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Review
"Not only are there no murders, but Burgess has managed to pull off a memoir that dwells not on dysfunction and disaster but on the everyday experiences of a refreshingly happy and ordinary family...Burgess has a way with one-liners, and it comes in handy as he gets ready to face the death of his beloved mother. As they say, you have to laugh." (Winnipeg Free Press 20110419)
"This is no treacly memoir. Like a Garrison Keillor of the Canadian prairies, Burgess writes funny, unfiltered observations, anecdotes and character descriptions that flow naturally and make for an engaging story of his life to date. His first book is a great effort after almost 20 years in the freelance trenches, a very funny book worthy of a Leacock Medal for Humour." (D. Grant Black Globe & Mail 20110421)
"It's a heartfelt, but funny, portrait of the author's mother...Burgess writes with candor and humour about his family and their circle. He's also merciless when revealing his own faults." (Uptown Magazine 20110901)
"One would hardly expect to guffaw through a memoir that examines the aging of a parent, her declining health, her loss of independence, and inevitably, her death. But such is the case with Who Killed Mom? A Delinquent Son's Meditation on Family, Mortality and Very Tacky Candles, author Steve Burgess's sobering -- and yes, hilarious -- new book, as indicated by the somewhat cheeky subtitle."
(Prairie Books NOW 20111203)"...a poignant, loving and darkly humourous memoir."
(Toronto Star 100 Books of 2011 20120305)"A touching -- if decidedly and deliberately offbeat -- family memoir...Expect to encounter laughs and tugs on the heartstrings in pretty much equal amounts." (Booklist )
Product Description
A Globe & Mail Top 100 Selection
One of Canada's funniest writers, Steve Burgess, tackles his mother's life and death in a profound, entertaining story.
Memoir, biography, and outrageous comedy make for a perfect blend in the debut book from acclaimed writer. Telling the tale of his mother's life and death, and along the way laying bare his own struggles as a troubled teenager, Burgess delivers a moving meditation on life and family.
The author's mother, Joan, barely survived her thirteenth birthday: a rare disorder had made it almost impossible for her to swallow food. Her battle to survive this illness was the first in a lifelong struggle with the demons of her upbringing. As she raised her five children, of whom the author is the youngest, Joan revealed herself to be a strong and remarkably complex woman, despite being a sick parent. This is the story of her family: Joan herself, her husband -- a charming United Church minister -- and their children, including the alarmingly delinquent Steve.
Who Killed Mom? brims with uproarious anecdotes and one-liners. Whether he's relating how an ice cream product saved him from a gruesome death on the Trans-Canada, sizing up the rebranding efforts of a woeful Manitoba motel, or depicting daily life in a retirement community, Burgess infuses his tales with plenty of humour. But beneath the book's hilarity is a penetrating examination of eternal themes: family, mortality, fate, and the enduring value of love.
(20110506)
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Read!,
This review is from: Who Killed Mom? (Paperback)
Through this wonderfully engaging story we meet Joan Burgess, whose life journey reflected the times through which she lived. A heartfelt, funny portrait of this minister's wife, homemaker, mother, teacher, and family and community lynchpin. More than just a good read, the characters in this memoir stay with you. A must read for any book club. Don't be fooled by the name: this would make a great Mother's Day gift!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreakingly Hilarious,
By
This review is from: Who Killed Mom? (Paperback)
From the first time I read an article written by Steve Burgess back in 1994, I was hooked. I remember feeling certain that we were embarking on the discovery of Canada's answer to Dave Barry. So when I heard he was releasing a book, my first reaction included expectations that may have been borderline unfair. After all, it is his first. But as lofty as they were, apparently those unfair expectations may not have actually been high enough!Going beyond his usual razor wit and inimitable observations, Who Killed Mom also has a level of depth and humility that is refreshing in today's 'me-first' culture. Funny and tearful, heartbreaking and uplifting, crushing and hopeful, this is much more than a simple narrative of a loving mother and the effect she had on the family she raised and loved. It also delves into the question of what makes us who we are, the heartbreak of the ultimate goodbye and how the bitter-sweet pain of the circle of life can provide an ironic sense of strength and inspiration to carry on. A beautiful, compelling, hilarious biography/memoir, it is a must read for anyone who has ever had the experience of being part of a family.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now I Know Who Did It,
This review is from: Who Killed Mom? (Paperback)
This is a book that will leave you feeling good inside. Mr Burgess tells the life story of a remarkable woman, his mother, through humourous, kind, and often insightful memories. Courageously, he shares many intimate episodes from his own adolescence. These stirred up a lot of my own memories of being a teenager. I could totally relate. I found myself laughing and crying along in this son's tribute to the person who would be the most important woman in his life. Loved it.
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