After Annie

After Annie ~ Anna Quindlan

Annie Brown, wife, friend, and mother of three, has died in her late 30s, collapsing on the floor of her kitchen after suffering a brain aneurysm. She leaves behind husband Bill, children Ali, Ant, Benjy, and Jamie, and best friend Annemarie. All are lost without the spoke that held their wheel together. After Annie tells the story of the year following her death, and how her loved ones are able to come to terms with the vacuum left in her wake.

This was a character driven novel, and not a LOT happened, though there were some disturbing revelations about side characters. What really struck me with this book was how beautifully Quindlan wrote about loss, about the pain and grief that the characters experienced, and about the ways that they figure out how in the hell they are going to manage without Annie. Highly recommended.

Personal note – My aunt died of an aneurism at the age of 43. Her kids were grown but barely. It was the most shocking death. She fell over dead, and didn’t even pull her hands up to catch herself, that’s how fast it was. When my mom called me to tell me, that’s when I learned why they tell you to sit down when getting difficult news, because my legs gave out under me and I fell to the ground. The only time that has ever happened to me, thankfully.

What’s with all the book reviews? I’m participating in NaBloPoMo this month, writing a post a day. I decided that I would write about the books that I have read this year. For more NaBloPoMo participants, check out San’s list.