Review of It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs

[Seetha E]

[Following is a volunteer review of "It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs" by Karen Thiel.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Death is an absolute and universal reality for every human; an inevitable end to life. Yet, coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Maggie was a hospice nurse and understood very well what a diagnosis of emphysema entailed. The book opens by recounting the dreadful events of the Fourth of July in 2020. The family learned on that very day that Maggie had completed the necessary formalities for a DNR (do not resuscitate), allowing natural death. Though Karen knew it was coming, realizing that she was going to witness her mother's final moments was something no one could have prepared her for. Karen Thiel, the book’s author and the daughter of Maggie Jiggs, walks us through her thoughts and actions as she processes various emotions on the day her mother passed away and thereafter.

The following chapters explore the profound emptiness Karen felt after her mother’s passing. She recounts the sobbing and pleading for her to come back. She then moves on to sharing anecdotes from their early childhood. She includes stories of how her mother disciplined her and her siblings. Her mother demonstrated caregiving in ways that empowered her son with special needs. Her undeniable love and compassion for her immediate and extended family shine through various chapters. You will laugh at all the hilarious moments, such as the incidents at the mall and the church, and before you know it, you will have tears in your eyes. Pick up your copy to know more.

The author beautifully enumerates all the small, big, and special moments over the years in the chapter titled “Remember…Mom.” Whether it was taking responsibility after the passing of her husband, choosing to resume school and becoming a CNA, or caring for her son with special needs and her parents when they needed help, she consistently walked the talk. She had lived an exemplary life, encouraging her kids to see the positive side, hoping for everything to be alright, while continuing to do whatever had to be done. Karen views these as standards to meet.

I cannot agree more with the author’s message to the readers. She highlights how her mother accepted the inevitable gracefully. She reassures readers that our loved ones are safe in heaven, in the loving company of the ones they missed. It is up to us to remember the values they stood for and conduct ourselves accordingly. Karen reminds us that there will be days when the memories of our loved ones will overwhelm us. For such days, she reminds us to believe everything will be alright, just like Maggie Jiggs said.

I have no complaints about the structure or layout of the book. Sharing family photographs would add value. Similarly, including an index page would facilitate easy access to specific chapters. Several errors were noted. Although they did not detract from the reading experience, fixing them through a re-edit will improve the book. The errors compel me to take away one star. I rate It’ll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs a solid four out of five stars. I recommend it to adult readers who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

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It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Gerry Steen]

From your review, I see that there is a lot of heart and love in this book for Maggie, who passed away. Dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult. This book can put things into perspective for those who are grieving or have a loved one with a terminal illness.

[Surabhi Rani]

This was a truly appealing work. The true tale of a bond between a mother and daughter was relatable. I felt like I was turning the pages of the book. Additionally, the book's description was simple, without many plot twists. I appreciate how the reviewer relates the book to larger issues. Her review made me think about giving the book a try.

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

[Following is a volunteer review of "It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs" by Karen Thiel.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Death is an absolute and universal reality for every human; an inevitable end to life. Yet, coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Maggie was a hospice nurse and understood very well what a diagnosis of emphysema entailed. The book opens by recounting the dreadful events of the Fourth of July in 2020. The family learned on that very day that Maggie had completed the necessary formalities for a DNR (do not resuscitate), allowing natural death. Though Karen knew it was coming, realizing that she was going to witness her mother's final moments was something no one could have prepared her for. Karen Thiel, the book’s author and the daughter of Maggie Jiggs, walks us through her thoughts and actions as she processes various emotions on the day her mother passed away and thereafter.

The following chapters explore the profound emptiness Karen felt after her mother’s passing. She recounts the sobbing and pleading for her to come back. She then moves on to sharing anecdotes from their early childhood. She includes stories of how her mother disciplined her and her siblings. Her mother demonstrated caregiving in ways that empowered her son with special needs. Her undeniable love and compassion for her immediate and extended family shine through various chapters. You will laugh at all the hilarious moments, such as the incidents at the mall and the church, and before you know it, you will have tears in your eyes. Pick up your copy to know more.

The author beautifully enumerates all the small, big, and special moments over the years in the chapter titled “Remember…Mom.” Whether it was taking responsibility after the passing of her husband, choosing to resume school and becoming a CNA, or caring for her son with special needs and her parents when they needed help, she consistently walked the talk. She had lived an exemplary life, encouraging her kids to see the positive side, hoping for everything to be alright, while continuing to do whatever had to be done. Karen views these as standards to meet.

I cannot agree more with the author’s message to the readers. She highlights how her mother accepted the inevitable gracefully. She reassures readers that our loved ones are safe in heaven, in the loving company of the ones they missed. It is up to us to remember the values they stood for and conduct ourselves accordingly. Karen reminds us that there will be days when the memories of our loved ones will overwhelm us. For such days, she reminds us to believe everything will be alright, just like Maggie Jiggs said.

I have no complaints about the structure or layout of the book. Sharing family photographs would add value. Similarly, including an index page would facilitate easy access to specific chapters. Several errors were noted. Although they did not detract from the reading experience, fixing them through a re-edit will improve the book. The errors compel me to take away one star. I rate It’ll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs a solid four out of five stars. I recommend it to adult readers who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

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It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Everyone will go through this sooner or later. This book is helpful. It guides readers on the right way to process grief.

[Priya Murugesan]

This is a very heavy topic and surely not for a light read. I believe anybody who is grieving a loss would appreciate this book and find solace in it.

[Magdalyne chebet]

"It’ll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs" sounds like a deeply moving tribute to a mother’s love and strength. I’m interested in reading it to explore how the author navigates grief, honors memories, and finds comfort in loss. Thank you for the informative review!

[Creole]

"It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs" is a beautiful tribute to a mother. It reminds us to cherish our loved ones so we will not live with regrets. Anyone going through the grieving process will find this memoir valuable. I appreciate your insightful review.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I'm glad you said that this book is best for people who have lost a loved one, as all the way through the review I was wondering who the target audience was, as it all sounded so personal for Karen. That makes sense, and I hope people get what they need from the book. Maybe after it's had another round of proofreading.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Nice review! This book sounds like a fairly good one, but I have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. My mother also had a DNR, and I watched her deteriorate and pass on. Thanks for the review!

[Anu Anand]

Thank you for sharing this thoughtful review. It sounds like a heartfelt tribute that balances grief with gratitude. I appreciate how the book blends personal memories with life lessons. The message about holding on to values really stands out.