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Amellia H. (Omaha, Nebraska)
Making Toast...seems simple huh?
Making Toast, tells the story of loss, love and everyday stories of families...before and after their death. The book is simple to read, it takes you from happy to sad moments in time in this families life. The book centers around how this family deals with the death of a mother, daughter, and wife: Amy. The book does not tell the entire story from beginning to end, but rather tells moments the family share. Overall, it was good. I did often find myself wanting a little more depth, but I don't think that is what the author wanted. I think this was written to share blurbs...not an in depth story of death. With that in mind, the book serves it purpose well.
Bonnie B. (Fairbanks, AK)
Death Brings a Family Closer
This memoir is about family - love, death, perseverance. When the author's 38 year-old daughter dies suddenly, leaving three young children and a husband, the author and his wife move in with their son-in-law and grandchildren to help preserve the family as their daughter would have wanted it. This is a poignant and subtly brutal story of the impact of sudden death on those left behind.
My own husband dealt with a similar situation. When he was 24 years old, his wife died, leaving him to care for a two week old daughter on his own. Reading this story brought tears to my eyes, not only for the losses, but for the love and endurance of this family. They are blessed to have one another.
Amanda N. (Murfreesboro, TN)
Making Toast
Rosenblatt's memoir is so heartbreakingly honest; I read it in one sitting and was sad to see it end. I highly recommend this book to fans of Joan Didion's Year of Magical Thinking and Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place. Highly recommended.
Debbie M. (grand junction, CO)
Making Toast
Every parent's worst nightmare, the death of a child, no matter what age. Roger Rosenblatt takes us through the first year after his daughter's death. He and his wife are there for his son-in-law and grandchildren. Rosenblatt is an excellent story teller and softens the pain he must have been going through with tales of his grandchildren as he helps them with their loss. A story of love and lessons we can all learn from.
Martha L. (Warner, NH)
good, quick read
I found this book to be both painful and poignant. Amy, the Rosenblatt's daughter dies suddenly leaving her life unfinished with a husband and three small children. "Mimi" and "Boppa" move in with their son-in-law and grandchildren to help them. Making Toast is a testament to the endurance of people, when they are faced with difficult times. The book is full of feelings. Love, grief, regret and hopelessness are all depicted along with the family moving on day by day. Despite the difficulties with the loss of Amy, daughter, wife and mother, to me it celebrates the kind nature of people.
Heather F. (Tulsa, OK)
Making toast
An excellent "how to" for anyone suffering the loss of a family member. Written with unerring sensitivity to the pain of loss and the joy of healing. Gently told with both compassion and humor, this somehow uplifting book on a seriously sad topic, is one to tuck away on a shelf after reading - just in case.
Julie G. (West Hartford, CT)
The Power of Love
Although this book deals with the death of the author's daughter, it is ultimately the story of the power of love and family. After Amy Solomon's untimely and unexpected death, the author and his wife move in with her husband and three young children to help out. The story tells of the little, everyday things that make up life and how one must go on, even after tragedy strikes. It is a small story, but both heartfelt and heartwarming.
Amanda
Only read if you are depressed
If you are looking for a book that’ll make you feel depressed about life, then Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt, is indeed to book for you.
This book is about a family who suffers a tragedy, when a beloved wife, mother, and daughter suddenly dies in her thirties because of a heart problem. This book takes you through a little over a year with this family with their ups, and downs, and pretty much their daily tasks in life. The main speak of this book, is of course the author Roger Rosenblatt whom him and his wife Ginny take on parental roles towards their grandchildren in order to help out their son-in-law Harris. This book explains different ways children and adults go through grief, and also how they deal life without a mother.
This book was very choppy and went from one random event to another. This book should’ve been more up kept like a journal with dates; instead of lines dividing up different stories. This book posses some foul and offensive language. If you read this you will try and get into this authors head, but he hardly lets you see some true outlooks on life, he only lets you see his gloomy state and how he no longer believes in God.
Making Toast is very well written (probably because the author has written many things like: a book, articles, etc and is also a university professor on occasion). If you are in look or in need of a shoulder to cry on or looking for someone to understand you and mixed emotions due to tragedy, then this book is a must read. This book hits on family values like sticking together, love, and compassion. Also it includes some powerful words of wisdom, “that life is to be endured, and its rewards earned.”
To give this book a rating on a scale of 0 to 10, I would give this book a mediocre score of a 5. This book deserves a five, because of its choppiness, and the foul language. This book has lots of ups and downs and really takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. You will only enjoy the book, if you are experiencing grief or hardship. You’ll also enjoy this if you like reading and truly getting a firsthand read on a families every day to day personal life, and if you do not like being that nosy you will not enjoy this book.