The Sum of all Parts

by Sara Sheeran

‘Our entire lives we are told what to think, what to feel, what to say. We are told who we are. All those personas we are given... But who am I really?’

The Sum of all Parts is a shattered story of life, love, pain, memories, betrayal, and hope. Told through the eyes of six women, it reflects on how our thoughts create feelings, our feelings create behaviour, and our behaviour creates feelings: the endless cycle that drives life.

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2023

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking book, which I will read again as I want to go back and think again more carefully about the themes it explores. These are important and the perspectives feel authentic and frequently heart-breaking, not least because they are often understated in the way in which they are reported, especially through the lense of the child. The shifting points of view are compelling and the content is powerful, often dark and at times uncomfortable to read.

A well-written book which I'd love to discuss with the author

[John Sheeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. The way it is written - the different style of each narrative- makes the story very intimate and real. This can be quite harrowing given some of the subject matter (child abuse, suicide) but it gives amazing insight into the womans life. Even though the subject matter is emotive, it is also a story about a hope and although the end is inconclusive, that hope remains.