My Mother Dying

by Hillary Johnson

Book Overview

The most complex relationship--mother and daughter--is exposed to intense revelation in this tragic, but satisfying work of love and friendship. 40 illustrations, some in color. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312199309
• ISBN13: 9780312199302
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

This book speaks to every Daughter!

I met Hillary this weekend at her High School Reunion, which I attended with my Fiancee. I am VERY sorry that I did not have more time to speak with her, our weekend was too short! You would never know Hillary was sick with CFS, her demeanor, quiet manner, and her easy humor put me, a profoundly shy woman at ease immediately! The morning we left, she stopped by our room, and gave me a copy of her book, 'My Mother Dying.' The gesture touched me deeply, as I am an author, and one of the hardest things for me to do is give one of my books away, it is like giving away a small piece of my soul. Selling them in different, but to give one away is never easy. I am deeply thankful that she did so, as I started reading it Monday morning, and finished it at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday morning, I could not put it down, finishing dinner with it in my hand, forgoing unpacking, and a myriad of other tasks, to continue reading. It is amazing how much our Mothers of that period went through, what their own Mothers went through, and how much that shaped how they raised us, not wanting to teach us to reach for too much, thinking their warnings of failure were an honest attempt to cushion the blows and rejections sure to come to us in life, but almost forced to embrace a feminist movement few of them could join, as they were already Mothers of young children. That almost forcible delay of their dreams so that they could raise us, led to a shattering of our lives and connections from the time we were young women, until we are often in our 40s or 50s or later. Often only their own mortality forces us both back to the table to try and resolve the loveless years in between. Thank you, Hilary for putting into words so honestly the very same issues many females (and males) who were both born, and grew up during the 50s to 70s transitional years, have faced with our Mothers. T. Lindsey aka Ronin Schtihl Daire fellow author and chronic illness survivor

Most poignant memoir of a mother/daughter relationship

I feel I cannot do justice writing a review on such a high caliber memoir. Emotions run so deep and the characters are made so lifelike that I felt such a kinship with this family. Hillary Johnson is a fantastic writer and a fabulous daughter and caretaker. She deserves five gold stars for the wonderful job she did taking care of her mother through such dramatic medical horrors. I am honored and enriched for having read her book. Her mother was the bravest of women who faced life and illness with the best attitude possible. Her book will be the biggest help to me as my mother's health continues to decline. Thank you to both of you, Hillary and Ruth. Your mother was absolutely right to encourage the writing of this painful, truthful account of her living and dying. I am ordering it now for my sisters.

Eloquent and Fine

This "shared memoir" is a gem in every way: from the author's eloquent writing style to her mother's whimsical yet provocative drawings and even the smooth surfaces of the pages. Like the physical feel of the pages and the colors in her mother's artwork, the authors' words are finely wrought and rich. I didn't want to put the book down.

Wonderful book!

This book is a entrancing autobiography and biography of a woman and her mother and in particular the story of a rekindeling of their connection as adults when the mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Unlike the suggestion of the title this is not a depressing story, it is strongly life affirming, funny and an interesting look at two remarkable women. It has helped me greatly in dealing with my own mother's death from cancer. I recomend it highly!

A daughter's memoir, with her mother's letters and art

I have just finished reading MY MOTHER DYING by Hillary Johnson, art by Ruth Jones, the mother Johnson nursed during her final illness. This is a beautiful memoir to the complex relationship of mothers and daughters, a memoir addressing those who have cared for and wathced a loved one die, a memoir about the coming of age of a woman who became a wife and mother at a very young age in the fifties. Ms. Johnson has captured the magnificence and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, an artist's struggle to express herself, a family member dealing with the myriad of problems that are present in watching a loved one pass on. The author's prose is glorious, and she uses many notes her mother wrote to her after she was rendered mute fom throat cancer surgery. Johnson has preserved the many legal pads filled by her Mother after her surgery, and uses them in her book to give a voice to Ruth for all, and a voice from Ruth to her daughter. The bonus for readers is the reproduction of Ruth Jones' art, whimsical and telling of her life, and the insight it gave her daughter into her mother's own self expression.