Keeping Joy Paperback – 31 Aug. 2023

After reading finding Joy I couldn’t wait to read this book next and I was not disappointed. This book is eye opening and also for those with a chronic illness it is a book you will be able to relate to.

Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of this ebook, and here is my honest review.This novel has some wonderful one liners and phrases, and is filled with the most entertaining dark humour and a raw honesty which makes even the difficult stuff funny at times. I guarantee this book will bring tears of both sadness and laughter.As with the first book, spelling mistakes, missing words, and awkward sentences make a fair few appearances. With some polishing, this would, easily, be a five-star read. The story telling and character portrayals certainly earn that.With all of that said, the story premise, plot, pacing, characters, and world building are all done so well you feel as though you are right there next to the many characters from whose point of view the tale is told. The bravery of the main character and her supporters is moving and superbly expressed. Below are some lines that stood out for me …‘It’s hard to know how far to push Joy, when to leave her alone because she’s not well and when to not leave her alone because she’s feeling low–the two are so closely connected that it’s not easy to tell them apart.’And …‘I’m not sure if I fell asleep, or maybe I passed out. Either way, scraping myself up off the floor felt a lot like trying to peel superglue off my skin.’And …‘I’ve stopped fighting to reclaim a life that’s unobtainable. There is no back, no pause, there is only now.’This read moved me so much. In a great irony, 5 years ago when I read Finding Joy, I was disabled but well. Now, I also suffer a chronic illness—not Lyme—but so much of the experiences in this novel resonated with me and I found it all too easy to relate.I highly recommend Keeping Joy by Morven May MacCallum, which gets a strong four stars from me. On a side note, you will get a lot more from this second book if you read Finding Joy first. Go and check out both books!***NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I heard the author speak at the Scottish Parliament on Lyme disease and bought both her books instantly.To a certain extent all of us struggle to find joy and more so -more often than not-, keeping joy.We deem that to be a life long quite daunting task.If, however, you are faced first of all with a disease undefined and then after it is finally spelled out to be Lyme disease, - a disease without cure. It takes a formidable personality to simple keep going, keep fighting, not dying.Even more amazing than "suffering' through it is the ability to write about it in such an engaging way that it is not a book about disease, but a book about personal development, about feeling yourself into others despite the fact that you yourself feel void of any feelings (except pain?). It is the second book of Morven-May MacCalum and is one of self discovery, love, friendship and JOY. Read it you will love it!

As a fan of Finding Joy I was excited to read the follow up book Keeping Joy. I wondered how the author would provide a book with the insight of highs and lows of chronic illness. The relevance of lyme disease, as a chronic condition , to moving forward into the future? The author has provided an amazing follow up book in Joy's journey to make the transition from a life in limbo to a life which time has moved on and has to be adjusted to. Truly inspirational in the tenacity, grit and determination to return to living. While acknowledging the hard realities of continueing to live with a life limiting condition. Thoroughly reccomend this book as a great read , couldn't put it down, as I laughed and cried with Joy on her roller coaster of emotions. Truly inspiring.