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Wavewalker: Breaking Free
‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing. Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how her determination to educate herself enabled her to escape.
Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children. Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water…
Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children. Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water…
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 13, 2023
About the author
Suzanne Heywood
11 books62 followersI grew up sailing around the world on a boat. My father set sail from England in 1976 on the Schooner Wavewalker with my brother, mother and me on board for what was supposed to be a three-year voyage but turned out to be a decade-long trip. While this meant that I saw a huge amount of our planet (though generally only the parts that are near sea level), it also meant that I was isolated as a child and struggled to get any formal education. Somehow, I managed to teach myself by correspondence and won a place to study at university. My book "Wavewalker" tells this story. It is both an adventure story and a coming-of-age story in a world that appeared idyllic but in reality was hugely challenging.
After gaining my degree and PhD I worked for a few years in the UK Treasury and for 17 years at McKinsey and Company, where I specialised in organisation design and strategy. My book, "ReOrg", co-authored with Stephen Heidari-Robinson captured the learnings from this for others to use when redesigning organisations.
In the Treasury I was lucky enough to meet my future husband, Jeremy Heywood, who went on to serve four UK Prime Ministers in various roles including Principal Private Secretary, Permanent Secretary of 10 Downing Street, Cabinet Secretary and the Head of the Civil Service. When he became ill in 2017, he agreed that I could write his biography, "What Does Jeremy Think", which records his extraordinary career. Alongside this I also wrote and published a short biography of his mother, Dr Brenda Swinbank, who was one of the UK's first female Roman archaeologists (“Recollections of a Female Archaeologist: A life of Brenda Swinbank”).
After gaining my degree and PhD I worked for a few years in the UK Treasury and for 17 years at McKinsey and Company, where I specialised in organisation design and strategy. My book, "ReOrg", co-authored with Stephen Heidari-Robinson captured the learnings from this for others to use when redesigning organisations.
In the Treasury I was lucky enough to meet my future husband, Jeremy Heywood, who went on to serve four UK Prime Ministers in various roles including Principal Private Secretary, Permanent Secretary of 10 Downing Street, Cabinet Secretary and the Head of the Civil Service. When he became ill in 2017, he agreed that I could write his biography, "What Does Jeremy Think", which records his extraordinary career. Alongside this I also wrote and published a short biography of his mother, Dr Brenda Swinbank, who was one of the UK's first female Roman archaeologists (“Recollections of a Female Archaeologist: A life of Brenda Swinbank”).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
February 11, 2024
'I had no control over my life when I was a child, but as an adult I have the right to tell my story as honestly as I can'.
The dream began in 1975 but the nightmare finally ended some ten years later. As a seven-year-old, Suzanne was excited, if not a little nervous, as her family cast off from England's shores to retrace one of Captain Cook's voyages. The trip was to be three years. It's safe to say that not only did the journey not go to plan but, indeed, the plan did not go to plan. 'trapped inside someone else's dream', Suzanne increasingly found it difficult to gain any control of education and ultimately her future. As time moved on, and circumstances became increasingly fraught, Suzanne relied on pure gumption and resilience to transform her circumstances.
Like Educated, if you enjoy reading the memoirs about someone who defies the odds and defines resilience- this book is for you. I easily digested 500 pages in just a couple of days.
Three word summary: adventurous, courageous and inspiring.
The dream began in 1975 but the nightmare finally ended some ten years later. As a seven-year-old, Suzanne was excited, if not a little nervous, as her family cast off from England's shores to retrace one of Captain Cook's voyages. The trip was to be three years. It's safe to say that not only did the journey not go to plan but, indeed, the plan did not go to plan. 'trapped inside someone else's dream', Suzanne increasingly found it difficult to gain any control of education and ultimately her future. As time moved on, and circumstances became increasingly fraught, Suzanne relied on pure gumption and resilience to transform her circumstances.
Like Educated, if you enjoy reading the memoirs about someone who defies the odds and defines resilience- this book is for you. I easily digested 500 pages in just a couple of days.
Three word summary: adventurous, courageous and inspiring.
April 21, 2023
I just finished reading the extract from the Guardian's what we are reading now section. I was so drawn in that now I'm dying to read the rest.
