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The Clouds Aren't White
Emmeline MacArthur is in the eye of the storm, a period of calm in the unstable life of political intrigue. As soon as the future looks clear, three shots from an old revolver shatter her precarious peace. In minutes Emmeline is plucked from picking dandelions with her daughter, Sophie, to standing next to the steel grave of her husband and his bullet ridden body.
In the months that pass, the assassin’s trail goes cold. Emmeline founders in a quiet depression, paralyzed by guilt and tormented by hazy nightmares. Grief leaves Emmeline adrift, barely able to be a mother. Tensions rise within the family and from without, culminating in Emmeline fleeing to Scotland, clinging to what she believes to be her husband’s last wish.
In the wilds of Scotland, Emmeline is confronted by more than she bargained for. The distance does nothing to alleviate her pain and Sophie becomes ever more distant and petulant. Emmeline stumbles through the process of grief, juggling work, motherhood, in-laws, and the notion of loving another man.
Emmeline MacArthur’s story is about love, the love which bonds a family, that compels a mother’s sacrifice, and the love which creates the framework of grief. The Clouds Aren’t White forces the question, what if the worst were to happen?
In the months that pass, the assassin’s trail goes cold. Emmeline founders in a quiet depression, paralyzed by guilt and tormented by hazy nightmares. Grief leaves Emmeline adrift, barely able to be a mother. Tensions rise within the family and from without, culminating in Emmeline fleeing to Scotland, clinging to what she believes to be her husband’s last wish.
In the wilds of Scotland, Emmeline is confronted by more than she bargained for. The distance does nothing to alleviate her pain and Sophie becomes ever more distant and petulant. Emmeline stumbles through the process of grief, juggling work, motherhood, in-laws, and the notion of loving another man.
Emmeline MacArthur’s story is about love, the love which bonds a family, that compels a mother’s sacrifice, and the love which creates the framework of grief. The Clouds Aren’t White forces the question, what if the worst were to happen?
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2016
13 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Wright
10 books24 followersRachael Wright is a Colorado native with degrees in History and Political Science from Colorado Mesa University and writes for several political newspapers. She is a devoted tea drinker, Manchester United fan, and Scotland history buff. Rachael lives in Colorado with her two children and is available to speak at book clubs and events and can be reached on her website http://www.authorrachaelwright.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 17, 2017
Review of The Clouds Aren't White by Rachael Wright
Rating:5/5 stars.
"Look, Mommy... The Clouds Aren't White."
Can I just curl up and cry my soul out?
This book wasn't what I expected it to be. I mean, when I started it I didn't really remember the plot, so, at first, I thought it was going to be some sort of thriller/mystery book. Hell, I was wrong.
This book is everything but that.
This book is a journey from Hell to Paradise,
from Pain to Joy,
from Death to Life.
It was a journey of self-discovery,
a journey towards self-confidence.
It was the Journey of Life.
Emmeline has the perfect family: a husband that loves her, Hugh, and a 5 year old daughter, Sophie, who's the apple of everybody's eye. She feels like nothing can somehow interfere with this, but when her husband is shot dead her whole existence loses importance. There's only one reason why she doesn't completely fall apart: her daughter.
While trying to understand how to go on with her life, how to take care of her child as a widow, and how to grieve her husband, Hugh gives Emmeline one last gift: the chance of a new life, away from everything and everyone, the chance to live their last wish, the chance to start to live once again.
Goodreads' description gives away too many details that in my opinion shouldn't be revealed, but discovered while reading, that's why I wanted to give you my own version.
I don't think this book needs any more words from me, because I think it's pretty clear that I loved it. It's the kind of book that makes you think a lot, that makes you question yourself. What kind of person do I want to be? The one that runs away or the one that faces every problem?
What are you?
Rating:5/5 stars.
"Look, Mommy... The Clouds Aren't White."
Can I just curl up and cry my soul out?
This book wasn't what I expected it to be. I mean, when I started it I didn't really remember the plot, so, at first, I thought it was going to be some sort of thriller/mystery book. Hell, I was wrong.
This book is everything but that.
This book is a journey from Hell to Paradise,
from Pain to Joy,
from Death to Life.
It was a journey of self-discovery,
a journey towards self-confidence.
It was the Journey of Life.
Emmeline has the perfect family: a husband that loves her, Hugh, and a 5 year old daughter, Sophie, who's the apple of everybody's eye. She feels like nothing can somehow interfere with this, but when her husband is shot dead her whole existence loses importance. There's only one reason why she doesn't completely fall apart: her daughter.
While trying to understand how to go on with her life, how to take care of her child as a widow, and how to grieve her husband, Hugh gives Emmeline one last gift: the chance of a new life, away from everything and everyone, the chance to live their last wish, the chance to start to live once again.
Goodreads' description gives away too many details that in my opinion shouldn't be revealed, but discovered while reading, that's why I wanted to give you my own version.
I don't think this book needs any more words from me, because I think it's pretty clear that I loved it. It's the kind of book that makes you think a lot, that makes you question yourself. What kind of person do I want to be? The one that runs away or the one that faces every problem?
What are you?
October 17, 2016
A beautifully created maelstrom of emotions
Emmeline MacArthur has a near perfect life until an instant in time, by a man she'll never truly know, changes her world and that of her young daughter Sophie, forever. This book tackles one of the most formidable experiences any human can - grief. The universal life-changing process affects almost every one alive at some point and is much like love in its underlying definitions. It affects us all in its own inimitable ways.
Here, in this novel we find Emmeline struggling to cope with the loss of her husband, her soul mate, and seemingly the once in a lifetime love of her life when he is mindlessly murdered. On top of that, her inquisitive five-year-old daughter struggles to comprehend and understand why he daddy can't come home. Together, we follow their lives as if we're looking over their shoulders, or surreptitiously peering through the windows of their home. Rachael Write depicts this novel beautifully to install a real sense of feeling and emotion of the words therein.
The initial chapters are quite heavy on the emotional rollercoaster ride in the wake of Hugh's death, just as it would be in reality. As Emmeline battles her own consciousness and anger at the unfairness of what has happened, we follow her to the rural Scottish countryside in an attempt to start a new life. I found the story picked up pace at this point such kept me turning the pages as each question Emmeline posed to herself was debated, argued, and resolved with meticulous precision to emotional detail.
As a reader of predominantly action, sci-fi, or thrillers, I found this book enthralling in its ability to pull a reader in. There's an ongoing murder investigation throughout which sort of floats along inconspicuously as the story changes but scenery and character. I think more on the case could have benefitted slightly, but that may have detracted from the initial bitterness felt by the actions of Emmeline's in laws who place far too much on her shoulders for their own misgivings. I hold my hat to the author for stirring such feelings as I read. The portrayal of them exacting their grief by such combative means is how grief takes some of us. Well done, Rachael.
In closing then, as a first novel you'll not go far wrong with this story. Beautifully written with evocative lines, flawed characters, and an unnerving realisation of the effects of grief, you'll find yourself sending prayers and thoughts to the main characters. I bought the kindle version of this book and am also very fortunate to have been sent a signed copy by the author for my personal library.
Much work and time has gone into the production of this story and it shows in the quality of the writing. Highly recommended read.
Emmeline MacArthur has a near perfect life until an instant in time, by a man she'll never truly know, changes her world and that of her young daughter Sophie, forever. This book tackles one of the most formidable experiences any human can - grief. The universal life-changing process affects almost every one alive at some point and is much like love in its underlying definitions. It affects us all in its own inimitable ways.
Here, in this novel we find Emmeline struggling to cope with the loss of her husband, her soul mate, and seemingly the once in a lifetime love of her life when he is mindlessly murdered. On top of that, her inquisitive five-year-old daughter struggles to comprehend and understand why he daddy can't come home. Together, we follow their lives as if we're looking over their shoulders, or surreptitiously peering through the windows of their home. Rachael Write depicts this novel beautifully to install a real sense of feeling and emotion of the words therein.
The initial chapters are quite heavy on the emotional rollercoaster ride in the wake of Hugh's death, just as it would be in reality. As Emmeline battles her own consciousness and anger at the unfairness of what has happened, we follow her to the rural Scottish countryside in an attempt to start a new life. I found the story picked up pace at this point such kept me turning the pages as each question Emmeline posed to herself was debated, argued, and resolved with meticulous precision to emotional detail.
As a reader of predominantly action, sci-fi, or thrillers, I found this book enthralling in its ability to pull a reader in. There's an ongoing murder investigation throughout which sort of floats along inconspicuously as the story changes but scenery and character. I think more on the case could have benefitted slightly, but that may have detracted from the initial bitterness felt by the actions of Emmeline's in laws who place far too much on her shoulders for their own misgivings. I hold my hat to the author for stirring such feelings as I read. The portrayal of them exacting their grief by such combative means is how grief takes some of us. Well done, Rachael.
In closing then, as a first novel you'll not go far wrong with this story. Beautifully written with evocative lines, flawed characters, and an unnerving realisation of the effects of grief, you'll find yourself sending prayers and thoughts to the main characters. I bought the kindle version of this book and am also very fortunate to have been sent a signed copy by the author for my personal library.
Much work and time has gone into the production of this story and it shows in the quality of the writing. Highly recommended read.
January 11, 2017
Rachael does an amazing job telling a story of a family's love and what happens after one of them is taken from this world to soon. Emmeline is in a wonderful, loving marriage with Hugh and it shines off the pages. They even have Sophie, an amazing sweet, little girl to show for it. In the first chapter I feel in love with them all. This is where my warning to any reader comes in, make sure you have a box of tissues ready, it gets sad. By chapter two my heart was ripped out along with Emmaline's, as her world gets turned upside down and there's no getting away from the pain.
Rachael has the reader going through the next year with the family and all the grief of life. I had to stop and get a new box of tissues. As heartbreaking as it all was it felt real. I've never cried so much throughout a story before, but the Clouds Aren't White is told so well I had to finish going through it with Emmeline, Sophia, and both sets of grandparents. They go through bumps some much harder then others.
It does get lighter as the book and time goes on. For romance readers this isn't your topical fall in love, go through hard times, then love fixes all. Emmeline and Hugh already had that from chapter one, this book is the story of what happens after the ever-after. It's about a devastated single mom who has a hurt, angry ,scared child. Emmeline's parents and in-laws are there as much as they can, also dealing with their own pain, new and old.
Rachael has the reader going through the next year with the family and all the grief of life. I had to stop and get a new box of tissues. As heartbreaking as it all was it felt real. I've never cried so much throughout a story before, but the Clouds Aren't White is told so well I had to finish going through it with Emmeline, Sophia, and both sets of grandparents. They go through bumps some much harder then others.
It does get lighter as the book and time goes on. For romance readers this isn't your topical fall in love, go through hard times, then love fixes all. Emmeline and Hugh already had that from chapter one, this book is the story of what happens after the ever-after. It's about a devastated single mom who has a hurt, angry ,scared child. Emmeline's parents and in-laws are there as much as they can, also dealing with their own pain, new and old.
September 28, 2016
This is an amazing story.
Rachel Wright related the death experience of Emmeline’s husband with such deep feelings that I thought it was her personal memoir.
After reading the author’s biography, I realized that it was just a story.
Rachel Wright is indeed a talented author. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of her works.
Rachel Wright related the death experience of Emmeline’s husband with such deep feelings that I thought it was her personal memoir.
After reading the author’s biography, I realized that it was just a story.
Rachel Wright is indeed a talented author. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of her works.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews