Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix ~ Book Review

Ceelie and Nate have been married for 20 when a breast cancer diagnosis sends her reeling. She doesn't know what she would have done without her husband's support through all the treatments. On the day her treatment is done, after the bell has been rung, Nate announces he can't do it anymore and he is leaving her. Ceelie is left reeling. Her only source of comfort and strength is her friendship with Darleen, a fellow patient. But when Darleen's diagnosis becomes terminal, she requests the help of her friend Ceelie in finding the father she was abandoned by when she was young. Growing up and living her adult life with a deep down hatred of her father, Darleen now feels the need to find out why her father abandoned her mother and herself and to try to let it go before she passes away. As they try to find out about Cal we are taken on a journey of a WWII veteran who was a paratrooper on D-day who landed where he shouldn't have and the two French sisters who saved him. 

 This book was very emotional and touching. Though at first it was a little hard to get into, soon I was turning the pages. It takes you through every emotion as Ceelie deals with everything that has been thrown at her. I found myself totally caught up in her struggle. It's a story of deep pain and hurt, resolving those feelings, forgiveness, guilt, sacrifice and friendship. The author developed each character very well and it was easy for me the reader to understand their feelings. It's a slower paced book that takes you through some very hard topics with compassion and some humor through the personality of one of the characters. It was interesting to read in the author's notes that she herself is a three time breast cancer survivor and she wanted to "explore the unspoken consequences, emotional and physical, of breast cancer" and she wanted the novel to be about the theme "brave". She also wanted readers to know the sacrifices made by those who were a part of D-day. I think she did a wonderful job of both.

I rated it a 9/10

Reading Challenge 2021 Goals Met (May):  Book Purchased in 2019-2021