4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful memoir of united love and loss
Ruth Cracknell (a much loved Australian actress, now deceased) and her husband of 41 years, Eric, plot and plan a much needed holiday and time alone together. Venice beckons. They marvel at the history, the architecture, the food. And then Eric wakes with a nose bleed and the real journey starts. Journey from Venice is a deeply moving and personal account of Ruth’s struggle to come to terms with her husband’s sudden illness and death. She narrates this through genial prose interspersed with journal entries and beautiful reflections. She is poised and insightful throughout: portraying the irritability, hesitation, disbelief, detachment, love, and acceptance that comes with that inevitable journey – the full gamut of emotions accompanying the grieving process. She also provides some loving descriptions of simple, everyday occurrences – eating a blood orange with her husband takes on a magical quality. The time is savoured. And Ruth allows us to share this very special moment. Some may say that this book only has value as a catharsis for Ruth. Whilst it certainly would have provided this, it also affords us with a beautiful memoir of united love and loss.

Found at the Friendship Square Street Library

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Please let me know it is in safe hands by journalling that you have caught it, and we can then all track it’s travels. You are under no obligation to read it, and Bookcrossing is completely free and anonymous.

Caught at SI.

On to the shelves.

To the finder of this book -
Please let me know it is in safe hands by journalling that you have caught it, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous.