Book Review: "The Things We Keep" by Sally Hepworth

“When you get to my age,' he says, his face softening, 'you don't waste time with regrets. In the end, you just remember the moments of joy. When all is said and done, those are the things we keep.”

- The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

A while back, I read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth and it was amazing. I found yet another book by her on the Kindle Store entitled Things We Keep and, the tone seems to be a bit different to the former book. One thing I love about Sally Hepworth's novels is that after diving in, we definitely feel like we know the characters really well. The writing is just incredible and every page is crafted to form a connection between characters and reader. I've often said this, but a book needs a character that hooks the reader to becoming more invested in the story. If we care about the character then we care about what happens to them. Sally Hepworth has got that equation perfectly right yet again.

We are introduced to Anna, a 38-year-old woman with early onset Alzheimer’s. She was a paramedic but now, she's ended up divorced and in a facility that treats older frail people and the young but slower folk. She's not planning on sticking around there and meets another 'Young Guy' (as Anna calls him when she starts to forget names) named Luke (a young man suffering from dementia).

They embark on a romantic relationship even though there's definitely some tension regarding mental decline. Honestly, this is probably one of the most heartbreaking things to see; we have someone with a great job, great mental capacity beforehand and someone who is a gift to society become day-by-day less and less of themselves.

Eve is a cook in the facility who's husband did some Bernie-Madoff-like financial crimes and now, she's stuck looking after her daughter, Clementine, by herself whilst supporting the two of them on the one income (which is a huge change). Eve is often an outsider to the relationship of Luke and Anna and finds them both very lovely people. She looks at their relationship with a compassionate eye, thankful that they both have each other in their own difficult time.

However, as the fragile romance blossoms, there are people who do not find Anna and Luke capable of being together - such as their families. Even is constantly trying to keep them connected even though the facilities rules prohibit it. She is definitely risking her job to help these two people maintain a human connection that is mutual and definitely loving. I love the character of Eve because she's so compassionate even though horrible things have happened in her life. I find her so interesting and her character so complex.

Another thing I thought was brilliant about this novel is the way it depicts perspective. By their families, Anna and Luke are increasingly seen as incapable even though their romance is viewed by others as compassionate and simply lovely. There's a whole lot of very human moments in this book where perspectives are challenged. For example: many view Clementine as a simple child but, in her narratives she is far more psychologically involved that we think she is and she also sings. Apart from this, we have these moments of clarity that Anna has in the midst of her disease. The way Hepworth does this makes the emotional connection between the reader and the text far stronger.

The book shifts between the past and the present, following this nonlinear structure alongside the subject matter not only reminds us that these people used to be fully themselves, but it also shows us that there are still memories in there - even if they cannot recall them anymore. There's a huge amount of concentration on these people being people and not just people with a disease.

All in all, this book is gorgeously written. It doesn't ask too much of the reader except for basic human compassion and empathy. It makes brilliant connections with the reader and seeks to include them in a journey through perspective. Sally Hepworth is definitely asking the reader to take her hand and walk through this experience with the character of Anna. But, on the other side she also asks us to understand everyone else too - characters such as Eve are presented as primary caregivers in need. Not everyone who walks through fire lacks compassion.