[amazon_link id="0812979117" target="_blank" ]Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir[/amazon_link]
by Gail Caldwell
Publication Date: August 9, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Source: Free from TLC Book Tours for my participation in a virtual book tour
Let’s Take the Long Way Home is a literary gem. It is the exquisite and beautifully written memoir by Gail Caldwell that recounts her friendship with Caroline Knapp, author of [amazon_link id="0385315546" target="_blank" ]Drinking: A Love Story[/amazon_link]. From the first page, Gail tells us that Caroline has died, although we do not know how or when this happened. Gail begins by taking us on the journey of when her and Knapp met, their friendship blossoming over their mutual love of dogs and rowing on the Charles River. Gail recounts their deep affection for one another that transcends time and space.
The memoir meanders a bit into the past of both women; more so Caldwell than Knapp. Caldwell goes into her past issues with alcoholism, which closely mirror Knapp’s same struggle with the disease (which she explains in her own memoir, referenced above). This is not a chronological memoir; rather memories plucked from their past excursions rowing or playing with their dogs and seamlessly woven into the narrative. Their lives are so similar that they jokingly say that they have the same life.
When we learn of Caroline’s terminal lung cancer diagnosis, their is a deep pain that you can feel in Gail’s soul. She lays her heart bare for the reader, letting us into those quiet places that we normally hide from everyone. Her grief is a testament to the beauty of their friendship. And this book is an amazing representation of the soul-deep connection that friendships can have.
Final Rating:
Other stops on the tour!
Monday, August 1st- Knowing the Difference
Thursday, August 4th- Book Reviews by Molly
Monday, August 8th- Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, August 12th- Rundpinne
Monday, August 15th- Life in Review
Thursday, August 18th- BookNAround
Monday, August 22nd- Book Hounds
Tuesday, August 23rd- Amused by Books
Wednesday, August 24th- Crazy for Books
Thursday, August 25th- Colloquium
Tuesday, August 30th- Starting Fresh
Great review. There is no way I could ever read this though! I would be a mess.
It must have been so difficult for the author to really bare her soul like she did. It sounds like an amazing read.
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I loved this book too. And Drinking was also wonderful, harrowing!