Kealan Patrick Burke, Blanky review

 

Reviewed by Paula Limbaugh

“You say you can’t imagine what it must be like to lose a child.   Let me make it easy for you.  It’s the beginning of the end of your world.”                                                                                                                                                         

What a horrible horrible story!! Kealan Patrick Burke’s Blanky is not one to read if you are afraid to have your heartstrings tugged, twisted and then torn. He will have you crying, dredging up suppressed memories of loss and regrets. He will tear your heart in two and then give you hope only to rip that away also.  It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story that left me so emotionally drained. I LOVED it!

The loss of a child can rip a family apart and that is exactly what happens to Stephen and Lexi. Stephen shares with us his profound grief over his baby daughter, Robin’s death. His wife can no longer tolerate living in their home where reminders of Robin abound, and so they find themselves living separately, alone in their sorrow.

When one day Robin’s baby blanket appears in the empty room that was once hers, Stephen is both flabbergasted and excited. He calls Lexi and tells her of his find and she immediately comes over to reclaim that little piece of Robin. That secondhand blanket, “blanky” was a find Lexi had picked up at an open market as a gift to her child before she was even born.

Ah, with blanky once again in her hands, Lexi begins to allow herself to feel again. Reminiscing with Stephen, they find themselves able to perhaps think of a future together once more.

But… yes, there is always a but, sometimes things aren’t meant to be and joy can turn to horror in a blink of an eye. Oh, what an emotional rollercoaster ride this is.

I don’t know how Kealan was able to write such story without leaving himself spent, perhaps, he did. All I know is this is a beautifully written story that just flowed with ease across the pages. I couldn’t put it down. Truly, one of his best! Do pick this one up… HERE!

5/5