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Outside, the Sky is Blue

The story of a family told with searing honesty, humour and love

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Outside, the Sky is Blue

By: Christina Patterson
Narrated by: Christina Patterson
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OUTSIDE, THE SKY IS BLUE is a beautifully drawn, heartbreaking yet also joyful memoir of growing up, of happiness and love, of living with physical and mental ill health, and of being the only one left of a family that had once had so much colour and life.

When Christina Patterson's brother Tom died a year ago, she was left clearing not only his flat but all the family papers and photographs he had stored. Christina, Tom and their other sister, Caroline were the offspring of a British father and a Swedish mother, who started out life as young diplomats in Thailand, but when the children were young, returned to live in the UK. There, they struggled to adopt the stifling social mores of the 1950s while also dealing with an elder daughter who appeared to change overnight from a happy, outgoing child to a sullen, often tempestuous teenager who was soon to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Rich with the detail of wild summer holidays spent scrabbling for berries in Sweden, of watching the etiquette of dreary cocktail parties, of long car journeys and the exhilaration of discovering religion and boys, OUTSIDE, THE SKY IS BLUE is an audiobook full of honesty and humour, about the dismantling jigsaw of family life and the love that carries them through.

(P) 2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2022 Christina Patterson Grief & Loss Parenting & Families Personal Development Memoir Happiness Inspiring Health
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Critic reviews

A bracing, heart-lifting read. Patterson is a superb writer - part of the redemptive message of this memoir is that beautiful prose can make almost anything bearable. Outside the Sky is Blue is a lesson in generosity, in accommodation, but most of all it's a lesson in resilience
Written with savage honesty about grief and sibling rivalry, this book slices deeply. A memoir about family loyalty and gut-wrenching goodbyes but it serves too as a wise guide from someone who has endured more than her share of life's slings and arrows, and has still come out swinging
A compelling memoir of faith, hope and loss. Her beautifully written and insightful account of a family living with mental and physical ill health
A hymn to optimism, and a beacon of unflagging hope
A memoir about the loss of faith and hope. The book journeys to dark places but it's too honest and well written to be dispiriting - she perseveres in her quest to understand
A superbly told, heart-buffeting memoir - a powerful account of how we carry the distress that life's blows cause to us; of how we keep sane and carry on; and of how love within a family can endure even the sternest tests
Patterson has poured every ounce of love and compassion she possesses into this compelling memoir
'I read this beautiful and exceptional book in one sitting'
A powerful and honest, personal memoir of love and loss
She has a talent for vivid, visual description and writes about her sister's schizophrenia with candour and sensitivity
Christina Patterson's beautifully written memoir spans all the emotions, from joyful to heart-breaking and back again
A memoir full of wit, wisdom, tenderness and heart. Deeply moving on the devastating impact of childhood schizophrenia on a family. Christina Patterson writes so beautifully, and with searing honesty. I loved this book
Moving and ultimately uplifting and beautifully written
She writes beautifully - crisp, yet emotional and page-turning. For me, it is something about her clarity and brutal honesty in describing both heartbreak and heart bursting life and love. In the end it is only the love that matters. Her memoir will give hope to those that are suffering and cannot see the light
Devastating, funny, wise, intimate and beautifully written. It's filled with empathy and light. This is a handbook for loving and living fully. The writing shines, celebrating life without ever shying away from the sharpness of grief and pain. It's truly life affirming, strengthening and hope filled. This book has never been more needed, it's essential reading for us all right now
This is a beautiful book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, it's an immersive family memoir that is deeply personal and yet somehow universal. Highly recommended
All stars
Most relevant
Life can be brutal. This memoir tells it all, and we come away changed.

So damn glad I listened to this

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I was absolutely blown away by this. The story is incredible and told with a combination of honesty, emotion and insight. Covers some important themes around mental and physical health and the impact they have on family dynamics, sibling rivalry and romantic relationships. But told as a simple and accessible narrative with light, shade and humour. Highly recommend!

An astonishing story told with bravery, honesty and insight. ‘Couldn’t put it down’

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Heart wrenching story. I hope many other people are able to read or listen to this book. People think they have problems but they don't know the half of it.

A very brave and courageous woman

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Beautifully written and narrated. Heartbreakingly sad at times, but ultimately this is a story of gratitude and love. I am so glad Christina found her happy ever after.

Uplifting and courageous

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This is such a lovely heartbreaking and heartwarming book. Beautifully written. I hope your life is less troubled from now, you've certainly had more than your fair share of problems! And coffee and cake to be honest! This book is a treat.

Christina..stop making me cry!

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