Lisa Goich

Reading a memoir is like being invited into another person’s world and experiencing their life first hand. A good memoir shares a universal truth—a takeaway—for the reader. The main takeaway in this memoir is how letting go of a beloved mother can be an opportunity to celebrate life and every precious moment left. The major themes are parental loss, the mother-daughter bond and letting go.

In Lisa Goitch’s memoir, we meet her mother, Millie Goich who has been sent home from the hospital to prepare for her final days. A foreward by bestselling author, Mitch Albom and by Millie sets the stage for the heartwrenching letting go process told from the author’s point of view. What happens in those two weeks turns out to be an extraordinary celebration of Millie’s life.

Goich’s writing is honest, empathic and engaging and is reflective of a great love for her mother. I appreciated how she wove in humor to provide some light moments. Her little dog, Angie even comes alive on the page. Her characters are fully developed, especially Millie, to the point where I could see her, hear her and sense her larger –than –life persona, “make sure you take cookies home when you leave” often being her parting words to visitors”.

The author’s reflections about the letting go process were stunning in their breathtaking clarity and raw emotions. They reconnected me to the memory of being at my beloved father’s bedside where I was so privileged to hold his hand for hours as he left us. I felt consoled by my own memory as well as by the author’s ability to gracefully let go in the end.

I admire the author’s ability to share her deepest feelings so clearly and openly and I feel very honored to have met Millie Goich. In sharing her story of love, loss and letting go, Lisa has touched us all. I highly recommend this book not only as a poignant and powerful story but as a guidebook for anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one. A beautiful tribute to a beloved mother.… (mer)