“PETAL”
By Tanya French
A book review by Michael McMahon
Raw emotion all the way!
Tanya, in her book “PETAL” gives her true-life account of her marriage to Mark and dealing with the tragic aftermath of Mark’s suicide at the early age of 38.
This book, is a most honest and heartfelt, no holds barred look into the private lives of Tanya and her Family, and how they deal with the suicide of her husband and father of this family. A family, hard working and highly successful, even on the world stage, and then for inexplicable reasons, Mark, husband, father, partner, colleague, leader, boss and friend to all is gone without warning.
As a dyslexic myself, and not a great reader of books, I found I could not put this book down. Rarely does one even hear the mention of dyslexia, anywhere. Tanya has had the courage to go where so few even consider, to highlight the significance of dyslexia in society and how it can impact our lives in dramatic ways. I applaud you for doing so.
Not only does Tanya take us courageously through her journey, in coming to terms with suicide and its aftermath but also provides an extensive resource section at the back of the book. A where-to and how to get help and further information in dealing with suicide from all angles, someone close, someone you may suspect is suicidal or even having ones own personal thoughts. A great practical manual for help.
More than just Tanya’s tragic story around suicide of a deeply loved partner in life, PETAL shows the importance and need for good communications in every relationship. It shows how honesty and trust is so so important. Without honesty and trust, ones legacy of life and how we wish to be remembered can be shattered.
PETAL is the very private and personal thoughts I have thought no one could ever disclose as Tanya has so masterly and unashamedly written such a frank and open to “tell-all” account. PETAL is also a fantastic “relationships” text book of do’s and don’ts that we can all learn from, particularly in dealing with suicide or potential suicide! This is a book that should be mandatory reading by all.
Tanya, you are such a brave and heroic author, to bare your soul and your very private thoughts for all to share and to bring suicide out of the shadows. This subject on suicide is hard for some to take but for all of us to know and learn from your success in dealing with your first hand account will, I am sure benefit us all and to help others and ourselves in living longer and happier lives.
Michael McMahon