How to Forget cover art

How to Forget

A Daughter's Memoir

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

How to Forget

By: Kate Mulgrew
Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.20

Buy Now for £12.20

Summary

In this profoundly honest and examined memoir about returning to Iowa to care for her ailing parents, the star of Orange Is the New Black and bestselling author of Born with Teeth takes us on an unexpected journey of loss, betrayal, and the transcendent nature of a daughter’s love for her parents.

They say you can’t go home again. But when her father is diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer and her mother with atypical Alzheimer’s, New York-based actress Kate Mulgrew returns to her hometown in Iowa to spend time with her parents and care for them in the time they have left.

The months Kate spends with her parents in Dubuque—by turns turbulent, tragic, and joyful—lead her to reflect on each of their lives and how they shaped her own. Those ruminations are transformed when, in the wake of their deaths, Kate uncovers long-kept secrets that challenge her understanding of the unconventional Irish Catholic household in which she was raised.

Breathtaking and powerful, laced with the author’s irreverent wit, How to Forget is a considered portrait of a mother and a father, an emotionally powerful memoir that demonstrates how love fuses children and parents, and an honest examination of family, memory, and indelible loss.

 Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Grief & Loss Parenting & Families Personal Development Relationships Memoir Witty Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant
Mulgrew gives a loving testament to the life of her father and mother. Whilst I was drawn to this as a caregiver to my disabled brother (and increasingly elderly mother) and as a “Voyager” fan, it was the witness she bore to her father and mother as they had lived that I found so intriguing, when caring and death can be so ritualised to cope with the unbearable. You cannot fault Mulgrew as a story teller or her performance as a narrater. She empties the pockets, there is nothing left to give, as she surrenders to us what is being experienced, felt and remembered. The hours went by listening.

Family - warts and all - the more beautiful for it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
having read 'Born with teeth', I half expected this to be just a rehash of the same material but it isn't. Some of the same topics are there but it's cleverly written and with more depth.

This book is a lovely long journey well worth taking, written with love and full of emotion.

Highly reccomend.

kept my addicted to the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
When Kate Mulgrew towards the end of the book descrives her husband telling her of her Mother's pride is describing her as an accomplished theatre actor I was in full agreement with her delight in hearing that truth. I loved the autobiography, its dazzling honesty and charm but the trading of this incredible journey through the loss of parents I found compelling and touching and thoroughly relatable. I will be listening to everything Kate records just as I eagerly devour all her acting performances!

Just as Emotive and Enthralling as Born With Teeth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loced every minute of this book, you get to hear another side of Kate Mulgrew. She's one hell of a woman.

Beautiful & moving

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Gripping & moving an beautiful homage to parents Kate Mulgrew is exceptional good writer. Weaves the the families in a beautiful frankness thank yo kate mulgrew

Heart felt tale of a love for parents

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews