A review by serenalawless
Constellations by Sinéad Gleeson

5.0

As a fan of essay collections, this did not disappoint. Unlike the others, I think this one hit me at a deeper level. I have not cried this much reading a book in a long time. Gleeson's writing is not overwrought or overly sentimental, but razor sharp, clean, and to the point - and yet, it is full of emotion. It's a life in a book, a life that has been touched by death and pain, loss and illness. It is a book of strength too, and particularly the last entry, 'A Non-Letter to my Daughter,' will resonate with women everywhere. For me, the most powerful essays were 'Our Mutual Friend,' and 'Second Mother,' as I found myself and my experiences reflected back at me. But really, they're all gold - there is no essay in this collection that feels like padding, like it's out of place. They're all strong. And they all belong.