Treading Water by Claire Collison

Treading Water

Claire Collison

A warm and moving account of two sisters coping with the death of their mother. Told in a series of flashbacks, in short and often humorous episodes, Alison and Hannah are still struggling some 18 months later to fulfil Beth's last wish and dispose of her ashes. Will they ever be ready to let her go? A good read for sisters everywhere.

Extract
Beth's funeral took place on a sunny day outside her home in Andalucia. Her friends and family arrived with flowers which were placed around the coffin in the shape of a heart ... Alison was one of the pallbearers who carried her away to the sound of Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry', as Beth had requested. Alison's friend, a DJ, was in charge of the ghetto blaster. He had to switch the tape off abruptly before the next song, Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive'.
Parallels
  • The Accidental by Ali Smith
  • Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson