This is my second read by this author. Like The Inmate, this book captured and held my attention, with flip-flopping allegiances anHubris Takes a Fall
This is my second read by this author. Like The Inmate, this book captured and held my attention, with flip-flopping allegiances and a stunning twist at the end. Another similarity was that most of Never Lie's characters were all rather despicable, starting with psychiatrist, Adrienne Hale.
Dr. Hale volunteers at a medical clinic once a week, but beyond that, her ethics are dubious. She records her sessions on cassette tapes, even if the patient hasn't consented. (How does she have time to listen to the sessions afterwards?) She falls victim to a psychopathic patient, yet her solution is to manipulate another patient for her own interest. She's full of hubris, claiming she can spot a liar at the snap of her fingers.
I did have a bonding moment with Dr. Hale when she mused about the devastating power of rejection that relates to our hunter-and-gatherer history, back when getting kicked out of the tribe was a death sentence. I've cited the same research in my work as a psychologist.
House hunters Tricia and Ethan become stuck in Dr. Hale's abandoned mansion in a blizzard, which provides a desolate, eerie setting for the novel. Their only companion is a dead body hidden beneath the floorboards, mwa ha ha!
Fantastic book club read about squeezing all the juice out of life so that we can die with fewer regrets.
Clover is a death doula / death thNo Regrets
Fantastic book club read about squeezing all the juice out of life so that we can die with fewer regrets.
Clover is a death doula / death therapist. Families hire her to help usher their loved ones toward a peaceful death.
I've never heard of death doulas who attend to emotional/spiritual (not medical) needs. I asked a hospice nurse her opinion about them, and she expressed skepticism related to unregulated training and certification. But I do think there is immense value in listening to emotional pain without rushing to cheer up or distract. (A wonderful animated video demonstrates this truth.)
I always let the dying person take the lead. They decide if they want to fill their final days with conversation or revel in silence. It's my job to stay calm and present, letting them take up space as they navigate those last precious moments of life. The most important thing is never to look away from someone's pain. Not just the physical pain of their body shutting down, but the emotional pain of watching their life end while knowing they could've lived it better. Giving someone the chance to be seen at their most vulnerable is much more healing than any words, and it was my honor to do that: to look them in the eye and acknowledge their hurt, to let it exist undiluted, even when the sadness was overwhelming...even if my heart was breaking for them.
Why has Clover engaged in such a sad profession? She feels immense regret about her beloved grandfather dying alone while she was overseas studying death across cultures. I suspect she also finds safety in forging deep connections with those who are not long for this earth. Clover hides from others in the apartment her grandfather left for her--a crypt full of his possessions.
I began considering my nearest escape. The thing about New York City was that you had to be clever about extricating yourself from unwanted interactions. Never reveal your hand, aka the direction you were headed, or the subway line you were taking, until the other person had shown theirs. Then you could choose the exact opposite to avoid any more than a short, pointed conversation without seeming rude.
Thank goodness for persistent friends like Sebastian, whose dying grandmother becomes Clover's next client, and Clover's neighbors, Theo and Sylvie.
If Sylvie had a tail, I bet it would be wagging constantly. I couldn't help feeling a little charmed by her general enthusiasm for life.
Clover regrets her lack of relationships, particularly romantic ones. Her romantic comedy binges are the closest she gets to elusive love. (I find this aspect quite relatable.) But maybe all hopes of romance haven't died for this endearing woman.
My one quibble: I think the author was heavy-handed in her description of Clover's fear of growing closer to others lest she get hurt. After the deaths of her cold parents and warm grandfather, it makes sense that she's terrified of loss, but the multiple explanations of her psychology seemed like telling rather than showing that reality through her actions.
I can't believe this was journalist Mikki Brammer's first novel. The writing is top-notch. And I thought narrator Jennifer Pickens voiced a perfect Clover....more
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