Richard D. (niell) reviewed on 6/13/2010 + 5 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I requested a copy of this book from PBS because the "Five Best Books" series in the Wall Street Journal included it as one of the five best of a particular category -- personal stories, or something of that sort. After reading it, I understand their high opinion. It is a compelling story of loss and grief.

Joan Didion's grown daughter went to the hospital on December 25 (2003 I think) with a life-threatening illness, and remained there for quite some time. Then on December 30, Joan was eating dinner with her husband of many years, who suffered a fatal heart attack at the dinner table. The story continues in that vein as the daughter continues her life and death struggle with illness.

In this book, Joan, a professional writer of some stature, relates her innermost self as she struggles with the certainty of her husband's death and the uncertainty of her daughter's survival.

After I finished this book, I gave it to my wife. She stayed up into the wee hours reading it, because she literally could not put it down.

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