Update: I got the audio version. It's like having the author in the passenger seat of your car chatting to you as she walks you through her incredible story. You can't help but imagine it from her eyes.
It's an inspirational story of life at sea from the perspective of a young girl entirely at the mercy of other people's obsessions. Its full of danger, drama and her drive to escape.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed curled up with this book or hearing it as I did.
Update: I got the audio version. It's like having the author in the passenger seat of your car chatting to you as she walks you through her incredible story. You can't help but imagine it from her eyes.
It's an inspirational story of life at sea from the perspective of a young girl entirely at the mercy of other people's obsessions. Its full of danger, drama and her drive to escape.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed curled up with this book or hearing it as I did.
April 18, 2023
I read this book after reading the article in The Guardian and raced through it in a couple of days - I loved it.
Though Suzanne's childhood undoubtedly took place in an incredible backdrop, her story is ultimately about the impact of her parents disregard for her feelings whilst at the same time putting her in a situation where fear was normal and her life was sometimes in danger. Her attempts as a young person to find connections with people who transited through her childhood were extremely moving, as well as the evolution of her increasing frustration and growing desire for independence. Ultimately this desire for independence and self-determination became intolerable to her parents, particularly her mum. The scenes where her mum makes unreasonable demands and then alienates her daughter were incredibly moving and well-written - Suzanne's unspoken desperation leaps from the page, as well as her constant battle to be allowed to have an education. Equally following the time she was in New Zealand ostensibly alone as a teenager is pretty haunting.
In the epilogue Suzanne writes that her parents described her upbringing as 'privileged' which really sums up the void between the writer's experience and the narrative her parents created for themselves.
A fantastic and thought-provoking book about a struggle to take control of your own life when those around you don't want you to.
Though Suzanne's childhood undoubtedly took place in an incredible backdrop, her story is ultimately about the impact of her parents disregard for her feelings whilst at the same time putting her in a situation where fear was normal and her life was sometimes in danger. Her attempts as a young person to find connections with people who transited through her childhood were extremely moving, as well as the evolution of her increasing frustration and growing desire for independence. Ultimately this desire for independence and self-determination became intolerable to her parents, particularly her mum. The scenes where her mum makes unreasonable demands and then alienates her daughter were incredibly moving and well-written - Suzanne's unspoken desperation leaps from the page, as well as her constant battle to be allowed to have an education. Equally following the time she was in New Zealand ostensibly alone as a teenager is pretty haunting.
In the epilogue Suzanne writes that her parents described her upbringing as 'privileged' which really sums up the void between the writer's experience and the narrative her parents created for themselves.
A fantastic and thought-provoking book about a struggle to take control of your own life when those around you don't want you to.
Want to read
April 2, 2023This excerpt, oh my god.
June 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book: it was a well written and easy to read account of someone who had a very different childhood but managed to survive it. A few bits of the book (like the adult Suzanne going off in search of Wavewalker) were a bit tedious: factual accounts for completeness rather than part of the main story.
Suzanne’s account was of a frankly abusive childhood where her needs were pretty much always at the bottom of the list of priorities. Having finished the book I wanted to know more about what happened to her after this. I found her unconventional upbringing clearly didn’t hold her back: she’s had a very successful life, education, career and relationship, a high achiever in any terms.
I also found accounts online of her brother and father discrediting Suzanne’s account (ie this book). To be honest these didn’t hold water for me. The family clearly had a very sexist approach towards male and female roles, and to have the two men of the family rubbishing the woman’s account was no great surprise. They simply didn’t have any awareness.
I did also feel that at this time (the 70s and 80s) children generally didn’t get a say in how their family was run or what they did. Especially girl children. So some of what happened was culturally normal, it was just that Suzanne’s parents (actually her father) just chose a more radical and unusual route and lifestyle than most.
What was particularly sad was Suzanne’s relationship with her mother, which was frankly awful. But it really sounded like her mother was rather a victim of the dad’s autocratic flights of fancy too. She sounded depressed for a lot of time, and clearly took her plight out on her daughter.
Anyway, a good read. Many thanks to my fantastic local library for ordering this in for me.
Suzanne’s account was of a frankly abusive childhood where her needs were pretty much always at the bottom of the list of priorities. Having finished the book I wanted to know more about what happened to her after this. I found her unconventional upbringing clearly didn’t hold her back: she’s had a very successful life, education, career and relationship, a high achiever in any terms.
I also found accounts online of her brother and father discrediting Suzanne’s account (ie this book). To be honest these didn’t hold water for me. The family clearly had a very sexist approach towards male and female roles, and to have the two men of the family rubbishing the woman’s account was no great surprise. They simply didn’t have any awareness.
I did also feel that at this time (the 70s and 80s) children generally didn’t get a say in how their family was run or what they did. Especially girl children. So some of what happened was culturally normal, it was just that Suzanne’s parents (actually her father) just chose a more radical and unusual route and lifestyle than most.
What was particularly sad was Suzanne’s relationship with her mother, which was frankly awful. But it really sounded like her mother was rather a victim of the dad’s autocratic flights of fancy too. She sounded depressed for a lot of time, and clearly took her plight out on her daughter.
Anyway, a good read. Many thanks to my fantastic local library for ordering this in for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
This book is amazing
It's hard for me to write a review for this book without coming off as an overly enthusiastic used-car salesperson, but I'm going to try anyway.
Like many others here on Goodreads, I was gripped by the excerpt of Wavewalker in The Guardian. Despite having no particular interest in sailing, biographies, or the major events that occurred before I was born, there was something about that excerpt that made me want to buy this book on the day it was released - and I did.
I read it cover to cover in just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down; I was up until 2am, too gripped to stop reading.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Sue, you are incredible. I wish you all the best in life and hope that this book becomes a massive success, as it certainly deserves to be.
It's hard for me to write a review for this book without coming off as an overly enthusiastic used-car salesperson, but I'm going to try anyway.
Like many others here on Goodreads, I was gripped by the excerpt of Wavewalker in The Guardian. Despite having no particular interest in sailing, biographies, or the major events that occurred before I was born, there was something about that excerpt that made me want to buy this book on the day it was released - and I did.
I read it cover to cover in just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down; I was up until 2am, too gripped to stop reading.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Sue, you are incredible. I wish you all the best in life and hope that this book becomes a massive success, as it certainly deserves to be.
June 20, 2023
The Guardian extract left me wanting to know more … but I’m not sure the book actually does that. It’s an incredible story of adventure and resilience but it leaves so many questions unanswered, particularly about relationships - with her dad, her brother and many of the other adults who passed through her young life. But above all the relationship with her mother. Was there any reconciliation in later life? It appears not as her mother threatens her husband’s career (Why? How? What career?) when she knows Suzanne is writing this book - yet more unanswered questions. Suzanne Heywood is a truly remarkable woman to have come through all the experiences she documents, but I don’t feel that this book does full her justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2023
I love a good life at sea story, and this memoir of a childhood circumnavigating the globe was very compelling. Heywood’s childhood on the ocean is full of interesting stories about people and exotic locations, about the challenges and chaos of the ocean, and most interestingly about the complex dynamic of her family. It’s told without excessive sentiment and with a healthy critical lens. A great memoir.
November 10, 2023
I always like to read books about people’s lives and struggles. This was an interesting book/story. My take? Author’s parents were idiots and in today’s world would have been charged with neglect. But don’t think Haywood wrote the book to expose that. She was just telling her story from Age 7 to 17. Probably trying to sort it all out. Very unconventional upbringing. Love reading stories of people who overcome their early years as children with little parental support. And then go on to lead a “normal” life. Easy read. Told well.
December 27, 2023
This memoir is about a dangerous childhood spent sailing, read for book club. While the author definitely has an interesting and unusual story (I even recommended this book to my mom!), I thought the overall execution of parts of the book were poor, including details important to her but irrelevant to the reader, and providing no conclusion on most of the characters and storylines. I also wanted more reflection on aspects of the story from an adult perspective, for example, the financial struggles her parents are facing that are likely driving many of the decisions.
April 19, 2023
This was an extraordinary account of a very difficult upbringing with parents who should be ashamed of themselves, especially the mother who's selfish outlook on life is appalling. At times I felt the dialogue was excessive and some detail unnecessary, quite child like in its construction. However, I listened to the audiobook and felt the narration let the book down. There is a skill to holding the listeners attention and the author (for me) does not have that skill.
January 16, 2024
I am NOT okay…this is such a hauntingly beautiful memoir and I truly urge ANYBODY/EVERYBODY to read this book because it is WELL worth your time. It’s been a while since i’ve been emotionally moved by a book…I feel like crying for child Sue and her loss of adolescence due to her parents selfishness and narcissistic tendencies but also I am astonished that she survived all of that because I think I would just curl up into a fetal position and die?
November 12, 2023
“‘What you kids must realize,’ he said, leaning back and blowing out a mouthful of smoke, ‘is this isn’t a democracy. It’s a benevolent dictatorship. The captain always gets the casting vote.’”
Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her family on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling.
Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child in dire circumstances deprived of safety, friendships, schooling, occasionally drinking water… At eighteen, through resolve and resilience, Suzanne earned a place at Oxford university and returned to the UK.
From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how determination helped her escape.
What an unconventional childhood Suzanne led! I do not know how her father was able to get them out of the danger they were in every. Single. Time. It’s quite miraculous, actually. Wavewalker is a story of strength, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of higher education. A fascinating tale!
While the story was interesting, I struggled to keep going with it. There just wasn’t that pull to pick it back up that I normally get. It could be a bit shorter and maybe edited down a little more.
Thank you to @harpercollins, @suzannaheywood1, and @tlcbooktours for the #gifted copy.
Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her family on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling.
Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child in dire circumstances deprived of safety, friendships, schooling, occasionally drinking water… At eighteen, through resolve and resilience, Suzanne earned a place at Oxford university and returned to the UK.
From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how determination helped her escape.
What an unconventional childhood Suzanne led! I do not know how her father was able to get them out of the danger they were in every. Single. Time. It’s quite miraculous, actually. Wavewalker is a story of strength, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of higher education. A fascinating tale!
While the story was interesting, I struggled to keep going with it. There just wasn’t that pull to pick it back up that I normally get. It could be a bit shorter and maybe edited down a little more.
Thank you to @harpercollins, @suzannaheywood1, and @tlcbooktours for the #gifted copy.
March 7, 2024
When Suzanne's parents tell her that their family is going to live on a boat and sail around the world, they sell it to her and everyone as the adventure of a lifetime. But the reality of it is much more grim, with constant instability and little care for the children's education or futures.
Talk about making your midlife crisis your children's problem! Having seen an uptick of chatter online about parents gaming the homeschooling system to let their kids run wild, it was interesting to see what that lifestyle might be like from the perspective of a woman who had grown up through and past it.
Heywood does a good job of keeping the story clipping on at a steady pace - ten years is a long time, but I felt that she'd given us a glimpse at all the ups and downs that she experienced. As she grows from a young child to her late teens, we see her increasing awareness of her parents' shortcomings and her longing for stability develop almost in real time. As someone whose parents always placed great value in education, it was really shocking to see how uncaring Heywood's parents seemed about her prospects, often dismissing it as unnecessary because she was female.
I did wish we learned more about what on earth Heywood's parents were thinking. The author does try to dissect it at the end of the book, but complete answers remain frustratingly out of reach. I was also very curious about how the unstructured upbringing on the boat affected Heywood's brother Jon. She discusses how he ran wild and was allowed more leeway by their parents due to his gender, but it would have been interesting to see compare and contrast their feelings about life on the Wavewalker.
Talk about making your midlife crisis your children's problem! Having seen an uptick of chatter online about parents gaming the homeschooling system to let their kids run wild, it was interesting to see what that lifestyle might be like from the perspective of a woman who had grown up through and past it.
Heywood does a good job of keeping the story clipping on at a steady pace - ten years is a long time, but I felt that she'd given us a glimpse at all the ups and downs that she experienced. As she grows from a young child to her late teens, we see her increasing awareness of her parents' shortcomings and her longing for stability develop almost in real time. As someone whose parents always placed great value in education, it was really shocking to see how uncaring Heywood's parents seemed about her prospects, often dismissing it as unnecessary because she was female.
I did wish we learned more about what on earth Heywood's parents were thinking. The author does try to dissect it at the end of the book, but complete answers remain frustratingly out of reach. I was also very curious about how the unstructured upbringing on the boat affected Heywood's brother Jon. She discusses how he ran wild and was allowed more leeway by their parents due to his gender, but it would have been interesting to see compare and contrast their feelings about life on the Wavewalker.
July 6, 2023
Trapped in someone else’s dream. What could be more idyllic than a childhood spent sailing the islands of the South Pacific. Yet the author suffers intense physical and emotional pain and must fight hard the be able to snatch opportunities to learn from second hand books and correspondence courses marked miles away and posted back to the “wrong” location. The contrast between having to suffer the limited options permitted by sailing parents and then sudden independence (abandonment) are stark. A great read - and well done Childline for a small but significant role
June 6, 2023
Absolutely fantastic book. It is thoroughly gripping and so thought-provoking. Everyone who has ever grown up at sea should read this, and everyone who hasn’t should also read it. This one will stay with me. Quite possibly the best autobiography I have ever read. Her story is inspiring, and her writing is beautiful.
The audio book is great, and if you have the book (or find them online, the audio book explains how, but I had to own a physical book as well), the photographs are a lovely addition.
The audio book is great, and if you have the book (or find them online, the audio book explains how, but I had to own a physical book as well), the photographs are a lovely addition.
November 2, 2023
This is essentially Tara Westover’s “educated”, but on a schooner. There are even similar dramatis personae - the recalcitrant patriach, the hapless mother figure, the toxic favoured sibling. Both Westover and Heywood even earned PhDs at Cambridge, the former at Trinity and the latter at King’s. That’s not all. The family of both authors had denounced the stories, which adds to the spectacle. Overall, a good read.
November 11, 2023
Very interesting book, but the storyline could use some editing and tightening up.
April 17, 2023
An extremely well written real-life coming of age tale set on the high seas, with a caste of unforgettable family members. Join Suzanne, a plucky young child, as Wavewalker, their 70 foot wooden schooner, sails from the UK through cold Southern Ocean to Hawaii and the remote Solomon Islands in the Coral Sea and beyond. As the years pass Suzanne, facing adventures, hardship and joy, decides the time has come to determine her own future against the odds. I could not put this book down. Highly recommended.
If you enjoyed The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Educated by Tara Westover or my book Thinking Up A Hurricane, then you will love this.
If you enjoyed The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Educated by Tara Westover or my book Thinking Up A Hurricane, then you will love this.
December 7, 2023
Such an intriguing story! It blows my mind that parents would pull their children out of school, neglect their educational and emotional well-being, and put them in such a DANGEROUS situation! That being said, WHEW! She has some pretty crazy stories and some AMAZING experiences that most people would never dream of having!
Read
January 6, 2024This book left me with a lot of thoughts. Reading this made me feel similar to how I felt reading Educated. Throughout the book I became increasingly frustrated and sad for Suzanne. It is remarkable all the things she's been able to accomplish given the circumstances of her upbringing.
March 11, 2024
This book is a perfect example of how marketing makes the book. This book didn't have a strong marketing team. I'd never heard of it. My husband stumbled on an article mentioning the book. I asked after it when he brought it home from the library, and it sounded fascinating.
Wavewalker is what it appears to be: absolutely fascinating.
At 7yrs old, Suzanne Heywood's parents made an announcement: the 3 of them and Suzanne's 6yr old brother would hop into a giant sailboat and follow Captain James Cook's 3rd voyage, which would take ~3.5yrs. 10yrs after they set sail from England, Suzanne escaped her abusive and neglectful family to find a life on solid ground.
I really don't want to say much more. Heywood's life was lonely and cruel. She survived a life threatening injury and abandonment. She survived a childhood and adolescence of solitude and sadness. And all of this was navigating aboard a sailboat, full of her narcissistic, alcoholic parents, her ambivalent brother, and a constantly rotating menagerie of amateur adventurers, sailors, and youths looking for cheap transportation.
Heywood deserved the type of marketing that Tara Westover received when she wrote Educated. She was robbed. This book is better than Educated. Everyone should read this book.
Wavewalker is what it appears to be: absolutely fascinating.
