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June 1, 2022
Novelist Bloom (White Houses) had been married to her husband, Brian Ameche, for 12 years when he received a devastating diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's. Determined to not suffer from long-term cognitive decline, Brian chooses to end his life peacefully before his condition becomes severe. The lack of options in the United States leads the couple to Dignitas, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where they spend four final days together before Brian dies, peacefully, in what Dignitas calls an "accompanied suicide." This sort of deeply personal story demands to be narrated by the author, and Bloom's narration is a testament to her deep love for and devotion to Brian. Her conversational tone makes the difficult subject matter accessible, and moments of joy, lightness, and wry humor appear throughout the audiobook. Reflective, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful, Bloom's memoir is a celebration of a life well lived and of a supportive and loving relationship. VERDICT This moving, powerful tribute to love and loss is a must-listen. Suggest to listeners who appreciated Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air and Ann Patchett's Truth and Beauty.--Nanette Donohue
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from November 8, 2021
Novelist Bloom (White Houses) looks back on the beauty and turmoil of accompanying her husband through the final days of his life in this deeply moving memoir. When her husband, Brian, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2019, he chose to end his life via assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland. As Bloom writes, she worried “that a better wife, certainly a different wife, would have said no, would have insisted on keeping her husband in this world until his body gave out.” But her love for Brian and his desire for a meaningful end of life drove their mutual agreement to take the steps for him to die on his own terms. With passion and sharp wit, she jumps back and forth between the beginning of their relationship, the Herculean effort it took to secure an agreement with Dignitas, and the painful anticipation of the final trip to Switzerland. Most poignant are the intimate moments they share as they make the most of their last days together. As she writes, “I imagine that Brian feels as alone as I do but I can tell he isn’t as afraid.” The result is a stunning portrayal of how love can reveal itself in life’s most difficult moments. Agent: Claudia Ballard, WME.
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