The Household Guide to Dying

[violet]

By Debra Adelaide, this book is heartbreaking. I only skimmed it after the first few chapters; it was too confronting to read.

The narrator is the tidy and happy wife and mother of two who writes an advice column. Homemaking is her speciality, and when she discovers that she is dying, sets about putting her life into order before she goes.

She has written many household guides on various topics, and is asked by her publisher to write one about dying, hence the title.

It's beautifully written, quite raw, and too sad for me. She makes peace with her past, which is sad enough in itself, and tries to leave something of herself behind for her daughters and husband.

This a million-tissue book.

[braided-rug]

It is amazing that with our dog dying of cancer, the issue has come to the surface again for me. I am interested in the book, will check out if the library has it.

No luck there, they do have the author though.

There is an exerpt here:

www.panmacmillan.com.au/picador/display_title.asp?ISBN=9780330424257&Author=Adelaide,%20Debra

[violet]

Maybe if you request the book they will buy it Br. It's only a recent release and seems to be being talked about everywhere so they may be happy to get it.

One thing I did enjoy about the book was reading about her chickens.

[braided-rug]

brocantehome.typepad.com/brocante_home/2008/06/the-household-g.html

[violet]

I'm really not a lover of sad, confronting books. I loathed the much-celebrated "The Lovely Bones" whereas dd enjoyed it, as she is enjoying "The Household Guide to Dying", so don't be put off by anything I say - look at the review Br posted above.