In
parts harrowing, at all times honest, The Rings of My Tree not
only sheds light on atrocities that, for many, have remained hidden
for too long, it also gives an insight into the strength of the
spirit and the power of optimism.
At
the centre of the story is Mirdza, who, by 2004 (when the book was
published), was an elderly lady living in America. Mirdza, like so
many others, was forced to flee her country, Latvia, during World War
II, and, after spending time in Germany, she was eventually accepted
as a refugee by America. For many years, her story remained silent
until her friend Jane Cunningham decided to give it life.
The
story is written in the first person, and it is easy to imagine
Mirdza sitting in her living room, relating her life story for Jane
Cunningham, who is writing it all down, word for word.