Glenda Millard’s Kingdom of Silk books have won many awards in her native Australia, and no wonder: there are very few books, for children or adults, which describe love so clearly or so lyrically. There are seven books in the series, The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk is number six, and it is definitely worth reading them all, and in order, to really get to know the Silks. They are an uncommon lot: the rest of the world might see them as eccentric, even weird, that doesn’t bother them at all. Parents Ben and Annie have five daughters (‘the Rainbow Girls’), a son named Griffin and an adopted son, Perry Angel, who joins the family midway through the series. Nell is ‘the tiny bit magic’ grandmother, and Layla, Griffin’s best friend, understands them so well she ‘might as well be a Silk’. They live on a beautiful plot of land in the Australian countryside, and Millard evokes the sense of place beautifully. Each book describes a different event in their lives, but the emphasis is always on themes of love, friendship and belonging. In The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk, Saffron, the youngest and most dreamy of the Rainbow Girls isn’t well. She has terrible headaches, accompanied by blinding lights she thinks of as firebirds. The Silks have already lost one daughter, baby Tishkin, and everyone is scared for Saffron. Little Perry is the one to realise just how frightened Saffron herself is though, and to work out what special help she needs. Everything ends well, and a small Silk miracle takes place at the hospital. Millard has a light touch and avoids sentimentality, this is another beautiful and affecting read. ~ Andrea Reece
Book 6 in the Kingdom of Silk series.
A Piece of Passion from editor Emma Langley The fact that it took over 10 years for these books to be published in the UK is a huge slander against our publishing industry. I – with many Australian family – was perhaps more predisposed to a series set in rural Australia, and revolving around the Silk Family of five daughters, two sons (one adopted), two parents a fairygrandmother and various friends and pets. Because, these books are stories of families and friendship; about kindness and goodness in the world; and crafted out of the most extraordinarily beautiful writing. Frankly, no one can write about families and friendship quite like Glenda Millard can. And yes, these books do tug at the heartstrings, but they do so with great sensitivity and without ever becoming overly sentimental. The stories, the characters and the evocatively realised setting will stay with you a long time after you’ve turned the last page, which is lucky, because Cameron’s Creek is a place to which every reader will want to return.
There are some lovely recipes included within this book - you can find 2 here to download - Golden Dumplings and Armenian Love Cake!
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