A Promise to Remember

As a Thanatology graduate from Hood College, I encourage everyone to read this book to gain insight on how grief can tear apart an individual, as well as families and communities.

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. The characters were so real that you felt their every emotion. I agree with the other reviewer who said if you like Karen Kingsbury you will love A Promise To Remember!

Kathryn Cushman tackled a huge challenge for her first book, and delivered skillfully. In this novel, she presents even-handedly two opposing sides of a tragic circumstance, and explores with humanity and understanding the effects of grief on marriages and families. For many authors this would be enough, but the culmination of Ms. Cushman's story and the growth of her characters left this reader with a sense of realism and warmth when the last page was finished. This is a book well worth reading, and an author to watch.

Kathryn Cushman has done an incredible job. She somehow finds a way to tell both sides of this tragic story and make you both angry AND sympathetic to each mother. Choosing to show both Andie and Melanie as flawed human beings reacting to death in their own way, Cushman allows the reader to decide who is right and wrong here. I was amazed at how detailed Cushman's story was. She introduced both mothers in the midst of the most horrible moment in their lives, and had each reacting in a logical way. The women never became stereotypical or cookie-cutter characters in any way. To be honest, I still don't know who I felt more sympathetic toward, and that's the sign of a powerful writer. Ultimately, she delivers a strong ending (it's hard to say "upbeat" when dealing with a story like this) that really ties everything up nicely. Kathryn Cushman is a writer to watch. I'm usually pulled more toward the suspense/thriller genre, but I'm glad I took a chance on this talented writer and entered her literary world for a little while. Looking forward to the next one!

Haunting. That's what I call a book or movie that stays with me for days after I close the back cover or leave the theatre. A Promise to Remember haunted me for days. Kathryn Cushman did a wonderful job making both grieving mothers real and sympathetic. When I was in Andie's scenes, I'd get angry at single mom Melanie and her twisted view of a "legacy." But when reading Melanie, I'd be angry at the wealthy Phelps' and the memorials they could buy for their son. A Promise to Remember is a wonderful read. If you like Karen Kingsbury, you will LOVE A Promise to Remember.