My Brother's Book

What a lovely gem of a book. In a short number of pages, Sendak painted images and wove a rich tapestry of poetic work.

A song to his brother Jack and Eugene Glynn, his partner of 50 years, it is a haunting poem of life that transcends death. Of love that shines through the veil of darkness. Death, frozen in icy cold transcends to warmth of love that knows no boundaries.

This was Sendak's last book and it is powerful.

This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you put it down. The illustrations are gorgeous and Sendak's poem to his brother Jack is both heartbreakingly beautiful and comforting "And Jack slept safe, enfolded in his brother's arms. And Guy whispered, "Good night..."

It's impossible not to be moved by this book, especially in light of Sendak's recent death. It so perfectly captures the unwavering loss felt at the death of a loved one - a loss that does not lessen with time, but instead becomes more acute as days turn into months and then to years.

As other reviewers have commented, buy one for yourself, for your sibling(s), for your friends. I can imagine giving this book as a gift to someone who has suffered a recent show more loss, as well. Comforting words are so difficult to find when someone we care for is grieving. This book, instead, offers a deep understanding that can only be found among those who have loved deeply and mourned with passion.

Finally, it must be noted that this book is beautifully constructed, as well. With gorgeously heavy paper, forest green cloth-covered and embossed boards, and a dust jacket that is both delicate and substantial - this is a book that begs to be held and caressed. I realize that may sound a bit heavy handed to some readers, but fellow bibliophiles will be nodding in agreement. show less

How can you not love anything written by Maurice Sendak. This one takes only about 15 minutes to read, but will stay with you for the rest of your life. An elegant tribute to love for his brother and for his life partner is his final tour du force...a journey back through tales of Shakespeare, and through a mind as imaginative and exploratory as any writer ever possessed.

A review is impossible...it's only 32 pages...buy it, treasure it, read it, again and again. And when you go, be sure to bequeath it to someone you love.

A beautiful send-off, this is Sendak's last written work, and an ode and farewell to his brother. An elegy that is so quaint, so beautiful, and so haunting, its written beautifully as a poem that most likely is best understood by one person - Jack; his brother, but thankfully we can all appreciate and understand some of it.

I remember reading and re-reading and re-re-re-reading Where the Wild Things Are so many times as a child. Identifying so much with that small boy. And I remember Little Bear and the show and watching that nonstop as a child as well. Sendak was a treasure. And still is.

"...bark enclosed his living trunk,
Bare vines entwined his glittering head.
Ask of the wild cheery tree:
Does he live? Is he dead?"

Although gone, Sendak lives in the dense visual and verbal imagery of love & grief of "My Brother's Book."

"And you will dream of me."

"...bark enclosed his living trunk,
Bare vines entwined his glittering head.
Ask of the wild cheery tree:
Does he live? Is he dead?"

Although gone, Sendak lives in the dense visual and verbal imagery of love & grief of "My Brother's Book."

"And you will dream of me."

An artistic book for all ages of those who are into the weird & metaphysical & symbolic... which leaves out me and most children. My library had it shelved as poetry, at least, but in Juvenile... I think it befuddles catalogers.