If You Sit Very Still

by Marian Partington, Marina Cantacuzino (Foreword by)

Overview

In 1994, 21 years after her disappearance, Lucy Partington's remains were discovered in Fred and Rosemary West's basement at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester. In this powerful and lyrical book, Lucy's elder sister, Marian, reclaims Lucy from the status of victim and finds an authentic and compassionate response to her traumatic loss. Her inspiring narrative of healing draws on Buddhist and Quaker practices and culminates in restorative justice work in prisons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781908363138
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	05/15/2015
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.48(w) x 8.43(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marian Partington was born in Oxford in 1948. She has been working with The Forgiveness Project as a storyteller and facilitator since 2005. Marian lives with her husband in Montgomeryshire, Wales.

Table of Contents

Preface. Foreword by Marina Catacuzino. Prologue. Part 1. Crisis. 1. Disappearance. 2. The Not Knowing. 3. Unearthing. 4. Re-earthing. Part 2. Confessing. 5. Enfolding the Dark. 6. Finding a Voice. Part 3. Comprehending. 7. Peeling Away the Layers. 8. Fresh Earth. 9. Suffering and Healing. Part 4. Transforming. 10. Lucy's Woven Bag. 11. Words of Grace. 12. Epilogue.

Editorial Reviews

An anguished, gruellingly honest and lyrical cry from the heart.

Human Givens Journal

We are spared no aspect of the anguish, confusion and anger experienced, but are also told an extraordinary story of inner movement and growth - growth in a faith much less orthodox on the face of it than Lucy's ardent Catholicism but equally deep and serious. It is a book about the massive difficulty of anything like reconciliation in the wake of outrage. There is nothing easily consoling here, but rather a sense of stillness, acceptance and hope - both given and worked for.

Rowan Williams

There is not a sentence in this book that has not been felt, fought for and hard won.

Craig Brown

This is not a story of 'coping with loss', nor of 'overcoming emotion', nor less of 'achieving forgiveness'. It is the story of simply, doggedly and patiently refusing to accept the path of victimhood, revenge or bitter resentment. Instead Marian has walked the way of uncertainty, humility and hope which, through spiritual struggle and human kindness, accepts and transforms sadness, loss and evil.

Stephen Cherry

An outstanding and beautifully crafted redemptive memoir.

Marina Cantacuzino

If You Sit Very Still should feature on everybody's bookshelf alongside such life guides as Shakespeare and the Bible.

Jeffery Taylor