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maccymacd's review
4.0
A very poignant letter that Nina Bawden wrote to her husband who died in the Potter's Bar Rail crash in 2002. She starts by describing the events that led up to the fateful event, and then afterwards her tireless forage into discovering what actually happened on that day, and why the station up until then had not taken responsibility. She writes in a calm, centred way that is really not in the least bit sentimental or "soppy". It was clear she had the utmost respect and love for her late husband, and addresses him in her letter like her best friend. During the times she feels she might not cope, she remembers anecdotes and light-hearted things he used to say and do and this is enough to get her through the next day after that. Other times however, she finds herself breaking down in the strangest places which hold no special memory for the pair.
The unfairness and unjust nature of the crash was never really explained, and the compensation rolled in at £10,000 per each dead person - a cruelly meagre amount for not just the loss of a loved one in a tragic way, but also for the relative's remaining life that must continue on without them.
Knowing that Nina passed on in 2012 has given me a great sense of relief, because now she can finally be reunited with Austen.
The unfairness and unjust nature of the crash was never really explained, and the compensation rolled in at £10,000 per each dead person - a cruelly meagre amount for not just the loss of a loved one in a tragic way, but also for the relative's remaining life that must continue on without them.
Knowing that Nina passed on in 2012 has given me a great sense of relief, because now she can finally be reunited with Austen.
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