The Scent of Water Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

Title The Scent of Water

by Stan Phillips by Penelope Swithinbank

Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

The past eighteen months have been strange in the extreme with many people grieving, not just the loss of family or friends, but also the way of life we once knew. Yet, we were, and often still are, going through the grieving process without the support of friends, due to restrictions, but also changing wellworn grieving rituals such as funerals and wakes. Everything has shifted. Despite this, grief is not something talked about or acknowledged, which is why I welcome this book and felt it was important to review.

The author, Penelope Swithinbank, writes from a place of her own grief. Eleven years ago, she watched her elderly, yet still fit and active, mother being killed in a tragic accident involving a runaway car. In the book, Penelope acknowledges that this sent her into a downward spiral of grief and depression alongside PTSD. It was a dark period in her life, and it was at least two years before she could write, or even read books, again. When she did start to write it was a slow process, but I feel the book is all the better for it. She has poured her own feelings into every word and acknowledges the difficulty and the pian. She does not shy away from this and encourages readers to acknowledge their own pain whilst instilling hope in them.

This is a book which has the potential to be depressing, but Swithinbank has risen above that instead focussing on areas which can help one to heal. With a mixture of devotions and prayer, with accompanying bible verses, the book is aimed squarely at the Christian market. I particularly like the first section which deals with key dates after the death such as the deceased’s birthday, the readers own birthday, Christmas, Easter etc. All the times when you would

normally be celebrating with the loved one you have lost.

Scent of Water is a stunning hardback book which is in a gift size and is beautifully illustrated throughout. If you know anyone who is grieving, then this would make a thoughtful gift.

This book will help those who have lost someone close and who need words of comfort and hope. It soothes like a literary balm and yet deals with raw emotions and real grief.

You can buy signed copies of the book from the author via her website Penelope Swithinbank, or from any bookstore or online retailer.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B097LJY9XV Penelope Swithinbank has a portfolio of experience which has helped to shape the way she now works as a self-employed retired person!

The portfolio ranges from being the franchisor businesswoman who created Bumpsadaisy, a national franchise to rent and sell maternity wear, to becoming ordained in the Church of England, where she is now a Chaplain at Bath Abbey. And along the way she has had 3 books published, been a Rector in South Carolina, opened the US Senate in prayer, led pilgrimages in both the UK and Europe, and run a retreat house. Penelope loves walking and has just completed 150 miles in 13 days walking from Winchester to Canterbury on the Pilgrims Way. She is grandmother to 6 almost-teenagers and says the grandchildren are so great she should have had them first.