Kirthana Ramisetti

Not sure how I feel about this book. It's heavy on details and drawn out especially about her philanthropy and life before children with her husband. I enjoyed her 4 children even though some of their personalities rubbed me the wrong way sometimes and how the oldest two and the youngest two were always paired up mostly.

It kept going back between “now” which was 2044 and then which I think was 2015 or before. Not sure why it was set in 2044 but maybe that will come out in the end.

I had about 130 pages left and felt like giving it up. I did struggle through it just to finish it since I was pretty close I guess to the end but I knew I could read 100+ pages in a day as always. I'm glad I stuck with it since the last 100 pages were meaningful.… (more)

When billionaire Dava Shastri realizes she is dying, she decides to end things on her own terms. She gathers her family together for a last Christmas. When news of her death leaks out before she is dead, her children are frantic. Information is released about Dava's life and loves, things she had kept secret for years.
My favorite part of this story was the time she spent with the grandchildren and what they did and said. I felt that this was the most honest part of the book. The rest - about the adult children - was typical of adults concerned more about themselves then another person. It was an interesting and well written story of a life, and the memories, accomplishments, and regrets one makes in life.
I also listened to the book, and at the end is the song Dava.… (more)

I suspect that I am the wrong audience for this book. It fails to answer the questions that interested me most about the story: How did the protagonist's children feel about their mother's decision to utilize physician assisted dying? Is this mode of dying more accepted in the future? What does it say about American society that social aid means competition to beg super rich individuals for crumbs rather than widespread government assistance and proportionate taxation for extremely wealthy people and corporations? Instead the author has created a light "feel good" book that focuses on romance, a topic that bores me.

To be fair, one unusual aspect of this book, which sets it apart from traditional "chick lit," is the emphasis on how rock music plays a major role in the protagonist's life and world view. If this book helps introduce more readers to the magic and wonder of my favorite band, the Replacements, then I consider it a success. ...Perhaps that means I am the right audience for this book! Recommended for all libraries.… (more)