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A review by samantha1020
All That Is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay
5.0
"I had a mother once. How odd. I wish I could have a moment with her, as Aunt Kate said. Just a few minutes to visit. I would like to hear her voice. I would like to do right by her. Not for her (she is past caring) but for me. I would like to go back to the place where I lost my way and choose a different road."
This book gutted me - five stars. That's basically all I need to say. It's one that I'm left pondering over, trying to put my feelings into words (needing to talk about it NOW and not weeks later because I'm always behind on reviews) but that is the sum of it really. Five stars and may very well end up on my top reads list of the year - TBD. I don't want to give a big summary or tell you anything about it really. It was an experience. It left me feeling frustrated at points, taken aback at others...and at tears when I was at the point where I read the above quote. I went to Goodreads and read reviews on this one straight after finishing - and I can understand and agree with some of the criticisms. And yet...I think back to how this book made me feel while reading - and can't give it anything less. Here is what I want you to know. If you feel a bit ambivalent at first, stick with it (maybe not if you hit the halfway point and still feel this way). There are no quotation marks used which can be (and is) confusing at times. It's a slow burn - one where you are meant to trust the author and the ride that he is taking you on within the pages. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I didn't expect this one to hit like it did but that's the joy of reading for you. Also, I need more of you to read this one so we can discuss.
I'm hesitant on how to recommend this only because I understand that it might not hit everyone the same way like it did for me. But if you read and loved Long Bright River by Liz Moore or Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (both also five star reads for me) then pick this book up. I think it's the characterization in these books that makes me feel like if you liked one, you might like the other. And also, if should go without saying by now, but I highly recommend this one!
CW - Dementia
This book gutted me - five stars. That's basically all I need to say. It's one that I'm left pondering over, trying to put my feelings into words (needing to talk about it NOW and not weeks later because I'm always behind on reviews) but that is the sum of it really. Five stars and may very well end up on my top reads list of the year - TBD. I don't want to give a big summary or tell you anything about it really. It was an experience. It left me feeling frustrated at points, taken aback at others...and at tears when I was at the point where I read the above quote. I went to Goodreads and read reviews on this one straight after finishing - and I can understand and agree with some of the criticisms. And yet...I think back to how this book made me feel while reading - and can't give it anything less. Here is what I want you to know. If you feel a bit ambivalent at first, stick with it (maybe not if you hit the halfway point and still feel this way). There are no quotation marks used which can be (and is) confusing at times. It's a slow burn - one where you are meant to trust the author and the ride that he is taking you on within the pages. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I didn't expect this one to hit like it did but that's the joy of reading for you. Also, I need more of you to read this one so we can discuss.
I'm hesitant on how to recommend this only because I understand that it might not hit everyone the same way like it did for me. But if you read and loved Long Bright River by Liz Moore or Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (both also five star reads for me) then pick this book up. I think it's the characterization in these books that makes me feel like if you liked one, you might like the other. And also, if should go without saying by now, but I highly recommend this one!
CW - Dementia
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia