'I loved this book so much! Intense and beautiful and heartbreaking.' Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder
It's hard to plan your future when the ghosts of the past won't leave you alone...
Stella tries very hard to be good. She tries not to be sassy, to answer back, to be noticed. Because when Stella's father is angry, it's like lightning and thunder and hailstones. All she can do is touch wood... or search for magpies. Two for joy.
But as Stella begins to build a new life, her past still haunts her. It will take all her grace, courage and love to heal her wounds and break free.
Set against a backdrop of London and Ghana, Marie-Claire Amuah has produced an unforgettable exploration of intergenerational trauma. Brimming with compassion, One for Sorrow, Two for Joy offers both a sensitive portrayal of the ripple effects of domestic violence, and a defiant story of friendship, resilience and hope.
Marie-Claire Amuah is a British-Ghanaian barrister specialising in white-collar crime. She studied English and French at the University of Nottingham before embarking on a legal career. She is also a trustee of Black Cultural Archives, a national heritage charity dedicated to collecting, preserving and celebrating the histories of African and Caribbean people in Britain. She received the John C Laurence award from the Society of Authors to support the writing of her debut novel, One for Sorrow, Two for Joy (Oneworld 2022). She was born, raised and currently lives in South London.
Title: One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
Author: Amuah, Marie-Claire
ISBN: 9780861542321
Binding:
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Publication Date: 2022-08-18
Number of Pages: 320
Weight: 0.4821 kg
'A triumphant ode to resilience, friendship and love. Marie-Claire's writing sparkles, reminiscent of Adichie's Purple Hibiscus.'
-- Bisi Adjapon, author of The Teller of Secrets
'A vivid, deeply felt exploration of intergenerational trauma... Stella is an utterly unique heroine who you'll find yourself rooting for from page one.'
-- Angela Chadwick, author of XX
'Bittersweet... [Amuah's] interrogation of trauma is powerful and this is neatly balanced with accounts of the friends' get-togethers... a heartfelt debut.'
-- Observer
'Wow! One for Sorrow, Two for Joy is an evocative and gorgeously narrated story that broke my heart and stitched it back together again even stronger by the end. I laughed and cried and hurt and healed in the course of reading Stella's deeply-felt story. I loved this book so much. Intense and beautiful and heartbreaking!'
-- Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder
'Brilliant. I loved it! One for Sorrow, Two for Joy is a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. I loved how the writing grew as Stella did. From the jump I felt invested and protective of Stella and all the Stellas out there! I got lost in it and couldn't put it down. Here's to resilience and friendship!'
-- Jamz Supernova, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ
'A beautiful, brave and deeply moving debut that explores the complexities of intergenerational trauma, belonging and love through a tender yet powerful voice. In One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Amuah has crafted an important and sweeping story with skill and compassion. Stella, as well as her friends and family, will stay with me for a long time.'
-- Sussie Anie, author of To Fill a Yellow House