Review of My Living Will

[Bhavyaekam]

[Following is a volunteer review of "My Living Will" by John Trautwein.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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My Living Will- A Father's Story of Loss & Hope by John Trautwein is about loss, despair, love, hope, and resurrection. The book is a memoir of the author's worst personal loss as a father, and how he and his family found the strength to find a new normal way of life.

The life of a couple, with a perfectly happy family of four kids, turns upside down when their eldest son commits suicide. The author reminisces the painful episode throughout the book, telling about the enormity of the numbers and the need for awareness regarding teen suicide. In the book, he describes his life after the loss of his son; the pain, the emptiness, the dilemma, tackling social norms, and so on.

The untimely loss of a kid will be devastating for a parent, and the reader will be moved by powerful emotions while reading through the passages. It is appreciable that even though the author has experienced the greatest tragedy of his life, he converts it into something that will be beneficial to society. This is the best aspect of the book, and it requires a brave heart to do what the author has done. Also, he has surprisingly succeeded in keeping a pleasant tone in his narrative, considering the personal agony he might have undergone while writing the book.

There is not a single thing I dislike about the book other than that it often makes my eyes watery. The book is sure to make the reader feel the pain of losing a loved one. While reading through some passages I can't help crying. It took me a great deal of time to finish the book because of these emotional outbursts.

There are some editing errors in the book that scoops the joy of reading a little. Other than that, I recommend everyone to read the book as it discusses a sensitive, but very important topic. The book can be rated a 3 out of 4 stars for the attention it invites towards teen suicidal tendencies, with 1 star being deducted for the not-so-perfect editing.

PS: After I read about Tommy's, Will's brother, FB post in the book, I can't help searching for his FB page. And, going through those pictures, again, I wept for no reason! Prays that Will's light is carried over forever. Thy will be done!

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My Living Will
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