Book Review: Heart Stood Still by Miriam Sharland
- David Young
- Aug 24
- 2 min read
This review, by Sally Scheffers, first appeared in the September 2025 issue of the Parish Magazine
Ka Haea Te Ata
“Heart Stood Still”, written by Miriam Sharland
Over the last couple of years I have become friends with Miriam who is a frequent visitor to Thursley. Her family roots in our village go deep as the Sharlands and Lillywhites, from whom Miriam is descended, have lived here for centuries.
As a young woman Miriam followed her heart and emigrated to New Zealand where she lived for nearly twenty years before making the brave decision to return to England and her family. I am envious of Miriam’s capability and fearlessness to make such huge choices and to coolly deal with all the ramifications incurred.
Before leaving her adopted homeland Miriam wrote her first book, “Heart Stood Still”. This book is a series of essays based on the theme of the natural world which Miriam has written in four parts: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Each part has three chapters which loosely relate to the title of that essay. I say loosely because Miriam describes the world around her and her frustrations at the lack of respect shown to the natural environment from her fellow citizens as well as the local authority. Occasionally, Miriam reports, in full, the abuse from entitled drivers as she cycles her way around Manawatu, Aotearoa.
Set during Covid, Miriam and her friends meet at a distance and share the produce from their gardens and from their foraging forays. All the essays are gentle and wistful, and we learn of Miriam’s childhood in Witley with Sunday afternoon family outings to Thursley Common. And Miriam’s homesickness during phone calls to her family is there to see.
Miriam writes with ease and reading her book is also easy as well as very enjoyable. This book reminds me of the pleasure of being told a story at the kitchen table which gently meanders, takes little detours, has little anecdotes and interesting facts that remain with you, but the story is heartfelt and real due to the way it has been told.
This wonderful book is one of life’s simple pleasures and, as we all know, achieving simplicity takes a lot of effort. The Maori words were explained within the text but one word, ”berm” caught both Amanda Flint-Roberts and myself out. It is, in fact, a bank or verge.
Miriam is now working on her next book in which she follows the wartime route of her uncle, Bob Sharland, who she never met as he was shot down in April, 1944 at the age of 21. I look forward to it but in the meantime I will re-read “Heart Stood Still”.
Sally Scheffers
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The book can be bought from Blackwells and other online booksellers:
