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The Mahogany Pod is a moving portrayal of a joyful love affair that was cut short by a terminal illness after just one exhilarating year – and an inspirational account of vulnerability, reconciliation and learning to live fully after loss.
“Gorgeous … her narrative packs a world of feeling within it, rendering a poignant look at how love can unfold even amid immense loss.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A work of literature: beautifully written, meticulously structured and heart-rending." Guardian
What if you knew from the beginning how your relationship was going to end?
When Jill Hopper first met Arif, they were living in a shared house on the island of Osney in Oxford, on the River Thames. Surrounded by willow trees, birds and reflections, it was an idyllic home. But no sooner had they begun to fall in love than Arif was given the news that he had only a few months to live.
Everyone told Jill to walk away, but she was already in too deep. Years later, Jill rediscovers Arif's parting gift—an African seedpod—and finally sets out to trace the elusive patterns that shaped their relationship.The Mahogany Pod is a tender and vital account of what it means to live, and love, fully.
“Gorgeous … her narrative packs a world of feeling within it, rendering a poignant look at how love can unfold even amid immense loss.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A work of literature: beautifully written, meticulously structured and heart-rending." Guardian
"Written in elegant, lucid prose that comes straight from the heart, The Mahogany Pod is a deeply moving and compelling read. Hopper moves deftly between past and present, alternating moments of almost unbearable poignancy with ones of great hope. This is a powerful tribute to human resilience by a talented writer." Harper's Bazaar
"A beautiful exploration of love, loss and the grieving process … It is a compassionate, heart-breaking, and uplifting description of love. Spellbinding." Catherine Simpson, author of When I Had a Little Sister
"A searingly beautiful memoir of love and loss, grief and joy. In The Mahogany Pod, Jill captures the seeds of the ending contained within every beginning and the beginnings contained within each end." Wyl Menmuir, Booker Prize-nominated novelist of The Many