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Please help me find this book I borrowed from the library in 1990!

115 replies

FantasticButtocks · 14/12/2022 18:03

Not much to go on, sorry...
It had a brightish blue cover.
No idea of author or title, but either the husband or the baby was called Stephen/Steven, think it might actually have been the baby. Don't think the marriage was great. The mother suffers with intense loneliness and depression pnd after the birth, husband not very supportive or maybe doesn't understand... but eventually she finds something that interests her, can't remember what, maybe she starts to study, and starts to feel more human again. She starts going out and about with the pram, and also getting into her subject, she sometimes reads on a bench in the park. One day when she's doing this, very absorbed, the unthinkable happens and her child drowns in the pond.
She blames herself. Her husband blames her.

Very grim and sad, I read it when I'd just given birth to my first child Sad
I've looked for it often, without success and I'd be so grateful if anyone recognises it.
Thanks Smile

OP posts:
InSummertime · 17/12/2022 18:51

I don’t have any other suggestions and I’ve googled for you! I’m invested and I want to read it.

FantasticButtocks · 17/12/2022 10:30

walkinthewoodstoday · 16/12/2022 20:32

Have you tried googling novel PND child death?

Yes I have... to no avail

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AConvivialHost · 17/12/2022 08:57

Thank you, thank you, thank you @RUNPMTS!! I was interested in this thread as the book sounded similar to one I read when I was pregnant back in 2005, where the main character has PND/psychosis. That book has haunted me for years, but I couldn't remember the title or author. Just googled A Special Relationship, and that's the one! Not likely to re-read it - once was enough - but happy that I now know the title.

FantasticButtocks · 17/12/2022 00:04

bumpertobumper · 16/12/2022 20:06

The hours before dawn by Celia fremlin has a very tired mother and a tragedy along those lines happening to the baby.
Could be that. It's a very good read whether it's the same one or not...

Thanks. It's not that because in my book there was only one child

OP posts:
walkinthewoodstoday · 16/12/2022 20:32

Have you tried googling novel PND child death?

beastlyslumber · 16/12/2022 20:14

This sounds so familiar but I haven't got any new suggestions. I want to know now, though!

bumpertobumper · 16/12/2022 20:06

The hours before dawn by Celia fremlin has a very tired mother and a tragedy along those lines happening to the baby.
Could be that. It's a very good read whether it's the same one or not...

Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink · 16/12/2022 20:01

It sounds like something Elena Ferrante might write but I’m not sure if she was around then (and maybe too Italian?)

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 19:56

carefulcalculator · 16/12/2022 19:31

I am totally over-invested in this, I so hope you find your (miserable) book!

Thank you, me too! Xmas Smile

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FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 19:55

Florencearbuthnot2 · 16/12/2022 19:21

I think it may be by Deborah Moggach,it seems to ring a bell

Thanks. I've just checked all hers pre 1990 and I don't think so...

OP posts:
carefulcalculator · 16/12/2022 19:31

I am totally over-invested in this, I so hope you find your (miserable) book!

Florencearbuthnot2 · 16/12/2022 19:21

I think it may be by Deborah Moggach,it seems to ring a bell

gubbinsy · 16/12/2022 19:15

Oh I came on to say A Special Relationship too (although don't remember any drownings) but much too late!

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 19:00

Wildernesstips · 16/12/2022 17:37

I wondered if it might be Offside by Gisela Elsner but I can’t remember enough of the details so not much help, sorry.

I have just spent ages checking that out, because it seemed close. Not the one though, but thank you!

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Wildernesstips · 16/12/2022 17:37

I wondered if it might be Offside by Gisela Elsner but I can’t remember enough of the details so not much help, sorry.

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 10:54

RUNPMTS · 16/12/2022 10:41

I thought maybe A special relationship by Douglas Kennedy because the mother in that has post partum psychosis but it wasn't published until 2003. So I'm no help, sorry 🙄

Yes, I've read that too, and actually all his books I think. He writes women so well I've often wondered if he actually is one!

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CambsAlways · 16/12/2022 10:44

FantasticButtocks I will ask for you but whether you will be able to obtain it now could be a different story( no pun intended ) worth a try though

RUNPMTS · 16/12/2022 10:41

I thought maybe A special relationship by Douglas Kennedy because the mother in that has post partum psychosis but it wasn't published until 2003. So I'm no help, sorry 🙄

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 10:39

CambsAlways · 16/12/2022 10:30

Aw that’s a shame we have 3 librarians at ours all over 60 years old I will ask them for you , I’m there next week, what they don’t know you could write on a postage stamp🤣. It’s worth a try op.

Much appreciated, thank you! I'll be bowled over if they recognise it!

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CambsAlways · 16/12/2022 10:30

Aw that’s a shame we have 3 librarians at ours all over 60 years old I will ask them for you , I’m there next week, what they don’t know you could write on a postage stamp🤣. It’s worth a try op.

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 10:26

CambsAlways · 16/12/2022 10:23

Have you asked the librarians

I haven't. It's been 30 years since I even lived there. Not having the title or the author, just the fact the book was blue and had a baby called Stephen in it isn't really enough of a description I don't think.

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Snozzlemaid · 16/12/2022 10:25

Just checked my account and it goes back to 1996 which I'm pretty sure is when I joined as it was the year before I had my first dc and I remember borrowing baby books.

FantasticButtocks · 16/12/2022 10:24

Snozzlemaid · 16/12/2022 10:21

My library account shows books I borrowed way before I had an online account as it's all linked to my library card account.
I was surprised how far back it went when I looked.

Ah, thanks 😊 No, I don't have a library account and haven't been a library member for decades 📚

OP posts:
CambsAlways · 16/12/2022 10:23

Have you asked the librarians

Snozzlemaid · 16/12/2022 10:21

My library account shows books I borrowed way before I had an online account as it's all linked to my library card account.
I was surprised how far back it went when I looked.