Welcome To The Departure Lounge: Adventures In Mothering Mother (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
This was a frank, yet funny, bittersweet memoir about coping with an aging parent, dementia, and the end of life. The author shares the story of her blended family from one point of view, acknowledging that it might differ from other family member's viewpoints. Events are told with humor and affection plus a certain amount of resignation. The book was loaned to me by a friend who lost her mother to Alzheimer's Disease. I would recommend it to anyone dealing with aging parents. This is a very funny, warm and compassionate book filled with insight and observation that "cuts right through." I found it delightful, because I like to know "what really happens" - and what really happens almost always goes down better with a sense of humor. That said, while I personally found this book illuminating and sustaining, I can imagine it would be a difficult read for someone currently involved in care-giving for elderly loved ones; very much depends on the personality of the reader and whether or not they find liberation in humor. For me, it's a saving grace and Meg Federico's story brings a sense of freedom within life's inevitable trials. I really loved this book!From Publisher's Weekly (starred review): “[A] frank account, by turns sad and terribly funny . . . Federico gently delineates the humiliating burden caused by the loss of memory, while humanely portraying a brave new sympathy and understanding between her mother and herself.”Another review: “Meg Federico has written a deeply moving, hilarious, and unforgettable manifesto on mothering her mother, as Addie takes center stage in the finale of her life. Book clubs will rally around this one–for the laughs, for the sheer honesty, and for the lively discussions that will ensue. Federico has woven the details of her experience, sometimes tragic and always transcendent, into a memoir you will not be able to put down. This is a mother-daughter love story, with an ending that sparkles like the finest diamond.”–Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of the Big Stone Gap series and Very Valentine
What do You think about Welcome To The Departure Lounge: Adventures In Mothering Mother (2009)?
Equally hilarious and heartbreaking, frustrating and funny. Enjoyed it very much.
—Swas
excellent, poignant book. funny, touching. will read again.
—macyylee8485
