Review of Dying Well

[Jessica Stovall]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Dying Well" by Susan Ducharme Hoben.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Delving into the complex and emotionally harrowing journey of death, Dying Well by Susan Ducharme Hoben is a poignant retelling of one couple’s heart wrenching navigation of a devastating cancer diagnosis. As Susan and her husband, Bruce, come to terms with Bruce’s stage 4 esophageal cancer, they reminisce about their wonderful life together. The author goes into great detail about the entire process of her husband’s cancer, treatment, and ultimately his decision to discontinue treatment in favor of a more peaceful death at home surrounded by those he loves most. It’s an incredibly helpful and insightful look at how to love, how to loss, and how to die with dignity.

The positive aspects of this informative and engrossing book are how relatable she makes the whole process seem. She completely invites the reader into their home, lives, and family in a wholly riveting way. The structure and style of her writing are akin to the heart-warming conversations one would have with a dear close friend curled up on their living room couch. The writing is frank without being abrasive, warm without being pandering, gentle without being boring, and funny without being distasteful. Susan Ducharme Hoben writes with an honesty that is singularly enchanting and engaging.

The only negative aspect of this book is the sad subject matter that can be a sensitive topic to someone who has recently lost a loved one.

I would give Dying Well 4 out of 4 stars. It is wonderfully written and edited, a helpful and insightful look at end of life decisions, and just an overall fantastic read. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and her word choice and sentence structure prove incredibly absorbing. The timeline of events was set up smoothly and helped the reader follow the story easily. Susan Ducharme Hoben’s intimate descriptions of her marriage, children, and friends give the reader a comprehensive look at the widespread effects of a terminal illness.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with family members diagnosed with any sort of illness. It is also a great read and guide for any adult who hasn’t thought about the end of their life but really should. On a personal level, it was fulfilling to read about another individual who had decided not to continue cancer treatment and how he was able to live his life to the fullest he was able before it ended.

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Dying Well
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