The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Fiction
2023
Finished on January 14, 2024
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?
From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.
Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a road trip to uncover a forgotten love story—and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.
Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine as it turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.
I enjoyed The Collected Regrets of Clover, but it turned out to be lighter than I had anticipated. The concept of a death doula is intriguing, and the manner in which Clover comforts those who are alone in their final hours is not only touching, but thought-provoking.
And yet, the predictability of Clover's personal life, in addition to the pacing of the novel, left me longing for more. In the hands of a seasoned author, this could have been an outstanding story. Given that it's Brammer's debut work, and that I liked it well enough to finish, I'm willing to give her next publication a chance.
The truth is, grief never really goes away. Someone told me once that it’s like a bag that you always carry— it starts out as a large suitcase, and as the years go by, it might reduce to the size of a purse, but you carry it forever.
Minor Quibbles:
Clover's grandfather taught her to play mahjong when she was a little girl, and they played on a regular basis. Just the two of them. I've been playing mahjong since I was six or seven and while it's a game for four players, it is possible to play with three. But playing with only two is a bit of a stretch.
Several characters repeatedly use the word suck, as in "Losing someone you loved really sucked..." or "I'm sorry. That sucks." I don't usually mind the word, but it became a distraction. Clover is 36 and her friends are of the same generation, so maybe it's acceptable to them. I felt it minimized the speaker's intent to show comfort or a sincere expression of sympathy.
Those seem like worthy quibbles. I played mahjong long ago; I think we always played with 3 or 4 people. And that repeated word would be not be good. But I can see where the novel's premise seems appealing.
ReplyDeleteSusan, my grandparents taught me, my siblings, and my cousins how to play mahjong many, many years ago. I have a set that was my grandmother's that she brought back from Hong Kong. I usually play every Friday with my three best friends here in the Cove. Love it!
DeleteThat's terrific. It's a fun game and using an old set is so neat. I have a set in a wood box which I'm not sure where my mother got but the tiles are neat to look at. I don't know others who play near me
Delete... hmm
My three friends didn't know how to play, so I taught them and they picked it up quickly. We are celebrating five years of playing (and friendship) next week! One note... there are a lot of groups that play mahjong, but they tend to play using the American rules rather than the Chinese rules. I found this on Google: The main difference is that the hands allowed in American Mah Jongg are listed on a card and these hands change on a regular basis, usually annually. The allowed hands in Chinese Mahjong never change. I have always played following the Chinese rules.
DeleteOh thanks for letting me know the distinction. I haven't played in so long ... maybe since I was a teenager .... I would have to brush up on the game all over again. I think it's terrific you play with your friends there .... how fun.
DeleteRepeating any phrase too often renders it annoying and it loses it's "umph." This sounds like such a good concept, it's too bad it was really good. I like the idea of a death doula.
ReplyDeleteHelen, it did get annoying. I, too, like the idea of a death doula. Not sure I could be one, though!
DeleteI'm in the minority and liked the book very much and, yes I will admit...even at 67 years my husband and I still say something sucks :-) Like this morning - 27 degrees and still cold for Florida and we both said this sucks!
ReplyDeleteThis book was recommended to my by a new Zealander blogger. I would read more by this author.
Tina, don't get me wrong. I do say "this sucks" more often than not. But to say it as expressing sympathy for someone's loss felt trite and almost unkind. To me, it minimized their feelings, albeit unintentionally, but there are better ways of offering one's condolences.
Delete27 degrees IS cold in Florida! Yikes. We got down to 29 last week when our power was out and the inside of the house was at 49. That sucked! :) I thought about your son when I read your comment on Susan's recent post. LIncoln really got wholloped with the winter storm and cold temps, didn't they? Ugh.