Watch Over Me in Q&A with Daniela Sacerdoti

Jan 04, 2012 Serendipity Reviews rated it it was amazing

As I began to read this book, I was completely unaware of how the author was quietly captivating me and drawing me into the story. If you look at the book as a whole, you realise it is a basic love story, yet as you delve into the layers of the story you find it is so much more. There is magic hiding within the chapters.

The little village of Glen Avich, is enchanting. It reminded me of the mythical Scottish town in Brigadoon, one of my favourite musicals ever. It seems like a town that hasn't ag ...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Lucy rated it it was amazing

Watch Over Me is an incredibly powerful, poignant story that deals with the biggest questions about life and death, love and loss. It follows the journey of Eilidh, who has just lost a very much longed for baby, an event which has led to the realisation that her marriage is over. Barely able to go on, she takes herself to Glen Avich, a village where she stayed as a child, and reconnects with some important characters from her past. The story is about how she finds hope and healing, and learns to ...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Sharon Goodwin rated it really liked it

The prologue is so beautifully written and hooks the reader in. I wanted to find out the events leading to the spring night in the woods as well as what exactly happened that night – who was narrating? Why were they in the woods?

We begin our journey with Eilidh narrating. We find out the poignant sadness of her infertility, her passion for children, her sense of failure … you feel everything Eilidh feels, really getting under her skin. Not only does she feel a failure in her personal life but sh The prologue is so beautifully written and hooks the reader in. I wanted to find out the events leading to the spring night in the woods as well as what exactly happened that night – who was narrating? Why were they in the woods?

We begin our journey with Eilidh narrating. We find out the poignant sadness of her infertility, her passion for children, her sense of failure … you feel everything Eilidh feels, really getting under her skin. Not only does she feel a failure in her personal life but she feels like an outsider in her own family who I felt didn’t know her at all.

Next, we find out from Jamie about his life – his relationship with Janet who was all consumed by her art and appeared quite depressed about being pregnant. Such a juxtaposition to the path Eilidh’s life had taken her!

These two chapters set the scene for their emotional barriers, their vulnerability and hiding from life. Then along comes another element to the story and one that stays throughout the journey. This is unusual, has a vital part to play in their journey to wholeness and so beautifully written. This is the ‘little bit of help from beyond the grave.’

What follows is the dance of healing and vulnerability while being a part of a small community that has some colourful characters and strong blood ties back through time.

Daniela Sacerdoti’s writing is fluid and beautiful. Eilidh and Jamie alternate with a first person narrative and this enables the reader to identify with and become immersed in their journey. Tension comes from two major incidents as well as friction between characters. I loved Shona (Jamie’s sister) and Silke (gallery owner) and who wouldn’t fall in love with Maisie – all that energy and sparkle!

Of course I enjoyed the spiritual aspect to the story but I also have two favourite parts - one has to be over the Christmas and Hogmanay period. It was good to see Eilidh’s friends Harry and Doug from Southport a part of her life in Glen Avich. The other is the scene in hospital with Tom. It was good that the author included a balanced view. The acceptance and finality had me in tears.

My only complaint is that I was hoping for something awful to happen to Katrina (Eilidh’s sister). This isn’t as awful as it sounds – honestly! I was hoping that Katrina would realise the effect she has on others! She is only a character on the periphery (although has a major effect on Eilidh).

Watch Over Me is a poignant love story with a background of family and belonging – the positive and the negative. It’s about the vulnerability of feelings and the power we give away to others … and surrendering ourselves to fate, but have you ever thought about who it is controlling fate? ...more

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