Comedy of the very blackest kind, Spark’s novel dwells on old age and the imminence of death, with a steely gaze. Despite its macabre subject matter, it is a grimly funny work, reveling in the indignities and absurdities of the aging process. From the selfish seventy-nine-year-old Dame Lettie Colson, her irascible miserly octogenarian brother, and her intermittently senile sister-in-law, to their blackmailing housekeeper, Mrs. Pettigrew, the cast of the eccentric elderly is both grotesque and fascinating.

The premise of the plot is simple. Each character in turn receives a series of phone calls, with the stark and chilling message: “Remember you must die.” The source of the messages is never identified, although the wiser among Spark’s elderly characters think it is Death him- or herself. What Memento Mori is more interested in unveiling is the range of psychological and personal responses that the reminder of death’s imminence prompts. Many of the characters merely become baser versions of themselves, driven by fear or denial into frenzies of egotism, obsession, or cruelty. Others achieve a new clarity and generosity. Surveying the action from her hospital bed, the Catholic Jean Taylor displays a stoical serenity. While its promotion of a Catholic moral might not be to all readers’ tastes, the ironic and dispassionate narrative voice allows for little easy consolation, and is one of the chief delights of this unique novel. — Clare Connors in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

I am adopting this 1001-Library book for storage. It is available for check-out!

This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing svoight:)

If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

Releasing to a fellow 1001-Library member, enjoy!

Thank you very much for sending this book to me all across the ocean :-) It arrived safely today & I'm looking forward to read it!

Sorry to read that you're dissolving your 1001-membership though!

Chosen from the 1001-VBB by frutz.

I didn't like this book very much. It has been only a week, but to me it seems I've been struggeling for ages with this book. Still for me a whole week is a lot of time to get through so little pages.
I just couldn't get into the book, the way of writing, the story itself. I was quite confused by all the eldery that were a bit foggy themselves (one of them calls his 'friends' in his diary by other names, one of the characters is making mistakes with names), so for me at times it was not easy to follow, to keep it mildly.

In itself, the subject of aging, fear of Alzheimers' disease, being cranky, watching, waiting for mistakes others make is a nice one. I did read a book or two on that and didn't have so much trouble with them as I do with this one.

I struggled too much to enjoy the book. And, to be honest, I don't think I'll pick it up again to give it another try. Not even in Dutch, if there is a translated edition....

On its way to frutz now, who requested it from the 1001-VBB. Safe travels little book!

Thanks for choosing one of my books! I hope you enjoy the book (better than I did).

Thank you Boekentrol for sending this to me! I look forward to reading it

You have found a traveling book!
Send as a wishlist RABCK to hetku77

6.4.2013 The book arrived by mail yesterday. Thank you for fulfilling my wish, frutz!

25.10.2013 What an odd story, I have to say. I suppose it could be described as a black comedy. I'm not a native English speaker, so I think I missed some good points/curves of the story, unfortunately.

I think this book toured the world twice before arriving on my doorstep! :)

Thank you hetku77 for this RABCK!! I look forward to reading this wish list book! :)