The Art of Hiding, by Amanda Prowse

About the main Character

Nina ... a woman who has it all. A woman who has been able to leave her painful and needy past behind, where struggling for basic necessities was just a part of life. A woman who has a loving husband, Finn, who has given her everything and anything and who now lives in a house, thats no less than a mansion in an upper class locality. A woman who has two beautiful children, Declan and Connor, studying in the most expensive premier school/college - where all those who matter in upper class society, send their offsprings to. In a typical story that reads like from rags to riches, Nina is completely busy and immersed with her family and doesn't need anyone beyond it. Her relationship with her only living sibling, Tiggy, is also strained and one that she doesn't care much about - because of their differences and the fact that her sister still lives in the same rundown area where she grew up and one that she has left behind.

The Plot 

As they say, you never know when destiny might deal you a blow that you never saw coming and in a brutal car accident, Finn dies, leaving behind Nina and the kids. While each one of them are trying to come to terms with the fact that the man they all loved so much, who was the best husband and the best father that one could ask for, fate has some tricks up her sleeves. All of a sudden, Nina's perfect life comes crashing down - Finn has died leaving behind a mountain of debt and all their assets - liquid and physical are confiscated by the bank....Nina not only loses her life of luxury, but is also faced with the ugly and nasty nature of human beings and the upper class society that she had chosen to engage with till now. As secrets unravel, Nina realises that the husband that she idolised and loved so much, might not be the man who she thought he was. Eventually, Nina returns to the place that she had hoped and believed she had left behind forever, the place where she grew up, the rundown locality which was rife with wanting and struggles.

What this book is about and my review
This book is all about how this one woman, deals with her losses - and how she eventually survives and makes a life for herself and her children - against all odds and facing a reality that is nowhere close to what she believed was her life. The author, Amanda Prowse, has beautifully captured the depths of human experience and emotional upheavals - the true spirit of a woman, and her fight for survival; the strength of a mother to ensure a safe and nurturing life for her children; the resilience that enables Nina to get out of her grief and not let it overpower all aspects of her life; and the empowerment that comes with Nina deciding to take control of her life and look for a job - something that Finn never allowed or encouraged her to do.

'The Art of Hiding' is a moving tale of loss, family relations and dynamics, healing and redemption. It is a book that is not only interesting to read, but also thought provoking. I personally felt it had an important message for women, especially the young ones, out there. So many women I know have found a husband and gotten used to a life of comfort provided by the man and in the process of becoming absolutely reliant on him, have lost their own identity, independence, and sense of self worth. Such women often forget their own aspirations, their own dreams of becoming someone or achieving something - in their focus on the family unit as a whole. I do understand that this isn't necessarily a bad thing and in fact, may and can work for some people - after all, my own mother and her contemporaries were housewives - but they were independent and self reliant too. But yes, this book does send a message to women that becoming overly reliant on someone and finding contentment in turning into a shadow - is neither healthy nor advisable. This book also drives home the message that while money can buy you material comforts and luxuries, it will never bring you real happiness or true friendships - that comes from nurturing own self and healthy relationships.

I'm not saying that every woman should become a CEO or the alpha male in the family, but at a bare minimum, women should be able to and insist on retaining some strength of independence. Having knowledge of and access to the families' accounts is obviously important as is being assertive if they want to pursue higher education or a career.

This book will definitely make you stop and think? Are the people you surround yourself with - actually going to be there tomorrow if and when you don't represent what you are now? Are you self reliant and independent? Will you be able to survive and cope - emotionally and financially - without your better half? Are you really happy? What does success mean to you? What's your worth within your own family? Are you there for your parents, siblings, relatives?

This book did make me cry in a few places - but at the same time, its a beautiful book that shows how the character grows over time and copes with a loss that was devastating enough to break her down completely. The characters, the plot, the emotions - though part of a fictional story - all seemed very relatable and real.

I would suggest everyone, especially girls and women, to read this book...at least once.