I signed on to do another book review for Mother Talk, this time for The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide.
The title sounds awful, doesn't it? I got some strange looks while reading it out in public. My dentist even asked if everything was okay with me. I'll be honest, I didn't warm up to this book right away. It was a little slow for me in the beginning. Part of that may have been my getting the feel of the book. The main character, Delia, is Australian and the book takes place in Australia. It took me a bit to get used to this. Also, the book jumps from present to past from chapter to chapter with bits of Delia's "Dear Delia" letters (she's a household advice columnist) thrown in. Once I got used all of that I started to enjoy the book.
I thought I might be saddened by the subject matter, but really, I wasn't. Delia is dying of cancer. She's a wife, a mother of young children, a daughter, and an author. She had chickens in her backyard and takes pleasure in taking care of her home. There were lots of Delia that I could relate to. She knew she was dying, faced it head on, and sought out to tie up loose ends.
There are many parts of the book I enjoyed, such as her description and explanation of hanging the wash on the line, but my most favorite part is the very end, as she described her last moments. I hope that is what dying is really like. In a way, this book gave me comfort. It also made me realize what a gift life is. So, don't let the title discourage you! As the cover states, this is "A novel about life".
If you'd like a chance to read this gently used, uncorrected proof, leave a comment and I'll draw a name at the end of the week (probably Sunday - I'll close comments before I draw). Good luck!
