A few days ago I posted a poll asking if you would pick up a book just because it was written by a celebrity. A whopping number of you said, NO. A book is a book is a book, whether it written by a layperson or a celebrity.
I was really curious about The Bench. Firstly, it is written by none other than Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Secondly, it is a Father’s day gift to her baby daddy just before the birth of their daughter. Thirdly, Meghan Markle is an actress and a royal in self-imposed exile, but a writer? Well, that was it. I was curious to find out.
The book started out as a poem in its first draft and unfortunately continues with its stilted rhyme scheme. The Bench is a look at a father-child relationship through the eyes of the mother. Needless to say the book has its weak and strong moments. The Bench is seen as a prop against and upon which a father spends many special moments with his child — to comfort and rock to sleep, to bandage boo-boos and wounds, and even to practice ballet steps with his daughter. The book makes a desperate attempt to be as inclusive and far-reaching as possible and includes fathers from every race and ethnicity — including a Sikh father. The bench changes colour, size, and shape in every picture too. The reader cannot, even for a single page, forget that the book is written by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex because you can see more than one illustration reminding us of Prince Harry.
This book came alive for me through its illustrations, done by Caldecott winner Christian Robinson. Last Stop on Market Street was one of my kids’ favourite books and the illustrations move me every time I look through the book. So yes, absolutely in love with Robinson’s subtle watercolour illustrations and for me clearly the highlight of the book. But, don’t buy this book because it was written by the Duchess of Sussex. Get it in spite of the author.
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