The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Mikki Brammer’s The Collected Regrets of Clover is a big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in caring for others at the end of their life, has forgotten how to live her own, for readers of The Midnight Library.
What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?
From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.
Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story––and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.
Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.
Short Summary of the Book:
Clover is a fascinating character with a unique set of traits and experiences that make her stand out. She is introverted and focuses on death and dying, rather than living life to the fullest. Her only friend is her elderly neighbor Leo, who was also a friend of her grandfather.
Clover’s life changed at the age of five when she witnessed her kindergarten teacher pass away. Her reaction to his death was unusual, and she became an outcast because of it. After losing her parents in an accident, she moved in with her grandfather in New York City, where she still lives at the age of 36. Despite her grandfather’s passing, Clover cannot bring herself to sort through his belongings and donate them.
As a death doula, Clover spends her days helping people who are about to die make a peaceful transition to the afterlife. She also enjoys attending death cafes, where she listens to others’ experiences and keeps notes on her clients’ final words, including their regrets, advice, and confessions.
But everything changes when Clover meets Claudia, a former journalist with terminal cancer, who becomes her close confidante. Claudia’s story leads Clover on a journey across the country, where she uncovers a powerful love story and finds her own happy ending.
Book Review:
This exceptional novel delves into the profound and thought-provoking questions that we all face at some point in our lives. It explores the meaning of life, death, and the choices we make that shape our destiny. The book challenges readers to consider how to make the most of the time we have and how to find peace in letting go. The author’s writing style is sentimental, poignant, and engaging, making it impossible to put the book down once you start reading. It’s truly a remarkable work of literature that will leave a lasting impact on anyone who reads it.
