"The household guide to dying : a novel" by Debra Adelaide.Debra Adelaide is another one of the authors appearing at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival that I have a ticket for but haven't read. Apparently she has written several books although "The household guide to dying" is the only title of hers that Rodney Libraries holds. If the others are anything like this I will be seeking them out (maybe taking advantage of the reciprocal lending arrangement Rodney has with North Shore and Waitakere Libraries...)
The book is written by Delia. She is a mum, a wife, the author of several 'how-to' books celebrating the 'household arts'... and she is dying. The story charts her coming to terms with her past and planning the future for her children. She writes lists planning her daughters' far-off weddings. She writes her column. She plans a raid on the neighbours garden. She encourages her husband to think about a new partner after she is dead. (That doesn't go so well.)
A wonderful story about a difficult topic. Warm, funny, ultimately uplifting.
No comments:
Post a Comment