Wonderful An open, honest memoir of the author's experiences especially caring for his ageing mother in lockdown, wonderfully written in a way that is vulnerable, literary and engaging.

With thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.memoir of the author, his mother

This book is exceptional.

McCrea is deeply honest- almost to a fault. Indeed, he notes in the acknowledgements that he did not show anyone in advance how they would be portrayed, and in the best possible way, it shows.

This radical honesty allows him to get away with observations and comments that I can imagine would be almost unconscionable if you had to imagine those same people reading it.

This honesty frees him up to do a great deal more than even that- he is able to dig into some of the deepest soul-searching possible, at times lacerating himself for moments of cruelty or being careless, and at times coming to startlingly clear revelations. In particular, those concerning his relationship with his mother.

This book, as the subtitle 'Memories For My Mother' suggests, is in many ways a tribute, love letter and argument with his mother. Whereas that sounds like it could jar, McCrea's great skill is making those contradictions work, and in so doing, revealing the truly complicated nature of family relationships.

The 'Cells' of the book's title appear in the book as the cells that make up a body or disease, but also the spaces we occupy around each other- companionably or as in prison, and as the book unfolds, the sheer brilliance of this title becomes increasingly poignant.

All of this is to say nothing of the prose itself, which is piercing, wise, brutal, and tender. He glides through scenes of violence, arguments, tender embraces and bad news with precision and beauty, and I regularly just had to pause, re-read a line, and once again give into the beautiful difficulty of this book.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just didn't gel with this book at all sadly. The premise of the story was really interesting but the story really lacked any warmth. Thanks to the publishers, Netgalley and Gavin McCrea for the ARC.

Cells by Gavin McCrea is a memoir about returning to live with his mother and their complicated relationship.

I'm not really sure what I have read. At times it seemed very bold and blunt. I think this style of writing is not for me.