Tiny Pieces of Enid

by Tim Ewins

‘Hypnotic and very moving’ Beth Morrey, author, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael

Enid isn’t clear about much these days. But she does feel a strong affinity with Olivia, a regular visitor to her dementia home in a small coastal town. If only she could put her finger on why.

Their silent partnership intensifies when Enid, hoping to reconnect with her husband Roy, escapes from the home. With help from an imaginary macaw, she uncovers some uncomfortable truths about Olivia’s marriage and delves into her own forgotten past.

A deeply touching story of love, age and companionship, evoking the unnoticed everyday moments that can mean the world to the people living them, Tim Ewins’ second novel will delight fans of his acclaimed debut, We Are Animals.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

Tim always wanted to write a book. Eight years ago, he started writing a book called How to Write a Book, but after starting the first chapter he realised that he probably wasn’t the right person to write that book.

Now, a stand-up comedy career, a brief acting stint (he’s in that film Bronson, somewhere in the background) and one theatre group later, Tim’s first novel We Are Animals is due to be published in February 2020 by Lightning Books, and he could not be more chuffed.

Tim has previously written for DNA Mumbai and had two short stories highly commended and published in Michael Terence Short Story Anthologies.

To have a book published is a dream he thought would never come true, maybe next he’ll write that book about writing books… Read more about Tim and his work at https://timewins.wordpress.com/

Follow him on Instragram @timewins and @quickbooksummaries

Follow him on Twitter @EwinsTim

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog

This story was so heartbreakingly beautiful yet moving in equal measure. I just fell in love with Enid and her family. Olivia was another main character I adored and I admired her and her strength so much. Enid is sent to a care home because of her dementia. Enid understands and accepts that, what she doesn't like is being away from her beloved husband, Roy. I loved Roy as a character as well. He loved his wife fiercely and wanted nothing but the best for her.

The way the author gave us multiple points of view made me feel I knew these individuals...I cared what happened to them, I cheered them on and wished them the best. I loved getting inside Enid's head both in her current situation and her memories of the past. I really appreciated that Tim Ewins gave us Barbs (Enid's daughter) point of view. It showed how guilty family members can feel about putting loved ones in a home. I have been through this many times with people I love...grandparents, mom-in-law and my aunt. I wasn't the one who personally made that decision but just visiting them and having to leave was guilt inducing enough.

This story will have you feeling so many emotions. I laughed, I cried, I felt angry and I felt scared but most of all I felt hopeful. If you decide to read this one (and I highly recommend you do), please read the author's last chapter on the real Nanny Enid, his mom's mom. ❤️

This title is currently available for purchase.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enid gets confused these days. So much so that she’s had to leave her beloved husband Roy and move into a dementia care home. ‘It’s for the best’, her daughter Barb reminds her, ‘you’ll get plenty of visitors.’ But there are also plenty of moments in the care home where Enid can simply sit quietly & watch.

She sees the residents and their visitors. Like Olivia who comes to visit her father in law, often bringing her angry husband with her. He reminds Enid of someone she used to know. And when Enid isn’t watching, she’s remembering. She’s thinking about her old home with the Tom Jones & Elvis records waiting to be played. She’s remembering little Barb’s fascination with birds. She’s remembering an old scar on her forehead, a legacy from another life. And she’s fondly recalling the greatest love of all time; Enid and her Roy. What a team they are. But as old age & poor health crook a gnarled finger at them both, beckoning them to hurry, it may be time for this love story to end…

Ohhhhhhhh THIS BOOK! From the first chapter I was captivated. The characters are warm, genuine, realistic & incredibly endearing. I loved hearing about Enid’s life, the road she’d travelled had had its fair share of bumps & the memories of her & Roy as young parents in the prime of their lives, in contrast to their now failing elderly bodies brought a smile to my face & a tear to my eye simultaneously. Throwing in Olivia’s story was also a brilliant plot addition, my heart was in my mouth reading about her, particularly in the last part of the book.

I’m not kidding when I say that I was p***ing myself laughing at one point (the carrot!!), then gulping away tears the next, such is the brilliance of Tim Ewin’s writing. He’s absolutely smashed it out of the ballpark here with a moving and bittersweet story of time, love and unity. Everyone needs to meet Enid and Roy this year.

