Hole in the Heart: Bringing Up Beth - Softcover

Henny Beaumont

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1908434929 ISBN 13: 9781908434920

Publisher: Myriad Editions, 2016

Synopsis

The mother of a daughter with Down's Syndrome shares her family's journey - in beautiful black and white drawings - from hospital to home, and from early -years to school, in this moving, wise and unsparing graphic memoir.

On Mother's Day 2004 Henny Beaumont gave birth to her third child. For the first few hours, her baby seemed no different to her two other little girls.

With stunning art and refreshing honesty, Henny describes how family life changed the moment the registrar told her and her husband that their daughter might have Down's Syndrome. She knew that her life was over. How can this weak little baby, who would demand so much more from Henny than her other two children, and who would need an operation in order to survive, provoke such feelings of hatred and resentment? How can Henny learn to love her? And if she can't trust her own reactions to Beth, how can she expect other people to overcome their prejudices and ignorance about her condition?

Henny's wit and irony transforms a deeply personal experience into a story that will resonate with every parent: we are all anxious about our children, wondering where they fit in on a scale of achievement, whether we do enough for them, and whether we love them enough. Hole in the Heart is a must-read not only for those who have had a similar experience and for the medical professionals who help them, but also for all of us who may have wondered how to behave towards families with disabled children, or who may question our own ability to be a 'good parent'.

About this title

Review

&quotWonderful, astonishing drawings... A masterclass in the sorrow and joy of being human, and a powerful reminder that nothing is more earth-shattering than love." - Meg Rosoff

&quotPacks a powerful emotional punch by pitting ordinary scenes of life with a newborn alongside the devastating reality of the diagnosis of Beth's condition." - Joanna Moorhead, Guardian

&quotThis graphic novel is one of the most beautiful expressions of love I've ever read." - Pamreader

&quotArresting, affecting, occasionally enraging but always deeply beautiful." - The Bookseller

&quotPowerful and deeply honest... Henny's words and stunning art work speak to everyone, whether they have a child with a learning disability or not." - MENCAP

&quotEssential reading for every paediatrician in training." - Robert Yates, Consultant Cardiologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

&quotWise, funny, life-affirming." --Community Living

"Refreshingly honest and at times very funny, Hole In The Heart is not only a good read for parents of children with special needs and those who work closely with them, but will resonate with all parents as a wonderful expression of love." --Herald Scotland

"Myriad Editions have a knack of publishing eye opening, emotionally devastating work that never neglects capturing readers' interest whilst having an important message... This is a brave and brilliant book, highly recommended." --The Quietus&quotBrutally honest, and ultimately uplifting... Hole in the Heart is a deeply affecting graphic novel... No matter the audience, the book's message is universal." - The Foreword

&quotI read the book in one sitting. [A] most marvellous piece of work...tender and at times almost unbearably honest. [It] will come as a great relief and great help to others in similar situations." - Jonathan Freedland

&quotVery moving...I read it with great admiration and the odd tear." - Margaret Drabble

&quotSitting in the park crying (in a good way) having just finished your book. Love your moving graphic memoir." --Philippa Perry

About the Author

Henny Beaumont is a London-based artist and portrait painter. She has an MA in Fine Art and Printmaking at Camberwell College of Art, where she has also been a visiting lecturer. She worked on an audio visual App for the New River and has been published in the Journal of Writing in Creative Practice 2013. She has four children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Myriad Editions
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1908434929
• ISBN 13: 9781908434920
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240