Product reviews for Blood Lines

I applaud and admire anyone who faces up to a terminal illness. To write honestly and even lyrically about it is quite remarkable. Juliet Robertson has done just that.

In Blood Lines we meet Juliet exploring, chronologically, her myriad experiences of cancer and its treatments. But we also meet ourselves. Her poetry encourages us to put ourselves in her position. Her belief that ‘everything will be alright’ is perhaps a surprising—even challenging—conclusion.

Juliet’s poetry highlights the interdependent and collaborative aspects of her journey. She is being continually supported by her husband Mark, her family, her friends and innumerable healthcare individuals. This is not a poet seeking pity, but elucidating how loving relationships provide her with healing, hope and light, particularly when they are in short supply.

This is a poetry book, but it is so much more! It has a colourful Amish-esque quilt of care; a humorous map, with umpteen road signs, of Juliet’s journey; a surreal game of snakes and ladders and even a DIY Death Notice!

Juliet Robertson has gifted us a vibrant and heartfelt insight into how she is enjoying and enduring her confrontation with the ‘omnipotence of cancer’. And she ain’t done yet!