An Authentic Memoir About Dying: “Walking Him Home” by Joanne Tubbs Kelly
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

An Authentic Memoir About Dying: “Walking Him Home” by Joanne Tubbs Kelly

While Kelly memoir is about Alan, it is also about her own journey with finding love in her partnership with Alan, but also being able to love herself. It is a story of discovery through love and loss, and Joanne writes candidly about what her life will be like once Alan is gone. In many ways, it honours Alan and also caries his memory forward. Continue reading

Gardening and Grief: A Review of “The Accidental Tour Guide” by Mary Moody
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

Gardening and Grief: A Review of “The Accidental Tour Guide” by Mary Moody

If you’re a veteran subscriber of Bound2Books you know that I have written quite a few reviews on literature relating to death, loss, and cancer. The reason for this has been selfish because after losing my Dad to cancer in 2011 I have searched for meaning, understanding, and hope in this unending grief we all … Continue reading

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book

When my father died in 2011, my whole world was flipped on its head. I have spent most of my 20s coming to terms with death, loss, and grief, and this is also evidenced in the types of books I have read throughout this time. This can be seen in my reviews of fiction works … Continue reading

“The Unwinding of the Miracle”: a memoir for anyone who has been touched by cancer
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“The Unwinding of the Miracle”: a memoir for anyone who has been touched by cancer

NOTE: Contains discussions about terminal illness. This is the memoir of the year for me. I know it is a bold statement to make considering it is only March and there are nine more months still to go, but I just loved this memoir by Julie Yip-Williams. This memoir spoke to me on so many … Continue reading

“The Embalmer”: an exploration of our complicated relationship with death
Book Reviews / Canadian / The Latest / translation

“The Embalmer”: an exploration of our complicated relationship with death

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. The Embalmer by Anne-Renee Caille is an uneasy survey of death, our relationship with it, and the people who work with death on a regular basis. The novel is written in poetic … Continue reading

“From Here to Eternity”: a review of Caitlin Doughty’s latest book on death
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“From Here to Eternity”: a review of Caitlin Doughty’s latest book on death

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the world to find the good death is Caitlin Doughty’s latest book. Part anthropological study, part travel memoir Doughty travels to far and wide places around the world to learn about how different cultures deal with and treat death. This book feels like the natural flow-on from her previous book … Continue reading

My Top 5 Books About Death, Dying, Medicine, and Grief
American / Book Reviews / British / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

My Top 5 Books About Death, Dying, Medicine, and Grief

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. It is coming up to Christmas, the end of the year, and the 21st of December. Whilst many people around the world are making Christmas lists, dusting off menorahs, tentatively imagining New … Continue reading

#4 The Inheritance
Creative Writing / Repeat after me: death. And other essays. / The Latest

#4 The Inheritance

I have my Father’s eyes Almost green-grey. I have my Father’s height. I have his love of reading books. I have his impatience. I have his nose. I have my Father’s fierce loyalty. I have his toes. I have my Father’s fine, wispy hair. I have my Father’s bad eyesight. For that, I have glasses. … Continue reading

#2 Lessons from a dying bird
Creative Writing / Repeat after me: death. And other essays. / The Latest

#2 Lessons from a dying bird

I am not sure that I can say this with much certainty, but I think the chickens preferred adventure novels best. I remember reading them passages from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Jungle Book, and Charlotte’s Web. The adventure novels, I thought, helped the chickens relax. With each word I could see their feathers flatten, their walk become a little slower, and their clucks morph into a strange purr. The chickens and I were adventurers at heart. Continue reading