The Book Blog Tour - review by Patrick Coghlan

Today is day five of the tour. However, there has had to be a change. The good news is that it is now an eight-day blog and we have an extra review of The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ today, from none other than Patrick Coghlan.

If you are looking for Wendy H, Jones’ review - that will come on Monday 20th.

Patrick doesn’t have a blog, so here is his review, on my blog so that it gains a link:

• The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ: Written by Annie Try

  The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ is one of those really readable books: it

  flows, it feels very real, it is interesting and it is written as short informative

  diary entries. And, after reading it, it leaves the reader pondering over the

  lessons to be learned from it.

  Bit by bit, Emma’s history is revealed. We understand some of the issues she

  experiences with being a looked after child. She longs to be ‘Normal’ – but

  what is normal? She shares her vulnerability, and deepest feelings and fears

  with the reader. What a privilege. A diary is something so personal; which is

  probably never normally shared with anyone. I love Emma’s lists, at the end of

  many of the diary entries: I am a list person, myself. We see revised lists, as she

  processes what is happening in her life.

  The book highlights that language is not just words. Emma discovers the

  language of music and dance. It helps her to explore her emotions, to

  understand her relationships better, to feel good about herself, and God speaks

  personally to her through dance.

  Emma’s best friend Cass’s Christian faith is not spoken about much: apart from

  a few references to her going to church and praying about different things, not

  much is said. However, what speaks louder than words is the nature of the

  friendship that she offers Emma: her kindness, her sensitivity, her care, her

  thoughtfulness, her compassion, her generosity, and she is always a good

  listener. Her faith is evidenced in a beautiful lifestyle.

  We discover a lot about relationships, through Emma’s diary. She recognises

  that all relationships have positives and negatives. With family relationships,

  usually the positives outweigh the negatives. Even her mum, despite her failings

  is the only biological mum Emma will ever have. It’s that or nothing.
• Imagine Emma’s joy and excitement when she discovers that she has

  grandparents, and that they want to meet her – but even that comes with huge

  anxieties and unknowns.

  Then there is the Neurofibromatosis. Add that to the mix, and life becomes even

  more complicated.

  As we face life’s challenges and traumas, we can either crumple up underneath

  the pressure, or we can deal with them and be triumphant, despite those issues –

  and it really helps to have a Christian faith.

  Review by Rev Patrick Coghlan: Baptist minister, counsellor and author.