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The Guardian Angel's Journal

Carolyn Jess-Cooke (Goodreads Author)

3.88 · Rating details · 1,148 ratings · 150 reviews

After her death, a woman is sent back to life as her own guardian angel in this lyrical first novel that examines questions of fate, free will, regret, and hope.

Returned to earth as her own guardian angel, Margot Delacroix, now named Ruth, watches herself, through her own birth, a troubled childhood, her first love, her son's birth, and, ultimately, her own untimely deat

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Paperback, 311 pages

Published April 1st 2011 by GuidepostsBooks (first published 2010)

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Mar 28, 2011 Serendipity Reviews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am a complete sucker for an angel story and this one sent me straight to heaven. The idea behind this story is so original it blew my mind. I felt like I had stepped into a quantam physics experiment, where I could bend time backwards and forwards like an eraser.

Margot dies at the age of forty and is sent back to Earth to be her OWN GUARDIAN ANGEL! I kid you not. Doesn't that just defy mentality? Margot is renamed Beth and forced to accompany herself as she relives every minor detail of her p I am a complete sucker for an angel story and this one sent me straight to heaven. The idea behind this story is so original it blew my mind. I felt like I had stepped into a quantam physics experiment, where I could bend time backwards and forwards like an eraser.

Margot dies at the age of forty and is sent back to Earth to be her OWN GUARDIAN ANGEL! I kid you not. Doesn't that just defy mentality? Margot is renamed Beth and forced to accompany herself as she relives every minor detail of her past. Beth is allowed to encourage Margot into making the right decisions, but Margot is a force to be reckoned with and isn't about to listen carefully to her former self.

I refuse to give away any spoilers for this book. You just have to read it. I am actually rather desperate for someone else to read this book, so that I can talk about it openly without giving away any of the storyline.

This book felt like a 'before' and 'after' scenerio. Just imagine being able to try and alter all of those incidents that you now know had disasterous effects on your life. Beth knows exactly how Margot's life will turn out and does her utmost to try and change her actions, often without any change occurring. Margot's younger years are probably some of the worst you can imagine. So it is not surprising at all, the way Margot's life unfolds. The events of her son's life were definitely a direct consequence of Margot's emotional rollercoaster of a life. You could just envisage this vicious barbed wire circle of circumstances continually playing over and over again.

I found the writing to be utterly beautiful and often very poignant. Carolyn Jess-Cooke is extremely good at pulling your heart strings and twisted them into knots. This book is a real gut wrencher and a couple of times I felt my eyes welling up at some rather emotional and violent scenes. I felt every last tear and pain that the young Margot experienced right alongside her guardian angel Beth.

As Margot moves into adulthood, I wanted to dislike her, but everytime I reminded myself of the childhood she had led, I stepped away from those feelings.

Carolyn Jess-Cooke has been compared with Audrey Niffenegger and I can understand why. Her book is a fresh approach to angels with an original idea developed thoroughly, leaving you desperate to read more of her work.

The only thing I don't like about this book is that I didn't write it first! Only joking. I just can't wait to see what Carolyn writes next.

If you love angels like I do and believe that everything is not as it seems, then trust me when I tell you that you are going to want to read this book.

...more

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Mar 27, 2011 ILoveBooks rated it it was amazing

Monday, April 25, 2011The Guardian Angel's Journal: Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Admittedly, when I picked this book up I was afraid it was going to be about calling people to believe in angels...and not much else content. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The main character, Margot, has just died. Her life was not particularly well-spent; one may even consider her life "bad". She has a chance to redeem herself; she can become a guardian angel. This is where the novel gets interesting. She becomes a g ...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Travelcrazyone rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mindful-readers-bookclub-selection

I'm captivated, I haven't been able to put this one down this weekend! P.S. will write more once my book club has discussed it, don't want to give it all up yet!

The author's description of the angel's wings was so vivid, I could clearly see in my mind how beautiful they must have been and felt. Unfortunately, she was almost too good in her descriptive narrative that in the darker parts of the books, made the events feel too real, or close to home. As a parent, these parts were really hard to rea ...more

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May 22, 2011 Carol Peace rated it it was amazing

I loved this book it makes you rethink your own life and how your decisions change the direction.
The beginning of the book gives us Margot who is sent back to earth as Ruth who is her own guardian angel. I loved that she didn't really know how to react and we were stumbling along with her as she realised the rules and regulations of Angeldom. It hold your attention right till the end as thats when you get to know who killed her. Ruth thought she was changing the direction of 'Margots' life but w ...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Sandy rated it did not like it

Shelves: nb-reviews

I cannot believe how bad this book is on every level: plot, style, theme, characters. I admit I do not like the theme - Lovely Bones did not thrill me but at least I could appreciate the writing and intention - but I did not understand what The Guradian Angel's Journal was tring to achieve. I stuck with it thinking all the time that something would be revealed and everything would fall into place ..... but it didn't!

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May 10, 2013 Gordon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Back in April/May I was recommended to read The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke. So I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I ended up writing about it in my English exam since it fit one of the questions...

I knew back then that Jess-Cooke's first book was The Guardian Angel's Journal and after enjoying The Boy Who Could See Demons so much, I decided that I would read it.

Before I go into my thoughts let me give you a taster of the story. Margot Delacroix suddenly dies Back in April/May I was recommended to read The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke. So I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I ended up writing about it in my English exam since it fit one of the questions...

I knew back then that Jess-Cooke's first book was The Guardian Angel's Journal and after enjoying The Boy Who Could See Demons so much, I decided that I would read it.

Before I go into my thoughts let me give you a taster of the story. Margot Delacroix suddenly dies and when she gets into heaven, God gives Margot the task of being her own guardian angel, under the new name of Ruth. Under the direction of Nan, another angel in heaven, Ruth realises that she will watch over Margot from the very beginning of her life. Ruth knows exactly what happens all through Margot's life (having lived it all before) and she wishes she could change Margot's life for the better after everything that happened, however it's not all that simple, as she soon learns what consequences are in store for her.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to read Jess-Cooke's first outing second, because after reading Demons and enjoying it so much, I did wonder if this book would be less appealing to me being a first novel, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story at all. Both The Guardian Angel's Journal and The Boy Who Could See Demons have their similarities and differences. This one was told from the point of view of an Angel, and the other was kind of told from the point of view of the Demon (albeit the demon isn't really there.). It was interesting to see how demons fit into this story, after reading about them in the other book.

In short, The Guardian Angel's Journal is unlike anything I have ever read before. I love the style of writing Jess-Cooke has and how the story developed and also how the characters developed. Early on we see a completely different side of Ruth and then as it progresses we gradually see her develop and change and it really did keep the story going; her determination to be able to change things when she couldn't really shone through the whole novel. When reading about Margot's life, how dark and horrible it was, right from birth, it is, in parts, incredibly moving. In the early chapters, I nearly found myself in tears, and that hasn't happened since I read the end of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. The power of the narrative and what is going on in Margot's life, feeling sorry for both Margot and Ruth at the same time, it all really makes you want to bawl into your pillow.

I also found this book was one that couldn't be put down. That sounds very cliché, but the past few nights I have lost track of the time during the reading of it. It really grabs your attention and makes you want to read more and more, which is what I feel makes this book one that I won't forget for a long time. I bought my own copy yesterday and I've also ordered The Boy Who Could See Demons because I know that at some point in my life I would love to go back and relive these books again. I hope Jess-Cooke continues to write novels because right now I have been left with the desire to read more. It's probable I will pick up her poetry collection, Inroads at some point too. But probably not for a little while yet.

I wouldn't recommend this book to young teenagers, but older teenagers and adults will definitely appreciate this book, and if you are into books about Angels and Demons, this is definitely one you should read.

This review can also be found at : http://gordonhorne.blogspot.co.uk/201... ...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Nicola rated it it was amazing

Shelves: magic-realism, fantasy, contemporary

You can read my full review at: http://nicolasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Ruth is sent back to earth to become her own guardian angel after her untimely death. It seems like the perfect opportunity to right all the wrongs of her life, but it quickly becomes clear that nothing is that simple, even for angels...

"The Guardian Angel's Journal" is incredibly well-written. Carolyn Jess-Cooke's imagery is just beautiful - the idea of water flowing down an angel's back, the metaphors she uses - the language ...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Lisa Carlson rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Lisa by: found it unexpectedly

Shelves: fiction

One of the best thrills for me is finding an unexpected great book at the library. This story is a fresh spin on the subject of guardian angels. A subject I tend to find more plausible, comforting and safe than astrology or tarot card reading. This is the story of a young woman who dies and comes back as a guardian angel. The writing is effervescent, haunting and thought-provoking. Contrary to other reviews the ending doesn't feel rushed and follows in the thread of all the other unexpected mome ...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Sherrie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: already-read

The book grabs your attention right away. Starting with Ruth's wakening to being an angel. The rules are explained to Ruth, which is her new name instead of Margot. I am wary of Christian lit. I don't like having a particular message shoved down my throat. But this book isn't like that. It's very well written with all the characters having their own personalities. Reading about Margot(Ruth) learning what God has intended for her is sometimes funny and sometimes very heart warming. If your into r ...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Shan rated it really liked it

Imagine that when your life ends you are sent back to Earth as a guardian angel. And not for just anyone but a guardian angel for yourself. Imagine you had the opportunity to observe and alter the life you have already lived.

This is what happens to Margot Delacroix when her tragic life comes to an end at the age of forty. Renamed Ruth, she is sent back to Earth to encourage Margot to make the right decisions, in the hopes of making her life a little easier. Not only does Ruth now have the opport Imagine that when your life ends you are sent back to Earth as a guardian angel. And not for just anyone but a guardian angel for yourself. Imagine you had the opportunity to observe and alter the life you have already lived.

This is what happens to Margot Delacroix when her tragic life comes to an end at the age of forty. Renamed Ruth, she is sent back to Earth to encourage Margot to make the right decisions, in the hopes of making her life a little easier. Not only does Ruth now have the opportunity to fix the wrongs of her life, but she also is able to understand why her life turned out the way it did. Will Ruth be able to give Margot the life she truly deserves, or will Margot continue to do things her own way and leave Ruth to be a witness to her own self-destruction?

The Guardian Angel's Journal by Carolyn Jess-Cooke is not the type of novel I would usually read. I tend to stay away from novels about angels and the spiritual realm that don't line up with my faith, and because of that I did hesitate for a second when contacted by the author to review this novel. But the premise of the book sounded so interesting, being ones own guardian angel, so I decided to give it a read. And I am so glad that I did.

This is a fantastic book. Right from the first page the reader is drawn into the book and captivated by Margot's story. Her life was full of tragedy, and as you read about her experiences you ache and hurt for the little girl, wishing that you could be her guardian angel to try and save her from these terrible things.

And as Margot grows older you feel for Ruth as she has to watch herself make difficult and terrible decisions, now having the wisdom to know better, but unable to convince herself to make a change.

There is so much wrapped up in this novel - death, abuse, addiction, angels and demons, tragedy, forgiveness, redemption - and yet it is a beautiful page-turner. This is a book that you will not be able to put down. I've read that Carolyn Jess-Cooke has been compared with Audrey Niffenegger and I can see why. The feeling I was left with after reading this book is the same great feeling I had after reading The Time Traveller's Wife. The Guardian Angel's Journal is an original and fresh take on the story of guardian angels and well worth a read. ...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Melissa rated it really liked it

