociously at night, the remarkable stories of their lives are revealed.<br><br> In this tender, deeply-moving depiction of mental health, Roy creates a striking portrait of two women finding strength in their shared vulnerability, as they navigate a system that fails to protect them. Life-affirming and fearlessly hopeful, this is an unforgettable story.<br><br><b>'This is a novel of daring - enjoyable, surprising and original.' Bernardine Evaristo</b> <br><br> 'A striking commentary' <i>Scotsman</i><br><br> <i>'</i>A strong, humorous and moving piece of fiction . . . such is the life injected into the characters that by the end of the novel there remains that reluctance to part with people you have come to love'<i> calabash </i><br><br> 'A joy' <i>Pride </i><br><br> 'Unflinchingly told . . . harrowing but also shockingly funny' <i>Big Issue </i>