At 7yrs old, Suzanne Heywood's parents made an announcement: the 3 of them and Suzanne's 6yr old brother would hop into a giant sailboat and follow Captain James Cook's 3rd voyage, which would take ~3.5yrs. 10yrs after they set sail from England, Suzanne escaped her abusive and neglectful family to find a life on solid ground.
I really don't want to say much more. Heywood's life was lonely and cruel. She survived a life threatening injury and abandonment. She survived a childhood and adolescence of solitude and sadness. And all of this was navigating aboard a sailboat, full of her narcissistic, alcoholic parents, her ambivalent brother, and a constantly rotating menagerie of amateur adventurers, sailors, and youths looking for cheap transportation.
Heywood deserved the type of marketing that Tara Westover received when she wrote Educated. She was robbed. This book is better than Educated. Everyone should read this book.
November 11, 2023
Beautifully written and a truly remarkable story. Would highly recommend!
April 16, 2023
I read the extract in The Guardian some weeks ago and ordered the book, collected yesterday and couldn’t put it down all afternoon and evening. What an incredible story. I had no idea who this lady is before I read it but have since looked her up, only adding to how impressive her determination has been.
November 10, 2023
Could not put it down. Her story is often told in fast paced dialogue. Clearly there was so much detail there was no room for. Incredible story of survival on so many levels. Would love to hear her speak about the book and her early life.
Read
February 5, 2024A story that brought a lot more questions than answers, we learn how this girl remembers growing upon a boat with parents who didn’t seem to have her best interests at heart. It would be interesting to see her family’s view of that timeframe.
February 28, 2024
Incredible story of resilience that describes a childhood lived on the high seas trapped inside her parents' selfish dreams.
Want to read
April 8, 2023Although I’m yet to read this book, the authors preamble entices me to do so.
It’s obvious from the introduction that here is a story of intrigue and courage and conflict-ion.
Another book to add to my growing list of, yet to read.
It’s obvious from the introduction that here is a story of intrigue and courage and conflict-ion.
Another book to add to my growing list of, yet to read.
November 13, 2023
Wow. This is quite a story. I’m surprised the author was able to tell it as unemotionally as she did, especially certain parts. The story made me incredibly angry on her behalf just thinking about how young she was while she was subjected to some really scary things at sea, and how perpetually her parents prioritized themselves above her while calling her selfish for having normal childhood needs. I’m really happy for her that she was able to get out and have the kind of life and learning and stability she’d wanted all those years.
August 19, 2023
I read this wonderful book in a matter of days. Suzanne Heywood describes a childhood that she was lucky to survive both emotionally and physically. On the face of it, it would appear that she led an idyllic life at sea. There was no end to the exotic and stunning locations visited. Heywood encountered whales and other marine animals - to all intents and purposes, it seemed like a most perfect life. Yet the reality was utterly different - Heywood was subjected to extreme emotional and physical abuse from a pair of hard-drinking narcissists who cared not at all for the well-being of their children, 7 year old Sue and her younger brother Jon. Sue, in particular, endured years of knowing that her brother was a favoured child and she was dispensable. Throughout her early teenage years, Sue pitifully begged her parents to put down roots and enable her to attend school. Having friendships and stability were things that most children in a first world economy take for granted and were denied to Sue in her formative years. She was verbally and emotionally abused - particularly by her mother who at times, refused to speak to her at all, and who went out of her way to prevent Heywood from pursuing education of any sort - even learning by correspondence. Heywood was expected to work (and study) while at sea. In modern day parlance, it could be considered a form of slavery. Heywood and her brother Jon, were abandoned completely (while Heywood was a minor and unable to legally work or open a bank account) as her parents continued on their voyage. It is truly the stuff of absolute nightmares - the people who most have a moral obligation to care and nurture their children, were the ones Heywood had just cause to be frightened of. Entirely through her own efforts, Suzanne Heywood returned to England as a teen, going on to be accepted into Oxford, and ultimately obtaining a PhD in Cambridge. Despite concerted efforts from her family, Sue Heywood (nee Cook), has emerged a survivor with a stoic determination to live life on her terms and thrive. She held on to compassion and empathy even though she was never shown any by her family. It’s one of the most powerful autobiographies I’ve ever read. Suzanne Heywood I salute you.
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