Surviving Her: A Book Review
3rd April 2023
Written by Cian Hancock.
This may look like somewhat of a familiar blog post, but leaving this review on such an incredible book is one that I couldn’t resist!
“Nicky is sure it is all his fault and he can’t even remember what he was doing…”
“Uncertainty swamps me as I move closer, not knowing what’s coming next…Then he launches forward and slams the heavy door in my face…”
To write a novel from two vastly different perspectives, let alone to make it flow succinctly, is quite the skill and one which Johnson excelled at. This isn’t your typical split-narrative story though, rather it encapsulates power dynamics, childhood adversity, and the complexity of romance all in one – intertwining thought-provoking concepts with some light-heartedness to create a well-rounded piece of work.
It is rare to read a book which captures the breadth and depth of a child’s emotions, and the devastating ways in which they turn to cope. This is where Johnson’s clinical career brings originality. In the unravelling of the child’s chaotic family context, we experience a loud inner conflict between loving and resenting, while he desperately tries to navigate his way through growing up. As the story develops, the boy struggles more and more to tolerate uncertainty and make sense of what he sees.
If you caught our latest newsletter, you will have seen the devastating latest figures showing the impact of mental health problems on young people. The crisis text line ‘Shout’, highlighted that suicidal ideation and intentional self-harm are currently the leading causes of death among children and young people aged 5-19. This only provides further evidence of the need to, at the very least, raise awareness of telling signs which indicate something might be wrong.
From the other perspective, a woman is desperately trying to navigate a newfound marriage which quickly becomes shrouded with fear and vigilance. The story follows her as she struggles to understand the confusing behaviours and characteristics of her husband, which go unexplained until the end.
Whilst it is clear that the boy and the woman are linked, what remains unclear is how so. The psychological suspense leaves no option for putting the novel down, and the experience of character development is captivating.
Johnson writes particularly brilliantly about the world from a child’s point of view, which is so important for understanding how our actions and social engagements as adults impact those who we may perceive as unaware. Children take on board a lot more than they often let on, and reading about Nicky’s experience gives the reader insight into language and behaviour sometimes used by children to indicate distress. Perhaps those who endeavour to read this novel will gain awareness of the fact that people’s behaviour is never entirely without purpose. There is always more going on below the surface, and hopefully by knowing what to look out for, we can recognise when somebody might need support.
Read ‘Surviving Her’ here (free on Kindle).
Further resources:
‘Refuge’ (Domestic Abuse service) – link to their website or call 0808 2000 247
‘Men’s Advice Line’ (Domestic Abuse service for male victims) – link to their website or call 0808 801 0327
‘Shout’ website or text 85258
‘Young Minds’ (children’s mental health support information) – click to visit the website, here.
NHS Crisis Team link, here.