A book which charms and uplifts

I finished listening to Dear Tosh a couple of weeks ago and I am still thinking about it.

There is so much that I like about this book: the cover photograph of Tosh taken by one of his brothers; the clever narrative structure of 27 letters to him marking each year of his life - each unfolding a little more of the story to the reader/listener; the wonderful, heartfelt reading by his mother, Ninette Hartley. Usually, I don't think writers are always the best people to read their books but in this case, Ninette's calm, unsentimental, and un-self-pitying delivery drew me in and I listened to the whole book in one afternoon. By the end, I understood that despite having died 10 years ago, Tosh is still a big part of his family. They involve him in their everyday life but not in a maudlin way and with no awkwardness, it's just normal - and I loved the idea that his nieces make him a Death-day cake! Why don't we all do this?

Ultimately I have the sense that I have been shown a way to experience grief which is unexpectedly, both positive and enriching.

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