12 Days
4 journalers for this copy...
I got this fair-condition ex-library softcover from Better World Books after reading a review somewhere. It's an unusual-sounding story, with a woman grieving her dead ex-lover - by consuming her ashes...
It did take me a while to work out who was who, as the names are ambiguous - three characters, Jackie, Noah, and Nick, two of whom are female - and the story's told asynchronously. But once I got into it, I really became involved in this tale of lost love, grief, and words left unspoken.
The story opens with Nick (the man) decanting the ashes of his sister Noah from an urn, and taking them to Jackie, Noah's ex-girlfriend. Jackie asked for them in hopes that she can use them to work through her grief, by consuming them bit by bit over the course of twelve days.
Jackie had to mourn Noah before; once when Noah broke up with her after announcing her engagement to James, and again when James and Noah were killed in a car wreck. We get glimpses of these events, as well as of Noah's family life, including an early, youthful romance with Jackie that was interrupted by Noah's parents. And there's more - a "what might have been" that only enhances the grief when it's revealed.
Nick and Jackie grow closer during this period of mourning, with some charming scenes (Jackie's cat warming up to Nick) and some awkward, painful, and sometimes funny ones.
Does anything big happen in the story? Not especially, other than the huge sense of loss felt by Jackie and Nick - and perhaps by Noah, too. It's a quiet story, introspective and thoughtful, melancholy and yet hopeful. I really enjoyed this unusual book.
It did take me a while to work out who was who, as the names are ambiguous - three characters, Jackie, Noah, and Nick, two of whom are female - and the story's told asynchronously. But once I got into it, I really became involved in this tale of lost love, grief, and words left unspoken.
The story opens with Nick (the man) decanting the ashes of his sister Noah from an urn, and taking them to Jackie, Noah's ex-girlfriend. Jackie asked for them in hopes that she can use them to work through her grief, by consuming them bit by bit over the course of twelve days.
Jackie had to mourn Noah before; once when Noah broke up with her after announcing her engagement to James, and again when James and Noah were killed in a car wreck. We get glimpses of these events, as well as of Noah's family life, including an early, youthful romance with Jackie that was interrupted by Noah's parents. And there's more - a "what might have been" that only enhances the grief when it's revealed.
Nick and Jackie grow closer during this period of mourning, with some charming scenes (Jackie's cat warming up to Nick) and some awkward, painful, and sometimes funny ones.
Does anything big happen in the story? Not especially, other than the huge sense of loss felt by Jackie and Nick - and perhaps by Noah, too. It's a quiet story, introspective and thoughtful, melancholy and yet hopeful. I really enjoyed this unusual book.
I'm adding this to the LGBTQ+ bookbox, which will be on its way on Monday.
Might be interesting for a friend, so will release!
Journal Entry 4 by haahaahaa98 at Themed Release Bookbox in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Saturday, November 8, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (11/8/2014 UTC) at Themed Release Bookbox in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Passing along in LGBTQ+ bookbox. Enjoy!
Excellent and affecting look at grief. Nice touch that it was the lover and the brother, who had been friends, sharing their loss.
Placed back into the LBGTX box as this book deserves more travel time.