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Book Review: So Far Away by Christine W. Hartmann & Giveaway

November 21, 2011 by Darlene

 

So Far Away is a memoir by Christine W. Hartmann in which she takes us into a very personal time in her life and the effects that it had on her. The novel chronicles the lives of her parents from their early years to the time when each chooses a different path to take towards the end of their lives. It is a very compelling and emotional novel that had me angry at times and crying at others.

Christine’s mother feels the need to control everything which is why she decides early on in her life that she is going to take her own life at seventy years of age regardless of whether she’s sick or not. She is not leaving it up to fate. She does not want to be a burden to her family if and when she gets sick and unable to care for herself. Now she should have kept this information to herself but she doesn’t. Twenty years before the event is even to occur she tells her daughter Christine. From that point on Christine lives with this awful knowledge and it hurts her in ways we can’t even imagine. At first Christine really tries to change her mother’s mind but eventually because she doesn’t want to be shut out of her mother’s life she accepts the decision the best she can.

Christine’s parents had divorced when she and her brother were young and the kids stayed with their father. Christine’s father was the opposite of her mother. He let life take its course and really was one who valued his independence. He lived on his own and still worked and while he had his name on a list for a retirement home, he was in no way ready to go. Unfortunately for him though the decision was taken out of his hands when he suffered several major strokes.

For Christine her mother’s decision really had a profound effect on her. She already lived with feelings of abandonment where her mother was concerned from her leaving her children after the divorce. Yes she still saw her kids and loved them but she still left. With the decision to take her life she was again taking herself away from her daughter and, even more, disregarding her daughter’s thoughts and feelings on the subject. During the years leading up to the event Christine and her mother spent a lot of time together and became very close in so many ways. Sadly, this did not change her mother’s decision to take her own life. As for Christine’s father, after his strokes the tables turned and Christine became the caregiver. Her father had always been good to her and she loved him dearly but seeing him so changed by the strokes and having to care for him in ways she never imagined also took its toll on her.

I experienced a multitude of emotions reading this novel. I was extremely angry at Christine’s mother because I can’t imagine a mother putting her child through something like that and I can’t imagine having to live with that kind of knowledge for so many years. I think it was so selfish and Christine has been very brave in sharing such an intimate memoir and I sincerely hope that it has helped her to heal. I think I felt so strongly about this memoir because my own parents are now in their seventies and I see so many changes happening in them and most are not good. I often wonder now just when I’ll be put in the position of having to care for them and make life changing decisions for them that I’d probably rather not have to make. It’s a scary prospect and throughout Christine’s novel I could feel how all that had happened was so incredibly emotional for her to the point where she suffered from severe depression. So Far Away is really worth reading not only for those who enjoy intimate memoirs but also for those with parents who are aging. Be prepared with a box of Kleenex though.

I read So Far Away by Christine W. Hartmann for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. Be sure to follow along with the other tour stops to see what they thought of the novel. You can visit Christine at her website and also read an essay she did at The Daily Beast here. Your own copy of So Far Away can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of So Far Away by Christine W. Hartmann up for giveaway. To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know in your comment so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, December 10/11.  Good luck everyone!

Source: Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher. I received no compensation for this review.

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Filed Under: 2011 Challenges, 2011•100 Books or More Challenge, 2011•ARC Tracking Challenge, TLC Tours

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Bennett says

    November 21, 2011 at 3:22 am

    How very sad that Christine’s mother’s desire for control usurped her ability to take a chance on life. What a devastating thing to put your child through.

  2. Lisa Garrett says

    November 21, 2011 at 4:49 am

    I can’t imagine having to live with the knowledge of what her mother planned to do.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

  3. Lisa Garrett says

    November 21, 2011 at 4:51 am

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/138585072407293952

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

  4. Lisa Garrett says

    November 21, 2011 at 4:51 am

    I follow via GFC.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

  5. Ellie says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:04 am

    this powerful book is certainly emotional and unforgettable. many thanks.

  6. Ellie says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:04 am

    I am an e-mail subscriber.

  7. Anne says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:08 am

    thanks for this incredible book and your thoughts.

  8. Anne says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:09 am

    I am a subscriber.