A spectacular five stars. Easily.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author takes us inside Enid’s head, moving between her struggle to understand her current reality and her memories of happier – and unhappier – times. Enid’s moments of lucidity when she recalls her early years with Roy and her daughter’s childhood are all the more heartbreaking for their fleeting nature. However, despite her declining mental state, Enid still demonstrates a sense of mischief, exemplified by a memorable scene involving a carrot.

One of the most heartbreaking elements of the book for me was Enid’s continuing belief that she would be reunited with Roy when that seems as if it will be impossible. Her realisation that if it’s going to happen it has to be down to her demonstrates not only the depth of her love for Roy but also her determination. Cue, the great escape by means of the number 47.

In fact, the book is full of heartbreaking moments. For example, Roy’s lonely, empty days following Enid’s move to the care home. Watching the birds visiting the feeder in the garden, he muses that at least restocking it will give him something to do. ‘There was life in the garden. When Roy turned, he would be back in the house, alone and in the silence.’ I loved Roy and my wish for everyone would be that they find someone who loves them the way Roy loves Enid. He is the perfect contrast to some of the other male characters in the book. Recalling one particularly troubling episode, Enid observes, ‘Her husband had turned his anger into something productive. That is what made Roy the man he was’.

I also loved the bond that formed between Enid and Olivia, born out of a shared experience of unhappy relationships.

The author captures the guilt that family members feel when forced to make the decision that a loved one must move to a care home especially, as in Barb’s case, when this involves splitting up a couple. Barb comes across as an immensely sympathetic figure, someone who demonstrates her unconditional love for Enid even during her mother’s most difficult mood swings. I also think the way the author depicts the care workers who look after Enid illustrates just what a remarkable job such people do.

Frances Quinn’s quote on the back cover of the book says, ‘If it doesn’t make you cry more than once, I don’t know what’s wrong with you’. If that’s the test then I can definitely say there is nothing wrong with me.

[Hayley (Shelflyfe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lightning Books for sending me a copy of 𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗬 𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗗 which I loved reading with the squadpod ladies 🦜💔
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𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.
'𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲,' 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱.
'𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗼, 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲,' 𝗥𝗼𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿.
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Do not be mistaken in thinking that Tiny Pieces of Enid is just a sad book about getting old and having dementia.
Enid is our main protagonist, and yes she is trying to navigate her world while having dementia, but she is SO much more than that.
One thing I loved about Ewins' latest book is that he did not reduce Enid to her illness, or to her age, and he did not infantilise her in any way. Enid, while fictionalised, is such a wonderful representation of all our loved ones who have to battle the still mysterious disease that is dementia. It is a part of her life, but it does not define who she is, and should not undermine the important life she has lived, or the important contributions she still makes to others' lives.
While she may find certain things more challenging and confusing, she deserves to be respected, and loved, and Ewins delivered that in spades.
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𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯, 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘆'𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱. 𝗥𝗼𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅-𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘆'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.
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Enid gets plenty of her own visitors, with her daughter Barb, her husband Roy, and her granddaughter Alex all visiting her, but when she doesn't have visitors she has time to observe others in the home, and remember moments from her own life.
Enid takes a shine to Olivia, a woman who regularly visits another resident at the home (her father in law Martin), but it soon becomes clear why she feels an affinity with Olivia. The question is, can Enid help Olivia, and will Olivia listen and take the action she needs to.
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𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗵-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀.
𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁.
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Even though Enid struggles to communicate, and often finds herself grasping for the right words, she is able to communicate with Olivia in a myriad of subtle ways.
This is something that women do often with each other, in many different situations, and has developed as a sort of survival tactic. Women can share a specific look, a subtle gesture, or a facial expression that would go unnoticed by many, but can speak volumes to each other when needed.
And for Olivia, this subtle acknowledgement may genuinely be a matter of life or death.
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𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.
𝗔𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗺, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗸, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱.
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I won't give any spoilers here, but it becomes very clear from Enid's rememberings that her life has not always been perfect.
She has a wonderful relationship with Roy, and a wonderful relationship with Barb, but she herself has endured violence at the hands of someone who claimed to love her.
The development of Enid and Olivia's relationship is beautiful. Both women feel a true sense of duty, care and responsibility towards one another, and although they did not know each other before Enid moved into the care home, their connection runs deep.
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𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱.
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The reflections on motherhood throughout the story were excellent, which I always love to see, especially from a male writer who can so clearly understand the complex and sensitive feelings around this topic.
Enid did not have a perfect relationship with her own mother, and some of this was due to the time in which she grew up, and societal pressures and expectations forced upon her. But she does have a good relationship with her own daughter, and in some ways she feels like a surrogate mother for Olivia.
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𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀.
'𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘄,' 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗼𝗳-𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗱. '𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀.'
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Interspersed throughout the novel are very real and also metaphorical depictions of birds.
The matephorical birds are a hallucination of sorts, but they depict a very real and sinister undercurrent that cannot be ignored.
The real birds depict the cyclical nature of life, and motherhood, and how life moves on no matter how brief our moment in the nest may truly be.
We all spend time protecting our homes, and our families, and while it's important that life should move on and make way for other birds, and other nests, it doesn't make it any less bittersweet.
There is a beauty in the cycles of things, and lives well-lived, but heartbreak too.
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(Continued in comments)

[Beth Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don't know what I was expecting with this read but it was unbelievably beautiful in its storytelling, packed full of emotion and a lot of serious life topics covered. Dementia is always a difficult subject to cover and read about in fiction - here it was done not just respectfully but emotively. It portrayed the real fear and frustration for the person suffering with such a destructive disease and the pain for the family and friends that have no choice but to sit on the sidelines and watch the disease unfold hurting those they love. This portrayal felt more real then any other book I have read covering this. It is not only dementia that is covered but also domestic abuse, another serious subject that was written about respectively, emotively and in such a real, raw way. The way Enid and Olivia's friendship develops, their understanding and support of each other in their own language when straight talking is not available , is such a beautiful thing to witness through the pages. It was why I could not put this book down and read it in one single evening - it was just simply beautiful. I whole heartedly recommend

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enid wakes up and can think clearly but can’t communicate with or remember the people around her. She’s had a series of strokes affecting her speech and also has dementia. Roy is her husband who dearly misses her when she is moved into a nursing home to help her to cope with day to day life better. But when Enid starts hearing and seeing a mysterious parrot, she starts remembering things from her past.

Olivia regularly visits another resident of the nursing home and after Enid witnesses her being sworn at by her husband, she begins to regularly see the macaw. Gradually she starts to piece Olivia’s struggles together with knowledge of her first marriage. Can Enid really help another person when she forgets things as simple as how to flush the toilet every time she goes?

I absolutely adored this story! The narrative that we get from Enid’s thoughts, which are jumbled but much clearer than she can express in words, is a clever touch. It was so heartbreaking picturing Enid and Roy just wanting to get back to each other, and how, through Enid’s patchy memory, we can see that Roy has helped her live a full life after her first marriage was so abusive. With the added storyline of Olivia’s marriage, there was an element of peril and in her feelings of terror, we can see everything that Enid has likely survived too. Such a touching story, particularly for anyone who has lived through a relative suffering from dementia.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enid is in a dementia care home.

Tiny Pieces of Enid is exquisite. The way Tim Ewins writes ensnares the reader immediately, drawing them in to the narrative and mesmerising them with both gentleness and razor-sharp observation. I loved the fairly fragmentary structure of the chapters because this fits the way Enid’s mind works and how her memories present themselves.

Enid could be any one of us. In a sense, her story is a prosaic one and as her memory fails, she succumbs to life in her care home. She has lived a relatively ordinary life and her dementia is recognisable to so many of us. But that doesn’t describe the warm, sensitive and humane insight Tim Ewins has and nor does it convey the beautiful, convincing and heart-breaking manner with which he uncovers Enid’s personality and experiences to the reader. Certainly there’s a quietness in the narrative, but there are times of high drama too that affect the reader so deeply. There’s something unquantifiable about the profound impact Tiny Pieces of Enid has and how meeting Enid, and Olivia, shines a light onto human nature and the realities behind so many seemingly ordinary lives.

As the characters are relatively few in number and much of the action takes place in just a couple of settings, Tiny Pieces of Enid has an intimacy that enhances the themes of family and relationships, of physical and mental health, of love and warmth as well as of control and violence. The book is so convincing that it is hard to imagine that Enid, Olivia et al are not real people. They permeated my thoughts and I found myself wondering what was happening to them when I wasn’t reading the book. I lived their lives alongside them. I thought the balance of Enid and Roy’s lives compared with Olivia and David’s in the sub-plot was perfect. There are echoes and similarities between them all that I thought were utterly compelling but to say more is to spoil the read for others.

Tiny Pieces of Enid is not merely a good book. It is, rather, a truly magnificent one. It’s a book that touches the reader, heart and soul. I thought it was magnificent because it is imbued with love and compassion – and what more could we aspire to or need in life? I absolutely adored it.

[Smee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Tim Ewins last year and bought the book he was promoting. Absolutely loved every chapter. ❤️

[Nicola Ennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into dementia and the bonds of love … at times the dots didn’t quite join up but it was an easy read so you didn’t really mind
Enid best character
Barb not so sure

[Andrew Bruton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Ewins’ second novel is a wonderful homage to both his own grandmother and the love of families having to deal with getting old. There is a spark of mischief in the title character’s antics but the love that binds her to her family, and in particular to her husband Roy is what drives the story. Enid has dementia, and the story is told from various points in her life. Ewins captures the subtlety of love in all its iterations during the lives of a couple who find themselves trapped in positions that keep them apart. The story sees Enid do everything she can to be reunited with her husband, yet we also see her compassion and learn of her struggles as a young girl. She befriends a middle aged woman with two children, and it is she who helps her new friend to make a important decision that could ultimately save her life.
This book will make you want to call your mother or grandmother and go hug them. We all need reminding that the elderly are just future versions of ourselves, and that they have much more to lose than we do. Enid will stay with you long after putting this book down.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply fell head-over-heels for this book and especially Enid. It's carefully and sensitively written.

After one instance too many at home, Enid's daughter Barb makes the painful decision of putting her mum in a dementia care home. She feels guilty at splitting her mum and dad up.

Enid thinks her separation from her beloved Roy is temporary & lives for the day they'll be together again. Roy, meanwhile, has his own health issues but is plodding along, lonely and missing his wife. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

Enid has flashbacks to her earlier life, courting Roy after her marriage ended, her beloved daughter Barb with her fascination with birds, memories of things they did together.

When she meets Olivia, the young mother at the home, she feels a natural affinity with her. She can see she's not got a good life with her angry husband & she tries to tell her it doesn't have to be this way. Olivia too, feels the connection.

Amongst the sadness there's also some humour, some of which had me laughing out loud. An absolute must read, one of my favourite books this year.

[Claudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from Tim Ewins.
Reading the synopsis might initially make me think I’m not sure I want to read this as it’s bound to be too sad. And it was sad but also beautiful and gripping.
Enid came to life in my head so easily and other characters were so realistic. Some lovable some horrible!
Beautifully written, easy to read, thoroughly recommend.

[Paul Modley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely (and sad book) about an elderly married couple who are split up as Enid is suffering from dementia and is put in to a home. Interspersed with another’s family’s trials and tribulations as the wife suffers abuse from her husband.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. So very very moving. I think the story of Enid, Roy and Olivia will stay with me for a long time. I read this book in just over 24 hours which is rare for me. So well written by Tim. Brilliant.

[Geraldine Croft · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Enid lay motionless on the hospital bed with her eyes closed. She wasn’t sure if she could move; she hadn’t tried, and she didn’t want to.”

Tiny Pieces of Enid is a beautifully written and moving story about the impact dementia has on the lives of both the afflicted and their loved ones. Birds, buses and enduring love weave in and out of the narrative as the lives of Enid, Roy and their daughter Barb unfold while as a thought-provoking tie-in Enid instinctively senses all is not well with Olivia, a young woman visiting her father-in-law in the same dementia care home. Her fears become reality when Olivia becomes involved in Enid’s desperate escape to be with Roy in the familiar surroundings of their family home.

I loved the way little snippets of everyday life like watching and taking part in Countdown with a plate of five biscuits, making and getting a bit tipsy on homemade wine and senior citizen bussing adventures were able to evoke deep feelings in me.

Dementia and the ageing process are handled with great care, tenderness and sensitivity. The sadness, confusion, frustration, pain, loneliness, abandonment, anger and heart-breaking decisions are a fact of life but magical memories made can still be captured and retained in tiny pieces.

The novel is dedicated in part to the real Nanny Enid and I think she would be extremely proud of her grandson for creating such a touching tribute balancing heartbreak with acceptance and the strength to effect change.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heart wrenching, powerful story. So descriptive and well written.

[Laura Besley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a bird layering twigs to build a nest, Ewins has woven together past and present, memory and reality, to create a startlingly beautiful novel with complex characters, walking the fine line between fragility and strength. An absolute delight.

[Jill Forsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

[MISS TRACEY LOUISE POWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read. Ending petered out but a lovely entertaining book

[Jackie Meekums-Hales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Ewins has written with compassion and empathy, creating characters you will come to care about, as he gently weaves their past into their present, while highlighting serious issues. The plot is a testament to the strength of love, within and across the generations, with a poignancy that will capture your heart. For an older reader, in some ways it’s scary, glimpsing the world of dementia sufferers, yet at the same time it trumpets the need to understand how so much of what someone was is still there in old age – the love, the courage, the caring, the fleeting memories – because they haven’t always been old. Edith becomes Olivia’s inspiration in finding the strength to reject domestic abuse, while her daughter faces difficult decisions for those she loves, as many do. This is a book I’ll remember long after I read it.

[Sian Sandwith]

Wow what a brilliantly written book. Alzheimer’s & dementia are both something that are very hard to understand & see our loved ones suffer with but Tim has written this beautifully. Highly recommend

[Margaret Cranford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my book group and really enjoyed it. It is hard to identify a genre for the book, so I would just say that it is mostly about the hard times in life that most of us experience either directly or through a close friend or family member. So there are happy relationships, bad relationships, aging, loss and findings (if that is the opposite of loss!). The story is well paced, the characters are well drawn and there is plenty to think about. There was only one point near the end where I felt the plot was a little contrived, but not enough to bother me. I should say that the only members of the book club who didn't enjoy the book were those who had recently cared for a family member with dementia - their emotions were still too raw to revisit.
I am now starting on Tim's first book "We are animals" and can't wait to get into the story.

[Tara Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in a day. It is so very lovely. Gentle, insightful, important. A reminder that age and loss of cognitive functions should not consign people to supporting roles or invisibility.

I loved the characters and the way they are drawn so really and so believably. It is a gorgeous novel

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enid has been losing her grip on reality for a while, and although her husband Roy has done his best to keep her deterioration secret, the time has come for some changes. Against Roy's wishes, their daughter Barb reluctantly arranges for Enid to be admitted to a dementia home - a decision that plagues her with guilt, even though she knows her father can no longer cope.

The dementia home is comfortable, and the staff are caring and attentive, but Enid struggles to think of these unfamiliar surroundings as home, and she misses Roy's calm presence terribly. She understands little about what is going on around her, but she feels drawn to a regular visitor of a fellow resident - something about young wife and mother Olivia's situation calls to Enid... if only she could work out why.

Enid cannot settle. An imaginary macaw, conjured from the depths of her fractured memories, urges her to make a break for it in search of Roy - an adventure that allows Enid and Olivia to understand why they feel a connection, and helps Olivia find the courage to make some important changes of her own.

Tiny Pieces of Enid is an incredibly moving story that explores a host of themes around aging, dementia (based in part about Ewin's own beloved Nanny Enid), and domestic abuse. Undeniably, these are heavy subjects to base a story around, but Ewins applies a deft hand to all the emotive topics examined with great sensitivity and insight, taking great care to look at these subjects from more than one angle. The cornerstone of the novel is love, an element especially observed through the long and happy marriage of Enid and Roy. Ewins writes with such tenderness about the moments of joy that they have shared together over the years - the simple moments of real affection, companionship, and shared experiences that make up a life. Threaded throughout are darker themes that look at minds and bodies succumbing to the ravages of time; as well as the effect of controlling relationships, and domestic abuse. In parallel, he considers the agonising weight of responsibility of an adult child navigating the minefield of deciding what is best for aging parents who can no longer live independently, and the nagging guilt that comes with such unenviable decisions - I promise much of this will resonate painfully with those among you have been through this situation.

Despite the subject matter, and the fact that there are scenes aplenty that are deeply affecting, this is not a gruelling book to read. The characters lead the story as it moves back and forth in time between the narrations of Enid, Olivia and Barb, and it is feelings of warmth, care, and hope that ensure the story is ultimately an uplifting one. Enid's personality shines out from the page throughout, with episodes which convey her sense of humour and determination to to help Olivia, even when her dementia confines her to a world of shifting memories and unfamiliar faces.

Ewins has an intriguing ability to use animals to echo the human experience in his books - which you will be aware of if you have read his incredible debut, We Are Animals. In this second book, he employs the motif of birds, and flight, to beautifully enhance his themes with some very clever symbolism: the unflinching dedication of a pair of blackbirds, raising their chicks; the hopeful optimism of seagulls hoping for a tasty morsel; and the persistent presence of the macaw that invades Enid's thoughts, drawn from the depths of her psyche - all are used brilliantly.

This book made me laugh, it made me sob, and it made me ponder. It hits the emotional bitter-sweet spot that marks it as a very special novel: one that stays will you long after you have closed the cover. This is easily one of my books of 2023, and I cannot recommend it to you enough.

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just know when you’ve read something brilliant don’t you? And Tiny Pieces Of Enid by Tim Ewins is one of those books. I would strongly recommend that you read this story, although it does have some triggers (domestic abuse being one) first and foremost it is about love and friendship, Enid is one lovely lady you won’t forget.

Enid isn't clear about much these days. But she does feel a strong affinity with Olivia, a regular visitor to her dementia home in a small coastal town. If only she could put her finger on why.
Their silent partnership intensifies when Enid, hoping to reconnect with her husband Roy, escapes from the home. With help from an imaginary macaw, she uncovers some uncomfortable truths about Olivia's marriage and delves into her own forgotten past.

This book is incredible, a beautifully touching, yet utterly gripping read. I adored Enid as a character, I really wish I could know her in real life! After reading the dedication at the end, I had a lump in my throat as Enid is based on a real person and it also made me think of my own grandmother and her life. I loved the relationship between Olivia and Enid showing that just because you are near the end of life, it doesn’t mean you cannot make new friends.

The portrayal of dementia in this novel is exacting and heartbreaking and very real.
Those tiny pieces of a life are evocative and very moving. I defy anyone not to read this and not sob at some point!
Roy’s decline without Enid made me so sad and we have all experienced this in some shape or form through our own families and lives and I think that is what is most poignant about this book. Those tiny moments that you have, that seem mundane and normal are to be treasured and valued above all others.

It also explores the theme of domestic abuse, my heart was in my mouth at points whilst reading; hammering and creating feelings that I did not expect.

Seriously order this book, beautiful, unforgettable characters and story, it will finish in my top 5 this year for sure. Enid and Roy made me sob, Olivia’s story made my heart hammer in my chest. I will carry this book with me for a long time, unforgettable characters and an unforgettable story, simply superb.

[Tea Leaves and Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

So often we, and I mean the royal we, society, government, policy makers, assessors, family, children, parents - we - try hard to fit people with Alzheimers into the world they’ve always lived in. As a species, we aren’t adaptable. We like to think that we are, and we proudly say that we are. But we’re just not built to sustain dramatic change. We’re only human after all. We are going to always respond emotionally, to dramatic change. But what if our responses could mould to the new circumstances that we find ourselves in? What if, instead of trying hard to fit Enid into the world as she grows older and changes, we fit the world to her?

