Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611

  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
How Midsummer Night: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss

How Midsummer Night: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss

Somerville, Janet

Paperback

Biographies GeneralDeath & DyingGeneral Parenting

ISBN10: 1504089359
ISBN13: 9781504089357
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: Apr 2 2024
Pages: 118
Weight: 0.32
Height: 0.29 Width: 5.25 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
The author chronicles the final months of the life of her close friend and fellow teacher, in this unique and unforgettable memoir.

A wonderful memoir. --Stephen King

When fifty-six-year-old Richard is diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and inoperable brain cancer, his colleague and friend Janet Somerville begins to document his life in a personal, months-long letter to him, to one day share with his wife and daughters. Teaching together at a Toronto boys' school, Janet and Richard bonded over their love of musical theater and literature. And now that Richard is nearing his end, it is these memories that comfort both of them through the good days and the bad.

Peppered with theatrical references and inside jokes--from Shakespeare to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Monty Python to Avenue Q--the letter offers a touching glimpse into Richard's life. During his treatment, Janet shares with him the day-to-day activities of the school, including the unfiltered witticisms that fall from the mouths of teenage boys. Together they recollect stories of school choir trips, plays directed, and books read. Richard's positive attitude--his playfulness and graciousness--shines through the pages.

How Midsummer Night is a beautiful tribute to a man who made his mark on his family and the community around him--a man who was so much more than just another teacher, so much more than just another friend.

I love this book. It sings about grief. --Hart Hanson, author of The Seminarian

This heartfelt memoir by Janet Somerville explores ways of drawing strength from art in a time of loss. --Linwood Barclay, international bestselling author of I Will Ruin You

I was touched by [How Midsummer Night], and moved to treasure my own friends, and to remember how empty life would be without them. A gem. I hope it gets picked up by every memoir/biography club out there. --Giles Blunt

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