  9. AmandaSue says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Thank you for this giveaway.

  10. AmandaSue says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:47 am

    I’m a follower/subscriber.

  11. Lisa Munley says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:26 am

    I can’t imagine doing that to my own daughters. It seems so incredibly selfish and cruel to burden a child that way. My mom is 68 and in good health but I hate seeing the subtle changes taking place in her physically. It’s upsetting. Great review, Dar. Thanks for sharing this book with your readers and for being on the tour.

  12. bermudaonion (Kathy) says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Holy cow, what a story! Why in the world would someone think taking their own life at 70 would be a good idea?

  13. zibilee says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:46 am

    I would be so angry with my mother if she decided to do this and then told me about it! It’s not right to put your child through that much suffering and anguish, and I consider that to be a very selfish act indeed. A great review, Dar, and I can tell that this book really provoked some strong reactions in you. I would love the chance to read it, so please do enter me in your giveaway, if you please! Thanks for hosting it as well!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  14. TheBookGirl says

    November 21, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    I can’t imagine a mother putting their child through that 🙁

    I know I couldn’t read this one; I take care of my mom, now in her eighties, and it has been very hard to watch the changes…

  15. Sophia Rose says

    November 21, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Wow! This sounds like an incredibly moving book. What a feat to write this by the author.

    Out of no disrespect for the author, I do not wish to be a part of the giveaway. I have had some similar experiences and do not wish to dredge them up again.

    Great post!

  16. karenk says

    November 21, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    thanks for the chance to read this book

    i’m a follower & email subscriber, too 🙂

  17. Margaret says

    November 21, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    I love memoirs! Thank you for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

  18. Margaret says

    November 21, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    I’m a follower.

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

  19. Linda Kish says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    I would love to win a copy of this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  20. Linda Kish says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    I am a GFC follower

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  21. ann* says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    I think that is selfish of her mom to decide to do that and put her daughter thru all that stress

  22. ann* says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    GFC subscriber – amhengst

  23. ann* says

    November 21, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    email subscriber -amhengst

  24. Patricia N says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:43 am

    I’d love to read! Thanks for the giveaway –
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  25. Patricia N says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:43 am

    I follow your blog via GFC as Patricia N
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  26. Patricia N says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:44 am

    Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/139006301802987521
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  27. Staci says

    November 22, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Just the whole idea that someone has decided to commit suicide regardless blows me away. To actually tell your daughter ahead of time is so very cruel. Wow…your review has me wanting to read this one big time!

  28. rhonda lomazow says

    November 22, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    i follow subscribe &will tweet at rhonda reads.

  29. bookworm says

    November 22, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    This does sound like an emotional memoir. That is so sad that her mother told her she was going to do that.

  30. Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours says

    November 25, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    My parents are currently living away from their home so they can care for my mom’s parents who are 93 and 87 years old, so I’m sure this book would be REALLY hard for me to read right now. I can’t imagine being in the author’s shoes!

    Thank for being a part of this tour Dar.

  31. Susan @ The Book Bag says

    November 26, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    Sounds like an interesting but sad story. Thanks for the chance!

    I am a GFC follower.

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

  32. Amy says

    December 3, 2011 at 11:48 am

    I SO want to read this book!

  33. Amy says

    December 3, 2011 at 11:49 am

    I follow your blog!

  34. Marjorie says

    December 5, 2011 at 4:49 am

    What a remarkable storyline. I would love to read this novel.

  35. Marjorie says

    December 5, 2011 at 4:49 am

    I follow by GFC and email. Marjorie/cenya2

  36. Bree says

    December 7, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    Sounds like a very emotional novel, I would love to read it!

  37. Bree says

    December 7, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    gfc follower

  38. Bree says

    December 7, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/freebreeluv/status/144605257085894657

  39. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    Wow! This book sounds SO good! I would LOVE to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  40. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    GFC Follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
    #1

  41. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    GFC Follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
    #2

  42. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    I Tweeted!
    @NancyeDavis

    https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/145362734513537026

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
    #1

  43. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    I Tweeted!
    @NancyeDavis

    https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/145362734513537026

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
    #2

  44. Nancye Davis says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    I Tweeted!
    @NancyeDavis

    https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/145362734513537026

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
    #3

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