The pink of rose quartz, the blue of lapis lazuli, the violet of amethyst: for the author, crystals exist for the speaking of feeling. So it is that under their auspices she embarks on a remarkable but heartbreaking journey into her past. We are drawn into the formative years of her childhood in Tasmania, so vividly portrayed. At the heart of the story are her father and fated elder sister, Fenella, whom she strives to bring to life again in the pages of her book. Her father's terrors lead him into a tragic addiction which finally shatters the whole family's world. As we read, the uneasy feeling that awful things will happen grows until Fenella irrevocably falls from grace. The author's powerful account of her sister's destruction is deeply moving. These crystal memories are offered also as a narrative of hearing and seeing; music, literature, art and colour are all related as themes on the author's perception of the people around her. She fits words to feelings and with her uniquely evocative and inspiring language has created a truly impressive book. It is a revelation both for her and for us.