The Household Guide to Dying Hardcover - 2009

by Debra Adelaide

A freshly insightful, hopeful, and dramatic novel fullof heart and life-told from the perspective of ahousehold advice columnist, wife, and mother who isdetermined to finish a lifetime's worth of tasks eventhough she doesn't have a lifetime left to live.

The Household Guide to Dying is amoving, witty, anduplifting novel about Delia, who writes an acerbic andwildly popular household advice column. When Deliarealizes that she is losing her long battle with cancer, shedecides to organize her remaining months-and her husbandand children's future lives without her-the same way she hasalways ordered their household. Unlike the many faithfulreaders of her advice column-people who are rendered lostand confused when faced with dirty shirt collars-Delia knowsjust what to do. She will leave a list for her daughter's futurewedding; fill the freezer with homemade sausages, stews, andsauces; and even (maddeningly) offer her husband suggestionsfor a new wife. She'll compile a lifetime's worth of advice for herchildren, and she'll even write the ultimate "Household Guide toDying" for her fans. There is one item on her list, however, thatproves too much even for "Dear Delia," and it is the single greatesttask she had set for herself. Yet just as Delia is coming toterms with this, an unexpected visitor helps her believe in herlife's worth in a way that no list ever could.

Imbued with Delia's love for food, Jane Austen, cluckinghens, and fragrant gardens, and interspersed with her secrets tomaking a pot of tea, removing wine stains from lace, and theingredients to the perfect wedding cake, this is a gorgeouslycrafted novel that captures the reader-heart and mind-andexpands our understanding of a meaningful life.