Book Synopsis:
Ruth’s tribe are her lively children and her filmmaker husband, Simon, who has Motor Neurone Disease and can only communicate with his eyes. Ruth’s other ‘tribe’ are the friends who gather at the cove in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and regularly throw themselves into the freezing cold water, just for kicks.
‘The Tragic Wives’ Swimming Club’, as they jokingly call themselves, meet to cope with the extreme challenges life puts in their way, not to mention the monster waves rolling over the horizon.
An invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the natural world and the brightness of life.
I found My Tribe is available now in ebook and hardback. It will also be available in paperback on the 28th June. You can purchase or pre-order your copy here.
My Review:
I Found My Tribe is a beautiful, emotional and up lifting memoir that I thoroughly enjoyed. Ruth’s writing is beautiful, touching and honest and her personality shines through even when talking about some very emotional subjects.
The descriptions of her life with a husband who has motor neurones disease is heartbreaking, particularly when you realise how much it has changed and what she has had to give up. The fact that she misses kisses from her husband made me cry as it is such a simple thing that most of us take for granted. The impact of having lots of carers, ultimately strangers, in her house was very eye opening. I’ve actually done care work in someone’s house and never really thought about the effect it must have on the others living in the house.
Ruth comes across as a very interesting, capable and strong women who is trying her best in a difficult situation. I can only imagine what it must be like seeing someone you love deteriorate like that but Ruth seems to tackle it head on with lots of positivity, humour and some amazing strength which was wonderful to read about. I loved the coping strategies she’s developed which made me smile at times, from the little things like drinking coffee while looking at a view to her love of the sea which she uses to draw strength from on bad days was great to read about. It definitely puts into perspective the supposed ‘bad’ days I think I have.
This is definitely a book I think everyone should read as it really helped increase my knowledge and understanding of Motor Neurones Disease and what it’s like living with someone who has it. My husband’s grannie suffered from it and said it was heartbreaking to see her decline. Even if you don’t normally read memoirs please make this the exception.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater and Vintage books for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
About The Author:
Ruth Fitzmaurice was born in 1976 and grew up in Co. Louth, Ireland. She was a radio researcher and producer when she married film director and writer, Simon, in 2004 and had three children. In 2008, Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and given three years to live. Simon went into respiratory failure in 2010 and was accidentally placed on a ventilator during an emergency procedure. He decided, against medical advice, to keep the ventilator; Ruth and Simon went on to have twins in 2012. In January 2016, Ruth wrote her first piece for the Irish Times about family life and a new passion, sea swimming. She lives in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, with her five children Jack, Raife, Arden, Sadie, Hunter, a dog and a cat. Simon passed away in October 2017.
Twitter @RuthONeillFitz
Follow The Blog Tour:
If you liked the sound of this book from my review please follow the blog tour and find out what these other fabulous bloggers are saying.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Fab review sounds like an emotional read.
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