As someone who has read many many memoirs, I must say that this is one of the most powerful ones I've read in ages. The book is about love, illness, decisions, and dying with dignity.
Author Amy Bloom observes noticeable changes in her husband and after multiple tests learns that he has early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Determined not to let the disease get the better of him, he choses quality of life over quantity. Bloom's husband decides to travel to Switzerland, to a place called Dignitas, which helps individuals die gracefully.
The journey to this decision and the trip to Switzerland, her husband's life ending, and Bloom's solo trip home are heart-wrenching and poignant. Even as a psychotherapist, Bloom had to figure out how to go on with her life without him.
The book brings home the idea of what we might do in Bloom's situation and how to know if we are making the correct decisions. I was unable to put this book down while reading. After I finally did, some of the images remain with me and will, for a very long time. I was struck by the power of Bloom's words, love, and conviction under dire circumstances. This is a thought-provoking and deeply powerful book.