A fantastic and original story. Four stars because of the problems, which were that the last two chapters were rushed and tedious, not living up to the promise the rest of the book held for it's conclusion. I absolutely love the way the character dies, the randomness of it. I was ready for something akin to the tragedies and injustices of the earlier part of the book. The writing was good, straight-forward, emotionally powerful and direct, with poetic gems peppered in in just the right amount.
T A fantastic and original story. Four stars because of the problems, which were that the last two chapters were rushed and tedious, not living up to the promise the rest of the book held for it's conclusion. I absolutely love the way the character dies, the randomness of it. I was ready for something akin to the tragedies and injustices of the earlier part of the book. The writing was good, straight-forward, emotionally powerful and direct, with poetic gems peppered in in just the right amount.
The concept of the story was one of the main wow factors for me in the first page and I was hooked on it from the very beginning. I wonder if the author made a mistake in making the early life of Ruth/Margot so Dickinson. The drama comes from the conflict of Ruth and Margot (and of Ruth being privy to an aspect of her early life to which we never have real access to), not so much from the tragic early life. I believe, with the authors writing ability and the whole concept of the plot, that the book would have been as successful had the author chosen to use a more believable/relatable early life. The time line the author chose to work in was a great choice. Close enough in time to understand on a visceral level the consequences of what we were reading (and flesh out some of the mental images ourselves), but not too far back to lose connection with readers who haven't read their history.
Wish the writer had fleshed out more of Margot's life, instead of skipping whole decades and relying primarily on superficial drama of horrible life events and more on the loss of the tie between the two and the alternate fates that could result from the decisions, AND that she had really done more with the ending and drawn a more distinct line between Ruth's actions and the revolving morality of what she becomes in the end. The fact that she broke the 'rules' and made a bargain with the devil and is rewarded really (and painfully) twists the religious tradition within which the story lies. That incongruity is hard and another aspect of a badly done, rushed and unfulfilling ending. And yet, because of the whole novel concept I still want more. ...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Beadyjan rated it it was ok

Not a book I'd probably have chosen for myself - but when my bookgroup presented us with this one I thought it had promise - on the cover it says the new Audrey Niffeneger and as I liked both her books I was looking forward to this, however it failed to meet my expectations.

We meet Margot a middle aged Irish woman who has just died, she is sent back to earth as a guardian angel - to look over - Margot herself and re-live the choices and mistakes she made in life - I found it disjointed and stret ...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Sarah rated it it was amazing

One of the most original stories I've read in over a decade. Jess-Cooke's style is both poetic and accessible, with a unique protagonist, whose dilemma is a a three-way conflict with her mortal self, her spiritual self, and with a god that she has to trust in, though she can't see him. I've never encountered a guardian angel who is so human in her efforts to literally save herself from herself. Heartwrenching though the mortal struggles are, the lessons learned --mostly the hard way --by the cha ...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Tracy Barrall rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This got me thinking several times about are there angels looking over our shoulders trying to guide us in our daily lives. All those thoughts in our heads are they really us or words from our angel. Can the wrong choices we make be the demons talking trying to help us make the wrong choices. Margot dies and is sent to be a guardian angel to herself, she will now see the whole picture of an event not just her side and she is tempted to change things, but can she and should she! Margot could not ...more

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Jul 12, 2016 Lejla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: with-review, read-in-2016, owned, fantasy, fiction, paranormal-angels, paranormal

When I bought this book, and when I first started to read it I didn't expect that I will like it this much. It is quite difficult to imagine yourself in this position. Watching yourself doing your biggest mistakes in life, and not being able to change them without any consequences. This novel is tense, interesting and far different than anything else I have ever read. I would recommend it even to those who don't prefer this kind of novels. It is relatively connected to religion, often mentioning ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Victoria rated it it was amazing

I was completely gripped as soon as I read the first page..I was taking my Kindle everywhere, even to the gym! Such a beautiful and heartbreaking story, an innocent child thrown to the clutches of abusers, I truly hope I have a guardian angel as wonderful and protective as Margot had. A sad story that left me with a lump in my throat. Excellent book - worthy comparison as "The new Audrey Niffenger" Company Magazine

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Apr 22, 2011 Melissa rated it really liked it

I loved this book. The concept was so original, and the plot kept me thinking about it even when I had to (reluctantly) put it down. I finished it in two days. When I closed the book and put it on my nightstand, I had that stunned feeling you get when you leave beloved characters behind. I even cried a little at the end. Beautiful, painful, thought-provoking.

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Jun 06, 2011 Deborah Dicks rated it liked it · review of another edition

Confusing - how can you be a guardian angel to yourself? Does this mean there are two of you in existence? Or parallel worlds? I found pondering this distracted me from the unfolding of the story.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Maria Carmo rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Everyone.

Shelves: enchanting-wondrous-and-magical-lo, angels

The book is totally unexpected in a refreshing way.
The writing is vivid and sometimes even crude, but somehow there is always a hint of Light, of Hope, of deep Love capable of witnessing all the suffering and transmuting it.

I loved this book.

Definitely a Good read!

Maria Carmo

12th October, Lisbon.

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Oct 14, 2011 Janet rated it it was ok

I was disappointed. The book started off interesting, but about mid way through, it became predictable and a little boring. There was really no climax to it and the ending was predictable. I personally wouldn't recommend this book.

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Apr 09, 2012 Jenni Ogden rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: If you think poaranormal is not for you, but you like bookclub fiction, try this!

Shelves: fiction

I don't usually read paranormal fiction but this story was certainly different (for me at least). It was well written, cleverly structured, and amusing . It reminded me a little of "The Time Traveller's Wife", which is one of my favourite books. Perhaps I should read more like this!

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Apr 20, 2012 Twistyrob rated it really liked it

Totally loved the original concept of this novel. It has a lingering affect after finishing it. I didnt like the final wrap up of the story but the journey of this story is really worth the ride!

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Jan 21, 2011 Michelle (Clover Hill Book Reviews) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My review is at:
http://cloverhillbookreviews.blogspot... ...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Anne rated it really liked it

Shelves: magic-realism

Really liked it. Read it in 24 hours - compelling. Only reason I didnt give it 5 was because of the ending. Still, definitely worth a read.

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Nov 05, 2011 Lauren rated it really liked it

Amazingly emotional. I'm still crying.

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Sep 14, 2013 Susan Niziurski rated it did not like it

Not a favorite! From a religious point of view (this being not my religion) had a very hard time with the plot and the context of the book. Couldn't really find any meaning spiritually either.

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Oct 19, 2011 Jill rated it really liked it

4.5/5. I thought this was a great book. Good plot and moves quickly. Great first novel.

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Apr 01, 2015 Aaron rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, mythology, _donated

An exciting but frustrating read.

The author has a tremendous gift for language, and exudes tremendous writing skill, but the book's plotting of the supernatural is agonizingly insufficient, and the greater structure of the story is muddled by recurring bouts of the anticlimactic.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL'S JOURNAL focuses on a fidgety and unreliable narrator, Ruth, whose reckless selflessness is in every single way a reflection of the doped up, barbiturate-driven lifestyle she clung to as a human for An exciting but frustrating read.

The author has a tremendous gift for language, and exudes tremendous writing skill, but the book's plotting of the supernatural is agonizingly insufficient, and the greater structure of the story is muddled by recurring bouts of the anticlimactic.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL'S JOURNAL focuses on a fidgety and unreliable narrator, Ruth, whose reckless selflessness is in every single way a reflection of the doped up, barbiturate-driven lifestyle she clung to as a human for some forty years. It's hard to argue this doesn't make for compelling drama -- Ruth striving to invoke change in the lives of others because she knows the consequences. But the truth is more perilous: Ruth is her own guardian angel; she knows 90% of what's going to happen to every person her charge encounters every single day. Ostensibly, nothing is new. And because nothing is new, in spite of Ruth rediscovering the emotion of experiencing things anew, the events of the novel never lay into you, heavy with intrigue. Instead, things just loll along.

