OBSERVER: Cleaved


Australian playwright, former journalist and cartoonist Jane Cafarella (pictured) has published her memoir titled Cleaved.
Jane’s work has been widely published in Australia and overseas, her plays have been performed nationally and internationally, and her cartoon archive is held at the State Library Victoria.
But what Jane didn’t write about until now was growing up with Milroy’s Disease, a rare form of the incurable swelling disease lymphoedema – and how she came to be estranged from her family of origin for most of her adult life.
Cleaved is described as “an illuminating and moving story of coping with a difference – and of two sisters, foot soldiers in their parents’ marital war, who lost and then found each other”. Jane’s memoir has already received five-star reviews.
I couldn’t wait to purchase a copy and was engaged throughout. Particularly interesting were mentions of various Melbourne locations and suburbs such as Mentone.
Cleaved is reader-friendly – articulately expressed in down-to-earth style with raw honesty, a beautiful personal and evocative narrative.
Congratulations to Jane Cafarella.
Cleaved is available in hard copy for $39.99 (including postage) from janecafarella.com.au/product/cleaved-a-memoir-by-jane-cafarella-hardcopy/ or as an e-book for $3.99 from janecafarella.
com.au/product/cleaved-a-memoir-by-jane-cafarella/

Review by Cheryl Threadgold