When Irish eyes are not smiling

Published by Elli Publishing.

Anne Lapedus Brest writes with exquisite empathy for herself and others as she relives her carefree life growing up in Ireland. She retells the anguish of her dad’s ophthalmologist offices burning down and of children at her school telling her that both her parents had died in the fire. Her dad’s office had indeed burnt down but her parents were very much alive. This taunting triggered a deep-seated anxiety in Anne.

Anne immigrates to South Africa at the age of 14 during the height of apartheid and she finds the laws utterly incomprehensible.

She writes about starting over, dealing with a school bully, her dad’s depression and untimely death, her friendships and family and falling in love for the first time.