I am quite excited about this because I have been reading extracts and abridged bits and all sorts everywhere from Hilary Mantel's recent hospital diary Ink in the Blood, written when she was very seriously ill earlier this year. Routine surgery to resolve an intestinal obstruction (routine for her surgeon apparently until he got in there) became a six hour marathon of mammoth complexity for someone whose inner workings were snarled up by the inevitable adhesions caused by long-term endometriosis. Recovery was hampered by the inevitable wound infections and weeks on what I assume was the newish but painfully restricting and awkward vacuum-assisted closure method to try and resolve this. I suspect Hilary Mantel has indeed been to the brink and back both physically and emotionally.
Can I be really honest and say that though my first thought was a massive amount of sympathy for Hilary Mantel and the nightmare of suffering she must have endured, it was swiftly followed by a rather selfish second thought, a terrible one along the lines of 'I wonder how much longer this means we'll have to wait for the Wolf Hall sequel'... I know, I'm deeply ashamed of that thought too and if anyone reading this can get a message to our 'ilary, please let her know I do quite understand and will wait as long as I have to, just concentrate on getting better.
When I read the first abridged extract I knew I was reading something very extraordinary as Hilary Mantel stares down that debilitating illness head on and unflinchingly writes about it as only she can, and I knew I wanted to read it all, properly and slowly, so very good news that Ink in the Blood is at least to be published as an e book download for the princely sum of 99p and available via all digital retailers next month.
If that doesn't include Waterstone's and the Sony e reader then my decision will almost be made, I might have to buy a 'KinYouKnowWhatdle'.
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