There’s lots to take from Tiny Pieces of Enid and I believe that this is the sort of book that will inspire different messaging and discussion depending on your lived experience, secondary experience, and knowledge of the topics. But this truly is a book that spans generations and will inspire those with a ‘Nanny Enid’ and those who are older, and those in between. Most of all, I feel that this should be recommended reading for all social care workers, social workers, assessors, policy makers and beyond.

As a book club choice this was a brave one but a firm decision. Books about Alzheimers, about aging, about trauma, abuse, about the love stories that are woven around getting older and changing, are hard to read. But Tim Ewins does the almost impossible. He gently takes us through the chapters of Enid and Olivia’s stories with love, honesty and humour. It could almost have been written in the first person, from personal experience.

Tim explores the reasons why people might do what they do, all the while taking us back in time to Enid’s history, the family history, and then bringing us back to the present with a mix of pragmatism and humour. This book is desperately sad in places, but I finished it with the biggest smile on my face. And I was reminded of Mary Oliver’s poem and specifically, the quote, ‘ Tell me, what is it you plan to do. With your one wild and precious life?’

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny piece of my heart has been stolen by Enid in this book! The author has created a set of characters who you take to your heart and witness their frustrations with life that living with dementia brings to those suffering from it, and those watching their loved ones not being 'them' anymore. I adored it and bought back so many memories of both my grandmothers who had dementia in their latter years.

Enid and Roy are a devoted couple, and they have a daughter Barb who has to make the decision to put her mum in a home, against her dads' wishes. Watching each character struggle with decisions they make, for the best, is so relatable and shows the strains placed on a family when dealing with this illness. While Enid is in the care home she meets Olivia, whose father in law is in the same home, and sees something in her she can relate to and brings back memories of her own past.

It's those subtle moments that get you the most with this book - the fact that the day to day memories are so blurry and forgettable, whereas past memories are clear as day, and your heart just breaks as the cruelness of the disease is laid bare.

I loved the different points of view used to tell the stories in this book and it's equally heart breaking and heart warming as we follow their struggles and fears in dealing with the reality of life with dementia. Highly recommended!

[Jade Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book of the year. I was totally gripped from the very first page. Through the eyes of Enid I understood much better how my mum must have felt in her final years, suffering from dementia.

Tim describes how his nan's dementia slowly took over; it made her scared, angry and confused. He tells his story in a very touching way, telling how sometimes his nan would attack her carers and spit at them. How very frustrating it must be not to be able to express yourself verbally, but just through actions. Feeling imprisoned in your own world, not being able to do what you would oh so much desire to do, but not to physically be able to.

And the most tragic part of this story is that Enid and her husband spent their last days in separate nursing homes, due to their own unique requirements.

I think my own mum slowly lost her identity as she lived in fear of what was happening to her, knowing that "something" wasn't right and the words on page 326 "It saddened me to think that people who didn't know them (Tim's relatives) might see them as being just another elderly person. No elderly person is just another elderly person" really brought home this message to me: that we should show more understanding and have more and yet more patience when trying to communicate and care for elderly people.

A wonderful book that I shall treasure and re-read several times.

[Shash Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly breathtaking! A story of loss, hope and love. Tim Ewins takes on some of the most complex social subjects with such ease, poise and respect for each and every character. Enid feels like a member of the family. Reading her highs, lows, hopes and dreams you get a real feel for her and the world she navigates through all its beauty and frustrations.

One of the most insightful, emotive, beautifully executed books I have ever read. Having worked in the social care sector from support worker to social worker with nearly twenty years experience, it still offered insights I had not fully considered or comprehended. I have recommended 'Tiny Pieces of Enid' far and wide. A firm favourite that will remain with me for life. Stunning.

[Sam Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

After my mother in law died 2 years ago from dementia, started with confusion, having to stop driving, losing ability to walk, talk, recognise and finally eat. I wanted to read a book based on this disease, lots hit home and very familiar and it’s the guilt of them having to go into specialist care that’s the worst as totally beyond our capabilities. I cried reading this book as so raw but it’s a truly sympathetic portrayal mixed with other characters. I will be readying more from this author. Well done