Review of Dear Abigail

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Dear Abigail" by Richard Rees.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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If you are familiar with the icebreaker game Never Have I Ever, you will appreciate that I now have an answer to the question about the most touching book I have ever read. Dear Abigail: A letter to a little granddaughter by Richard Rees checks all the boxes for emotional storytelling, and I have never read a more touching book. Even though the blurb mentioned that this was a tear-jerker, I was caught off guard. Spoilers are not allowed on this site, but readers are warned to have a full box of tissues nearby.

Besides going through a therapeutic cleanse, another reason to buy this book is that the author is donating his royalties to ovarian cancer research. The author's wife and daughter died from ovarian cancer. The author wrote this book so his granddaughter Abigail would know about her mommy-in-heaven, who died before Abigail's second birthday.

One of the themes that came across to me in this book is fathers doing what they think is best for their children. Despite the differences in parenting styles between Rees and his son-in-law, Rees comes across as forgiving and accepting. The heartbreaking story is not maudlin or depressing. Instead, it teaches a lesson in forbearance.

There are some slight negatives. At times, the flashbacks make the narrative hard to follow. A stream-of-consciousness tone is caused by the author's remembrance of events in the past while speaking to someone in the future. Also, because it is mostly a type of dialogue addressed to Abigail in the second person, I had to overlook some grammar rules. Frequently, a Welsh brogue conversation pops up, but explanations are given. These negatives did not hinder my appreciation of the book. My rating is five out of five stars.

Richard Rees sacrificed everything for his wife and his daughter. His stories chronicle those years without evoking pity. He tells stories of love, humor, happiness, and sickness. He retains hope for the future. My hope is that he will write a sequel or at least an epilogue with updates. If this were a movie, with the right cast, it would win an Oscar.

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Dear Abigail
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