by Sue Miller
Sue Miller becomes the primary caregiver for her aging father as Alzheimer's disease slowly erases his memory and independence. The autumn of 1988 finds her in a role she never expected and feels ill equipped to handle among her siblings. She watches helplessly as the man who shaped her life disappears piece by piece into confusion and decline. Miller wrestles with her own inadequacies as a caregiver while trying to preserve what remains of her father's dignity and identity. She examines their complicated relationship across decades, searching for understanding and connection even as his condition worsens. The daily challenges of caregiving force her to confront uncomfortable truths about duty, love, and family obligation. As her father's final months unfold, Miller struggles to hold onto meaningful memories while facing the inevitable loss. This intimate account captures the universal experience of adult children who must reverse roles with their parents and find ways to honor both the person they were and the reality of who they have become.
Genres: non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, personal-journey
Period: 1988
Paperback · de Kern
Content warnings: mental-illness