It is the end of your life, what do you think about when you look back on your lifetime? Is it the people you're surrounded by, or things you have accomplished? For Maurice, the storyteller in Anne Griffin's book When All Is Said, it's the things that he left unspoken. Maurice's story certainly captured my heart, along with a four-star rating.
When All Is Said is a fictional memoir of sorts. It following the highs and lows of Maurice Hannigan's life. Maurices gives five tell-all toasts, each focusing on a different person who was highly influential to his story. His narrative is one of an underdog, of loss, and secrets.
Something unique about this book was the way Griffin laid the chapters out. There were only five, very long and specific chapters. Each was dedicated to a different person that impacted Maurice, in the form of a final toast. For someone who doesn't like to put a book down unless they are in between chapters, this was a challenge. But, it did work in terms of the story's concept. Technically, the whole book takes place in one evening, with Maurice only reminiscing about other periods of his life.
One of the best things about reading a great book is when it makes you think and appreciate your life a little more than before. When All Is Said absolutely did this for me. Through this story, Maurice reminds us to appreciate the people who are important to us while we can. It got me thinking about the individuals who have has the most impact on my life and brought me to a place of gratitude. I believe reflecting on our past is a crucial part of personal growth. If you took the time to write a list of the five people who have had the greatest impact on your life, who would they be? Why did those people make your list and not others?
I always seem to find books about elderly men looking back on their lives incredibly charming and endearing. This particular story reminded me of Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove, which was similar in style and topic. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who enjoyed When All Is Said or vice versa. I hope everyone is having a great October.
Yours Literarily,
Lauren.
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