Jennifer Futernick

The author’s publisher, Capra Press, gave me a copy of this memoir for review.

Futernick’s memoir is divided into seven categories of varied aspects of life. She includes Marriage, Family, Children, Working and other common activities and connections that we experience everyday. Futernick’s goes deep in all of aspects sharing her mother’s cancer with us as well as the loss of her father. In the poem “Sleeping with My Mother,” Futernick shares the connection that she has with her show more mother and the devastation at the loss of that connection. Intellectually she knows that her mother has lived a tough life and was in a great deal of pain but she is a touchstone for her daughter. The heart of the poem resonated with this reader. Throughout this 175 work there is laugh, love, loss and introspection that is tinged with the joy of the experience.

“I Never Expected This Good Life” ends with the poem “Astonishment’s Cup.” Despite the here and there nature of the piece, a reader can feel that they’ve had a complete look into the author’s soul. Futernick’s style is simply and direct so that readers can pull the shorter pieces together to gain a full picture. Family is important to the author, connections with people are important to the author, a real life experience is important to the author. Pieces were previously published which likely helped this author gain perspective on her work and give the reader the feel that every word is considered and weighed before added to her work. “I Never Expected This Good Life” is polished but relatable. show less