Visitations

Astonishing book deserving of wide readership.

This extraordinary book hit like a bolt of lightning. Sad, funny, inspiring, thought provoking. Such a talented writer. Deserves greater attention.

Paula Jean Wagemaker

Visitations is a searingly honest account of the effect of a daughter's death on her mum.
Call it autofiction, call it a memorial to a beloved girl, it is a tale of sadness and a fight for justice, and the pieces of lives that should still be together.
As a very minor, fleeting character, I can vouch for Daniela Dragas's fearsome honesty of the events, the pain, the guilt that she felt, and still cannot shake.
But it is also an inter-generational tale of families, of stories they told each other, of the old ways in Yugolslavia, some verging on the mystical, others an object lesson in what happens to a place where idendity becomes everything and humanity falls away …

William O'Byrne

This is a beautifully written heartfelt story about a woman processing her grief of loosing her daughter. Each chapter presents a different reminiscence/discussion with her daughter, sometimes going through the trauma of learning of her death and events that led to her death, sometimes telling her stories of her past (stories about her ancestors that she whishes she had told her while still alive) and sometimes just reminiscing time they had together.
The book is emotionally intense. Although sadness is a major undercurrent, there are moments of beauty, joy, and even humor.

Mateja Jankovic

I have been reading Daniela’s work for many years now. Daniela has a way of writing that draws the reader into the story, and as such I have always found her stories to be very hard to put down. I always want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
Visitations is no exception, even though it is confronting, it is a compelling read. The subject matter does not make for a light-hearted jaunt through the pages but draws the reader into the heart and mind of someone who has suffered a profound loss, and as such brings a deeper understanding of the trauma, despair, and heartache that the search for answers brings.

Wendy Farrow

This raw, compelling story moved me deeply. The sadness expressed here does not make one want to look away; there is something captivating about it. There is tenderness and beauty here, moments of joy and humour.

Megan Bradbury

it somehow felt at time like i was the one who had found the ladies story not the nurse. it felt like i was right there with the pages reading, feeling raw, feeling sad. it was so full of a persons whole self. it didnt shy away from those parts we often dont voice, or cant. it doesnt shy away from things that will give you big reactions and bi feelings. but its never too much. and at times felt bad that i was enjoying it. but it was just so true. so honest. so open its writing and the writing, well wow it was beautiful.
this book is unlike others i have read. and for that i cant really describe it with my usual go to's. but thats a good thing. only a good thing. i wish i could do a search for "books like this" and get others the same as it truly felt like a gift to read.

NetGalley

Visitations is a gripping and engaging story. In Visitations Dragas has given us a tragedy but never more than readers could bear. I once read a description of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ which described the painting not as a painting of a scream, but an experience of a scream. Visitations struck me similarly as an immersion in the experience. The length and detail are part of it.

Lynn Jenner

The urgency and intensity of the story is so evident that it goes without saying.

Chris Price