Book Reviews

I'll Be in The Car

By Jennifer Redmond

Books

I'll Be in The Car, by Annette Januzzi Wick (Three Arch Press, 2006) is not a happily-ever-after-love story. In fact, Wick reveals the tragic death of her husband in the acknowledgments. But Devin's death is not the point.  Wick's story is the real, wrenching, and ultimately liberating memoir of a young widow coping with the unthinkable and discovering her voice through writing.

One can argue that I'll Be in The Car is actually two stories. The first documents Devin and Annette's courtship, early marriage and the birth of their son. The second story is more introspective and poetic as leukemia takes its toll on Devin and his family. Annette is forced to reconstruct her roles as wife and mother, delve into questions of faith and purpose and, finally, grieve for her husband as she rebuilds her life with their son.

Ultimately, I'll be in The Car offers hope for those who have lost a loved one due to terminal illness. For those who are witnesses to such a courageous journey, it's a valuable window into the struggles of the caregiver-and the one left behind. List price: $23.95, hardcover.