The Goldfish Went on Vacation: A Memoir of Loss (and Learning to Tell the Truth about It)

by Patty Dann

Paperback, 2007

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Collection

Publication

Trumpeter (2007), Paperback, 176 pages

Description

"The moment when Patty Dann's husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she felt as though the ground had dropped out beneath her. Her grief, however, was immediately interrupted by the realization that she would have to tell their three-year-old son, Jake, that his father was dying. The prognosis gave her husband just a year to live. In that short time, the three of them--Patty, Willem, and Jake--would have to find a way to live with the illness and prepare for his death.   Written with disarming honesty, courage, and humor, Patty weaves together a series of vignettes that chart her and Jake's eventual acceptance of their new family--through coping with the daily challenges, the sorrow, and the uncertainty, as well as embracing the surprising moments of beauty and acceptance. As much about exploring memory as it is about appreciating the moment, this captivating narrative will serve as a genuine comfort to anyone surprised by grief."… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member debnance
Dann’s husband unexpectedly is diagnosed with brain cancer. Dann and her young son try to deal with his impending death. The fresh thoughts of the son and of Dann’s elderly writing students give this book great strength.
LibraryThing member deadgirl
This is an amazing book.

Losing a spouse is probably the worst thing that can happen to a person. Having to explain and help a three-year-old live with death makes it a hundred times harder. The author dove into the past in order to comprehend the process of death, letting seemingly petty events
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help give her some perspective of the pain she went through. Snippets of her own story and others' stories make up this memoir.

The author kept the book simple and straightforward. Each "memory" is short (the longest only about 3 pages), which made the whole book very easy to read and consume. It was so sad and so beautiful to read.
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Physical description

176 p.; 5 inches

ISBN

1590305647 / 9781590305645
Page: 0.3314 seconds