BEFORE I FORGET

This warm, heartfelt audiobook was an end-of-year gem, and would be a great choice for book clubs to discuss.
🦆❤️
When 26-year-old Cricket returns to her family’s home in the Adirondacks to care for her father, who has severe memory loss, she is sure she’s in over her head. But she’s determined to prove that she can be a responsible adult, despite her questionable track record so far. What Cricket soon realizes is that while her Dad is losing his memory - he has gained a prescient ability to see what others can’t. Will that discovery be the catalyst Cricket needs to finally reconnect with her Dad, find a sense of purpose, and let go of tragedies of the past?
🦆❤️
This late coming of age story had such an original, sensitively-handled perspective on memory loss and multigenerational relationships. It felt hopeful without being overly sentimental, and a tender first-love backstory gave added depth. The latter part of the story takes an unexpected turn and I am still deciding how I feel about it - for that and other reasons I think this would be an interesting one for book clubs to discuss. I always like hear someone else’s take on a character’s choices and if the plot turns out differently than we expect - if you’ve read this, what are your thoughts?
🦆❤️
Cricket’s sister is their Dad’s caregiver until she moves to Stockholm, which inspired this pairing: Swedish gingerbread cookies, or pepparkakor. I loved icing these gingerbread with my boys home from college, and we made more than we could eat! Growing up, I was lucky to spend Christmas Eves hosted by my Swedish aunt, filled with marzipan elves, traditional decorations and warm spicy glögg. Swedish treats will always have a place in my heart for the holidays!