The Cloths of Heaven

A body may not be in full working order, but the mind is, and Sheila McGann shows just that. Not being able to do much without the help of others Sheila is confined to her wheelchair in 1970's Ireland. "Wild" Kitty Phelan and her daughter Maud arrive in the neighbourhood and become friends with Sheila and her Mum. Warm friendships develop and the girls exchange feelings, secrets, passions. But who is the really 'crippled' person? I loved the book which gave me a Maeve Binchy-feeling at times (which is good!). There's a wonderful sentence that gives a good indication of the book's feel: "Physical disability is not synonymous with failure. I am glad I learned that lesson." Sheila has a good head on her shoulders and she has people around her who see that. It is a reminder to a lot of people that being disabled doesn't mean a person doesn't have a brilliant mind. The story flows, has humour, tragedy, and shows life in Ireland the way I imagined it would have been back then. Clearly the author knows what she is writing about. A very good read, and I hope to read more from this author!