For example, some scenes or exchanges are ripe for exploration, such as surviving orphanage abuse, or that of a twentysomething debating to drop out of college, or the introduction of a trio of scheming demons. Scenes or exchanges such as these seem momentous at the time, and sometimes they are, but this book's chapters are short and scenes change quickly. What's done is done (now a memory) and what's forgotten is forgotten (just an old itch). THE GUARDIAN ANGEL'S JOURNAL spends a lot of time running around and chasing the ephemeral; that is, Ruth spends almost all of her time trying to do more than she can, and ultimately forgetting most everything she could benefit from. It's a vicious cycle, and an incurable flaw.

The best of what this book has to offer is Jess-Cooke's voluminous language and skill. One might think it a joke to encounter such exacting and lyrical turns in the first few chapters, but the author runs a tight ship all the way through. It's incredibly impressive. There is definitely a consistency in Jess-Cooke's work that deserves a nod of respect.

And to that end, the author's one failing has to be her description of angels' wings. For some reason invoking the less familiar tradition of angel's not having feathery wings but quasi-metaphorical pools of water, Jess-Cooke's frequent description of shapeshifting waterfalls are entirely confusing and downright unintelligible. Sometimes Ruth's wings are made of fire, sometimes blood, sometimes mist, and on and on. The overwriting applies less what they do ("a transcription process of every thought and action") than what they are, which is confusingly explained as a pair of rivers "cascading" from the shoulder blades . . . and the imagery doesn't get any more promising from there, and never clarifies how or why it's water, where the water goes when it "pours," or even what stimulates her water wings to do whatever it is they do (emotion? hope? god?).

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL'S JOURNAL does a fantastic job of getting readers to think good things about bad people. And I do wish this is where the author stopped, instead of venturing into clumsy angel-demon wars (with no resolution or later reference) or introducing compelling characters (demons of temptation) that do not have a clear or defined purpose. Again, it's an exciting but frustrating read. ...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Lissa added it

Shelves: 2011

This book didn't lead me where I thought it was leading me. In hindsight, I think that's a good thing. I kept expecting one thing, and getting another. Every turn was a surprise because I was expecting more, and it was really quite simple: Ruth can't change Margot's life. I was totally expecting her to, but she didn't.
I had so many questions throughout the whole book that all seemed to get resolved. At first, I wasn't sure why it was written in first person when the guardian angel (Ruth) couldn' This book didn't lead me where I thought it was leading me. In hindsight, I think that's a good thing. I kept expecting one thing, and getting another. Every turn was a surprise because I was expecting more, and it was really quite simple: Ruth can't change Margot's life. I was totally expecting her to, but she didn't.
I had so many questions throughout the whole book that all seemed to get resolved. At first, I wasn't sure why it was written in first person when the guardian angel (Ruth) couldn't do anything to change the sad, sad life that Margot lived. If this was just a recounting of Margot's life and Ruth couldn't do anything about it, I didn't get why the angels were even involved. And considering Ruth was Margot before she was guardian angel-ified, I briefly wondered if this was a time travel novel. What could Ruth do to change Margot's life and stop her dying at age 40?
In short, nothing. Ruth wasn't Margot's angel to change Margot's life. (Although she did, very slightly, but it didn't change anything in a major way.) Ruth was sent back to help Margot's son Theo. I don't want to get into spoilers, but that one point needs to be known before you read the book, otherwise the entire time I was yelling in my head DO SOMETHING, RUTH! I kept expecting Margot's life to change, and it didn't.
Sometime Ruth could interfere, and sometimes she couldn't. Sometimes she could be seen and heard, and sometimes she couldn't. Sometimes she could change things, and sometimes she couldn't. Sometimes she had amazing magical powers and could defend herself against demons, and sometimes she couldn't. The inconsistency bothered me.
I did like the idea of the demons, but I wish they were more involved. They didn't seem that frightening. They were positioned as a temptation for Ruth to turn to, and a Big Bad, but they really had nothing to do with the climax, and I was disappointed by that. I still want to know who Grogor is - if all the angels are somehow related to their charges, surely demons are, as well? I had so many questions about them, and they were really only included to give Ruth more horrible villains than other humans - who of course, had their own angels.
The climax was satisfying, once I realised the novel wasn't what I was expecting it to be (about two-thirds in). Although I didn't quite understand the last section - I think Ruth got promoted, even though she didn't really do anything to deserve it.
I did enjoy quite a bit how even though there was quite a bit of talk about God, there was never any portrayal, and in fact the psychic information Ruth mysteriously received in the form of instructions popping into her head, was never confirmed if it was from God or not - the atheist in me was happy.

EDIT: I have to add, the only really beautiful writing I found was in the first few chapters, where I actually paused and thought, "That's lovely description," but it seemed to peter off significantly after that, and I can't help but wonder if the author was suffering from "debut novel-itis", where they work so long and so hard on their opening pages and then leave the rest of the book to their normal writing. ...more

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May 15, 2011 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review-read, read-in-2011

When Margot dies at the age of 40 she is sent back to earth as her own guardian angel. Now known as Ruth, it is her job to witness and record the biggest events in Margot's life, she must try to protect Margot from outside forces and she must learn to love herself. As she watches over herself and her family she comes to realise that she is responsible for the trouble that her son now finds herself in but she has been told she must change nothing. But is there a way that she can make things bette When Margot dies at the age of 40 she is sent back to earth as her own guardian angel. Now known as Ruth, it is her job to witness and record the biggest events in Margot's life, she must try to protect Margot from outside forces and she must learn to love herself. As she watches over herself and her family she comes to realise that she is responsible for the trouble that her son now finds herself in but she has been told she must change nothing. But is there a way that she can make things better for either herself or her son?

When I first read the description for The Guardian Angel's Journal I was fascinated by the idea of becoming your own guardian angel. I'm sure the idea of going back and changing certain events and decisions we made in the past has a certain appeal to most of us, after all I think everyone can think of at least a few things they would like to change about their past! For Ruth it is particularly difficult, as Margot she suffered horrendous abuse but even though she must watch these events unfold she is powerless to prevent them from happening. She tries her hardest to make small changes but often her suggestions only make things worse.

It is easy for Ruth to love Margot as a child, after all she is suffering through no fault of her own, but as she watches the decisions Margot makes as an adult she finds it harder to forgive her mistakes. Ruth must learn to accept that her childhood was to blame for a lot of her choices as an adult and it is hard for her to come to terms with the damage she then causes to her son and the rest of her family. As a reader it could have been hard not to feel unsympathetic towards Margot as she passes on her suffering to a new generation but Carolyn Jess-Cooke did a fantastic job of making me relate to her and understand what she had been through. The story is thought provoking and gives an interesting insight to how your past can effect your present in ways you don't always notice without the benefit of hindsight.

The Guardian Angel's Journal is a beautiful story that kept me up until 5am because I couldn't stop reading. It is very different from anything that I've read before but something I would highly recommend. It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next. ...more

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About Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Carolyn Jess-Cooke

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I'm the author of the award-winning poetry collection INROADS (Seren, 2010) and THE GUARDIAN ANGEL'S JOURNAL, published by Little, Brown in the UK and Guideposts Books in the US, as well as 22 other languages. My second novel, THE BOY WHO COULD SEE DEMONS, was released in May 2012. I have also written/co-edited four academic books in the fields of Shakespeare and film. The US version of THE BOY WH ...more

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“As the trees turned red, then white, then naked as pitchforks, Margot and Xiao Chen immersed themselves in several forests' worth of pages, and I watched, tortured, as brick after brick of a new development was laid on the wasteland of Midtown West like slabs of gold bullion.” — 1 likes

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