|
Title
|
The Goldfish Went on Vacation
- A Memoir of Loss (and Learning to Tell the Truth about It) |
| Author |
Patty Dann |
| Release Year |
2007 |
| Reviewed by |
Lucy Boyle |
| Review Date |
11/06 |
| Non-Fiction? |
YES |
|
Death of
|
Partner or spouse |
| Type of Death |
Cancer |
| Target Audience |
Bereaved; Family, friends, co-workers
of the bereaved |
| Reviewer Rating |
Very Good |
Summary
Patty Dann shares with us the heartbreaking experience of losing
her husband to brain cancer while helping her young son cope with
the slow death of his father. In a series of moving vignettes, Dann
tells of a journey that cycles through grief and anger, but also
through humor, joy and empowerment.
Quotes
"When I got home from the hospital, Jake was there with his
babysitter, racing around the house and wanting to jump on his father
as he always did. That night, as I put him to bed, he cried, "I
hate Daddy sick. I miss my tall Daddy,". Then he sighed and
said, "Maybe the sun will come down from heaven and take the
disease out of Daddy and give it to the rain and the clouds and
he'll be all better".
"One spring morning Jake woke up and climbed into my bed.
'I think Daddy is doing the leaving part now', he whispered. From
then on, everything Willem touched, and everything Willem wore,
became a totem. Jake began asking to put on our wedding rings for
a few minutes before he fell asleep".
General Themes
- Exploring grief through the loss of a spouse
- Talking to children about losing a parent
What the Reviewer Liked
A sad but enlightening memoir about losing a spouse, having to
deal with a young child and talking to him about death. I liked
the way the author moved from past to present in the vignettes.
The anecdotes Dann describes in the Memoir are heartrending, humorous
and poignant.
Shortcomings or Flaws
The writing moves quickly from one scene to another, so although
provides a great variety, leaves one wanting to know more about
a particular thought or event.
Writing Style
Written in a series of vignettes.
Author Qualifications
Patty Dann is the author of the novels "Sweet and Crazy"
and "Mermaids" (which was made into a feature film). Her
articles have appeared in the New York Times, O Magazine, Redbook,
More and the Chicago Tribune. She has an MFA in Writing from Columbia
University.
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Kara is the Gothic root of the word "care."
It means to reach out, to care, to lament, to grieve with.
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